Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-08-10

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] UN down-play significance of "integration" agreement

[02] UN envoy leaves for Switzerland

[03] Clerides goes to Switzerland with the support of politicians

[04] Memorial service for Greek Cypriots brutally killed by Turks

1055:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN down-play significance of "integration" agreement

"There should be no effect on the upcoming talks", a senior UN official told CNA noting that "these are direct talks between the leaders of the two communities."

Asked to elaborate, the official said this agreement "should be put in perspective." There has been a "history of such declarations," he noted, the implication being that they led nowhere and were ignored by the international community.

In 1984, the UN Security Council in resolution 550 warned against secessionist acts in the Turkish-occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus...namely the exchange of "ambassadors" as well as other actions aimed at further consolidating the purported breakaway "independent state" and the division of Cyprus.

The present "integration" agreement was obviously meant to consolidate the illegal regime, the source said, noting that no action, comparable to that of 1984, has been forthcoming from the UN.

The signing of the agreement, said the UN official, was "Turkey's response to Agenda 2000" which included Cyprus but not Turkey, as eligible for European Union (EU) membership and the start of the accession negotiations. "Turkey was disappointed by the EU's action," the official added.

The agreement was also meant to make President Glafcos Clerides refuse to attend the direct talks this Monday. "But Clerides avoided this trap," the UN official exclaimed.

The agreement between Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, calling for gradual economic and financial integration between the illegal regime and Turkey and partial integration on security, defence, foreign policy, has veteran UN diplomats guessing at the turn of events.

"Denktash," observed one veteran diplomat, "appears to have negotiated certain matters with Foreign Minister Cem and is now turning around to ostensibly negotiate what must be some of the identical issues with President Clerides on Monday."

The source said the first round of the direct talks in Troutbeck, New York, "restored the personal chemistry between the two leaders" and that the Glion talks would be a "defining moment."

The "integration" agreement has prompted the reaction of the governments of Cyprus, Greece, France, Germany, the White House, and the State Department. Foreign governments described the Turkish action as "not helpful" in view of the second round of the Switzerland talks which begin tomorrow.

CNA JD/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] UN envoy leaves for Switzerland

Speaking to reporters here this morning before departing to Switzerland to attend the second round of the UN-sponsored direct talks, which will begin tomorrow in Glion, near Montreux, the UN Secretary-General's resident Representative, Gustave Feissel, expressed hope the talks will achieve "some common agreement between the two sides on moving forward."

Feissel explained that during the first round of the talks, held in Troutbeck, New York, from July 9 to 12, the two leaders received a non- paper which contained the procedural aspects.

He said this was a "kind of programme of work for the coming period, as well as some substantive matters relating to the objectives and the principles of the kind of overall settlement that we are seeking and that they have agreed to achieve mainly, a bicommunal, bizonal federation."

The UN, he said, look forward to hearing the two leaders' views on that, (the non-paper) and to work out a common position.

The UN diplomat said he did not know if a third paper will be given and noted "its now for the two sides to come up with something that they can subscribe to."

Asked what should be anticipated from the talks, Feissel said "it's very important that they have a common view and common position on how we move forward from here towards the overall settlement, the work that needs to be done during the coming period."

"The international community expects the two sides to show their full commitment to this process of working towards an overall settlement and to work hard on a continuing basis to achieve their goal," the UN official remarked.

Invited to comment on the "integration" agreement signed between Turkey and the pseudostate earlier this week, Feissel reminded that various commentators said "this was not helpful."

He stressed, however, that "it's important for everybody in Cyprus and all concerned elsewhere, to keep in mind what we are seeking is a bizonal, bicommunal federation, one country that has those characteristics."

Feissel described the current phase as an "important juncture" and said the efforts of the Secretary-General should be actively supported to move this process forward.

He said a third round of talks is not programmed, noting "lets give the leaders a chance and see what will transpire in Glion."

Finally, the UN envoy said he was not aware whether US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, who is currently touring Europe, will visit Switzerland for the talks.

CNA MAN/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1415:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides goes to Switzerland with the support of politicians

Speaking to the press on departure, the President said he has "the support of all political parties" for the second round of the talks on certain issues.

"First, to go to the talks, second, to submit our remarks on the second Cordovez document and third, to go there with good will to discuss the fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem."

President Clerides avoided replying to questions concerning the strategy of the Greek Cypriot side during the talks.

