Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN Chief's invitation handed to President Clerides

[02] British envoy: Give and take is the only way

[03] Dozens apprehended after clashes in occupied areas

[04] UN chief invites leaders to direct talks

[05] Defence Minister: no deadlock in military dialogue

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN Chief's invitation handed to President Clerides

Speaking after a 30-minute meeting with President Clerides, Feissel said the meeting has been set for July 9 and will take place somewhere near New York.

The UN official refrained from giving any details on the content of the invitation, saying he would first have to deliver the UN Chief's invitation to Denktash as well.

He is expected to meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader in the Turkish- occupied part of Nicosia, later this morning.

Refraining from making any statements concerning direct negotiations, Feissel repeated that the two sides should come to the talks in a spirit of good-will and cooperation if progress is to be achieved in the protracted Cyprus question.

CNA MA/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] British envoy: Give and take is the only way

In statements before leaving for Athens for talks with the Greek government, after a three-day visit here, Sir David noted that "give and take" is not a method "but common sense. It's the only way that any negotiation, I have ever noticed, or participated in, can be brought to a conclusion... it's a means of reaching agreements."

He remarked that the solution to the Cyprus issue will take time, because the "subject matter is complex and the issues sensitive".

However, Sir David expressed the hope that it will "be possible to make progress in the early rounds, possibly of a limited kind, what I like to call an early harvest" and that later on there will be "gradual progress" to bring to an end what he described as a "long saga" and arrive at a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Sir David acknowledged that this is some way away, a distance of time he is not ready to predict. "What I think is most important is that the process gets off to a good start and that both sides approach it with realism and determination if possible, to bring it to a successful conclusion," the British diplomat said.

"This is an opportunity for Cyprus", he said, noting that one has to steer between excesses of optimism and pessimism, try to be realistic, but keep in one's mind all the time the benefits for all the people of Cyprus if an agreement can be reached."

Asked if he is optimistic, Sir David said he was "very, very pleased that after a long preparatory process, we have now reached a point where the UN Secretary-General is resuming the effort to get a formal negotiating solution through face to face negotiations".

He was particularly pleased that the leaders of the two communities are clearly happy to go along with that and that the governments of both Greece and Turkey are supporting the effort.

Stressing that this is only the "end of the beginning and not the beginning of the end", Sir David remarked that "we have come some way in the last year in getting to that point".

Referring to his meeting last night with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Sir David described it as "useful", noting that they covered regular ground.

He said they concentrated on the important issues, which are the talks, scheduled to begin in near New York July 9, how to make a success of them, what will be the main subjects covered, what the main pre-occupations on the Turkish Cypriots are, and how to overcome these problems.

Referring to the role of Greece and Turkey, Sir David said the governments of the two countries have an important interest in these negotiations and along with Britain they are the island's guarantor powers.

Noting that it is important to exchange views with these two countries, Sir David clarified that the only people who will be conducting the negotiations are the leaders of the two communities and the UN Secretary- General and his representative, Diego Cordovez.

He said Turkey will not be at the conference table, although the presence of the Turkish troops is not consistent with a settlement, therefore their role has got to come into these negotiations at some stage.

To a question if Britain will make any proposals, Sir David stressed that it is not the British government's job to have blueprints and proposals, but help the UN and the two communities at the extent it can.

Furthermore, he said he is in constant touch with the UN chief, Cordovez, the Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast, and he also keeps in touch with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the US President's emissary on Cyprus, and others who are trying to help.

CNA TA/EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1250:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Dozens apprehended after clashes in occupied areas

Of those "detained", 103 are students of Kurdish origin studying at the so-called University of the Eastern Mediterranean in the occupied areas. The other 17 are members of the Turkish extremist organisation, the "Grey Wolves".

The Turkish Cypriot press reported that more persons are expected to be "detained", while "police officers" in civilian garb have taken up duty at the "university".

The Kurdish students, who are of Turkish nationality, fought Sunday with Turkish extremists using sticks and stones after the Kurds protested the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq.

Thousands of Turkish troops invaded northern Iraq, in a bid to wipe out Kurdish rebel strongholds in the area.

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels have used the bases in northern Iraq to mount attacks against military positions within Turkey.

It was the worst student clash in the occupied areas since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory.

In a written statement on the clashes, Republican Turkish Party General Secretary Sabit Soyer said that in the process of uniting occupied Cyprus with Turkey, all of Turkey's problems and political squabbles are being transferred to the island.

He strongly criticised the two Turkish Cypriot parties supporting the "Grey Wolves", the Democratic Party and the National Unity Party, and called on the Turkish Cypriot authorities to take all necessary measures.

Meanwhile, the new leader of the "Grey Wolves" in the occupied areas, Ospan Cholak, said the incidents were caused by PKK members, who roamed the streets chanting pro-PKK slogans in the Kurdish language.

One of the Kurdish chants said "Kurdistan will be the burial place of the fascist Turkish army."

Cholak also criticised Turkish Cypriot authorities, saying that for years his organisation has warned them that the so-called universities in the occupied areas have been transformed into PKK strongholds without any measures being taken.

The extremist group leader added that next Saturday, June 14, "Grey Wolves" members studying at the so-called universities will meet in the occupied part of Nicosia to assess the situation.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:04

[04] UN chief invites leaders to direct talks

The invitations were handed over today to the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities by UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel.

Speaking after his meeting with President Clerides, Feissel said the talks will begin July 9.

Refraining from any comments on the substance of the issues to be discussed, Feissel said "it is important that they make progress and this requires that both sides cooperate and that they are ready to make their contribution to an overall settlement."

He noted "no settlement is possible if one side or the other side says this or that is out of bounds. If you're going to discuss and try to reach an agreement on the subject both sides have to move."

The UN representative also refrained from replying to a question if he has prepared any documents for the direct talks.

Replying to questions, he said he is not "aware" if the Secretary- General has extended invitations to foreign government envoys on the Cyprus question, to be in New York when the talks take place.

Annan told reporters in New York on Tuesday that the talks will be held outside New York.

President Clerides and Denktash held informal meetings at Feissel's residence, in Nicosia, in October 1994.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Defence Minister: no deadlock in military dialogue

Responding to questions prior to a Cabinet meeting today, Eliades said "the matter of the military dialogue continues" and reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side had submitted its positions on the issue.

He noted that at this stage, he could not say how the issue would develop and if progress would be made "because each side has given the UN its own position".

In his report to the Security Council on the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the two sides on the island to accept a UN-sponsored package of proposals to defuse tensions along the 180 kilometre-long cease-fire line.

The Secretary-General noted in the report an agreement on the proposals providing for the extension of an unmanning agreement, definition of a code of conduct and the removal of loaded weapons, "would significantly improve the atmosphere and reduce the potential for violence".

Annan also urged the leaders of the two communities to facilitate contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

A report on Cyprus by Annan's predecessor, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, had called the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus one of the most highly militarised areas in the world.

Asked whether he was aware if the Turkish side had submitted its position on the UN package, Eliades said that this is what the agreed arrangements foresee.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA MA/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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