Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] American Congressman calls on Turkey to respect human rights

[02] Government not satisfied with Italian FM statement

[03] Italy reaffirms recognition olny of Cyprus Republic

[04] New US National Security Council director for European affairs

1502:CYPPRESS:01

[01] American Congressman calls on Turkey to respect human rights

He also expressed the view that Turkey cannot join the European Union (EU) if it continues to occupy part of Cyprus.

In statements after an American delegation met Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, Kennedy said "I think instead of Turkey having a problem with Cyprus' admission to the EU, we should look at the problem of allowing Turkey into the EU if it continues its military occupation of Cyprus."

"We need to be strong and hard on this point because clearly the Turkish government and authority have not understood the feeling in the US Congress with respect to the Cyprus problem," he added.

Kennedy said "the US has a very important role to play in bringing a resolution to the Cyprus problem, particularly in putting pressure on the Turkish military to withdraw its occupational forces and compliance with international law and internationally recognised norms of conduct."

"The Cyprus problem is a human rights problem. It's not a Turkish Cypriot or a Greek Cypriot issue, it's a human rights issue and we want to see human rights respected in Cyprus," Kennedy said, noting that once this is achieved the various problems pertaining to the Cyprus question will be settled.

The American Congressman also referred to the fact that Turkish Cypriots are emigrating from the northern areas occupied by Turkey since it invaded the island in 1974.

"The notion that Turkey came in here to protect Turkish Cypriots is now defunct by the fact that so many Turkish Cypriots have left Cyprus because of the oppressive conditions under which they live," Kennedy said.

He added the American delegation, comprised of himself and Congressmen Robert Menendez, Robert Andrews, Alcee Hastings, Maurice Hinchey, and Mike Pappas, and Senator Charlie Christ, will not meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

"I don't believe it's necessary for us to meet with Denktash or any other supposed leader," Kennedy said and explained that "Turkey is the occupation force here and Turkish Cypriots are being occupied just as Greek Cypriots are."

The delegation, currently in Cyprus for a meeting of overseas Cypriots, also called on House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

Speaking after the meeting Menendez said they agreed "we will have a visit by him and members of the Parliament to the US Congress" as next year wilbel "a critically important year and exchanges would be very useful in having the US Congress understand the concerns of the Cypriot government."

For his part, Kyprianou said the American Congressmen show a great interest for a solution to the Cyprus problem, but pointed out that more contact is necessary, as not all members of Congress have a clear picture of the essence of the problem.

CNA MA/AP/1997 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Government not satisfied with Italian FM statement

This was stressed here today by Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, who added that both the governments of Cyprus and Greece will make representations to the Italian government on the issue.

The Italian Foreign Minister said yesterday after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, that "Nicosia does not represent Cyprus in its whole" and that "there are two republics in Cyprus, two entities, two governments."

Expressing astonishment at Dini's statement, Kasoulides said he could not believe "that these could be the positions held by Italy, a friendly country" to Cyprus.

Referring to the written statement issued by the Italian Foreign Ministry, Kasoulides said "despite the fact that certain things, at least the most serious ones, are set right, this statement is not satisfactory."

The written statement "reconfirms that on the issue of the start of negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the EU, Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini stated that they should constitute a positive element in the search for a political agreement, which would be to the benefit of both communities on the island."

It also notes that "in its international relations, Italy, along with other EU countries, only recognises the Republic of Cyprus."

Kasoulides pointed out that Dini's reference to "two entities" contradicts the positions adopted by the UN Security Council, especially resolution 550 which calls upon all states "not to recognise the purported state of the 'Turkish republic of northern Cyprus' set up by secessionist acts and calls upon them not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity."

Kasoulides refrained from making any predictions as to why his Italian counterpart made such provocative statements.

He said Cyprus does not object to Italian support or any other country's support to Turkey's bid for joining the EU, but noted that Greece sets certain preconditions in order to give its approval.

Regarding Turkish Cypriot participation to accession talks, Kasoulides reaffirmed President Glafcos Clerides' proposal that they could be included in the official delegation of the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus.

Kasoulides also said he has already contacted his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos in order to coordinate their efforts and pointed out that Greece, a partner of Italy in the EU is very upset by Dini's statement.

CNA KK/MCH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Italy reaffirms recognition olny of Cyprus Republic

President Glafcos Clerides has expressed the view there has been a misunderstanding from Italian FM, Lamberto Dini, statement.

Cypriot Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, called on Italy's Charges d' affaires to Cyprus, Rafaelle De Benedictis, early this afternoon and requested clarifications on Dini's statements.

Asked after an hour-long meeting with Kasoulides if there was a misunderstanding from Dini's statement, the Italian official said "the Minister never talked about recognition of the Turkish Cypriot community as a state and there is a misunderstanding in the wording, as it was reported by the media."

Benedicti's added this comes out from the press release the Italian Foreign Ministry has circulated earlier today and a second press release after the telephone call later on between the Prime Ministers of Greece and Italy, Costas Simitis and Romano Prodi, respectively.

"There is no change in the Italian position on that", he added, stressing "of course we recognise only the government of Cyprus."

Dini was quoted as saying "there are two republics in Cyprus, two entities, two governments," at a press conference Tuesday in Rome after talks with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem.

The Italian Charges d' affaires also said the press release issued today was "quite clear" and noted it "explains that there is no change from the Italian side."

Replying to a question about the accession talks Cyprus will begin early next year with the European Union (EU), Benedictis said "the main message was that during the meeting he made it clear and he recommended Turkey to push Cyprus in favour of the accession to the European Union."

"What I mean by this is that Italy is supporting Cyprus starting the negotiations according to the European Union's Council decisions. And this is the type of message that Dini wanted to give," he added.

The Italian official reiterated it was made "clear to Minister Kasoulides and to all the government that there is no new Italian position and I think that it is also clear that Italy is especially close to Cyprus and it is pressing for the accession talks with the EU."

Speaking to the press, before the meeting between Kasoulides and Benedictis, President Clerides said the clarifications given by the Italian Foreign Ministry were "very clear" and expressed the view the whole issue was a "misunderstanding."

What the Cyprus government expects to hear, he added, is why those statements were made.

Another press release circulated here today by the Italian embassy, on the telephone conversation the Premiers of Greece and Italy had earlier today, said Simitis and Prodi had expressed their common concern on the protracted Cyprus problem.

It added that Prodi had reiterated that a Cyprus solution should be based on relevant UN resolutions.

With regard to Cyprus' bid to become an EU member, the two sides had pledged to do everything possible so that accession talks with Cyprus should go ahead, in accordance to an EU decision, in March 1995.

CNA MK/AP/KN/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:04

[04] New US National Security Council director for European affairs

The newly appointed senior director for European Affairs will also be responsible for matters concerning the Cyprus issue, Greco-Turkish relations and the European Union (EU).

Bandler, who will succeed Alexander Vershbow, newly appointed US Ambassador to NATO, is a career Foreign Service Officer and has been the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Paris since 1995.

During the past eight months he was the Charges d' affaires and US observer to the Council of Europe.

He served as director of the State Department's office of Israel and Arab-Israeli Affairs, representing the US in the Middle East peace process environmental negotiations.

He had earlier European assignments in Bonn, Germany, during the German reunification, in France and in Washington as coordinator for the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).

Bandler is a native of Pennsylvania, he is married and has two daughters and a son.

CNA DA/KN/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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