Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government rejects Turkish Cypriot terms on EU

[02] Cypriot, Greek experts to discuss Law of the Sea

[03] Joint Cypriot-Kurdish parliamentary group in the offing

[04] Dividing line "upsets" top UN envoy

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[01] Government rejects Turkish Cypriot terms on EU

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides warned Rauf Denktash that this kind of tactics would not bear fruit but also noted that one should not pay much attention to statements made in public.

Denktash said he would adopt a more conciliatory stand if his self- styled regime in Turkish-occupied Cyprus is recognised by the international community as a "sovereign entity" and if Turkey is included among the candidate countries for EU membership.

The Turkish Cypriot leader also said he wants Turkey to retain its rights emanating from the 1960 Treaties, which established the Republic of Cyprus, as long as negotiations for an overall settlement in Cyprus are continuing.

Furthermore, Denktash told two Turkish dailies that Turkey must enjoy all rights and possibilities afforded to Cyprus by EU member-states.

"Such statements are utterly unacceptable and this type of policy will not get anywhere," the Foreign Minister said before today's cabinet meeting.

The thorny issue of Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession process has become a hotly-contested matter between the various players involved in membership negotiations.

The EU and the Cyprus government back suggestions for Turkish Cypriot participation but Denktash has already turned down a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides to have Turkish Cypriot negotiate with Greek Cypriots as one delegation, that of the Republic of Cyprus, which is the sole interlocutor in the EU talks, in accordance with EU decisions.

"The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime will not be recognised under any form, excuse or method. This was made abundantly clear by the international community," Kasoulides pointed out.

The UN Security Council described the Turkish Cypriot regime as "legally invalid" and called in its resolution 541 (1983) for its withdrawal, urging all states not to recognise it.

Replying to questions, the Minister said Denktash was applying his usual tactics of making public comments and "one should not pay much attention to these."

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Cypriot, Greek experts to discuss Law of the Sea

A three-day meeting of experts starts here tomorrow with the participation of some 25 Greek consultants and Cypriot representatives from government and other departments.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides is scheduled to open the meeting, which will deal with Cyprus' harmonisation process with the Law of the Sea, Turkish restrictions on free passage through the Straits and the Cypriot shipping industry.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] Joint Cypriot-Kurdish parliamentary group in the offing

The announcement was made after a meeting of the chairman of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Parliament in exile Zubeyir Aydar and members of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Aydar, who is accompanied by Kurdish deputy George Aryo, also met House President Spyros Kyprianou, who said Cypriot parliamentarians back closer ties with the exiled parliament of Kurdistan and monitor developments in the Kurdish issue.

"The struggle of the Kurdish people for freedom is difficult and we are all aware of Turkish terrorism. Today, European parliamentarians are more sensitive to the problem of the Kurds than they have ever been in the past, " Kyprianou said.

Aydar said he discussed with Kyprianou efforts to settle the Kurdish problem.

Speaking after the meeting with the Kurdish deputy, the vice-president of the House Standing Committee, Andreas Mouskos, said "we want to help the Kurdish people who are deprived of their human rights and live under a ruthless oppressor."

Aydar said the joint parliamentary group would contribute towards facing problems on a sound base.

"We understand fully your problem in Cyprus and we consider it ours as well," he added.

He also noted Turkey is faced with economic, military and diplomatic problems and the Kurdish people are moving closer to freedom.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[04] Dividing line "upsets" top UN envoy

Diego Cordovez, who chaired two rounds of UN-sponsored Cyprus peace talks this summer, began yesterday a fact-finding mission to the island, the first since his appointment earlier this year.

"I was particularly upset by the line (dividing Cyprus since Turkey invaded the island in 1974)", he said, describing Nicosia as "the only remaining divided city in the world."

Cordovez was given a guided tour of the demarcation line today by the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Invited to give his impression, the UN official replied "with all respect about the tombs of the children, I'm more upset about the division."

Referring to his visit to the demarcation line, Cordovez said "to see the two communities facing each other with guns, it is something terrible."

Speaking before a lunch UN resident representative Gustave Feissel is hosting for Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders in the UN-controlled buffer zone, Cordovez also acknowledged that the presence of Turkish occupation troops is "terrible to see."

Asked if he is more determined to push the Cyprus peace process forward, he said "yes, but I have to get my distinguished interlocutors to be more determined."

Replying to questions, he said he will have to talk "about the future" but added "the future will be based on the past, there is no question about that."

"I'm eager to get them to the negotiating table and start talking about the actual provisions, what will be the settlement," he said.

Cordovez refrained from expressing either optimism or pessimism about his mission here and noted that "it is not possible to do anything during this period, there is an election process going on."

Presidential elections will be held in the Republic of Cyprus in February 1998.

Cordovez is scheduled to have his second meeting in two days with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides this afternoon. CNA EC/MA/MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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