Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-08-19

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] US backs continuation of Cyprus peace talks

[02] Britain's envoy on Cyprus talks

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[01] US backs continuation of Cyprus peace talks

Replying to a question during his daily briefing Monday, State Department Spokesman, James Rubins, said "we still believe the talks are useful."

"We want to see the talks resume at the appropriate time," he added.

The State Department Spokesman refrained from commenting on the outcome of the second round of face-to-face negotiations between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, which took place in Switzerland, August 11-15.

"We expect an assessment on the talks from the special representative to the Security Council later this week," Rubins said.

The Secretary-General's special advisor on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, who chaired the talks, is expected to brief the UN Security Council on the outcome of the talks on Wednesday.

Two rounds of UN sponsored direct negotiations, one in the US in July and a second in Switzerland in August, failed to break the deadlock in the Cyprus problem, primarily due to Turkish demands that negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the European Union (EU) are put on hold.

Both Ankara and Denktash have stepped up their intransigence after the EU reconfirmed in its report "Agenda 2000", made public last month, that accession talks will begin with Cyprus in 1998. The decision to start membership talks with Cyprus was taken in March 1995.

CNA DA/MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Britain's envoy on Cyprus talks

The British envoy also considers that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have to make a contribution towards a settlement, and has described President Glafcos Clerides' stance in the second round of UN-led talks is Glion, Switzerland, last week as "very constructive".

Despite some disappointment with the outcome of two rounds of direct negotiations between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Sir David noted that the peace process is now moving into a new gear with the preparation of the legal texts of a settlement.

"I don't think that there is any cause for despair. That there is some cause for disappointment, yes, and I share that," the British envoy said in an interview with London Greek Radio.

He noted the two rounds of direct talks (the first in the US last month) "were not put to the best possible use", but said a work programme will go ahead this autumn as neither President Clerides nor Denktash had a problem with this.

"The peace process is now going to move into a new gear with the working by the UN, in consultation with the two parties, on the actual legal texts that will be needed for a settlement," Sir David added, noting they will cover issues such as a draft constitution, territorial adjustments, arrangements for security matters, refugees and compensation.

He expressed hope negotiations on these texts will begin in March 1998, after the presidential elections in Cyprus.

Commenting on the view that both the government and the people of Cyprus do not believe there is much hope for a settlement unless pressure is put on the party that is not willing to continue the peace talks, Sir David said he does not believe "we should be thinking in terms of just putting pressure on one party."

"Both the two communities and their leaders have to make a contribution. I know myself that President Clerides' contribution to the talks of Glion was very constructive, very positive, and he earned great credit," he said.

However, the British envoy said he does not think "you can assume that you can just put pressure on to Ankara to put pressure on to Denktash. That's a far over-simple way of looking at this."

He acknowledged that both Ankara and Denktash have an important role to play in efforts for a solution, but said "they have got to be satisfied through the process of negotiations that their fundamental needs and requirements are being taken account of, as are those of the other side."

"So it's not a straight-forward issue of who twists whose arm, it is a more complex matter, it is one that requires a sustained and concerted effort," Sir David added.

Asked to comment on the Turkish side's threats not to participate in another round of negotiations unless the European Union (EU) decides not to open accession talks with Cyprus next year, Sir David reiterated that "the EU remains committed to the opening of negotiations with Cyprus, six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference (last July)."

He noted he had made this position clear in all his contacts and added he had told Denktash that the EU dimension should be discussed "in great detail" this autumn.

The British envoy said he also told the Turkish Cypriot leader that he "wasn't at all convinced that his approach was one that would really bring benefits."

"The best outcome for both communities in Cyprus is that EU membership should come to a federal, bizonal, bicommunal Cyprus and not a divided Cyprus," he said, clarifying that he does not mean "that a divided Cyprus could never join the EU."

The former British diplomat noted "this would be rather problematic and difficult, but not impossible."

He also expressed "a very widespread view that it is only desirable that both communities should be associated in some way with the accession process."

Asked about American involvement in efforts for a Cyprus settlement, Sir David expressed hope that they "will be as active as the others of us in this matter", noting the US ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, had close contact with all special representatives at the talks in Glion.

He said he was certain the American Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, and his deputy, Tomas Miller, "will be very active."

CNA MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.77 (+0.05)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.24 (+0.11)
Approved Investment Companies          64.59 (-0.43)
Insurance Companies                    57.92 (+1.38)
Industrial Companies                   74.72 (-0.40)
Tourist Industries                     64.50 (-0.69)
Commercial Companies                   46.91 (-0.82)
Other Companies                        60.29 (+0.30)

Trading Volume                         CYP 219759.002

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article