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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-05-07Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateThursday, 07/05/98CONTENTS
[01] Russia brings back proposal for security Council debate on Cyprus"Russia recognises only one government of the Cyprus Republic with President Clerides at its leader", Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Georgi Mouradov said yesterday in Nicosia.Speaking after calling on President Clerides, who briefed him on the latest political developments, the Russian Ambassador pointed out that Moscow will bring back before the Security Council, its proposal for a debate on Cyprus which had been cancelled on US request. "The US had requested we cancel the debate until after a visit here by Richard Holbrooke and we had agreed", he said, adding that Moscow "will bring back the same proposal as the visit's results make a debate necessary". Elaborating on Russia's proposal, Mouradov said that it supports the UN Secretary General's good offices mission, the bicommunal dialogue between the two sides and the Secretary General's Special Advisor for Cyprus Diego Cordovez. The Russian Ambassador reiterated his country's commitment to finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. "We are prepared to cooperate with all Security Council permanent member states, to solve the Cyprus question and facts have proven that joint efforts could be more productive, instead of isolated efforts by any country", he said. Referring to the issue of Russian-made S-300 missiles, Mouradov defended the Cyprus government's decision to purchase the missiles, adding that "if demilitarisation was agreed or the Cyprus problem solved then there would be no need for such modern weapons". Finally he dismissed Turkish threats of not allowing the deployment of the missiles and said that there was no possibility of hot incidents occurring this summer. "No fake tension should be created", he added. The Russian Ambassador stressed that international law does not allow any act against the sovereignty of a state. [02] US recognises one Government on Cyprus says State Department Spokesman"We're working in the best way we can, and supporting the UN additionally, in efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict separating the island of Cyprus. We only recognize, of course, the government of Cyprus in Nicosia; that is a fact. But it is also a fact that the two peoples on the island are isolated from each other, alienated from each other, and the whole purpose of our diplomatic efforts is to achieve the kind of reconciliation that is necessary to achieve a political settlement", State Department Spokesman James Foley said yesterday.Replying to questions during his daily briefing, following Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke's recent mission to Cyprus, the Spokesman reiterated that although the US was prepared to facilitate a settlement, "this was conditional upon the political will on both sides to negotiate seriously". He repeated Holbrooke's remarks that "the United States cannot impose a solution on Cyprus. It cannot want a solution on Cyprus more than the two parties involved and that remains a fundamental fact". Asked to comment on Holbrooke's remark during his recent press conference that President Clerides does not represent the Turkish Cypriots, Foley said: "The fact of the matter is that we recognize one government on Cyprus. It is also a fact though, that not all the people on Cyprus see themselves reflected in that government", adding that "what we're trying to achieve is a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in which all the citizens, without exception, in Cyprus will feel at home as part of a single unified island". On the issue of the S-300 missiles and the possibility of a Turkish attack against Cyprus under the pretext of the missiles issue, the State Department Spokesman emphasised that the United States government policy on this issue is to avoid rhetoric or actions that can disturb stability in the region. "What I can say, though, is that we certainly strongly advise all parties in the Eastern Aegean to avoid threats and hostile rhetoric, let alone actions which can disturb stability in that region and undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement", he said. In response to a question as to whether the European Union can be held responsible for the impasse due to its failure to invite Turkey to become a member, Mr Foley stated that the US does not blame the EU but added that "primary responsibility lies with the parties most directly involved. That said, we have never disguised our views concerning the importance of Turkey's relationship to the European Union. But the European Union is an institution of which we are not a member. We can offer friendly advice, but we can't substitute our judgement for theirs". [03] White House: US intends to continue efforts for a Cyprus settlement"We will be prepared to continue our effort to facilitate a search for a settlement on Cyprus, an ongoing conflict between two of our close allies and, in turn, their allies and their associated populations on the island of Cyprus", White House Spokesman Michael McCurry said during his daily press briefing on 5 May.The White House Spokesman was replying to questions regarding Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke's failure to negotiate the resumption of direct talks between the two sides. McCurry stressed the urgency of reaching a solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem. "It's high time to end that conflict and try to bring about a settlement which we believe you can see your way to if the parties set aside some of their differences and move forward and negotiate seriously. We would certainly hope that both the Turkish Cypriots and the government on Cyprus would make that effort", he said. On the issue of S-300 missiles and the possible involvement of NATO, in view of Turkey's threats to attack Cyprus if the missiles were deployed, McCurry said that he was not aware that there was such a pending issue within NATO, although there was clearly concern. "Our allies share the concerns that we've expressed about the potentially destabilizing aspects of the introduction of that missile technology into the region", he said. [04] Cyprus discussed in meeting between US President and Italian Prime MinisterItalian Prime Minister Romano Pronti who is currently in the United States, referred to Cyprus after a meeting with President Clinton at the White House yesterday.Speaking to the press, Mr Pronti stated that he and President Clinton had analysed the "pivotal problem of Turkey", the Greco-Turkish relations, Cyprus and European Union enlargement. [05] Cyprus protests to UN over airspace violationCyprus Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sotirios Zackheos, sent a letter of protestation to the UN Secretary General for further violations of the Republic's airspace by Turkish military aircraft on 30 April 1998.The text of the letter was circulated as an official document of the 52nd Session of the General Assembly and of the Security Council. 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 |
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