Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-08-14

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

News Update

Thursday, 14/08/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Face-to-face talks continue in Glion-sur-Montreux
• [02] Foreign Minister Kassoulides: Too early to assess outcome of talks
• [03] Restoration work in mixed village of Pyla funded by UNHCR

[01] Face-to-face talks continue in Glion-sur-Montreux

The UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Mr.Diego Gordovez, who is conducting the talks, was expecting the two sides to express their positions on two documents he had put on the table on Tuesday 12.8.97. These documents which are non-papers, relate to the substance of the Cyprus problem and the procedure to be followed.

Yesterday's meeting was in full composition and therefore Attorney-General Alecos Markides and Under-secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros were escorting President Clerides while Mr. Denktash had Necatin Munir Ertegun and Ergun Olgun as his advisors. The UN Secretary General's Deputy Special Representative in Cyprus Mr. Gustave Feissel was also present.

President Clerides had on Tuesday evening briefed members of the National Council, who are also in Montreux, on the UN documents and exchanged views with them. Another meeting of the political leadership was scheduled for this morning.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides met yesterday with British special envoy on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, British High Commissioner David Madden and American Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill as well as Detlev Graf zu Rantzau, the German Special Representative on Cyprus.

Last night President Clerides and Mr. Denktash as well as their advisors had dinner on the Swiss Alps as guests of the Swiss Government.

[02] Foreign Minister Kassoulides: Too early to assess outcome of talks

When asked yesterday if the UN document given to President Clerides and Rauf Denktash outlines views which could help the wording of a joint declaration, the Foreign Minister said that the President will outline his views taking into account the interests of Cyprus and the views expressed by the political leadership.

Concerning the views expressed by Deputy Under-secretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Inal Batu, that the UN talks are conducted under the dark shadow of the EU, Kassoulides said that "we continue to believe that the EU course will finally be a catalyst which will help efforts to settle the Cyprus problem and UN Security Council resolutions say so".

Commenting on Batu's statement that there exist two systems of security, one Greece-Turkey and one Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, Kassoulides reminded the Turkish official that his country continues to occupy part of Cyprus in contravention of international law and the Treaty of Guarantee (by which Turkey pledges to protect the establishment state of affairs on the island).

[03] Restoration work in mixed village of Pyla funded by UNHCR

Buildings to undergo restoration include the village's mosque, Turkish Cypriot coffee shop and the Greek Orthodox Church. In addition to improving the appearance of the village, the plan is also intended to lower unemployment among members of the Turkish Cypriot community in Pyla.

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