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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-09-24Cyprus 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/>Friday, 24 September 1999[01] P>President Glafcos Clerides told the UN General Assembly yesterday that Cyprus is waiting for the UN Secretary-General to invite the two sides for talks to solve the Cyprus problem.He said the parameters for the solution of the Cyprus problem are already included in UN Security Council resolutions, noting that what is required is the political will of the sides. Addressing the 54th General Assembly session, President Clerides said the Greek Cypriot side is ready to negotiate in good faith and joined his voice to that of the Security Council, the European Union and the Group of seven most industrialised countries plus Russia (G8) in asking. President Clerides called on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to come to the negotiating table without preconditions and repeated his invitation to the Turkish Cypriot side to join Cyprus' course towards the EU. Saying that although he could "point an accusing finger against Turkey and talk at length about the ethnic cleansing practised against the Greek Cypriot side, which resulted to 180 thousand Greek Cypriots being turned into refugees in their own country, President Clerides stressed he preferred to look to the future and not to the past," he said. [02] P>US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said that people are much encouraged by a more positive relationship between the Greeks and the Turks.She was replying to a question at a media roundtable discussion in New York on whether there is any disposition by the parties concerned to resolve the Cyprus problem. Mrs Albright stressed the importance of having a meeting under UN auspices and with no pre-conditions. [03] P>Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has said it is clear that the United States is determined to push for progress in resolving the Cyprus issue.Speaking after a meeting yesterday with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in New York, he said that "the US is showing the utmost resolve to do all it can for a substantive dialogue to commence between the two communities". Mr. Papandreou said his previous contacts with all other US officials, including US President Bill Clinton, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in the last few days, confirmed this outlook. He added that his discussion with Ms Albright had been very useful, as it also touched upon the set of priorities to which it would be useful for Washington to contribute, in view of Mr. Clinton's forthcoming trip to the region later this autumn. "These are priorities related to the promotion of Greek-Turkish relations on the basis of international law and existing treaties, and the solution of the Cyprus issue", he said. [04] P>The Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, has expressed his support for the diplomatic mission undertaken by his successor as US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Ambassador Moses and added that he himself is obligate and desires to remain actively involved in the Cyprus issue..Speaking after a courtesy call he paid to President Clerides in New York yesterday, Mr Holbrooke stressed Washington's support to Cyprus' entry into the European Union. He said he had no indications as to whether Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will be attending the Cyprus peace talks and added it is a little early to say whether the talks will take place. [05] P>The Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have reaffirmed that the status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable and that the Cyprus problem has gone unresolved for too long.In a reference to Cyprus contained in a statement issued after a meeting the Five had with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York yesterday, the Ministers also reminded the parties involved of the need, in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, to achieve a comprehensive political settlement. They recalled their request to the UN Secretary-General to invite the leaders of the two sides in Cyprus for negotiations this autumn and called on the two leaders to give their full support to comprehensive negotiations under UN auspices. [06] P>The Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement have endorsed the request of the Security Council to the Secretary-General to invite the leaders of the two sides in Cyprus to comprehensive negotiations in the autumn of 1999, stressing that the lack of progress was due to Turkish intransigence.A joint communique issued after a meeting of NAM Foreign Ministers in New York yesterday, reaffirms that the status quo in Cyprus established through the use of force and sustained by military strength, is unacceptable. It expresses concern at the lack of progress in the search for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem and calls for efforts to be intensified. Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides addressing the meeting, urged the Movement to call upon the Turkish side to abandon its unacceptable preconditions and accept the invitation of the Secretary-General and attend negotiations. [07] P>British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has promised his country would intensify its actions in achieving negotiations on Cyprus and to secure their success.Mr Cook gave these assurance to his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, during a meeting in New York yesterday on the sidelines of the 54th session of the UN General Assembly. 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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