Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-18

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kyprianou - Clerides - Spokesman

[02] Mouradov - G8 - Cyprus

[03] Britain - Cyprus - G8

[04] G8 - Chirac - Cyprus

[05] G8 - German official - Cyprus

[06] DISI Pancyprian Conference

1535:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Kyprianou - Clerides - Spokesman

Speaking after a meeting today with the President, Kyprianou said that he was "satisfied" with the way Clerides handled the situation.

Brill had refused to meet Kyprianou earlier this month, who was at the time acting President of the Republic, as President Clerides was on a state visit to China.

The US Embassy had also issued a statement last week saying that party members of left-wing AKEL and centre-right Democratic Party, which Kyprianou leads, had not accepted invitations to embassy-sponsored events in recent weeks, but went to the embassy to demonstrate against NATO's air raids in Yugoslavia. The two political parties expressed their dissatisfaction.

Kyprianou said today that the President "will give emphasis to the fact that the US Ambassador refused to meet with the acting President".

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman, Costas Serezis, did not confirm nor dismiss Kyprianou's statement that the President will make representations to Brill on Monday.

Serezis told the press that the President is examining the issue and that he will decide "how and when to intervene".

CNA RG/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Mouradov - G8 - Cyprus

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Mouradov reaffirmed Russia's support to a viable solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Asked what he expects on Cyprus from the G8 summit in Cologne, Mouradov said Russia's position was reflected in the G8 Foreign Ministers' recommendations and added that "certainly there should be reference to UN resolutions on Cyprus at heads' of state level as well".

The G8 Foreign Ministers called upon their leaders to reiterated their support to UN efforts for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and to urge the UN Secretary General to invite the two sides to negotiations without preconditions.

Replying to a question, Mouradov agreed that it was expected the G8 summit "would, to a certain degree, push the process of achieving a Cyprus settlement, in the framework of the UN and under the auspices of the UN Secretary General".

He also clarified that negotiations with no preconditions did not imply that the Turkish demand for a confederation of two states was on the table, pointing out that it meant "without preconditions in the framework and based on UN Security Council resolutions".

UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus have repeatedly called for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single international identity.

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

CNA RG/MCH/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Britain - Cyprus - G8

Cologne Jun 18 (CNA) -- Leaders of the G8 group (seven most industrialised nations plus Russia) are considering a revised draft text on Cyprus, but feel confident that they will all find the words they can agree on.

This was the message conveyed here today by Alistair Campbell, press secretary of the British premier Tony Blair, who was speaking at a press conference.

Campbell also said that the German G8 presidency is trying to get discussions among the group's nations back on track to discuss in depth, as originally intended, "a selected number of issues."

Asked by CNA to say how hopeful he was that last week's text, approved by G8 foreign ministers, will be adopted by the Cologne summit, Campbell said he was aware of a "draft text on Cyprus", noting the difficulties in finding the right diction to be agreed on by all concerned.

"I am aware that there is a draft text on Cyprus and I am equally aware that there are always difficulties in getting any words agreed on Cyprus, but confident that they will be," he told CNA.

Being further questioned on the matter, and replying to a question by Antena TV on whether the FM's proposal on Cyprus is under reconsideration, the British official said he was aware of a text but refrained from further comment.

Meanwhile, British diplomatic sources have stressed to CNA that the G8 effort on Cyprus is "supportive" of the UN attempts to resume peace negotiations and said that "all draft texts are flexible."

Asked if the revised draft is there to appease Turkish objections to the G8 involvement in Cyprus, the same sources restricted themselves in saying that the G8 interest and involvement is in support of the UN Secretary General's effort.

Replying to a question about the possibility of including a reference to the situation in Kashmir in the final communique, Campbell said "it is not clear yet which of the foreign policy issues will get separate statements."

He explained that the G8 agenda "is a matter of the German presidency", noting that Britain would welcome the opportunity to discuss such an issue (Kashmir) at a forum such as the G8 summit.

"There are big issues that cause huge concern" he said, and cited the problems in Belgium.

Replying to other questions, he said the German presidency is trying "to get the G8 back to what it was intended to be when it was first started, which was a genuine in depth discussion about a selected number of issues."

This, he explained, does not mean you cannot agree statements on other issues.

CNA MM/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2125:CYPPRESS:04

[04] G8 - Chirac - Cyprus

Cologne, Jun 18 (CNA) -- French President, Jacques Chirac said here today the Cyprus question will be discussed at tonight's working dinner by the leaders of the seven most industrialised countries and Russia (G8).

Speaking at a press conference, and in reply to a question if the leaders will discuss the Cyprus issue, he said, "yes, it is on the agenda of tonight's working dinner".

He went on to add, "I cannot prejudge what we are going to say". Asked by CNA whether he believed the G8 will adopt the text on Cyprus which the Foreign Ministers put forward, he restricted himself in saying "we will see this evening".

Leaders of all eight nations will sit at a working dinner tonight. Russia will be represented by the country's Premier, Sergei Stebasin. President Boris Yeltsin is due to arrive here Sunday.

CNA MM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2230:CYPPRESS:05

[05] G8 - German official - Cyprus

Cologne, Jun 18 (CNA) -- A high ranking German official, representing the G8 rotating presidency currently exercised by Bonn, confirmed that the Cyprus problem is on the agenda of tonight's working dinner but pointed out that the Cologne summit is dominated by the issue of Kosovo.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Klaus Gretschmann said "Kosovo will prevail at the working dinner" of the seven most industrialised nations and Russia (G8).

He added, however, that "Cyprus, Turkey, Kashmir and other issues" are also on the agenda.

Gretschmann is head of the economic department within the federal chancellery and was appointed by Chancellor Gerhard Schroder as his shespa (high ranking collaborators of the leaders of the G8 group, who prepare the summits and the communiques of these meetings).

CNA MM/MCH/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2240:CYPPRESS:06

[06] DISI Pancyprian Conference

In his speech, DISY President Nicos Anastasiades said the priority of his party and Cyprus will be the island's accession course to the European Union, (EU) which will secure the fundamental human rights of the people and achieve a lasting, just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

Anastasiades said a solution of the Cyprus problem should not be diverted from the UN, the high level agreements or the fundamental principles of international law.

DISY Honorary President, who founded the party in 1976, President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides told delegates at the conference that the Cyprus problem will remain part of the UN and will be solved within the framework of the international organisation.

He added however that it would be a utopia to think that without international interest the UN can solve the Cyprus alone.

Clerides further said that no power will ever make him sign a confederal solution to the Cyprus problem.

In his speech, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, Costas Gitonas said unity "constitutes the force which will lead to a successful conclusion of efforts" to promote national issues.

He also stressed that the "Cyprus problem is a problem of invasion and occupation and everyone agrees about the need for a solution through peaceful procedures and within the framework of the UN."

Referring to the island's accession course to the EU, Gitonas said that it is clear, it continues smoothly and it cannot be stopped.

New Democracy leader, Costas Karamanlis conveyed a message of unity, noting that Cyprus is the bastion of Hellenism.

He said that "Greece should adopt a long term national strategy", adding that his party has proposed a Foreign Policy Council so that all parties will participate in the long term planning which will help to avoid problems before they evolve.

Karamanlis further said the fate of both Cyprus and Greece is "mutual" and that Greece will support with all its strength Cyprus' accession to the EU.

Political party leaders from Cyprus and Greece, and representatives from the European Democrat Union and the European Parliament also addressed the three day conference.

The conference culminates on Sunday with the election of Deputy President and 10 positions for the party's political bureau.

Following the opening ceremony, President Clerides inaugurated the party's new head offices in central Nicosia.

CNA EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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