Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-07-08

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

News Update

Wednesday, 08/07/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Security Council call for resumption of talks welcomed
• [02] Greece and Russia call for dialogue to reduce military build-up on Cyprus
• [03] Simitis meets Portuguese counterpart Guterres in Lisbon
• [04] Greek and US Defence Ministers to discuss Cyprus

[01] Security Council call for resumption of talks welcomed

"We believe that this new appeal is further proof that the Security Council has the political will to exert pressure on the Turkish side to enter into a substantive dialogue to break the deadlock", he said.

He expressed the hope, moreover, that the Turkish side will come to understand that its intransigence is anachronistic, alienates it and condemns the Turkish Cypriot side to difficulties in the future.

Asked if the appeal indicates the Security Council's intention to take measures to break the deadlock, Mr Stylianides said " unfortunately, at this stage, we do not expect any practical measures".

He said when the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez returns to the island in September, "we expect specific positions or proposals which will be evaluated."

[02] Greece and Russia call for dialogue to reduce military build-up on Cyprus

This was announced by the Greek Foreign Ministry after successive meetings in Athens between Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis with Russian envoy for Cyprus Vladimir Tchizhov, Athens News Agency reported yesterday.

The statement said that Mr. Kranidiotis told Mr Tchizhov that the international community had to make it clear in every way to the Turkish side that it would tolerate neither the status quo nor the island's partition, nor any other solution that would be in violation of the spirit and the letter of the relevant decisions and resolutions of the UN.

Mr. Tchizhov reiterated his country's positions for the need to strengthen contacts between the two communities at the citizens' level, something that could contribute to a de-escalation of tension.

Mr. Papandreou, on his part, reminded that continuous efforts in that direction were thwarted by the permanent intransigence of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[03] Simitis meets Portuguese counterpart Guterres in Lisbon

According to Athens News Agency, Mr. Simitis said that as regards Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations, both he and Mr. Guterres believe that international law should prevail.

On his part, Mr. Guterres said "Portugal is very positive towards EU enlargement. We believe that enlargement is a necessary element of the European structure. We agreed totally on the decisions which have been arrived at for the initiation of accession talks with the six candidate countries, including Cyprus."

[04] Greek and US Defence Ministers to discuss Cyprus

According to Mr. Bacon, the two Defence Ministers' discussions are also expected to look at ways that the two countries - the US and Greece - can work together to reduce tension on the island.

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