Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Respect of human rights integral part of solution

[02] US Congressmen pledge support for end of occupation

1657:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Respect of human rights integral part of solution

Nicosia, Aug 24 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, has reiterated the government's resolve to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as part of a negotiated settlement in Cyprus and warned that anything contrary to that would be tantamount to a "solution with an expiry date on it."

The Minister has also criticised the international community for encouraging Turkish intransigence over the years through a lukewarm reaction to Turkey's continuing violation of human rights in Cyprus, since its troops invaded and occupied one third of the island. This, he said, has hampered the peace effort in Cyprus.

Speaking in the eastern town of Paralimni, Kasoulides said "we shall not bargain our human rights, nor shall we accept the division of Cyprus as an intractable reality."

Displaying tolerance in cases of human rights violations, he pointed out, "supports injustice and creates dangerous prerequisites as well as encourages the culprits and nurtures perspective perpetrators of human rights violations."

Stressing that double standards in human rights implementation should not be applied, the Minister said "international interest should not be classified or expressed to fit prevailing interests and certain expediences at any given time."

"Had the international community resolutely tackled the ethnic cleansing against Cyprus in 1974 (when Turkey invaded), perhaps no-one would have had the courage to repeat the same in Yugoslavia and Rwanda twenty years later," Kasoulides added.

The absence of "substantive and practical response on the part of the international community has encouraged Turkish intransigence and provocative behaviour and impeded efforts for a speedy resolution of the protracted Cyprus question."

Noting that Cyprus may soon be called to take "important decisions" about its future, Kasoulides pointed out that unless human rights and fundamental freedoms are safeguarded in practice as part of a negotiated settlement, "any solution will have a short expiry date."

"We are not interested in a short-term arrangement, we are only interested in a lasting and functional settlement," he concluded.

CNA MM/RG/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US Congressmen pledge support for end of occupation

Speaking on arrival at Larnaca airport, Bob Menendez described the timing of their visit as "crucial and promising for Cyprus" and added "we seek to get first hand knowledge and facts from policy makers in Cyprus and do whatever we can to help in a constructive way to resolve this circumstance here".

"We believe the US Congress has a major foreign policy role to play and we are very concerned about the continuing occupation in the north", he added.

Menendez expressed the hope that, as the European Union considers the accession of Cyprus next year, "this would be a critical moment for a just and lasting solution.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey described the Turkish occupation as "inappropriate and illegal", and said "the people of Cyprus need to be given the opportunity to determine their own future as soon as possible".

"The US Administration has a constructive role to play to resolve the situation as it has good relations with all parties involved," he added.

Robert Andrews said "we are here to call attention to the ongoing abrogation of human rights by the occupiers in the north, here we have a clear-cut unmistakable case of human rights violation".

He also said he believed "it is imperative for the US government to bring to an end this occupation".

Congressman Alcee Hastings pledged to "try as best as we can to try and assist in peace and stability in this region".

Asked to assess the involvement of US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke in efforts to bring a settlement, Menendez said Congressmen commended Holbrooke's appointment in a letter to US President Bill Clinton and outlined their views on how best to try and seek a resolution of the Cyprus question.

"In the letter we said we hope to see emerge from negotiations a federated state that derives its power from the federated constitution, that guarantees all its citizens free passage throughout the country, one country, one nation, one people, a country that guarantees basic human rights and property rights", he said.

Menendez said he believed Holbrooke will work along these lines to facilitate negotiations for a settlement in Cyprus.

CNA MM/RG/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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