Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-08-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] President vows to continue struggle for freedom

[02] Party leaders on UN Council statement

1140:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President vows to continue struggle for freedom

The President has also vowed not to relinquish his people's rights to a free, peaceful and united Cyprus and said he was certain that at the end of the day Cyprus will be vindicated, despite the many difficulties that may lie ahead.

"We shall not forget our occupied homeland, and we shall continue our struggle to rid our country from the Turkish occupation troops and settlers and reunite our island to ensure conditions of security, peace and prosperity for all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cypriots", the President said in his address at an anti-occupation rally, a few miles south of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, on the eastern coast.

Reiterating his pledge that he would not hand a divided Cyprus to future generations, the President noted "keen interest in efforts to solve the Cyprus question on the part of states which can influence Turkey's foreign policy."

"The key to the solution in Cyprus lies in Ankara and I hope the international community will, in the months ahead, take more decisive steps to prepare the next round of talks, expected to culminate after the presidential elections (in February next year)", the President said.

The world community and in particular the permanent members of the UN Security Council, he added, should seek and find ways "to end Turkey's blackmailing and delaying tactics in Cyprus, which are contrary to the interests of Cyprus and its people."

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have been castigated by the President of the Security Council earlier this week for their tactics in the last round of talks in August, which ended inconclusively, because the Turkish Cypriot side refused to negotiate unless the European Union reversed its decision to start accession talks with Cyprus in 1998.

The rally, attended by the island's political leadership and foreign dignitaries, was organised by Famagusta Municipality to press on with its demand for the return of its lawful inhabitants to their homes, called for in UN Security Council resolution 550.

Famagusta Mayor, Andreas Pouyiouros, reiterated this demand at last night's rally and said the people of Famagusta will continue to struggle for justice and freedom.

The Mayor declared British MP, Eddy O'Hara, an honorary citizen of Famagusta. O'Hara, speaking in Greek, expressed the hope he would soon be able to "walk freely in his town, Famagusta."

House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou, told the rally that unless Turkey is forced to abandon its expansionist designs against Cyprus, there will not be a reasonable settlement on the Cyprus problem.

He also called on the island's political leadership to draft out a future strategy to counteract Turkish intransigence.

CNA MM/RG/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Party leaders on UN Council statement

Political leaders expressed satisfaction that President Glafcos Clerides' flexibility and cooperation at the talks was "commended" by Sir John but most of them noted Weston's statement were in fact remarks to the press.

Sir John expressed "concern and disappointment" that further substantive progress was impeded by the attempt to bring preconditions to the table by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party welcomed the statement in that it separates efforts for a Cyprus settlement and the Republic's attempts to join the European Union.

The statement, the party says, "recognises the positive stand of the Greek Cypriot side at the Glion talks and apportions blame on the Turkish Cypriot side."

Main opposition AKEL party said in a press release "the indirect condemnation of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Glion is not enough" and calls on the Security Council to "undertake some kind of actual pressure, even coercive measures against Denktash and Ankara."

House President and leader of the Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros Kyprianou, pointed out Sir John's statement was "comments to the press" but hastened to add "I am not underestimating the fact that Sir John's comments apportion blame on the Turkish Cypriot side but there is no reference to Ankara."

Socialist EDEK party described Sir John's statement as "positive" but noted that his call to avoid any action which may worsen the situation should be directed only towards Ankara.

George Vassiliou, President of the United Democrats, noted that Sir John's statement has "more of a psychological significance" than the validity which a Council resolution may carry and which could be used as a point of reference in the future.

New Horizons leader, Nicos Koutsou, described the statement as "positive", pointing out that expressing concern and disappointment about Denktash's position "is not good enough".

Denktash, Koutsou said, has not been condemned for his tactics which brought the negotiating process to a virtual deadlock by introducing Cyprus' European accession course into the UN peace effort, a move not appreciated by either the UN or others working on the sidelines of the talks.

Leader of the Liberal party, Nicos Rolandis, said Sir John's statement "is the most mild form of reaction" one could have and added "it is one thing to have a condemning Security Council resolution and another to have a statement".

Rolandis also pointed out that Turkey is trying to "buy out its way into the EU through Cyprus and is using Cyprus as a lever to achieve this goal."

George Perdikis, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Movement, said his party was not privy to full briefing on developments during the talks (his party was not present at either round of talks) and noted that no condemnation of the Turkish side can solve the Cyprus question.

"We are convinced that we are being led step by step towards the division of Cyprus, irrespective of the fact that the finger was pointed at the Turkish side on this occasion," he added.

CNA MM/RG/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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