Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-09-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] National Council - Meeting

[02] National Council - Joint Communique

[03] US - Negotiations

1020:CYPPRESS:01

[01] National Council - Meeting

Yesterday, the National Council met for about four hours and discussed a proposal put forward by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for a confederation of two states in Cyprus, already rejected by the government and all political leaders.

The political leaders are discussing ways to react to the Turkish side's proposal, which is contrary to all UN resolutions on Cyprus that call for the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Participating in the meeting, chaired by President Glafcos Clerides, are Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides, Undersecretary to the President Pantelis Kouros and all political party leaders.

CNA MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1405:CYPPRESS:02

[02] National Council - Joint Communique

Party leaders also said the final decision on a debate on Cyprus at the UN General Assembly or the Security Council will be taken after their scheduled trip to New York, later this month, to accompany President Glafcos Clerides there when he addresses the Assembly.

"The National Council examined the situation as this has developed after the statements Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had made in the presence of Turkey's Foreign Minister Ismail Cem last Monday," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said after a four-hour long Council meeting, the second in the past two days.

Denktash proposed to establish a Cyprus confederation with two sovereign and equal states and warned this was the last opportunity to enter a dialogue on this basis and settle the Cyprus question.

UN Security Council members have criticised the Turkish Cypriot statements and reiterated they will continue to work for a bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus.

"Denktash's statements constitute a repetition, a culmination, a codification and further worsening of earlier known intransigent positions of the Turkish side," Stylianides added.

These statements, he stressed, "contravene the UN resolutions on the Cyprus question and are contrary to the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979 (signed by the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides) and the spirit of international law."

Stylianides said the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, reserved its final decision about bringing the problem before the UN Assembly and the Security Council for discussion until after a visit to New York.

President Clerides and party leaders will make up their mind on the issue once they examine the situation as this will emerge after their contacts in New York.

Asked if party leaders agree on what the Turkish intentions are, Stylianides replied "there was a comprehensive assessment and discussion on all these issues and the statements I have just made expresses the Council and its future intentions.

The Spokesman refrained from any comment on the planned deployment of Russian anti-aircraft missiles, noting this would serve Turkish propaganda.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1435:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US - Negotiations

"The goal right now should be to get people into direct contacts and to try to get political negotiations under way and that is what we are working towards," Brill said after a meeting with Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous.

"Here and in Washington, our goal is to try to get people back into direct and constructive talks. We are trying to do everything we can in that regard and we will continue to do that," he added.

Replying to questions, the Ambassador said the US would back any action that would "take us closer to talks" but it would also ask people to think twice if an action seems to lead us away from talks.

Last week Turkish Cypriot leader struck a heavy blow to the peace effort in Cyprus with a proposal to establish a confederation on the island with two sovereign and equal states.

The government of Cyprus rejected the proposal as "unacceptable and absurd" and contrary UN resolutions on Cyprus and agreements between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to establish a federation.

Security Council permanent members criticised Denktash's proposal and pointed out they are working for a bizonal and bicommunal federation.

CNA RG/MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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