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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-12-01Cyprus 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, 1 December 1999[01]The President of the Republic Mr Glafcos Clerides left yesterday afternoon for New York where he will participate in proximity talks on Cyprus.Speaking to the press, prior to his departure, President Clerides said that although there is a hardening of the Turkish stand there is at the same time "an international interest to resolve the Cyprus problem. In a few days we shall see what the intervention of the international community will be and how effective it is", he said. Asked if he had any assurances that there would be repercussions for the Turkish side if it continued to maintain a hard stand, President Clerides said that there were countries which had pledged that, in the event that Mr Denktash refused to discuss the fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem, they would denounce him publicly and he would have to suffer the consequences. "This is what we shall expect from these countries if Mr Denktash retracts", he said. [02]One should not expect too much out of the UN - sponsored proximity talks on Cyprus scheduled to start on Friday in New York but the way in which the matter is being engaged now by the UN Security General has some real prospects of making progress.According to a statement by Senior British Foreign Office officials if the forthcoming Cyprus talks are effective, they will pave the way for negotiations leading to a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. At the same time, if they are successful, the proximity talks will take longer than expected and Britain, like other countries with representatives on Cyprus, will play a helpful role. [03]In a letter addressed today to US President Bill Clinton, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) urges US President Bill Clinton to inject a strong American presence into the negotiations on Cyprus.In his letter, Mr Eugene Rossides, General Counsel of the Institute, notes that the US "should applaud and support the constructive approach" of the Cyprus government which committed itself to good faith negotiations. Pointing to the delaying tactics and the obstructionism displayed by the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot side with regard to the negotiations, the letter stresses that a firm and clear statement by the US that it will no longer tolerate Turkey's delaying tactics, will pave the way for a settlement. Moreover, in his letter Mr Rossides refers to UN Security Council Resolutions 1250 and 1251 (1999) that set out a clear framework for the solution of the Cyprus problem. [04]The President of the Republic Mr Glafcos Clerides received yesterday the credentials of the new Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of the Germany and of the Peoples' Bureau of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Messrs Peter Witting and Khalifa Ahmed Bazelya .Presenting his letters of credence to President Clerides, Mr Witting said his country "shall continue to lend its undiminished support to the ongoing efforts of the UN and its Secretary General to start productive talks and achieve tangible results". He also noted that he is confident that the European Union enlargement process will positively influence the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus question. Libya's new Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr Bazelya stressed yesterday that his country "stands for the unity of Cyprus, its territory and people and supports the good offices mission undertaken by the United Nations and its Secretary General". [05]Four British Labour MPs tabled last Monday a motion on Cyprus in the House of Commons.The British Parliamentarians urge their government "to ensure that the United States' and Britain's altered strategic interests and consideration by the European Union of Turkey as a possible candidate member will provide Ankara with the opportunity to take positive and decisive steps towards ending the division of Cyprus, together with the US, UK, Greece and other members of the EU". [06]South Australian Labour Leader Mr Mike Rann pointed to the need for his country to mount a campaign in support of Cyprus. Speaking last Saturday to "Demetria" festival, held in Adelaide, South Australia, Mr Rann said that the Cyprus problem should have been on the top of the agenda of the recent Commonwealth Summit in Durban.He pointed out that he urged both the Australian Premier Mr Howard and the Foreign Minister Mr Downer to visit Cyprus in order to realize the sufferings of the Cypriot people from the continuous human rights violations in Cyprus by Turkey. 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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