Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-04-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Holbrooke to return in May for more talks

2215:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Holbrooke to return in May for more talks

He also said discussions in the past 24 hours were both "successful and inconclusive", noting that "there was nothing that could be accomplished anyway."

Holbrooke, known for his tough negotiating tactics, acknowledged "the diplomatic situation has been at a difficult stage" and its solution involves leaders outside Cyprus as well.

The American diplomat reiterated his government's position that the US do not and cannot recognise the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus and repeated the view that both Cyprus and Turkey "are part of Europe."

"I have no specific announcement to make with regard to agreements between the two sides. That would not have been possible in a trip this short," Holbrooke said at a press conference here today after repeated meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

He said having been asked by the two leaders to return, he intends to be back around the first of May while his aide, State Department Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom Miller, will in the meantime continue efforts in the region.

"There was nothing that could be accomplished anyway," Holbrooke acknowledged, saying that Denktash had to leave on holiday today.

He described the outcome of his talks as "both successful and inconclusive."

All outstanding issues between the two sides were discussed, the US envoy said, but refrained from disclosing any details.

He noted, however, that he has the full backing of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whom he briefed earlier today about his talks in Cyprus, just as he briefed the White House and the State Department.

Commenting on Cyprus' European Union accession process, Holbrooke said the "EU invited Cyprus to join the EU accession talks" and backed the idea that both Cyprus and Turkey are "part of Europe."

"US believes Cyprus should be a member of the EU because Cyprus is part of Europe. President Clinton made that clear, there is no ambiguity in that, " he stressed.

The US, he added, also believes Turkey is part of Europe, and its application for EU membership "should receive a favourable consideration."

Referring to a demand by Denktash for recognition of his puppet regime, Holbrooke said "Denktash made it absolutely clear he wishes to have future contacts in the light of the EU invitation to be on a state-to-state relationship."

"Our position is equally clear: we do not recognise the independent sovereign TRNC (illegal self-declared Turkish Cypriot regime). We cannot do that, that is not our position," he pointed out.

"We recognise the Republic of Cyprus and we recognise Glafcos Clerides as its President. It has an international character," he added.

He also reiterated that he conducted talks "from the usual basis" and "there was no change in the way we conducted the talks."

Describing Denktash as a "tenacious advocate" of his position, Holbrooke said "he did not yield an inch, nor did I expect him to."

Replying to questions, he said the US "opposes partition" in Cyprus.

Asked if one should expect tenacious action from the UN Security Council, Holbrooke said "Annan looks at Cyprus with great attention, I guarantee you that Annan is going to be a heavily engaged person, Annan and his team are far more engaged than their predecessors."

Invited to say if there was anything to give him some hope that talks could resume, the US envoy said "the diplomatic situation has been at a difficult stage and the solution to it involves not just leaders on the island, but also people outside the island, in Brussels, Athens, Ankara, and in Bonn, to name several."

The UN and US will be heavily involved supporting that effort, he added.

Commenting on bicommunal contacts, Holbrooke said "movement should be free across the line" and noted that Cyprus is "the last place in Europe where people are divided by a line and it troubles us all."

"People to people relationships should not be dependent on diplomatic political struggle, there are mutual benefits from these contacts and they should be read as part of the reconciliation process, not the peace process, " he concluded.

Holbrooke leaves Cyprus tomorrow.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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