Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-07-22

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

News Update

Tuesday, 22/07/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Turkish threats have adverse effect on talks
• [02] Foreign Minister in Syria
• [03] Cyprus' independence and territorial integrity cannot be cast in doubt, says EU President

[01] Turkish threats have adverse effect on talks

Speaking after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, President Clerides and Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said the Turkish threats would be discussed at the National Council, the government's top advisory body on the Cyprus problem, when it meets on Thursday, and a course of action will then be decided. Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides would also raise the issue with the Greek government during his visit to Athens on Friday

The Government Spokesman said, however, that there was no question of calling off the second round of direct talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, scheduled to take place in Montreux, near Geneva, in Switzerland from 11 to 16 August.

He added that nor was there a question of cancelling the separate meetings that President Clerides and Mr Denktash are due to have today with UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel, to discuss humanitarian issues.

The leaders of the two communities decided to meet in Nicosia and discuss humanitarian issues during their first round of direct talks on the Cyprus issue, held in Troutbeck, New York, July 9 - 12.

The Turkish threats were compounded by the visit to the occupied areas at the weekend by Turkey's deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to mark the 23rd anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion and the violations of Nicosia air space by Turkish military jets during the parades in the north.

Denktash and Ecevit. issued a nine-point joint declaration which includes provisions for "partial integration" of the area occupied by Turkey since its 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

The declaration states that the partial integration in economic and financial areas and partnerships in the fields of security, defence and foreign policy, will coincide with Cyprus' European Union membership.

It says the breakaway Turkish-Cypriot state would continue to exist. But until it is recognised by the international community a special relationship will be established with Turkey.

The nine points of the agreement, published in full in yesterday's Turkish Cypriot papers, are as follows:

1. Representatives of the breakaway state will take part in Turkish delegations at international meetings;

2. Any attack on the breakaway state will be considered an attack on Turkey and a joint defence concept will be established between the two;

3. An association council will be established with the participation of the `parliaments' and `ministries' from both sides;

4. An economic and financial union will be formed between the two. Meanwhile the breakaway north will be included in Turkey's priority regional development macro-economic master plans. It will benefit from the support and incentives provided for Turkey's priority regions for development;

5. An important trade and industrial centre will be established in the eastern Mediterranean by integrating the free zones of Turkey and the north;

6. Transportation facilities to the north via Turkey will be improved;

7. Facilities provided by TURKSAT satellite will be used to enable Turkish Cypriot radio and TV to broadcast abroad;

8. The water requirements of the north will be "met by Turkey at the earliest possible time";

9. Every structural co-operation and harmonisation measure to be initiated between Cyprus and the EU will be matched between the breakaway north and Turkey.

Moreover, according to Reuters, Ecevit, who was Prime Minister in 1974, claimed the self-proclaimed regime in the north, recognised only by Turkey "will live for ever as an independent state, but its foreign policy and defence will be handled by Turkey."

He also threatened that "the world must understand that Turkey is not bluffing", noting that "it proved in 1974 that it does not bluff."

Moreover, according to an Athens News Agency despatch, Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, said that the Turkish threats show that great efforts are still needed to make Turkey understand that international law cannot be violated and then boasted about.

"It seems that Mr Ecevit considers that the illegality which he himself perpetrated in Cyprus is his raison d'etre, and so has decided to return to the scene of the crime", he added.

US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns, asked to comment on the Turkish statements, said that "rather than try to pour oil on the flames, we prefer to reinforce our belief that a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation should be the ultimate objective of the peace talks".

He added that "we all ought to support Secretary General Kofi Annan in the second round of talks that will take place in August; and that we would ask that people negotiate on a fair basis and on a constructive basis and that public statements be consistent with that need for fair, honest play in these negotiations".

[02] Foreign Minister in Syria

The Cypriot Foreign Minister and his Syrian counterpart will have a private meeting, followed by official talks.

Kasoulides will also be received by the President of Syria Hafez Al Assad.

Speaking on departure, Kasoulides said the Republic's foreign policy is to "maintain close relations with all neighbouring countries in the region."

He noted that one of the major ways to improve friendly and close relations is through economic co-operation.

He said as well as the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Syria and prospects for further promoting these relations, he would also be discussing the Cyprus question, the Middle East issue and other international issues.

The Foreign Minister will return to Cyprus on Thursday, 24 July.

[03] Cyprus' independence and territorial integrity cannot be cast in doubt, says EU President

Responding to a question by Greek Euro MP Panayiotis Lambrias, during a European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, Poos described Ankara's position that Cyprus cannot join an organisation of which Turkey is not a member, as absolutely doubtful according to international law.

Poos revealed that he stated the Commission's position in a reply to a recent letter by Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, who argued Ankara's position to all EU members except Greece.

He reaffirmed that accession talks between Cyprus and the European Union will begin according to schedule early next year and expressed the hope that the direct negotiations between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, will bear fruit.

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

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