Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-02-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Top UN envoy in Cyprus on developments

[02] AKEL letter to UN Secretary-General

1220 :CYPPRESS:01

[01] Top UN envoy in Cyprus on developments

Feissel, who leaves Monday for consultations "with various people" in New York, also said that neither side has changed its tune "in a conclusive way" to allow progress on all three items on the agenda of the talks (removal of loaded weapons along the demarcation line, extension of unmanning and code of conduct).

He said "so far, we have not had exclusive indications from either side about the acceptance of the whole package."

The UN top official reiterated that there is nothing to reported statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that he (Denktash) intends to send settlers to inhabit the Turkish occupied town of Varosha (on the east), contrary to UN resolution 550.

"The military talks are still going on, we are trying to speed them up and make some progress but there is nothing to report," he told CNA.

Replying to questions, he admitted the two sides do not yet meet twice a week, as originally expected, and said the UN "will persist with the military dialogue."

Asked if either side has changed its position on the priority they attach to the three agenda items, Feissel said "not in a conclusive way yet."

Feissel appeared reluctant to comment on the issue of persons listed as missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and limited himself to saying he will first have to be briefed in New York about a recent meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the matter.

Asked if the views the President outlined to Annan on this matter were constructive enough to facilitate further moves towards investigations into the fate of the missing, Feissel replied "I know he discussed this with the Secretary-General when they met in Davos earlier this month, but I have not heard about the meeting yet."

On his trip to UN headquarters, Feissel said the consultations he will aim "to review and discuss things" but they are not in anticipation of a report by the UN chief on Cyprus.

"I have no particular plans, so I will see people in New York," he said. Feissel leaves Monday morning and returns on Wednesday, 26 February, for a series of meetings on the island with European Union officials in late February and Britain's representative for Cyprus in March.

Commenting on Turkish Cypriot threats to settle Varosha, Feissel said he "heard from the horse's mouth (Denktash) at yesterday's meeting that reports to this effect are not correct."

Asked if this was a tit-for-tat tactic in response to Thursday's parliamentary approval of a deposit for the purchase of Russian surface-to- air missiles, Feissel said he did not think there was anything to it, since reports about Varosha's settlement are incorrect.

CNA MM/MH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430 CYPPRESS:02

[02] AKEL letter to UN Secretary-General

In a letter to the UN chief yesterday, left-wing AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias expressed the deep concerns of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots over the rumoured settlement of Varosha by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

"I address to you a warm appeal to personally undertake the matter, giving instructions for its immediate investigation and I call upon you to act so that the Security Council would avert the settlement," Christofias said.

AKEL's General Secretary added such an action would go against relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and escalate even further the already tense situation on the island.

He referred to UN Resolution 550 which considers "attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN."

Christofias said "Cyprus is going through critical moments and Turkey should not be permitted to proceed with actions that aggravate the situation even further," and called on the UN Secretary-General to use his authority "to avert a possible, new expansionist act by Turkey".

CNA MH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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