Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Doubts about initial T/Cypriot participation in EU talks

[02] Clerides-Denktash meeting "intense", says Holbrooke

[03] Derwinski: Holbrooke responsible for US policy on Cyprus

[04] Cyprus trade statistics

[05] Excavations at Amathus

[06] Palestinian Foreign Minister in Cyprus

[07] UN Cyprus envoy to "review situation"

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Doubts about initial T/Cypriot participation in EU talks

He said participation would depend on developments in efforts to reach a negotiated settlement in Cyprus and reiterated his government's conviction that the Republic's course for EU accession could provide the catalyst for such a settlement.

"I am not quite sure if in the near future or during the start of accession negotiations it would be possible to have Turkish Cypriot participation, unless something very significant occurs in the search for a solution of the Cyprus question," Kasoulides told the Cyprus radio CyBC.

He pointed out that such participation should not fall short of preconditions the EU itself sets, including its position that it conducts negotiations with recognised states.

"The Turkish Cypriot community must also back the principle of Cyprus' entry into the Union," the Minister explained.

The Turkish Cypriots consider that the EU must not accept Cyprus in its ranks until after a solution and until Turkey joins the group as well.

The EU, Kasoulides explained, would not wish to negotiate with one delegation, split between two options.

"We believe that our European orientation will prove to be the catalyst which will lead to a resolution of the Cyprus problem and break the current stalemate," he said.

"Turkey's reaction to this only goes to prove how right we are in thinking along these lines. Turkey will have to choose between a Cyprus settlement prior to the next EU enlargement or run the risk of seeing Cyprus in the EU without a solution," he added.

Commenting on US efforts for a settlement in relation to the EU, Kasoulides said American top envoy for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke takes into account the European perspective in his attempts to bring about a resolution of the protracted Cyprus question.

"He played a pivotal role in the EU decision to start accession talks with Cyprus and conclude a customs union agreement with Turkey back in March 1995," Kasoulides said, noting the US is a fervent supporter of Turkey's EU membership.

The EU is expected to start membership talks with Cyprus next Spring.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1105:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides-Denktash meeting "intense", says Holbrooke

This was stated by State Department Spokesman, James Rubin, responding to questions regarding Holbrooke's recent visit to Cyprus and his meeting with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot Rauf Denktash.

He said: "Holbrooke did not want to get into the substance of the talks (publicly), but he indicated they were very candid and intense and held in a very positive atmosphere, with both leaders willing to approach the issues openly and directly".

Rubin also said Holbrooke told him "there were no substantive results, nor did we expect any. The purpose of these meetings was to keep the process going, keep both sides talking and create opportunities for progress".

The State Department Spokesman referred to Holbrooke's meetings in Ankara with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, whom he briefed on the Nicosia discussions.

The US Emissary briefed Greek officials by telephone while he will be meeting certain Greek officials in Brussels, today, during a conference with Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, Greek and Turkish businessmen.

Holbrooke who travelled to Bonn after Ankara, consulted yesterday with German officials.

CNA DA/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1115:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Derwinski: Holbrooke responsible for US policy on Cyprus

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, former US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Edward Derwinski told reporters, Holbrooke should be pleased with the "statesmanlike approach of the government and leaders of Cyprus".

Asked about priorities in US policy on Cyprus, Derwinski said "the specific responsibility is Holbrooke's".

He added, Holbrooke, "made it clear the other day that the purpose of his meeting was to learn from President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash".

He said Holbrooke did not have any "complex plans", but his visit was "part of the educational process he needs to be an effective and practical diplomat and negotiator".

Holbrooke has to understand "the personalities, not just the public position of the two men. I think this is what he achieved", he noted.

Commenting on the apologies expressed by Holbrooke as far as US policies on Cyprus in the 1960s and 1970s were concerned, the former US diplomat said:

"I think he was trying to say we have a responsibility to help solve the problem because he thinks we had the responsibility that we did not meet at the time", he added.

Describing US policy as "basically a very simple one", Derwinski said "America contrary to its critics is not the world bully".

The US, he said, "is at this point, the world's greater economic and military power, but we do not want to use the military. We want to use our economic power for everybody's benefit.

In the case of Cyprus one of the very clear things is that the benefits of solving the Cyprus problem will be especially good for Turkish Cypriots, whose standard of living will then have an opportunity to catch up with the standard of living in the Republic of Cyprus", Derwinski said.

He pointed out, however, that economic power should not be used to exert pressure on any side.

"What we want is the benefits of economic power, the flow of trade, products, job opportunities. Those are the things that economic success brings and what people want", he said.

Asked on the prospects of economic cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots before a solution, Derwinski said it would help and added:

"I do not understand why all these years Denktash has not have enough practical economic interests to allow greater cooperation between the two sides for the benefit of his people".

He also described Cyprus' process of accession to the European Union as "a logical step", expressing the conviction that "Cyprus really qualifies as an historic European country".

CNA MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1120:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus trade statistics

According to a trade report by the Department of Statistics and Trade, total imports (including imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) reached 938,6 million pounds, only 0,7 million down from those in the first six months of 1996.

As a result, in the same period the trade deficit increased by 5,2 per cent compared to that of the first half of 1996, reaching 633 million pounds.

Almost half the island's imports (47 per cent) came from European Union (EU) countries, down 1,5 percentage units compared to their share in the first six months of 1996.

In the same period, Cyprus' domestic exports including shipstores fell by 13,9 per cent to 109,4 million pounds, compared to 127,1 million pounds in the first half of the previous year. The EU countries absorbed 55,3 million pounds or 51,9 per cent of the island's domestic exports, compared to 61,1 per cent in the same period last year.

Conversely, the Arab countries' share in Cyprus' domestic exports rose to 26,4 per cent, compared with 17 per cent.

CNA GG/GP/1997

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1120:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Excavations at Amathus

The excavations were directed by Dr. Pavlos Flourentzos, curator of Archaeological Museums and Survey, who was assisted by Demos Theodorou and Andreas Kattos both members of the technical staff of the Department of Antiquities.

A Cypriot archaeologist as well as a team of volunteers from the British Bases Archaeological Society also participated in this year's campaign.

The excavations concentrated at the western, northwestern and southern side of the public building.

Apart from the pottery, the excavations revealed copper Byzantine coins, lamps, stone heads of statuettes, inscribed sherds, a stone mortar and stone seals among them a prominent circular one inscribed and bearing the figure of a standing Saint with personification of the solar disc.

CNA MK/GP/1997

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1235:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Palestinian Foreign Minister in Cyprus

He was holding talks at the Foreign Ministry with Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. CNA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:07

[07] UN Cyprus envoy to "review situation"

Feissel also said he does not expect Diego Cordovez will hold a joint meeting with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash during his four-day visit.

Speaking after meeting President Glafcos clerides, Feissel said he "touched base with the President, reviewed the current situation and talked about Holbrooke's visit (American Cyprus envoy)."

"Everybody seems to consider the visit and the joint meeting Holbrooke held with the two leaders a useful thing," he said.

Outlining the objective of Cordovez's visit, Feissel noted he has not been here since he was appointed earlier this year and "he is coming to get a sense of the situation."

Asked if his programme of meetings envisages a joint Clerides-Denktash encounter, Feissel replied "never say never, but I certainly do not expect it."

He said he saw Denktash earlier today and noted that the Turkish Cypriot leader leaves next Thursday for Ankara for medical examinations.

Cordovez, who arrives on Tuesday night, is scheduled to lunch with the President and dine with Denktash on Wednesday.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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