Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-23

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Thursday, 23/01/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Let the US guarantee us, says Cyprus Spokesman
• [02] US will continue to push for flight moratorium
• [03] Socialist International urged to help solve the Cyprus problem
• [04] News in brief

[01] Let the US guarantee us, says Cyprus Spokesman

"If they do, then we will open a new chapter in the Cyprus problem", Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said.

Asked to comment on the fact that the US is disappointed with the government's decision not to accept the moratorium proposal, the Spokesman said "this disappointment may be short-lived".

"The US will see we will unilaterally go ahead with what they are asking from us, if and when - during efforts for a solution - we judge that measures should be taken to improve the climate and help efforts for a Cyprus solution", he added.

[02] US will continue to push for flight moratorium

"We think this proposal is a winner. We think it's good for everybody concerned. We'll concentrate our efforts on that through the offices of our American Ambassador Ken Brill", US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said in Washington yesterday.

Asked why, as in the case of Cyprus, the US does not also ask Ankara not to buy weapons for a specific period of time, particularly in view of the fact that the Turkish government has ordered new advanced US-made weapons worth over $500 million, Mr Burns said that Turkey is a NATO ally of the United States, they have a defence relationship and so there will be arms sales between the US and Turkey, and Turkey will purchase arms from other countries.

"Turkey has legitimate defence needs, as does Greece, as does Cyprus. We've made a determination in the case of the anti-aircraft system for Cyprus that it is not helpful to the search for a peace on Cyprus", he said.

Mr Burns added that Mr. Cavanaugh's mission "was meant to reiterate the well known American concern over the last three decades to play a role in the search for peace in Cyprus and to diminish the conflicts along the boundary lines that have resulted in the deaths of two people in the last six months, and to search for a solution on some of these overflight problems".

[03] Socialist International urged to help solve the Cyprus problem

In an address before the Socialist International Council in Rome on 22 January, Mr Simitis said the continuing Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, "constitutes a threat to peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean"

He accused Turkey of following a policy of aggression and threats towards Greece as well in an effort to upset the existing status quo in the Aegean in defiance of international law and international treaties an called on her to show restraint and respond positively to Greek initiatives to solve their problems.

Moreover the President of the Cyprus Socialist pary EDEK, Dr Lyssarides, also called on the Socialist International "wherever you are in government to take active steps of a proper solution to the Cyprus problem, and where you are opposition to exercise pressure on your government so that we shall have a Cyprus united with all the people working together with happiness and progress".

[04] News in Brief

- Greek Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister, George Paschalides, paid a one-day visit to the island yesterday, during which he met with President Clerides and was the key-speaker at a seminar on "Hellenism-Turkey- Europe".

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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