Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-07-27

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

News Update

Monday, 27/07/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Government reacts to statements made by Turkish President
• [02] The international community's tolerance aggravates Turkish provocative actions
• [03] Stylianides: Cyprus Government abides by international law
• [04] Miller concludes visit but has no breakthrough to announce
• [05] Government protests to UN for Turkish violations

[01] Government reacts to statements made by Turkish President

Mr Kasoulides was responding to Turkish President's statement, during his visit in the Turkish-occupied areas, that Turkey invaded the island to protect the Turkish Cypriots.

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides also dismissed Mr Demirel's claims saying that if "Mr. Demirel was interested in the Turkish Cypriots' prosperity he would allow them to join the Cyprus Republic's team negotiating EU accession, so that we can continue on the road of prosperity within a united Cyprus and the European family."

In response to Mr Demirel's attack of the Cyprus government's plans to deploy the missile system, Mr Stylianides challenged the Turkish President to point to one statement from a Cypriot or Greek government official "which indicates an aggressive stance towards the Turkish Cypriots".

He stressed that "the position of the Greek and Cypriot governments has always been that the Cyprus problem should be solved through peaceful means".

[02] The international community's tolerance aggravates Turkish provocative actions

The Government Spokesman's statement came in response to Turkish President Suleyman Demirel's comments that Turkey would achieve economic integration with the Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus which will become "just like a Turkish province in all economic matters".

Stylianides stressed that the international community "needs to apply other pressure levers" than a pat on the back to tackle Turkey's provocative actions, which create problems in the wider region of the eastern Mediterranean.

The international law, he added, offers "many possibilities to exercise pressure on Turkey".

[03] Stylianides: Cyprus Government abides by international law

Mr Stylianides made this remark last Friday, in response to an earlier comment by the US State Department Special Co-ordinator Thomas Miller that the Turkish Cypriot demand to lift the embargo is related to the attempts made by Greek and Turkish Cypriot politicians to lift all the restrictions on the free movement of people, goods and services.

The Government Spokesman stressed that there is was no embargo on the part of the Cyprus Government. "What we are doing is to abide by international law and order and comply with rules and regulations governing the international community" he added.

He underlined the government's willingness to back efforts for rapprochement but made it quite clear that it does not support "any attempts leading to any kind of recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime or its institutions".

With regard to the issue of freedom of movement, the Spokesman emphasised that this is one of the three basic freedoms which for years the Greek Cypriot side has been pursuing in the framework of an overall settlement of the Cyprus question.

[04] Miller concludes visit but has no breakthrough to announce

After a day of shuttle diplomacy between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides, Mr Miller made it clear that there was no apparent breakthrough.

Mr Miller had two meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash after which he said that he had "good discussions", adding that" time will tell if there was anything more than that."

The US diplomat also said he was encouraged by moves to further contacts between a group of Greek and Turkish Cypriot businessmen, who had held a series of meetings in Oslo designed to improve relations between the two communities, adding that President Glafcos Clerides had expressed his complete satisfaction with the work done at the meeting.

The government reacted to Miller's comments that seemed to imply that the Cyprus President favoured the lifting of the economic embargo on the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

[05] Government protests to UN for Turkish violations

In two letters addressed to the Secretary General, Cyprus' Charge D'Affaires stated that between 17-20 July, 32 Turkish military aircraft "entered the northern Nicosia Flight Information Region in violation of international air traffic regulations". He also pointed out that on July 18, "Turkey sent five warships" to the occupied port of Kyrenia.

In the letters the Cyprus representative stresses that these illegal provocative actions by Turkey in Cyprus are in complete disregard of international law, and the UN Charter, and in contravention of the provisions of Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

The letters circulated as official documents of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

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

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