Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clinton releases bimonthly report

[02] US House Committee approves resolution on Cyprus

[03] President Clerides leaves for Amsterdam

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[01] President Clinton releases bimonthly report

The statement is included in his bimonthly report to Congress on progress toward a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question which covers the period February 1, 1997, through March 31, 1997.

President Clinton remarks "the highlight of this reporting period was the start of the UN-sponsored proximity talks on the island. The United States strongly supported efforts by the UN to engage the two Cypriot leaders productively in these talks in preparation for direct negotiations".

Noting the US support for the UN's undertaking on several occasions, the President notes we "have urged both leaders to seize the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the reconciliation process," leading towards a Cyprus settlement.

Referring to the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as his Special Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Clinton stresses that although the appointment falls outside the current reporting period, he is "very pleased" with the appointment.

Holbrooke, Clinton says, "assumes his duties at a time when tensions on the island have eased to the overflight moratorium recently agreed to by the parties, as well as their agreement to begin the UN-sponsored direct talks in early July".

Concluding, President Clinton says he "asked Ambassador Holbrooke to use his proven negotiating skills and superb knowledge of the region to support the UN efforts".

The UN-led direct talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are scheduled to take place between July 9 and 13 in Troutbeck, Dutchess County, near Amenia town, north of Manhattan.

CNA DA/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1145 CYPPRESS:02

[02] US House Committee approves resolution on Cyprus

The position is included in a resolution approved yesterday by the US House International Relations Committee and initiated by its Chairman, Benjamin Gilman. It will be forwarded to the House of Representatives for approval by the plenary.

The resolution calls on the Congress to reaffirm "its view that the status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable and detrimental to the interests of the US in Eastern Mediterranean and beyond."

It considers that "lasting peace and stability on Cyprus could be best secured by a process of complete demilitarisation leading to the withdrawal of all foreign occupation forces, the cessation of foreign arms transfers to Cyprus and providing the alternative internationally acceptable and effective security arrangements as negotiated by the parties."

It also "welcomes and supports the commitment by President Clinton to give increased attention to Cyprus and make the search for a solution a priority of US foreign policy."

The resolution "encourages the President to launch an early substantive initiative, in close coordination with the UN, the European Union and interested governments to promote a speedy resolution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of international law, the provisions of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, democratic principles, including respect for human rights and in accordance with the norms and requirements for accession to the European Union."

It also calls upon the parties to "lend their full support and cooperation to such an initiative."

Furthermore, it requests the President to report actions taken to give effect to the objectives set forth above in the bimonthly report on Cyprus transmitted to the Congress.

In a statement to the International Relations Committee, Gilman said the "Cyprus problem has been a matter of concern to the US Congress now in excess of 22 years."

"It is a situation that cries out for just redress and an end to the occupation of Cyprus by foreign troops," he said.

He further noted that "although the world has dramatically changed for the better during this decade, Cyprus remains as a pressing international problem. Indeed Cyprus has almost become a code word for intractability in the realm of diplomacy," he said.

"I strongly believe that our government should invest some of our prestige in such an effort because Americans have always supported justice and because we have significant interests that can be affected by instability in Cyprus," Gilman concluded.

CNA DA/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] President Clerides leaves for Amsterdam

However, Turkey has not so far shown such indications on the specific aspects of the problem it intends to alter its intransigent position, he added.

The President was speaking on departure to Amsterdam, this morning, to attend a briefing Friday of the candidate countries for European Union (EU) accession, on the results of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).

Asked to comment on the document which the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, will present to President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash at the start of the UN-sponsored direct talks on July 9, the President reiterated he has not asked to be briefed on the contents of the document.

"Even if we asked, I do not think they would have told us," he said, adding that he believes the document is of a procedural rather than substantive nature.

Clerides said he will have the chance to deliberate with the members of the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem) who will be near the site of the New York talks. However, Clerides added that the government will refrain from commenting, pending the presentation of the document.

Regarding the meeting in Amsterdam, Clerides said that after the government is informed at the New Metropolis Centre about the results of the IGC it will submit its views on the issue.

At the same time, President Clerides reiterated that the accession talks with the EU will start six months after the end of the IGC.

Invited to comment on statements made Wednesday by Sir David that while in Ankara that he "was certainly given very clear indications that the Turkish government intended to engage constructively for a negotiated solution," Clerides said that Hannay told him during his visit here that Turkey had promised him it will help efforts towards a Cyprus solution.

President Clerides will also attend a lunch hosted by Her Majesty's Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands tomorrow before returning to the island on Saturday.

Cyprus applied for full EU membership in July 1990. CNA MAN/RM/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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