Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-05-06

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

News Update

Wednesday, 06/05/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Lack of progress - not deadlock says government
• [02] No preconditions for negotiations says UN envoy
• [03] Kinkel says Turkey-EU hopes were exaggerated
• [04] Cyprus impasse not a "crisis"
• [05] Britain is committed to efforts for Cyprus settlement
• [06] Greek Defence Minister expressed disappointment
• [07] Russian Foreign Ministry on Cyprus
• [08] Cyprus to host meeting an Social Matters

[01] Lack of progress - not deadlock says government

Stylianides was commenting on the failure of efforts to resume talks aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

He called on the international community to turn its attention towards Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader's intransigence, in a bid to move forward.

"We hope that the international community will understand that Denktash and Turkey bear exclusive responsibility for the lack of progress", he said.

The government, he stressed, is willing to accept any initiative in the framework of the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General aimed at a bizonal, bicommunal federation based on UN resolutions.

The Government Spokesman underlined that the United States government still had a decisive role to play in finding a solution.

"The government considers the US has a leading role to play in international developments" he said.

Meanwhile Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, asked if the US initiative had fallen through, said that he believed "it is too early to say it is the end of the road".

The Foreign Minister pointed out that Denktash's demand for recognition was not discussed during the meetings with Richard Holbrooke, despite the Turkish Cypriot leader's insistence on it throughout the three days of talks.

Kasoulides explained that during these meetings the Greek Cypriot side "never accepted anything that would violate international law or UN resolutions. We were not asked to do so", he added.

In Mr Kasoulides' view, US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke, had told Denktash that he cannot be seeking recognition of his regime.

"It is obvious that the Turkish side was more intransigent than ever", Kasoulides said "but this does not mean that our efforts stop here", and added that one cannot reach the conclusion that the Cyprus problem can never be resolved.

[02] No preconditions for negotiations says UN envoy

Commenting on the outcome of Richard Holbrooke's visit Mr Feissel said: "We are still where we were and where we have been for same time".

The UN envoy admitted that the situation was not "very good".

"Obviously this is not good. We have been at an impasse and the political situation has been getting worse, more difficult, and of course it is very important that we find a way to move forward, because this is the only way we can reach a settlement", he said.

Feissel was speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides which focused on the visit of US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke.

Feissel stressed that "we are at a very important moment", that it is in the interest of each of the parties involved in the Cyprus question, to find a settlement to this problem without delay. Otherwise, he warned, there would be negative developments for the parties and the whole region.

[03] Kinkel says Turkish occupation of Cyprus is obstacle to Turkey's EU aspirations

Speaking on the occasion of the 102nd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, at the end of the German presidency, Mr Kinkel said that Turkey's expectations in this regard were overoptimistic.

Amongst the problems Turkey faces, Mr Kinkel said are that it still holds the northern part of Cyprus in violation of international law, has a Kurdish problem, has considerable human rights problems, difficult relations with Greece and has some financial problems.

The German Foreign Minister referred to the tension between Greece and Turkey as well as to the non participation of the Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus' EU accession negotiations, saying that these sources of tension should be defused as this would contribute to peace in the region.

[04] Cyprus impasse not a "crisis"

"We very much support the view that this is not a crisis, there are continuing efforts on various fronts and these efforts will continue", British High Commissioner David Madden told the press after meeting President Clerides, in Nicosia yesterday.

Commenting on Richard Holbrooke's remark that the conclusions of the last EU summit in Luxembourg were a "mistake" with regard to Turkey, in that it was the only applicant country left out in the cold unlike the other eleven, Mr Madden said:

"The Luxembourg conclusions do offer a forward movement to EU - Turkey relations, they offered Turkey a forward progression in its relations with the EU".

He added that it would be "very difficult to find someone representing the EU presidency to agree that it was a mistake".

Madden also referred to President Clerides' proposal to the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the accession talks and pointed out that "that offer has unfortunately not yet been taken, but we continue to argue the advantages of a joint Cypriot negotiating team".

The participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the accession talks does not change the legal status of the application, he said.

[05] Britain is committed to efforts for Cyprus settlement

"We encourage both sides to be flexible and to work towards a speedy resumption of the UN-led talks", the spokesman added.

The comments were made in the wake of a failed attempt by US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke to resume a dialogue aimed at reaching a peace settlement.

[06] Greek Defence Minister expressed disappointment

Speaking after a meeting with his Spanish counterpart, he said that the de facto situation which the Turkish Cypriot side is trying to legalise is not acceptable by the UN or any other party.

He expressed the belief that the EU prospect will help to create a more positive attitude on the part of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in relation to the Cyprus problem.

[07] Russian Foreign Ministry on Cyprus

According to a Tass Agency report, he said that Russia, vigorously supporting the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary-General to Cyprus, entrusted to him by the UN Security Council, more than once advanced initiatives toward progress in the quest for the Cyprus settlement of a basis of the principles coordinated in the United Nations.

"We believe the Russian proposals advanced in April 1997 for 'Basic principles of the Cyprus settlement' and the recent proposal 'For the demilitarisation of the Republic of Cyprus and ensurance of its citizens security' are highly topical in the present complicated situation in and around Cyprus", Nesterushkin said.

[08] Cyprus to host meeting on Social Matters

Fifty deputies from member-states will take part in the meeting which will discuss how States implement their commitment to social rights and non - traditional medicines.

The meeting will be addressed by Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Andreas Moushiouttas.

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

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