Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-09-25

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM - party leaders - contacts

[02] Clerides addresses General Assembly

[03] Cyprus Rally kicks off

[04] Clerides - Press conference

[05] UN - Cyprus

1500 CYPPRESS:01

[01] FM - party leaders - contacts

Kasoulides exchanged views on issues concerning the Middle East with Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouq Al-Shara. He also discussed the Cyprus problem with Philippines Foreign Minister, Domingo Siazon Jr.

The Foreign Minister also examined issues concerning the island's accession course to the European Union with the deputy Foreign Minister of Austria, whose country chairs the presidency of the EU this term.

Meanwhile, political party leaders or representatives who are accompanying President Glafcos Clerides in New York also held a number of meetings with foreign dignitaries where they explained the positions of the Greek Cypriot side on the Cyprus problem.

Leader of the ruling Democratic Rally Party, Nicos Anastasiades and Vice President of the United Democrats, Michalis Papapetrou, met the foreign Minister of Albania, Pascal Milo, Slovenia Foreign Minister Dr. Boris Friec, Estonia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Indrek Tarnd and the Permanent Representative of Latvia, Janis Priebkains.

AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias and General Secretary of the Democratic Party, Stathis Kittis met the Foreign Ministers of Belarus and Laos, Ivan Antonivich Somsarat Lengsavad.

Socialist EDEK President, Vasos Lyssarides met the Foreign Minister of Cuba, Roberto Robaina and the Permanent Representative of Libya to the UN, Abuzed Omar Dorda.

Meanwhile Lyssarides, represented Cyprus at the Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement which took place yesterday at the UN headquarters.

Addressing the NAM Ministers, Lyssarides expressed appreciation for the final communique issued during the recent NAM summit in Durban, South Africa.

CNA MA/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800 CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides addresses General Assembly

In his address to the 53rd Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly, President Clerides pointed out that "the UN has a special role to play in the promotion of the well-being of small states", which are "often exposed to a much greater degree than larger states to threats, because of increased vulnerability to their environment and security".

He said that Cyprus is one such state and that the island "suffers for more than 24 years the grave consequences of the Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of more than one third of its territory".

President Clerides said that no solution has yet been found, "despite the pronounced will of the international community, through numerous resolutions and the willingness of the Greek Cypriot side to negotiate in good faith".

He said that "it is therefore reasonable to ask why", adding that the answer is "because of the non-implementation and flagrant violation of UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by Turkey".

The Cypriot President went on to give some examples of "these flagrant violations" and gave special emphasis to the latest, the proposal put forward by Denktash for a "confederation of two states."

President Clerides said that Denktash's proposal "violates all UN resolutions, which call for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, and is aimed at derailing the negotiating process from the base of the UN resolutions on Cyprus, but also at extinguishing the independence of the Republic of Cyprus and creating, under the guise of a Turkish Cypriot Republic, a Turkish colony in Cyprus or to say the least a Turkish protectorate".

He added that former UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros Ghali had, in one of his reports to the Security Council, "identified that a cause for the absence of progress in Cyprus is the lack of political will on the part of the Turkish side" and that the report completes "the diagnosis of the causes of the failure to make progress towards a solution".

The President stressed that "the international community should not allow one state to violate for so long its expressed will" and that "the Security Council, the main organ for international peace and security, should proceed with examining how to implement its resolutions the soonest possible".

He furthermore said that both he and Denktash are both members of a generation "that has seen the best and the worst of the recent history of Cyprus" and that Greek and Turkish Cypriots look to their leaders "to help shape a future that is better than the present and that will not allow for a repetition of the past".

President Clerides described his "vision of the future" which is for all Cypriots to enjoy security in their homes and communities, and to "pursue their livelihoods free of economic restrictions and the fear of instability".

He pointed out that "the solution of any constitutional problem on the basis of communal or ethnic criteria and federalism contains elements of partnership and political equality of the constituent parts", adding that such a partnership is offered "on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation".

He also said that "it is obvious that a bicommunal solution must be negotiated not only because all UN resolutions so demand, but also because only in negotiations can we work out the practical steps needed to realise a functioning solution".

President Clerides stressed that the "gap between what ordinary Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots want and need in a settlement is not so great as it might appear", because both want the same things, "peace, prosperity, stability, and physical, political, economic and cultural security, including respect and enjoyment of their homes and properties".

He expressed certainty that "working together, under the umbrella of the UN and with the help of the international community, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can construct a settlement that meets these needs and removes the fears and insecurities that have plagued Cyprus since the middle part of this century".

"To do this", he stressed, "we must begin serious negotiations", adding that "the current generation of leadership must negotiate a settlement to our decades-long problem".

President Clerides said that "while we cannot reconcile ourselves with the Turkish invasion and occupation, we are genuinely determined to renew and invigorate bicommunal confidence and trust, cooperation and interaction with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots".

At this point, President Clerides renewed his invitation to Denktash "to work together for the solution of the Cyprus problem, in order to build a happy and prosperous island for our children and future generations".

He added that "the continuing tension prevents Cyprus and its people from assuming their rightful role and making their contribution to regional stability and the improvement of Greco-Turkish relations".

He also said that Cyprus will "continue to exercise its sovereign right to strengthen its defence with what it considers necessary, for as long as Turkish occupation forces remain in Cyprus".

The President reiterated that Greek Cypriot proposals for talks on the withdrawal of "all foreign forces and elements and the demilitarisation" of the island are "still valid and timely".

