Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-09-23

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

News Update

Tuesday, 23/09/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides and Mr Denktash will start security talks on Friday
• [02] Foreign Minister Kasoulides to have contacts in New York
• [03] Annan and Clinton refer to Cyprus at UN General Assembly
• [04] Robin Cook says EU entry not dependent on Cyprus solution
• [05] Germany pledges to assist UN effort on Cyprus
• [06] Russia and France welcome security dialogue

[01] President Clerides and Mr Denktash will start security talks on Friday

The UN statement said: "In line with the agreement reached on 15 September, the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities will meet to discuss security matters on Friday 26 September at 17:00 hours at the residence of the Chief of Mission of the United Nations Operation in Cyprus. They will meet without preconditions and without an agenda. The two leaders will meet alone in the presence of the Chief of Mission.

In the meantime, the two leaders have agreed to refrain from making any public statements about the scope and possible content of their discussions."

[02] Foreign Minister Kasoulides to have contacts in New York

Mr Kasoulides will also have meetings tomorrow with US Presidential Emissary on Cyprus Richard Holbrooke and EU External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek.

[03] Annan and Clinton refer to Cyprus at UN General Assembly

Addressing the opening session, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the US President Bill Clinton also referred to Cyprus.

Mr Clinton said that the United Nations continues to keep many nations away from bloodshed, citing several countries including Cyprus, "where so much remains to be done but can still be done because the bloodshed has stopped".

He also said that people the world over long for a resolution to the differences between various countries, such as Greece and Turkey.

Mr Annan said: "Since assuming office in January, I have taken initiatives intended to begin, or revive, peace processes in several conflict situations, some of which have long defied resolution. To that end, I have appointed special representatives for Western Sahara, Cyprus, East Timor, the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, Somalia and Afghanistan".

[04] Robin Cook says EU entry not dependent on Cyprus solution

Cook, who is now in New York for the UN General Assembly, said that the UK has got a very big role and a very big interest in the Cyprus issue.

"We've made a commitment that we believe Cyprus should have the opportunity to join the European Union and that should not be dependent on resolving the division of the island.

"Of course, it would be much better if we could resolve the division of the island, and I have had a number of conversations, both in Cyprus and in New York, to support the process of trying to bring the two sides together," Cook said.

[05] Germany pledges to assist UN effort on Cyprus

Presenting her credentials to President Glafcos Clerides, she said that Germany also supports talks to boost confidence between the two sides on the island.

The new German Ambassodor added that the start of accession talks between the European Union and Cyprus in the first half of 1998 will yield benefits to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots and bring peace.

"We know from our own painful history how many hardships the division of Cyprus entails for all Cypriots," she added.

She also referred to the facts that more than a quarter of a million German tourists visit the island each year and that many Germans have settled in Cyprus. "These are living examples of the good state of the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Germany," she said.

President Clerides said the EU accession prospect can act as a catalyst for a Cyprus solution, but this would not be possible if a solution is a prerequisite for accession.

"Such a link would only add to Turkish intransigence and would provide the Turkish side with an effective veto over Cyprus' accession," he said.

Clerides reiterated the government's willingness to include representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the accession negotiation delegation.

[06] Russia and France welcome security dialogue

Vladimir Tchizov of the Russian Foreign Ministry said his country considers the agreement to be "positive".

"The Russian Foreign Ministry hopes this dialogue will allow for the reduction of tension in and around Cyprus as well as progress on the issue of the complete demilitarisation of the island," Tchizov told Russian news agency Itar-Tass.

He added that demilitarisation should constitute "a significant ingredient" in a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem based on relevant UN resolutions.

French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jacques Rummelhardt, welcoming the agreement, said that his country hopes that these talks will lead to the start of a much needed detente in the area. He added that France expects the sides to show a constructive spirit in order to reach an agreement on significant specific and substantive measures.

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

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