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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-14Cyprus 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 UpdateTuesday, 14/01/97CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus government comments on Carey Cavanaugh's visitGovernment Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides, commenting on the meeting Monday (13.1.97) between President Glafcos Clerides and Carey Cavanaugh, the State Department's Southern European Affairs Director, said it was interesting and positive.He said: "The US Administration did not raise the question of postponing the decision to purchase the missile system for Cyprus' air defence. However, the President of the Republic gave the assurance that delivery of this system is not expected for at least the next sixteen months. "Consequently, there is ample time for everyone to concentrate on the efforts for a diplomatic solution to the Cyprus problem. This is, we believe, the most appropriate time for an intensive effort to solve the Cyprus problem". Cassoulides also confirmed that other issues were discussed to help reduce tension and said: "We repeated our political will to help so that the military dialogue currently being carried out at technical level may produce results. On the part of Mr Cavanaugh, reference was made once again to the question of avoiding overflights on our side during the period of the talks. We have said that under the conditions we have set we are ready to continue the dialogue on this issue". On the same topic, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides said, following talks he had with the American envoy, that both the atmosphere and the content of the talks were very positive. "On our part", he stressed, "we shall do whatever is possible for the early resumption and effectiveness of a dialogue". He added that Carey Cavanaugh raised the question of banning military overflights until 1 September 1997 and that this will be taken up by Mr Cavanaugh during his talks in Athens and Ankara. He said this point continues to remain on the table as a proposal by the US government. "The essential message is that this was a positive visit", the Foreign Minister said, "in the sense that it focused attention on the real aim - both ours and of those who wish to have peace on the island - that of promoting a solution to the Cyprus problem and on how to begin creating the necessary climate for the initiatives to be fruitful". [02] American envoy completes Cyprus visitLeaving Cyprus after a one-day visit (Monday 13.1.97), Carey Cavanaugh, Director of Southern European Affairs at the State Department, revealed that both President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash had agreed in principle to the implementation of UN-proposed measures to reduce the risk of violence along the cease-fire line in Cyprus.The measures include the unmanning of some positions along the Green Line, the unloading of weapons and the adoption of a code of conduct which makes clear that force can only be used in a life-threatening situation. "Both sides today gave their support to very quick and immediate implementation of that pack of proposals", Cavanaugh told journalists before leaving the island for Athens. Earlier, following a meeting with Rauf Denktash, Carey Cavanaugh told reporters: "It's too early to say the tension has fully been reduced. I think what we have seen is a serious reduction in the tension as regards the situation with the Russian missiles. What we hope is what we now see are indications that there will very quickly be steps taken to reduce the tensions along the cease-fire lines and there are other issues still at play which we believe to help relieve tensions further on the island. I will continue to work on those issues in Athens and in Ankara this week". [03] US Spokesman says Cavanaugh has secured agreement on UN measures to reduce tensionsThe US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said yesterday that Mr Carey Cavanaugh, Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs at the US State Department, yesterday discussed with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, additional steps to reduce the risk of incidents along the cease-fire lines in Cyprus."Both President Clerides and Mr. Denktash agreed to give their full support to immediate implementation of the package of measures proposed by the United Nations. This includes further unmanning of positions along the cease-fire lines, the unloading of weapons, and the adoption of a code of conduct which makes clear that force can only be used in life-threatening situations", he said. He added that representatives of the UN forces in Cyprus will be engaging both parties on this particular package of issues during the week. Mr Burns said that an additional item raised during Carey Cavanaugh's visit to Cyprus was the US-sponsored moratorium on the flight of Greek and Turkish military aircraft over Cyprus. "Discussions on this question will continue when Carey visits Athens tomorrow and Wednesday, and Ankara, I believe, on Thursday. He'll be seeing Foreign and Defence Ministry officials in both of those countries", he added. Mr Burns said Cavanaugh had made clear the US's opposition to the recent decision by the government of Cyprus to acquire Russian missiles as well as to the aggressive statements made by the Turkish government last week. He added that President Clerides' concrete assurances that no component of the surface-to-air missile system will be delivered to Cyprus during the next 16 months "effectively, in the view of the United States, defuses this atmosphere of crisis over the missiles in Cyprus. It provides time to the government of Cyprus, the Greek government, and the Turkish government to resolve this issue". "I think Carey is off to a terrific start. I think he's been able to articulate what is at the heart of the issue here, and that is that problems should be resolved peacefully and not through the threat of force or the use of force", he concluded. [04] Missile system a necessity, but demilitarisation proposal standsThe Cyprus government's decision to purchase the Russian S-300 surface-to- air missile system was a "necessity", because Cyprus is under threat from Turkish occupation troops, the Speaker of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis said in Athens yesterday.He was speaking after a meeting with Cyprus' Defence Minister Costas Eliades and the Cyprus House of Representatives Defence Committee, during which defence matters and Turkish threats to strike Cyprus if the missile system is installed, were discussed. Mr Eliades on his part said that "we propose as a confidence building measure and as part of the effort of third parties who are interested in defusing tension, the demilitarisation of Cyprus as the first stage towards negotiations between the two communities aimed at finding a just and acceptable settlement of the Cyprus problem ". The Cyprus delegation also met yesterday with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister George Papandreou. [05] Prospects for Cyprus settlement brighter than ever, says EU RepresentativeProspects for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus are now brighter than ever before, according to the European Union's Presidency Representative for Cyprus Mr Kester Heaslip.Ambassador Heaslip, in a recent interview on local radio in Dublin, also expressed concern over the Cyprus government's decision to buy Russian surface-to-air missiles. He said that the period until the start of accession negotiations either late in 1997 or early the following year, is often described as a "window of opportunity". He added that it is recognised by all parties "that it is in the interest of both communities and all the people of Cyprus that a solution be found to the internal problem before accession negotiations begin". All friends of Cyprus have been urging the Greek and Turkish sides to "make optimum use of this limited period" and "indeed both communities in Cyprus agree with this reading of the situation", Mr Heaslip added. Ambassador Heaslip said the EU considers this year as "one which presents the best opportunity so far for finding a settlement and at the same time presents considerable danger to peace". [06] France recognises Cyprus' right to defend itself, but fears rise in tensionFrench Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jacques Roumelhard said that while France recognises Cyprus' sovereign and legal right to acquire the necessary arms for its defence, it believes that the installation of the S-300 missile system threatens to escalate tensions both on the island and in the region as a whole.Mr Roumelhard, who was replying to questions by Turkish journalists on 10.1.97, added that France has noted the Turkish reactions and counts on the maturity and self-restraint of the authorities in Ankara in order to avoid any action which could increase tension in the region and harm Turkey's relations with its main partners, especially the Europeans. Moreover the French Spokesman expressed his country's wish for the resumption of negotiations for a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem. [07] Earth tremor hits CyprusAn earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit Cyprus at noon yesterday causing some alarm but no damage or casualties.The tremor, which lasted 30 seconds, was felt throughout the island. Its epicentre was located out at sea, some 50 kilometres south west of Paphos, the same spot from which the 9 October 96 quake of 6.5 struck which damaged some buildings on the island. [08] Missiles will not be delivered before 16 months, Spokesman clarifies"The agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus for the purchase of anti-aircraft missiles S-300, provides for delivery in not earlier than 16 months".This clarification was made by Cyprus' Government Spokesman in Nicosia today (14.1.97). Yiannakis Cassoulides said that Mr Cavanaugh, Director of Southern European Affairs at the US State Department who visited Cyprus yesterday, was informed of this by President Clerides. Mr Cassoulides reaffirmed that until delivery of the missiles there is ample time to concentrate efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem. 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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