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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-02-17Cyprus 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/>Wednesday, 17 February 1999CONTENTS[01] Foreign Minister meets UN Secretary GeneralCyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides met yesterday in New York with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The two men discussed Mr. Annan's intentions on his mission of good offices after the recently adopted Security Council resolutions 1217 and 1218 and the question of enclaved persons in Cyprus.Speaking to the press, Mr. Kassoulides described his meeting with Mr. Annan as "satisfactory" and "very productive", and expressed the hope that the current shuttle diplomacy taking place through the UN Deputy Permanent Representative in Cyprus will prepare the ground for the Secretary-General to convene talks between the two sides. Referring to an earlier meeting with President Clinton's envoy on Cyprus, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Mr. Kassoulides said that they discussed ways of implementing resolutions 1217 and 1218, how to achieve a breakthrough in the current deadlock and security issues. [02] Holbrooke: "The cancellation of S-300 missiles lays the framework for future progress"President Clinton's envoy on Cyprus, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke commended yesterday the government of Cyprus for its recent decision not to deploy the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles system on the island, saying that "it has created a more positive environment".Speaking to the press, after a meeting with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides, Ambassador Holbrooke described the cancellation of the S-300 missiles as "a significant step towards reducing tension in the region and laying the framework for progress in the future". Referring to his earlier discussion on the Cyprus issue with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides, Mr. Holbrooke noted that the "current disposition of the Turkish side makes progress extraordinarily difficult" and stressed that a "breakthrough would require the co-operation, collaboration and active involvement of both sides". "Right now", concluded Mr. Holbrooke, "that is not what exists because of the positions that were taken last year by the Turkish side". [03] Cyprus issue discussed at Greco-Austrian talksThe Cyprus issue was on the agenda of the bilateral talks held yesterday in Vienna between the Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos and his Austrian counterpart Tomas Klestil.In a joint press conference given on the first day of Mr Stephanopoulos' official visit to Austria , Mr. Klestil expressed the hope that the accession negotiations with Cyprus will contribute in the search for a political settlement. Moreover Mr. Klestil noted that Austria maintains an UNFICYP contingent to help the safeguard of peace 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 |
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