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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-02-24Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
0910:CYPPRESS:01[01] Cyprus Foreign Minister - US contactsWashington, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has called for increased effort to persuade Ankara to cooperate constructively in the peace process and stressed the need to implement UN resolutions, in particular resolution 1218/98 which would help reduce tension.Speaking in Washington where he is having contacts with US administration officials and Congressmen, Kasoulides pointed out that Turkish intransigence continues to prevent the resumption of intercommunal talks. Cyprus, he said, will do all it can to achieve progress towards a settlement and called on Congress to do whatever it can so that the US government exerts pressure on Turkey to show the necessary political will. Kasoulides underlined the need to implement fully all UN resolutions on Cyprus, in particular 1218 (December 1998), pointing out that such a development would help reduce tension and armaments as well as contribute towards the full demilitarisation of Cyprus. He recalled President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for demilitarisation and the need to deploy a multi-national force with a mandate from the Security Council. The minister thanked the US Congress for its support for Cyprus' bid to become a member of the European Union and said that the EU accession process would be a pressure lever on Turkey and a catalyst in efforts to solve the Cyprus question. Kasoulides also referred to the humanitarian issues of enclaved Greek Cypriots in the island's Turkish-occupied part and the issue of persons listed as missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion. He said the Turkish side should help promote the resolutions of these issues and pointed out that the presence of illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied areas causes complications for both communities and makes the peace effort more difficult. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. The Foreign Minister met in the past couple of days with prominent members of the US Congress and members of the Hellenic Causus of the House of Representatives. The minister returns home from a two-week absence on Saturday. CNA DA/MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1050:CYPPRESS:02[02] British envoy - USWashington, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Developments in the Cyprus question was at the core of discussions Britain's representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, had in the US.On Tuesday, Sir David met in Washington with Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering and Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs James Steinberg. The British diplomat also had a working lunch with State Department special coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller and other American officials dealing with Cyprus with whom he exchanged views on the current situation in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem. Hannay met also with Miriam Sapiro, member of staff of the National Security Council. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Miller will leave his present post to assume an ambassadorial post in Bosnia. Hannay met on Monday in New York with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. CNA DA/MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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