Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-08-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Miller to visit Cyprus prior to Holbrooke

[02] British MPs reinforce cautious optimism on the Cyprus issue

[03] House President informs overseas Cypriots on Cyprus problem

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Miller to visit Cyprus prior to Holbrooke

The State Department's spokesman, James Rubin, told his regular press briefing Monday "I don't have any dates for you" on these visits to the region.

"But it is my understanding that the Cyprus Coordinator, Miller, will be going out in advance of Ambassador Holbrooke's trip, which I understand will certainly not occur before the end of the month," he added.

There is no official announcement, but it is certain that Thomas Miller, the former deputy chief of mission in Athens, will be the Special Coordinator of the State Department for Cyprus.

Rubin also referred to the issue of Cyprus' accession to the European Union (EU), before or after a settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem.

The spokesman said the US believes that "the prospect of membership in the EU, both for Cyprus and Turkey, can be a constructive element in promoting a negotiated solution to this problem."

However, he noted that "as far as who makes the decision who joins and when they join, that is a decision for the EU."

CNA DA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] British MPs reinforce cautious optimism on the Cyprus issue

"I think I speak for all of us when saying that we reinforced our sense of cautious optimism that events may move forward, but also an understanding that the situation is very fragile," Labour MP Stephen Twigg said after a meeting today with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

Twigg was joined at the meeting by fellow Labour MPs Rudy Vis and Joan Ryan, who are in Cyprus to take part in the 10th World Conference of Overseas Cypriots currently underway in the capital.

Twigg said the MPs "put some well-informed points" to the Foreign Minister to find out the government's position on the peace process that saw the conclusion of a second round of UN-led direct negotiations in mid- August between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Glion, Switzerland.

Denktash effectively torpedoed the Glion talks by rejecting unofficial documents put forth by the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez.

The Glion talks were preceded by an opening round of face-to-face negotiations last month in Troutbeck, New York.

Twigg added the meeting with the Foreign Minister was "positive with a very well-informed discussion". CNA KN/MH/MCH 1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:03

[03] House President informs overseas Cypriots on Cyprus problem

He stressed this in a meeting today with a group of Cypriot diaspora members who are taking part in the 10th World Conference of Overseas Cypriots currently underway in the capital.

The House President noted that there had been absolutely no shift in Turkish positions over the Cyprus problem in either of the two rounds of UN- led direct talks aimed at resolving the protracted issue.

"This was very natural, since Turkey continues to believe that it can promote its plans against Cyprus," Kyprianou said.

A second round of face-to-face negotiations between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash earlier this month in Glion, Switzerland, failed to yield substantial progress due to Denktash's rejection of unofficial documents put forth at the talks by the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez.

Following Cordovez's report to the UN Security Council on the talks, Security Council President Sir John Weston imparted responsibility for the lack of further progress in the talks on the Turkish Cypriot side which, according to Weston, introduced issues outside the scope of the talks.

The first round of talks was held last month in Troutbeck, New York.

Kyprianou stressed to the diaspora members that a Cyprus solution must not be a precondition to the island's accession to the European Union (EU) "because in this way, a right of veto is given to Turkey".

Denktash has threatened to abandon the peace process altogether if EU- Cyprus accession negotiations, scheduled to begin early next year, go ahead.

The House President pointed out that Greek Cypriots do not have a problem with the Turkish Cypriots but with Rauf Denktash represents Ankara and not the Turkish Cypriots.

Kyprianou called on the members of the diaspora to try their best especially towards decision-making centres, to convince them that mere expression of their interest in Cyprus is no longer enough but that they should seek a settlement of the problem.

He underscored to the diaspora members that the people of Cyprus feel proud of their overseas brethren and that their intense efforts are "an example to be emulated".

CNA MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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