|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-09-08
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
Friday, 8 September 2000
CONTENTS
- [01] President Clerides calls for substantive negotiations on core
issues
[01] President Clerides calls for substantive negotiations on core
issues
In his opening statement at a press conference at the UN in New York on
Thursday, the President of the Republic said it was necessary to engage in
substantive negotiations on the core issues of the Cyprus problem with the
aim of achieving a comprehensive solution.
He said he would approach the new round of proximity talks, due to start on
12 September in New York, with good will and determination to find a
solution based on the UN resolutions and the 1977 and 1979 high level
agreements, which will restore and safeguard human rights and fundamental
freedoms as well as the security of all Cypriots.
"We express the hope that the Turkish side will approach the negotiations
in a similarly positive spirit and thus facilitate the finding of a
settlement which will reunify Cyprus through a solution within the
parameters established by UN Security Council resolutions," he added.
SECURITY COUNCIL President Clerides also supported reform of the Security
Council. He was in favour of the enlargement of the Council by increasing
both permanent and non-permanent members on the basis of an equitable
geographical distribution of seats and advocated greater participation of
non-permanent members to its deliberations. He said reform also entailed a
review of its working methods so as to provide greater transparency and
accountability. NO FUTURE FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS Replying to a question about
the internal turmoil in the Turkish-occupied area, President Clerides
attributed the problem to the bankruptcy there of seven banks resulting in
about 300,000 Turkish Cypriot investors having lost their savings.
The other factor is the fact that there is no ffuture for the Turkish
Cypriots, he said. The per capita income of the Turkish Cypriots is far
less than that of the Greek Cypriots and whereas there is no unemployment
in the Government-controlled area, unemployment is very high in the
occupied area.
"We employ under contract 40,000 people from all over the world and the
Turkish Cypriots have no work and they can't cross and work on our side
with the same terms and conditions as the Greek Cypriots," he noted. UN
PEACEKEEPING Asked about the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping, he said
generally speaking it had been successful although peacemaking had so far
failed in Cyprus. He expressed disappointment, however, that the UN
peacekeeping force had not been able to restore the status quo ante in
Strovilia where Turkish troops had moved their troops forward. Under the
1974 cease-fire agreement, the area was placed under the control of the
peacekeeping force and " there has been, as it has been described by the UN,
a serious violation of the area by the Turkish forces," he said.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
|
