Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-07-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Minister - Cyprus problem - Talks

1215:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Foreign Minister - Cyprus problem - Talks

He also said the Greek Cypriot side is willing to discuss in parallel and simultaneously all aspects of the problem which would lead to a solution.

The minister did not rule out the possibility of seeing a Turkish Cypriot president of a united Cyprus, on the basis of the philosophy of "one man one vote" but stressed this does not signal acceptance of the Turkish Cypriot demand for a rotating presidency under a federal roof.

In an interview with the Greek speaking daily "Simerini", Kasoulides said "we will go to negotiations with a good disposition to solve the problem and not to legalise the de facto partition."

He dismissed any notion of a confederal solution, explaining that this would entail the recognition of two states and the legalisation of division, which means "perpetuation of the wall that divides Cyprus and continuation of the problem itself."

Replying to questions, he said some kind of a balance system with regard to decision taking will have to be negotiated "to allay fears of the Turkish Cypriot community that decisions will be taken without its participation."

"Effective participation and the method of decision making are to be negotiated. The status of the Turkish Cypriot canton will be discussed in the context of a bizonal bicommunal federation, as provided by UN resolutions," the minister said.

Commenting on a Turkish Cypriot demand for a rotating presidency, Kasoulides said either one should stick to the existing treaties (which provides for a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president) or a system which would allow any Turkish Cypriot to claim the presidency through a unified electoral list.

"In other words, elections would take place on the basis of one man one vote but this does not mean we accept the notion of rotating presidency, " he said.

Replying to questions, he said should the talks fail due to the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side, the Greek Cypriots will have alternative options based on a joint defence pact with Greece, Cyprus' accession course in the European Union and a campaign to inform world opinion about the situation.

He said the Greek Cypriot side wants to have "substantive involvement of the UN Secretary General in the negotiations" he is expected to call, following a recommendation by the G8 group in their Cologne summit last month for talks on all issues and without precondition, with full consideration of UN resolutions and relevant treaties.

The leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Rauf Denktash insists on what he calls "state to state" talks and wants to set up a confederal system of government, contrary to UN resolutions and an agreement he himself has signed to establish a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

CNA MM/MK/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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