Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-07-21

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides:Willing to negotiate if Turkey is ready to compromise

[02] Clerides:Albright asked for clarifications on demilitarisation

1230:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clerides: Willing to negotiate if Turkey is ready to compromise

''The anniversary coincides this year with the new initiative launched by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council'' to assist efforts towards a Cyprus settlement, President Clerides said, adding that the Greek Cypriots ''wish for a just and viable solution as soon as possible.''

President Clerides stressed the need for common ground between the two sides for direct negotiations for an overall solution to the problem and noted that the initiative of the UN Security Council permanent members is aimed at this direction.

''The Greek Cypriot side is willing to negotiate if the Turkish side is ready for a reasonable and viable compromise'', President Clerides said and noted that political instability in Turkey and the Turkish occupied part of the island has often been used as an alibi for Turkish intransigence.

President Clerides also referred to the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the European Union (EU) and described it as a ''new element to the Cyprus problem that could act as a catalyst for its solution.''

''It is now up to the Turkish side to take the necessary steps, if it wishes for Turkish Cypriots to benefit from the EU'', President Clerides said.

Meanwhile, answering journalists' questions after commemoration services for those killed during the Turkish invasion, President Clerides described the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan in the occupied northern part of the island as a ''provocation that comes to emphasise that Turkey has not regretted the crime it committed by invading the island in 1974.''

CNA MCH/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides: Albright asked for clarifications on demilitarisation

This has been stated by President Clerides, answering journalists' questions after a commemoration service for those who died during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

Asked to comment on the acceptance from the Greek Cypriot side to enter into a military dialogue between the commanders of the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces, President Clerides said it ''has nothing to do with a solution to the Cyprus problem.''

He added that because there has been tension on the demarcation line, the United States believe such incidents must be avoided so as not to hinder the future initiative to be launched.

''Ambassador Albright expressed concern during our meetings about the tension observed at the demarcation line as a result of the assassination of the young Greek Cypriot soldier last month'', President Clerides said.

He also stressed that during the meeting he pointed out to Albright that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept the unmanning of inhabited areas, as that would pose a threat for the people living there.

''We insist that if there is to be unmanning, this should extend from the occupied northern range of Pentadactylos to the southern range of Troodos'', president Clerides stressed.

He also told reporters he did not discuss constitutional and territorial issues of the Cyprus problem with Albright, but that their discussions centred on the issues of demilitarisation and guarantees.

President Clerides said Ambassador Albright asked him to ''analyse more extensively'' his proposals on demilitarisation, the stationing of an international force on the island and a wider system of guarantees that would not allow for unilateral intervention.

''Albright gave the impression that she supports the idea of demilitarisation and of an international force on the island'', Clerides added.

CNA MCH/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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