Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-12-16

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

News Update

Tuesday, 16/12/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Foreign Minister comments on conclusions of European Council meeting in Luxembourg
• [02] State Department attempts to encourage Turkey on relations with EU
• [03] UN Secretary-General's Report to the Security Council

[01] Foreign Minister comments on conclusions of European Council meeting in Luxembourg

In an opening statement Mr Kasoulides expressed the Cyprus government's full satisfaction over the E.U.'s formal decision to launch the accession process on 30 March 1998. He said the conclusions of the European Council meeting constitute a balanced and positive approach which also concerns Turkey. "We believe that Turkey must respond positively to the E.U. and to all the challenges posed by the Union and that in the framework of proposals contained in the Luxembourg decisions Turkey will have a role to play in future in European affairs. If Turkey accepts what today are considered European values and principles, these can form the framework in which the Cyprus problem can be solved", he said.

Mr Kasoulides underlined that: "The conclusions of the Luxembourg summit create the preconditions for a hopeful future for the Cypriot people as a whole, and all Cypriots must seize this opportunity and work harmoniously to achieve a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem and also enable Cyprus to accede to the European Union," he said.

Asked what would happen if efforts to include Turkish Cypriots in the accession negotiating delegation failed, the Foreign Minister said this question has been clarified by the statements of the European Presidency, the Commission President, Mr Santer, British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the German Chancellor, Mr Kohl, to the effect that this is not a precondition for the start of accession talks.

Commenting on the measures Turkey has threatened to take against Cyprus (such as the integration of the occupied area) following the conclusions of the Luxembourg summit, Mr Kasoulides said that Turkey's threats would not be acceptable to the international community, judging from the summit conclusions and various statements made by E.U. leaders. "Such an action would also give the Cyprus Government the right to turn to the international community and to international forums, including the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly, and request them to take a stand in the event that Turkey acts on its threats. Furthermore, Cyprus and Greece are ready to take other appropriate measures, he said.

Also, should the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Denktash, carry out his threat not to attend intercommunal talks, the Cyprus Government could in this instance have recourse to the Security Council and General Assembly which would deal with the matter", he added.

"However", he said, "we shall not do anything which will give the slightest pretext to anyone to jeopardise the intercommunal talks for a Cyprus settlement and accession negotiations".

Mr Kasoulides said Cyprus seeks the accession of the whole of the island to the E.U. "We firmly believe that the accession process would contribute to our efforts to solve the Cyprus problem by acting as a catalyst. If Turkey, in spite of all our efforts, the efforts of the E.U. and everyone else, continues to maintain a divided island, then the Republic of Cyprus will accede in the name of Cyprus and E.U. laws will apply only in the Government-controlled areas of the Republic. These laws will be suspended in the other areas until such time that it is possible to implement them", he said.

Asked to comment on Greek press reports that Turkish troops have been moved to Mersina on the southern coast of Turkey, Mr Kasoulides said he had not received any such reports from the Authorities in Nicosia. He said the question of Turkey's reaction must be viewed calmly. There was no reason at this moment to confront imaginary scenarios. Moreover, Turkey knows very well what the diplomatic and political repercussions will be of any action that is not tolerated by the international community. Greece and Cyprus, he said, will try to face any situation that might arise according to Turkey's actions and, of course, within the framework of international law and order. "As far as we are concerned, we shall not give anyone any pretext to take any kind of action", the Foreign Minister said.

[02] State Department attempts to encourage Turkey on relations with EU

"Our position on Turkey's relationship to Europe is well-known. As far as the United States is concerned, Turkey is a part of Europe, and our diplomatic efforts have worked to encourage Turkey's fullest possible participation in European institutions. Turkey and the EU are both close friends of the United States. We will be discussing these and related issues with Prime Minister Yilmaz during his visit here this week, as well as with the EU, including with the British presidency when it takes over in January".

Asked whether the EU decision might influence the American initiative towards a Cyprus solution, Mr Foley said:

"The United States position on the Cyprus dispute remains that we support the UN efforts to find a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation. We continue to believe that the EU accession process offers positive incentives for a Cyprus solution. And in this regard, we take note of the EU summit statement language that favours Turkish-Cypriot community participation in the accession talks".

He also explained, once more, how the EU accession process will be helpful to the peace process:

"It means that the process of negotiating Cyprus' entry into the EU can be a catalyst if all sides are willing to approach the issue with a constructive spirit, offers itself as a catalyst for resolution of the issues that are dividing the communities on the island".

Regarding the Turkish government's reaction against the EU latest action and statements that they are planning to break all kinds of political relations with the EU, the State Department Spokesman said:

"That's a decision for Turkey to make. We believe that Turkey's place is in Europe. And this may have been a setback in recent days, but we believe that over time that Turkey ought to have a strong and open perspective on membership in the EU, and we hope that progress can be achieved down the road. And we would not want to draw definitive conclusions from what happened last week".

[03] UN Secretary-General's Report to the Security Council

In his report to the UN Security Council issued Monday, 15.12.97, on his mission of good offices, Mr Annan said he is convinced that "it is essential to adopt new approaches and to ensure that the two community leaders will enter upon, as soon as possible, a continuing and sustained process of negotiations that will focus on the preparation of the actual legal instruments that will constitute the settlement".

The Secretary-General outlines recent developments in long-running UN efforts to reunite the divided island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, but broke little new ground.

He gave details of the UN-sponsored talks held at Troutbeck, New York, from July 9 to 12, and at Glion, Switzerland, from August 11 to 15, between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, which, he said, ended "inconclusively".

The Report adds that "during the consultations in Cyprus Mr Cordovez proposed, and the two community leaders agreed, that he should return to Nicosia in March 1998 in order to discuss the detailed modalities of a continuing process of negotiations and hopefully set it in motion".

Mr Annan also stresses that he remains committed to continue his good offices mission at the earliest appropriate time, "bearing in mind that the electoral process is now quite naturally engaging the priority attention of the Greek Cypriot leader and his community".

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

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