Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] G8 - Japan - Canada - Cyprus

1700:CYPPRESS:01

[01] G8 - Japan - Canada - Cyprus

Cologne, Jun 19 (CNA) -- Japan has pledged to back initiatives calling on the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to attend negotiations for a settlement in Cyprus, Sadaaki Numata, spokesman for the Japanese premier, said here today.

Canada, on its part, has said the final communique on Cyprus will be based on the proposal to the G8 summit by the foreign ministers as well as subsequent work done on it by political directors.

Asked by CNA at a press conference to outline Japan's position on the revised draft text on the Cyprus question, Sadaaki said he could not go into the details of the revised draft as such.

However, he said that as a general position Japan finds it "regrettable that despite many years of mediation, despite the UN, there is no prospect for the resolution of the conflict in Cyprus."

"We do support initiatives which call on both parties concerned to participate in comprehensive negotiation," he added, noting that the question of Cyprus has not been discussed yet by the G8 leaders, now in the second day of their deliberations.

He explained this was the general context in which Japan will be taking part in the discussion.

On their part, Canadian government officials also said the question of Cyprus has not been discussed, noting that "this is an economic summit."

Asked by CNA whether the G8 intend to apply UN resolutions in their final paragraph on Cyprus, as they have done in the case of Kosovo, the officials said "yes, UN Security Council resolutions and relevant agreements will be mentioned", but avoided to elaborate on the context of the reference.

Asked by Antena TV if there was agreement on the wording on Cyprus by the G8, the officials said there is likely to be an initiative suggesting to the UN Secretary General to ask the parties to go back to the negotiating table.

Invited to say if the final text on Cyprus will be based on the G8 foreign ministers' proposal or on the revised draft, the Canadian officials said the document will be based "on the work of the foreign ministers and the work done on that by political directors."

CNA MM/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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