Clerides was invited to comment on the conditions which the Turkish Cypriot side is expected to raise during the Montreux talks, that is to halt membership talks with the European Union and shelve the planned deployment of the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system.

"Such statements have been made in the past and have been repeatedly answered by our side, therefore I will not repeat what has been said in the past," the President stressed.

The second round of face-to-face talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash begin Monday at the Hotel Righi Vaudois, in Glion-sur-Montreux.

A photo opportunity for a pool of media representatives will be organised at the hotel at the start of the talks and from then on, there will be no other media access at the site of the negotiations.

A press briefing will be held at the end of the talks, August 16, by the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, at the Palais des Nations. Cordovez will be chairing the five-day talks.

The first round of the talks opened on July 9 by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in Troutbeck, New York, and was again chaired by Cordovez.

The objective of the talks is for the two communities to create "new constitutional and institutional structures which will allow the people of both Cypriot communities to live together in peace," a UN press release said earlier this week.

Cordovez said the two leaders had taken back for discussion suggestions about the "modalities for a sustained negotiating process," which will begin after the February 1998 presidential elections in Cyprus.

President Clerides is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides, and his two advisers, Attorney-General Alecos Markides and Under Secretary to the President, Pantelis Kouros.

Greece's newly appointed ambassador, Kyriakos Rodousakis, who will be representing his country at the talks together with his predecessor, Alexandros Sandis, accompanied the presidential entourage to Switzerland.

The US will be represented by Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill and Britain by High Commissioner to Cyprus, David Madden and Britain's Special Representative on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay.

The island's political leadership which will also accompany President Clerides leaves for Switzerland tomorrow morning. CNA MAN/KK/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Memorial service for Greek Cypriots brutally killed by Turks

Politicians from Cyprus and Greece gathered at St. George church where thousands of people last year thronged to pay their respects to Tasos Isaac, 24, brutally beaten to death by Turkish troops and members of the terrorist organisation "Grey Wolves" as he demonstrated in the UN-controlled buffer zone, on August 11.

Three days later, his cousin, Solomos Solomou, was murdered inside the buffer zone as he tried to pull down a Turkish flag. He was cold bloodily shot by the commander of the Turkish occupation forces and the so-called agriculture "minister" of the Turkish Cypriot illegal regime, Kenan Akin.

The demonstration had taken place after Isaac's funeral service. Many Greek Cypriots and soldiers of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces were also injured by Turkish fire.

Hundreds of police officers were deployed today in Paralimni and at Dherynia to prevent similar scenes to those of last year.

During the memorial service, Justice and Public Order Minister, Nicos Koshis, praised the two men for sacrificing their lives demanding their country's freedom.

Koshis said their sacrifice symbolises the rejection of Cypriot Hellenism to abandon what has been taken by force. "At this crucial time in the history of the Cyprus problem we need to stick to our principles," he added.

Acting President Spyros Kyprianou said the way the two men sacrificed their lives is tragic but noted it will remain eternal in history.

"The message from their sacrifice is simple. We shall continue the struggle despite threats and provocations, until a settlement is reached which will safeguard the survival of Cypriot Hellenism and human rights for all Cypriots," Kyprianou pledged.

Greek member of Parliament, Evangelos Staikos described the two men's sacrifice as a "lighthouse which leads to the fulfillment of all our aims."

The memorial service was also attended by a representative of the Greek Embassy, politicians, Greek Cypriot deputies and a 20-member delegation of the Cyprus Motorcyclists' Federation, the organisers of last year's protests.

Following the graveside ceremony, Solomos' father, Spyros, together with mourners, headed for Dherynia to lay a wreath at the site where Solomos was killed.

However, he was prevented by security authorities and police who erected barbed wire barriers some 500 metres from the buffer zone.

Solomou complained that while Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was allowed to visit Paphos to pay his respects to his mother's grave, he was prevented from laying a wreath at the spot where his son was killed.

Members of the Greek parliamentary delegation were also prevented from entering the buffer zone.

An isolated incident occurred as two persons, riding a Jeep, tried to enter the buffer zone but were prevented by the Police.

A group of eight motorcyclists and some demonstrators, who had earlier gone to the area, left peacefully.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

The President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides who represents the Greek Cypriot community and Denktash, leader of a puppet regime in the island's north recognised only by Ankara, were due in Switzerland today to attend the second round of the UN-sponsored direct talks, aimed at breaking the deadlock in the peace negotiation.

CNA EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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