Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-02-05

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides outlines his position

[02] Cyprus President receives UN envoy

[03] Greek politician calls for diplomatic moves

[04] US claims on aircraft deployment dismissed

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides outlines his position

He also reiterated his firm conviction that he would not sit around the negotiating table unless some common approach on fundamental aspects of the Cyprus question is reached between the positions of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

Speaking at a press conference for the island's four tv channels last night, President Clerides made it clear that he would not concede to a confederation in Cyprus and warned that any US attempt to push for such a solution will fail.

On the security issue, he advocated the stationing of an international force in Cyprus, with a UN mandate, which would ensure that the right of unilateral or multi-lateral military intervention is out of bounds.

Furthermore, Clerides ruled out the possibility of Turkish participation in an international force, if Turkey maintains a separate military presence on the island.

''The air base is expected to finish by the end of the year and we have not yet decided whether Greek military planes will be deployed there or just use the base for refueling only,'' the President said, clarifying US claims that he has committed himself not to deploy Greek fighter aircraft to the base.

He said he will not accept a confederal solution and warned that ''any American initiative leading to this objective is bound to fail during my term in office.''

Referring to direct negotiations, he said ''we shall not accept to enter a dialogue if we do not ensure that the other side (Turkish Cypriot side) is prepared to shift from the intransigent positions they have been maintaining.''

This view is now backed by the UN, the US and Britain, he added.

However, he conceded that both the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot sides will come under pressure in a bid to bring the two to the negotiating table and said ''the question is who possesses the better ability to deal with such pressure.''

On the thorny issue of security, the Cypriot President said the US and Britain recognise the need to have an international force in Cyprus, with a UN mandate, whose composition is subject to discussion.

''We cannot accept Greek or Turkish military participation in this force, if troops from Greece or Turkey maintain a military presence here,'' he remarked.

The Turks press for participation in the force and a separate military presence in Cyprus, he explained.

''This force shall not guarantee anything in the sense that the Security Council does not offer guarantees, unlike individual permanent Council members,'' he explained.

The force's mandate must stipulate that the force undertakes to safeguard that the right to unilateral or multilateral military intervention does not exist.

Replying to questions on the right to freedom of movement, Clerides backed immediate implementation of this fundamental human right and added that he does not accept a Turkish Cypriot proposal for a mass exchange of property.

On the refugee issue, the President said he cannot sanction the view that the Turkish Cypriot administered part of a future federation should be around 29 per cent plus.

''Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash must accept that he will administer a smaller area, in terms of territory, to enable the maximum possible number of refugees to return home and be under Greek Cypriot administration,'' the President said.

Denktash, he noted, does not wish to have large numbers of Greek Cypriot refugees living in the part of the island under Turkish Cypriot administration.

Some 200.000 Greek Cypriots (one third of the island's population) have been uprooted from their homes by the Turkish invasion troops.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Outlining his position on the presence of illegal Turkish settlers, President Clerides was clear ''the Greek Cypriot side believes no settlement can be reached unless the settlers leave.''

He also said children born to one citizen of the Cyprus Republic (in cases of Turkish Cypriots marrying settlers) may apply for Cypriot citizenship to the government.

On his prospective candidacy for a second term in office, the President reiterated the three preconditions he laid down (good health, developments towards a settlement and popularity) before announcing his candidacy and added ''I have been in the political arena for the past 40 years.''

''I have no wish to be a President for the sake of it. I would like to know that my presence will help towards a proper solution of the Cyprus question,'' he concluded.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus President receives UN envoy

Top UN envoy Han Sung Joo and Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides consider the time is not yet ripe to move on to serious and substantive talks.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Cyprus was received here today by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, their third meeting in the last few days.

Cassoulides said ''President Glafcos Clerides and Mr Han reviewed the latter's efforts to push for direct negotiations but did not deal with specific issues on the substance of the Cyprus problem.''

There is no concrete outcome from Han's visit here apart from the conclusion that he will not propose, at this stage, direct negotiations because his mission does not end in Cyprus, the Spokesman said.

''It is important to see what will happen further on, and particularly in Ankara,'' he said but refrained from elaborating.

Replying to questions, Cassoulides said there was no discussion on any specific issue pertaining to the substance of the Cyprus question at today's meeting.

''At earlier meetings, President Clerides outlined his views on the issue of a rotating presidency,'' Cassoulides said.

In his remarks, Han described his meeting as ''one more step towards direct negotiation'' which, he stressed, is not prepared to recommend at this time.

''We still have the goal of realising serious and substantive talks,'' Han told the press.

Asked if there was any progress towards this objective, Han replied ''this is one step toward the right direction, at the moment not a sufficient step. We need more.''

He said he will assess the situation before making any move and avoided further comment, pledging to reveal more at his press conference later today.

The UN envoy was due to attend a working lunch for Greek and Turkish political parties and have a meeting later in the day with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council accredited to Cyprus.

The lunch is given by UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel at his residence, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

He leaves tomorrow for visits to Athens and Ankara after a week-long intensive schedule of meetings on both sides of the divide.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Greek politician calls for diplomatic moves

He also backed the convening of an international conference as well as a meeting of left-wing organisations of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. The meeting could take place in the European Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference here today at the end of his three-day visit to Cyprus, the leader of Greece's Alliance of the Left and Progress, said Cyprus' defence needs could be met with bilateral cooperation and friendship agreements the country may enter into with other independent states.

''This is the time to undertake initiatives on an international level to help current moves pave the way for a solution on the basis of UN resolutions,'' Konstantopoulos said.

He said efforts must be made to reduce the tension on the island, artificially created by Turkey's reaction to the proposed purchase by the government of the Republic of an anti-aircraft missile system.

''The Cyprus problem should not get entangled in the Greco-Turkish disputes as it is an international problem,'' he said.

Konstantopoulos proposed an international meeting, encompassing European countries, to stir their interest in the Cyprus question.

''We are also considering the idea of a meeting of leftwing forces and social organisations in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey,'' he disclosed.

Referring to a joint Greco-Cypriot joint defenc pact, Konstantopoulos said this runs the risk of shifting the Cyprus problem from an international level to a bilateral confrontation.

''Securing Cyprus' defences can be dealt with through bilateral cooperation agreements Cyprus may have with other independent states,'' he said.

The Greek politician leaves Cyprus later today.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US claims on aircraft deployment dismissed

The Spokesman has also said the US is expected to form its Cyprus team in the next few weeks, signaling the start of American efforts to help the Cyprus peace process forward.

''Our side has made neither commitments nor concessions, nor has it agreed to any specific time frame about the use of the air base near Paphos, '' Cassoulides told the press after a cabinet meeting here today.

No decision has been taken about if and when the air base will be used as a refueling point or a base to deploy, on a permanent basis, by Greek military aircraft.

Cassoulides' comments echoed yesterday's statement to the same effect by President Clerides, who also denied claims by US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns that Clerides committed himself ''not to deploy Greek fighter aircraft to the base and not to deploy the Russian anti- aircraft system.''

Once the base is completed, Cassoulides explained, it can be used either for refueling or for the stationing of planes.

Replying to questions, he said the government has already been in touch with the US ambassador here about the matter at hand.

Referring to the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile system, the government decided to buy, he said any missiles that arrive here in 16 months will be fully operational and added ''a second batch will arrive at a later stage.''

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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