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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-04-10Cyprus 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 UpdateThursday, 10/04/97CONTENTS[01] EU Dutch Presidency: Status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable"In line with UN Security Council resolutions, the European Union is convinced that the status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable and causes suffering to the population", Mr Peter van Wulfften Palthe, head of the Dutch delegation on behalf of the EU, said on 8.4.97 in his statement to the 53rd Session of the Commission on Human Rights of the UN in Geneva (10 March - 18 April 1997).The Dutch representative also said that there is an urgent need to intensify efforts towards promoting a just and viable solution based on a bizonal, bi-communal federation in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the high-level agreements. "We call for respect of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots and in this respect wish that the Committee on Missing Persons set up by the UN continues its work without hindrance", Mr van Wulfften Palthe added. In his statement at the same session, Mr Kyriacos Kalattas, speaking on behalf of the "International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and other Minorities" on the subject "Violations of human rights in Cyprus by Turkey since 1974", referred to the eviction of Greek Cypriots from their homes and for looting and deprivation of their possessions, for which Turkey was found responsible. Mr Kalattas also referred to the humanitarian problem of the missing persons as well as to the problems faced by the enclaved people in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. "The enclaved are denied access to educational, medical and religious facilities. They are subjected to restrictions regarding freedom of movement contrary to the 3rd Vienna Agreement which aimed at securing human living conditions for the enclaved", Mr Kalattas noted. Lastly, Mr Kalattas referred to the problem created by the Turkish colonists. "Turkey has maintained a policy of bringing in thousands of Anatolian colonists to settle in the occupied area, thus changing the demographic character of the island", he said. [02] UN aims at face-to-face talksThe aim of the United Nations remains the holding of direct talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader R. Denktash in the first half of 1997, the U.N. Secretary General's resident representative in Cyprus Gustave Feissel said in Geneva yesterday, after the meeting U.N. Chief Kofi Annan had with Mr Rauf Denktash.As reported by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (Cy.B.C.), Mr Feissel said that some decisions on the next steps to be followed have been taken but he did not reveal these decisions. He noted that the more preparatory work done the better as it might lead to results. Mr Feissel added that the two sides should realise that negotiation also means compromise. According to the same source, Mr Feissel said that in view of Cyprus' accession process to the EU, the two leaders should display a sense of responsibility, give importance to their efforts so that something is done for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Furthermore, as reported by Cy.B.C. a UN source said good will gestures are also being discussed and that relevant proposals have been made by the two sides. Some of them might be implemented soon, the same source said. [03] US will pursue proposal for overflight banThe US will continue to pursue its proposal for a moratorium of overflights in Cyprus. It believes that this is an appropriate method of dealing with the continuing violations of Cyprus' air space by Turkish military aircraft, the American Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, said to journalists after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides yesterday.Mr Brill said that he reviewed "several issues of mutual concern" and talked about developments in the Cyprus issue with President Clerides. "We had a very constructive discussion and we were able to reiterate the fact that relations between the governments are close, and cooperation will continue. We have a fruitful exchange", he noted. The idea of a moratorium, was not part of the discussions of this meeting, he said. [04] European Commission: Turkey has no right to veto Cyprus' accession negotiationsThe European Commission notes that Cyprus' accession negotiations with the EU will start six months after the Intergovernmental Conference and that E.U. member countries recognise only the legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus.This was stressed by the European Commission replying to a question by EuroMP G. Roumbatis regarding Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus' accession process. In the same reply the European Commission also says that in the preparatory discussions for the meeting on the structured dialogue which should have taken place on 25.2.97, many E.U. countries had the view that in the common stance the EU should express the wish for the participation of the Turkish Cypriot community in the accession process, i.e. that satisfactory progress towards the solution of the Cyprus problem through negotiations would have been made so that such a scenario could be possible. It has not been possible though to agree on the final phrasing of this, the EU commission said. Answering Mr Roumbatis' same question, the Dutch EU Presidency gave a similar reply to that of the European Commission, stressing that Turkey has no right to veto the start of Cyprus' accession negotiations. 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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