Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-13

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides takes into account all Cypriots interests

2030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clerides takes into account all Cypriots interests

Montreux, Aug 13 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said President Glafcos Clerides will outline today his views on a UN document, the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides were given Tuesday, taking into account the interests of the people of Cyprus.

He also said it was too early to make any prediction about the outcome of this round of talks, noting that the Greek Cypriot side has not taken a decision either to sign or not to sign a joint declaration.

Speaking after his meetings with British Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, British High Commissioner and US Ambassador to Cyprus, David Madden and Kenneth Brill, Kasoulides steadfastly refused to disclose anything about the content of the document except to describe it as "one entity."

Asked by CNA if the document outlines views which could help the wording of a joint declaration, he replied "President Clerides is outlining his views taking into account the interests of Cyprus and its people and the views expressed by the political leadership at last night's meeting of the National Council (the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem)."

Asked if the Greek Cypriot side is ready to sign a joint declaration, the Minister said "our side has not taken a decision on either to sign or not to sign anything."

Meanwhile Turkish sources have said that the Turkish Cypriot side does not even acknowledge the existence of the UN document.

Invited to comment on reports that Special Advisor to the UN Secretary- General Diego Cordovez has made a proposal to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to allay his fears about the European Union (EU) process, Kasoulides said he could not know what Cordovez has told Denktash and added, "I believe the President's position on the role which the UN can play in relation to accession negotiations is well known."

Concerning the views expressed by Deputy Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Inal Batu, that the UN talks are conducted under the dark shadow of the EU, Kasoulides noted that "we continue to believe that the EU course will finally be a catalyst which will help efforts to settle the Cyprus problem and UN Security Council resolutions say so."

Batu and Denktash, he pointed out, have known for the past two and a half years about the EU decision on accession talks.

A similar view was also expressed by diplomatic sources close to the EU which noted that the Turkish reaction to "Agenda 2000" may be partly due to the fact that Turkey has not been included in the first wave of countries to start accession negotiations.

Commenting on Batu's statement that there exist two systems of security, one Greece-Turkey and one Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, Kasoulides reminded the Turkish official that his country "continues to occupy part of Cyprus in contravention of international law and the Treaty of Guarantee (by which Turkey pledges to protect the established state of affairs on the island)".

Asked to assess the outcome of this round of talks, Kasoulides said "it is too early to express any indication of either pessimism or optimism."

Commenting on the role of the outer circle of envoys on Cyprus, he said "I do think they are using ideas or proposals, they keep informed about the developments and act through their own mechanisms to help this effort."

Replying to questions, Kasoulides said progress in this round of talks would mean "not to find yourself at the point where you were when you started."

Direct talks between President Clerides and Denktash will continue tomorrow with the participation of the advisors of the two leaders.

CNA MM/MCH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article