He also praised the worldwide work of the UN and said that "the leaders of the world must decide the kind of the world we want our children and grandchildren to live in".

CNA RG/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2035 CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Rally kicks off

This year's rally will have 18 special stages and for the first time five of them will be run twice.

Twelve crews are participating, including world-class Italian Andrea Navarra, who is in second place in the European Championship.

The winner of the Cyprus Rally will finish at Eleftheria Square on Sunday night.

CNA EC/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2210 CYPPRESS:04

[04] Clerides - Press conference

United Nations, Sep 25 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides announced that the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan informed him today that he is shaping his thoughts on how to proceed with the Cyprus peace efforts.

Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters, after meeting Annan, President Clerides said the present deadlock could be overcome if Annan's mission of good offices is reinforced by the international community.

The President reiterated his willingness to begin negotiations for a Cyprus settlement, based on UN resolutions, which stipulate the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

"The Secretary-General has informed me of how he is shaping his thoughts about how to proceed with regard to the Cyprus problem", the President said, but refrained from elaborating.

Replying to questions, he said he told US President Bill Clinton, at a meeting over a luncheon hosted by the UN chief on Monday that "it is necessary for Turkey and Denktash to accept the Security Council resolutions as a basis for the negotiations for a bicommunal, bizonal federation".

Regarding the Russian S300 missiles which Cyprus plans to deploy later this year, President Clerides said that "as long as Turkish forces remain in Cyprus, we will exercise our sovereign right to import whatever equipment we consider necessary for our defence".

However, he underlined he is ready to begin talks for a settlement in Cyprus or "for measures for reducing tension on the island or for avoiding to take any measure which would jeopardise any progress in the negotiations."

He said this "means there must be an on-going negotiation and some progress in that negotiation".

President Clerides refused to reply to a question when the S300 missiles will be installed because of Turkish threats to take action, but noted the decision to purchase them was taken because Cyprus has no airforce.

He noted "it was a military decision and has nothing to do with political considerations".

Asked if he would delay the deployment of the missiles if there are developments towards resuming negotiations, he said: "If the situation is such that we are moving towards discussing, according to Security Council resolutions, reduction of armaments, forces, limitation of importation of armaments, yes, that will go in that package".

"But not if one side can have as many weapons as it wants. I cannot accept a one-sided limitation," the President added.

The Cyprus government ordered the Russian made S300 last year in a bid to boost its air defence in view of the heavily armed Turkish troops in the island's northern third.

The US, Britain, and other countries object to the planned deployment of the missiles.

The government has already said the missiles will be deployed unless there is substantial progress in the peace effort for a comprehensive solution or steps are taken towards the demilitarisation of Cyprus.

Invited to comment on the Turkish proposal for a "confederation of states" in Cyprus and statements by Turkish Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz and Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, that it lies within the framework of UN negotiations, President Clerides pointed out that UN resolutions "speak of a federal solution, bicommunal, bizonal, with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship".

He noted that in legal terms this is what a federation means. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, last month proposed the establishment of a "confederation" in Cyprus, which is completely contrary to UN resolutions.

The proposal has already been rejected by the Cyprus government, the UN chief and the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Two high-level agreements reached between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in 1977 and in 1979, signed by Denktash himself, envisage the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus. This was also included in numerous UN resolutions.

Asked if the Turkish positions could be overcome only through the UN Secretary-General's good offices, President Clerides replied "if the offices of the Secretary-General are reinforced by efforts from other members of the international community...it might help".

The President said the UN has already called for negotiations to settle the Cyprus problem and in his speech before the General Assembly today he gave his positive response.

Referring to the possibilities of overcoming the deadlock, President Clerides said it would be possible "but some work has to be done before that".

He said that if the Turkish side recognises the provisions of UN resolutions, "the road for a solution opens, if it is not accepted, we are in the position which we have been since 1974".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. Denktash's demand for recognition of his illegal regime, unilaterally declared in the occupied part of Cyprus has been rejected by the UN.

Asked why the Security Council does not take measures against Turkey for not abiding by its resolutions, he told journalists they should refer that question to the Security Council.

President Clerides pointed out that if the Turkish intransigence continues, the Cyprus problem will not be settled. He also underlined he would never accept "two states' which would become protectorates of Greece and Turkey.

"If we cannot find a solution, it is because there is outside interference", the President said.

Invited to comment on press reports that the US will investigate whether there are US arms in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, Clerides referred to the Congress' wish to clarify this issues.

"That will not be difficult to know, because the entire equipment of the Turkish army in Cyprus has come from the US", he said, adding that the Americans "should know" if the Greek Cypriots have any American arms, because "in order to have them, they should have sold them to us".

He reminded that the US has an embargo on the sale of arms to Cyprus.

CNA MA/RG/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2245 CYPPRESS:05

[05] UN - Cyprus

United Nations, Sep 25 (CNA) -- The UN Secretary-General's envoys on Cyprus and the representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council will now explore the positions of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on the substance of the Cyprus problem.

According to sources, the aim will be to establish common ground and prepare a dialogue for an overall settlement in Cyprus.

At the same time, they all agree that tension will exist for as long as the arms race in Cyprus continues and will therefore examine ways of tackling it.

The same sources said the Secretary-General has ideas on how to achieve a reduction of tension on the island, which he will discuss with the other parties involved in the Cyprus peace process.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article