Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 01-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Britain welcomes Clerides - Denktash meeting, UN presence

[02] Foreign Minister hopes Denktash is not bluffing

[03] Belgian Senator visits Cyprus

1130:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Britain welcomes Clerides - Denktash meeting, UN presence

"We always encourage the dialogue between the two sides. We especially welcome this meeting taking place at a time when there is a sense of urgency," a British Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman has told CNA.

The spokesman said London "also welcomes the presence of the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto at the meeting."|

CNA MM/AAR/2001

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1140:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Foreign Minister hopes Denktash is not bluffing

The minister said that next month's meeting could give an impetus to the substance of the Cyprus question, a development that would allow the top UN envoy on Cyprus to continue the peace process, which Denktash abandoned last year.

"It is obvious that Denktash's invitation for a face to face meeting with the President is a self-motivated move, backed perhaps by Ankara, which nobody expected," Kasoulides said on his way to China for a week-long official visit.

He said this was a tactical move to dilute the impressions Denktash's rejection of the UN invitation to talks had created.

"I insist this is a bluff but I hope and pray I am wrong and that Denktash proves me wrong on the 4 December and we see him at the meeting with the political will to discuss seriously the Cyprus question," the minister said.

Kasoulides said that if Denktash moves in this direction, President Clerides would be ready to have substantive talks with a view to finding a solution.

The minister dismissed press suggestions that others (US and Britain) than Denktash and Ankara were involved in this latest move by the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Replying to questions, Kasoulides said that the purpose of the meeting concerns the essence of the Cyprus issue since it is taking place as part of the good offices of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

"If the substance of the problem is given a push at the meeting, then the peace process will carry on through Anna's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto," Kasoulides said.

De Soto's presence at the meeting, which the Turkish side has described as "external interference," signifies that this encounter is taking place within the UN framework of efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

The UN diplomat is due on the island on 2 December for separate meetings with Clerides and Denktash on the eve of the meeting, the first face to face meeting between the two leaders since August 1997.

Commenting on Turkish Cypriot fears with regard to Cyprus' prospective accession to the European Union, Kasoulides said the President will tell Denktash that there is time to solve the political problem and see a united Cyprus join the EU.

"We are not going to give up on our objective for EU membership because of Turkish threats to annex the occupied part of the island or warnings about possible conflict," Kasoulides said, noting that such remarks "leave us no other choice but to move on with our state goal."

The EU, he said, does not operate on the basis of threats from anybody.

Cyprus is set to join the EU in time for the 2004 European Parliament elections. Turkey has repeatedly warned it would react to such a prospect by annexing the areas it occupies since 1974.

Referring to his visit to China, he said Cyprus needs to talk to different fronts, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

"China is a friendly-disposed country and has always maintained a positive stance towards our views at Council meetings," he said.

The minister will be received by the Chinese Vice President and have talks with the Foreign Minister.

CNA MM/AAR/2001

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Belgian Senator visits Cyprus

During his stay here Mahoux will meet with House President Demetris Christofias, the Chairman of the House European Affairs Committee Tassos Papadopoulos as well as with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michalis Attalides.

According to an official press release, Mahoux is visiting Cyprus and other countries on behalf of Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt in order to draw up a draft report on the discussion among EU member states and candidate countries on the future of the EU.

The report will outline the views of these countries on the role of National Parliaments in the new European structure.

Mahoux leaves Cyprus Monday 26 November.

CNÁ/AAR/MM/2001

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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