Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Security dialogue to focus on CBMs, says State Department

[02] Joint ventures may show the way ahead, say British MPs

0930:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Security dialogue to focus on CBMs, says State Department

Answering to questions, Rubin said "security issues means everything from stepping back from the green line, trying to improve confidence building measures across the green line to ultimately any of that fall under the rubric of security".

He pointed out that "the target for these discussions would tend to be in the area of confidence building measures".

The word "security", he said, "leaves a lot of room for discussion", adding, however, "I would steer you towards confidence building measures".

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced during a stopover in Cyprus on Monday that President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had agreed to meet on security issues relating to the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel met President Clerides yesterday and he planned to meet Denktash today to fix a date of the first meeting on the thorny security issue. But Denktash's office announced yesterday that the 73-year-old Turkish Cypriot leader was ill and had cancelled all appointments for the next four days, including the meeting with Feissel. CNA DA/MCH/GP/1997 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Joint ventures may show the way ahead, say British MPs

Lord Bethell, chairman of the group, talked about some "progress on business contacts" which he thoroughly endorsed.

He added "we hope these will develop and there will be a certain amount of joint ventures set up between the business people in the north and the south, possibly in the neutral (UN controlled buffer) zone."

Lord Bethell said after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides business people from both sides fully back such cooperation and see this as a possible way to "establish confidence between them."

In his remarks, Robin Corbett, the group's Vice-Chairman, said "the two communities need to learn how to work together again and if business people have experience of this, then it would seem sensible to start where we can.

"They are very fed up with politicians, that includes us as well, and in a sense they are running ahead of the politicians saying just get on with it, we want a settlement," Corbett added.

Asked if the prospect of making money through joint ventures could push the two sides together, where other means have failed, Lord Bethel noted that "contact works and business can cross many rivers." He said this is the overall impression he will take back to Britain when he report to the House.

Giving his assessment, Conservative MP Roger Gale identified three positive signs since the group's last visit some months ago.

"It seems likely that the July 31 agreement (between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash) will be honoured and there will be an exchange of information about missing persons, small but significant, " he said.

Gale also noted "the real desire for cooperation between the business community" and "the real prospect of talks between Clerides-Denktash in the immediate future to discuss security."

Mike Hancock, of the Liberal Democrats, said none of the issues relating to the Cyprus question "is insurmountable" and said enthusiasm about the success of the communities working together "has to be rekindled."

Referring to his discussions with the President, Lord Bethell said the situation "is more hopeful now" as people talk about the solution, instead of the problem.

"I think the President hopes to meet Denktash next week, to discuss various security matters," he said.

He also disclosed that Denktash, who is said to be ill, wanted to show the visiting MPs during their visit to the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus "various cemeteries and war memorials, which we did not think appropriate."

"We want to look forward, not backward," he pointed out.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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