Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-08-18

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

News Update

Monday, 18/08/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides says Turkish side refused real discussion of issues at Montreux
• [02] UN envoy does not despair at the end of fruitless Cyprus talks
• [03] Holbrooke says time is not ripe for him to visit Cyprus just yet
• [04] US State Department says Cyprus peace talks were useful
• [05] Russia urges international community to react to Turkish threats against Cyprus
• [06] Greek Cypriots visit Apostolos Andreas

[01] President Clerides says Turkish side refused real discussion of issues at Montreux

On his return to Cyprus on Saturday at the end of the 11 - 15 August talks at Glion, near Montreux, President Clerides told reporters that Denktash's threats that Cyprus' partition would be finalised if the European Union (EU) starts accession talks with the Cyprus government early next year.

"Denktash did not go there to negotiate, but to try to impede our course towards Europe," the President said, adding that "this did not succeed."

President Clerides stressed that Denktash's recalcitrant tactics at the talks have elicited "strong international reaction" and that the international community has come to the realisation that the Turkish side's decision- making centre does not rest in Cyprus, but in Ankara.

President Clerides said he was given to understand that in his briefing to the Security Council the man in charge of the talks, Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor, will be very frank about those responsible for the deadlock and will "call things by their true name".

The President noted that although Denktash rejected outright the Cordovez non-papers as a whole, the Cyprus government believes they remain up for discussion.

He added that UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, will work to set up another face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, but reiterated he would not attend such a meeting if Denktash refuses to discuss substantial aspects of the Cyprus problem.

"I have clearly stated that I do not intend to attend further talks, if Denktash will not discuss the substance of the Cyprus problem and goes on claiming he will not do so because of Cyprus' EU accession course," the President underlined.

[02] UN envoy does not despair at the end of fruitless Cyprus talks

Stopping just short of naming the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Cordovez told reporters "you know very well the position one of the leaders took about these negotiations". Asked to explain why there was no progress, he said: "Because there was a controversy. But it had nothing to do with the talks themselves". His replies were a direct reference to the Turkish position adopted at Montreux, that they would not discuss any aspect of the Cyprus problem unless the European Union calls off its imminent accession negotiations with the government of the Cyprus Republic. Turkey and Mr. Denktash want assurances from the EU that Cyprus will not join the Union until Turkey is accepted too.

During his press conference the UN official explained that he still expects to receive from the two sides their own legal instruments which will be considered by the UN. He said: "I am advising the Secretary-General on how to set in motion a process which will produce results".

On the actual negotiating process at Montreux, Mr. Cordovez stated clearly that the Cyprus President indicated his willingness to sign the UN-produced papers which outlined the principles for a Cyprus solution. "On the latest paper, what I can say is that Mr. Clerides had indicated to me that it was acceptable, provided that the other side also agreed. But you know what the position of the other side was, and there has been a public statement", Mr. Cordovez said.

The UN Special Advisor was at pains not to give the impression of complete failure of the talks and stressed: "We have a mandate and the Secretary- General intends to continue with his good offices efforts".

Having said in his opening statement that he would not comment on the EU controversy raised by the Turkish Cypriot side during the talks, Diego Cordovez stated: "The two leaders remain committed to a settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis that has been established over the time i.e. that of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. I said this in New York at the end of the Troutbeck talks and I repeat it here because a number of people have questioned this and one person who is in a position to judge it is me."

He also announced he will visit Cyprus in the near future and that the two Cypriot leaders agreed to hold one or more meetings in Cyprus on humanitarian issues.

[03] Holbrooke says time is not ripe for him to visit Cyprus just yet

In an interview published yesterday in Cypriot and Greek newspapers "Phileleftheros" and "Kathimerini", Holbrooke said conditions for his efforts to break the deadlock in the 23-year-long Cyprus problem are not yet ripe.

He said that the new American Cyprus co-ordinator, Thomas Miller, would visit the region next month.

Holbrooke, however, did not seem disappointed at the deadlock in the five- day talks between President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, which ended on Friday in Switzerland, saying that he believes the UN-led negotiations between the two sides managed to break the ice and bring the two leaders in direct contact even if none of the problems were solved.

Holbrooke, who brokered the Bosnian agreement, pointed out that President Clerides and Denktash are very difficult negotiators as they both fervently support their interests. He said compared to them he is like a child lost in the forest.

The American Emissary said one of the stumbling blocks in solving the Cyprus question is the connection between Cyprus' European Union (EU) accession with an overall settlement

Holbrooke revealed that last Friday he had a brief conversation with US President, Bill Clinton, on the Cyprus problem, on the sidelines of a meeting dealing with the situation in Bosnia.

He added that the American President wanted everyone in the region to understand that he actively supports a bizonal, bicommunal solution in Cyprus.

[04] US State Department says Cyprus peace talks were useful

He added that the US don't expect another round of talks between President Clerides and Denktash until after the presidential elections in Cyprus, next year.

Referring to Cyprus' bid to join the EU, Rubin said "our position has been that we support the EU membership desires of both Turkey and Cyprus" and reiterated that "the EU accession process provides incentives for the concerned parties to move ahead to achieve a just and viable settlement to the Cyprus dispute".

According to Rubin, US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, "has spoken to various EU leaders over the recent weeks and talked about the need to try to hold open as much prospect as possible for both Cyprus and Turkey, emphasising that doing so increases the chances that we will be able to resolve this long-simmering dispute".

Rubin said that the EU's decision to start accession talks with Cyprus and not with Turkey is "a decision for the EU to make", but added that the US is trying to explain to the EU "about the extent to which we think holding out the prospect of membership to both Cyprus and Turkey will improve the atmosphere and improve the incentives for a negotiation on this matter (the Cyprus issue) to succeed".

[05] Russia urges international community to react to Turkish threats against Cyprus

In statements to the Athens News Agency after the five-day UN-sponsored Cyprus peace talks, that ended in Glion, Switzerland, on Friday, Boiko underlined that such threats should prompt a reply from the international community.

He also reiterated Moscow's support to President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and recalled that last October the Russian Duma condemned the continuing occupation of part of Cyprus.

Boiko expressed regret at the fact that there was no outcome in the talks and stressed it is important that the UN Secretary-General keeps up his good offices mission. He agreed with President Clerides that the UN Security Council should assess what really occurred during the talks.

He noted his country's interest in an early settlement to the Cyprus question, not only because it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council but also because Cyprus is situated near southern Russia and is important to the security of the whole region.

[06] Greek Cypriots visit Apostolos Andreas

The pilgrims, many of whom originate from the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974, attended the mass of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, one of the holiest days on the Greek Orthodox calendar, which was officiated by the Abbot of Kykko Monastery Nikiforos.

The previous week some 400 Turkish Cypriots visited the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kokkina in the north-eastern part of the island.

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

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