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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-13Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateMonday, 13/01/97CONTENTS[01] US criticises Turkey's continuing aggressive public rhetoric against CyprusThe US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns made another statement last week criticising Turkey for its threats against Cyprus, over the Cyprus government's decision to purchase Russian surface-to-air missiles.Referring to Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller's threats that Turkey would strike at the missiles when they are deployed, Mr Burns said at his briefing on 10 January 97 that these seem "to up the ante" from the "tendentious" statements made the day before by the Turkish Defence Minister. "If Foreign Minister Ciller is being quoted accurately, we believe such dramatic statements from her or any other Turkish official are uncalled for and most unwise". Mr Burns reiterated that the United States does not support the decision by the government of Cyprus to purchase and deploy the anti-aircraft missile system. He added, however, that "any threat of the use of force, any decision to use force, is absolutely beyond the bounds of acceptable international behaviour". He said that this view had been made known directly to the Turkish government. "These public statements concern us because they are inconsistent with the oft-repeated Turkish statements and professions of interest in peace in the eastern Mediterranean and of a negotiated peaceful settlement in Cyprus". "We think that everyone in the eastern Mediterranean - Turks, Greeks, the Cypriots, the parties in Cyprus - should draw back from this type of aggressive public rhetoric. They should sit down together and they should go through the peace discussions on Cyprus and attempt to resolve the problems peacefully. That is why the United States has sent Carey Cavanaugh, our envoy, to the region, to ask that that be the position of all the governments in the region", he said. Asked if the US government believes that there is a potential for a crisis in Cyprus, Mr Burns said they have been encouraged by the "responsible" statements of the Cypriot government in reaction to these Turkish statements. "Our view is that the reaction of the Cypriot government to the unwise public threats of the Turkish Defence Ministry and now the Foreign Ministry was quite measured and calm, and attempted to pull itself back from any kind of sense of crisis". Mr Burns said the US have a good relationship with Cyprus and although they have a difference of opinion on the anti-aircraft system this does not mean that they would have to criticise the government of Cyprus on all other issues or aspects of the same issue. He said they want to be fair and want to contribute to peace, "not to the false sense of crisis that is being created by some of these statements". [02] UN Secretary-General expresses concern over increased tensions in CyprusThe UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, believes that last week's events over Cyprus once again underline the inherent instability of the status quo and add urgency to the concerted efforts to achieve an overall political settlement on the island through negotiations.A statement issued on his behalf by the Acting UN Spokesman on 10 January 97 adds that the UN Secretary-General underscores the importance of carefully prepared, face-to-face talks between the leaders. He recalled the latest UN Security Council resolution on Cyprus, which expresses grave concern about the excessive levels of military forces and armaments in the Republic of Cyprus and the rate at which they are being expanded, upgraded and modernised, including the introduction of sophisticated weaponry. He calls upon the parties to respond positively to the various ideas the United Nations has put forward to reduce tension and avoid risk of confrontation on the island and urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint. The Secretary-General reminds all sides that the United Nations Charter forbids the threat or use of force in situations such as this. [03] Tension is now defused, says US official after meeting President CleridesMr Carey Cavanaugh, Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs at the US State Department, who arrived in Cyprus last night, had a meeting this morning (13.1.97) with President Clerides which he described as "very productive" and as pointing in "very positive directions".He reiterated that the US were upset by this decision to purchase the missiles and that they find intolerable any prospect of a military response to that decision. He stressed that he did not ask President Clerides to cancel that decision and did not raise that item at all. However, he said that he found it very helpful that President Clerides gave his assurance that not a single component of those missile systems will be brought to this island in the next 16 months. "I believe that that effectively should defuse this as a crisis issue for Cyprus. People should not be talking now about concerns of conflict here because that is not a problem for today", Mr Cavanaugh said. The US diplomat also said he had discussed with President Clerides other steps that can be taken on the island to reduce tensions and added that he would continue these discussions when he meets with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash later today. Asked if he had put any preconditions on the start of the American initiative, Mr Cavanaugh said he had made clear how the initiative could start and what could be taken to reduce tensions, expressing the hope that soon "we will be able to move forward with many of these". He said that the question of the overflights was also discussed and was an item that still remains on the table and will continue to be discussed. Asked whether he would be meeting with the Turkish military chief of staff, who is on a visit to the occupied area, he said he would not meet with the General now, but had had frequent discussions with the Turkish military in the past and will be visiting Ankara later in the week. He emphasised that he was in Cyprus to look at ways to help defuse tension and at ways to help promote a settlement. [04] More bicommunal contacts to be encouragedForeign diplomats in Nicosia, at a meeting at UNFICYP headquarters, have agreed to intensify their efforts for contacts and activities between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island, noting that this would help achieve a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem.The foreign diplomats also expressed concern that "the two communities of Cyprus, after decades of division, suffer from mistrust and mutual suspicion". From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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