Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-10-10

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Denmark considers Cyprus solution imperative

[02] Clerides meets European Commission President

[03] Foreign officials arrive for Morphou march

[04] President Clerides meets CoE Secretary-General

[05] Holbrooke - Miller to visit Ankara, State Department says

1735:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Denmark considers Cyprus solution imperative

Strasbourg, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen said here Friday it is imperative that a political solution is found in Cyprus.

Petersen was speaking after a meeting today with his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, on the sidelines of the second Council of Europe summit.

"I hope there is a window of opportunity. I see signs of this," Petersen said.

"The European Union (EU) and Denmark, inside the EU, we strongly support the UN efforts for finding a political solution. We think it is very important indeed, imperative for Cyprus itself, that a political solution is found and indeed it is very important for the whole of the region," he said.

Petersen noted that the "status quo is not really acceptable to anybody."

He described as a "step in the right direction" which is "very much welcomed by the EU" the inclusion of representatives from the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus' accession delegation.

On his part, Kasoulides described the meeting "very interesting."

"We had the opportunity to discuss Cyprus' accession course and how it can help efforts for a Cyprus settlement," he said.

Kasoulides said they also discussed issues concerning the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Petersen is currently the chairman in office of the OSCE.

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

CNA MA/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides meets European Commission President

Strasbourg, Oct 10 (CNA) -- The President of the European Commission Jacques Santer believes that the European Council will endorse in December a recommendation for accession talks to begin with Cyprus.

He also said he expected accession talks to begin in the spring of 1998.

Santer was speaking after a 30-minute meeting Friday with Cyprus President, Glafcos Clerides, on the sidelines of the Council of Europe (CoE) summit.

The President of the Commission said he "had a very constructive meeting" with President Clerides.

"As you are aware, in our proposal we put forward to the European Council, we recommend that the negotiations to the EU (for Cyprus' accession) will start at the beginning of 1998, on the basis of the agreement that the European Council of Ministers made in March 1995," Santer said.

He expressed the view that "the European Council in Luxembourg in December will endorse this recommendation."

Asked if a specific date for the talks to begin has been set, Santer said "we have to make one step at a time," only to add that "in springtime, there will be time, that is the time in mind to start these negotiations."

In a brief statement, President Clerides said they had "a good discussion on the Cyprus issue and the accession of Cyprus to the EU" and that he was "completely satisfied."

Present at the meeting were EU External Relations Commissioner Hans Van den Broek, Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides and the island's permanent representative to Brussels, Michalis Attalides.

President Clerides was scheduled to have a courtesy meeting this afternoon with Secretary-General of the CoE Daniel Tarschys.

CNA MA/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Foreign officials arrive for Morphou march

Speaking at Larnaca Airport, British Labour and Conservative MPs stressed the need to end the division of the island and restore the Cypriot people's human rights, grossly violated since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the country's northern third.

They pledged to work for a viable and just solution to the Cyprus problem, securing the island's prosperous future.

Representing the European Parliament, British Labour Euro MP Pauline Green said she has been participating in the Morphou march for the last nine years.

"It seems like a lifetime to me, nine years, but I can't imagine how it feels for those who have been denied their homes in Morphou and the surrounding villages since 1974", she said.

The leader of the Euro-Parliament Socialist Group, said during her stay on the island, she will talk about the island's accession to the European Union which she hoped "it will be a catalyst to find a solution to the Cyprus problem."

Green said there is "a window of opportunity in the next few months, it is a very crucial time" and urged all to act very responsibly.

Stephen Twigg of the Labour Party said it is very useful and important for him, as a new member of Parliament, to find out about the current situation.

He expressed the hope that there will "be a rapid settlement to bring about a united Cyprus."

A delegation by the World Union of Martyred Towns and by the London Borough of Barnet, led by its Mayor, Agnes Slocombe also arrived in Cyprus. Barnet has been twinned with occupied Morphou.

Greek members of Parliament and representatives from the towns of Sparti and Kalavrita, which have been also twinned with Morphou are expected to arrive later today to take part in the march.

Marchers will gather on Sunday morning at Astromeritis village, near the cease-fire line, west of the capital Nicosia.

They will head for Morphou after a church service, only to stop at the UN post to hand over a petition to a UN area officer, calling for the reunification of Cyprus and the return of refugees to their homes.

CNA MAN/EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2125:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President Clerides meets CoE Secretary-General

Strasbourg, Oct 10 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides had a meeting here this afternoon with Council of Europe's Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys on the sidelines of CoE summit.

Their talks focused on ways how the CoE could help the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus come closer together, especially the young people.

President Clerides briefed the CoE official on latest developments in the Cyprus question and his recent talks in New York with UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, and US presidential emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke.

They also discussed general issues related to the CoE, but special attention was paid to the establishment of a new European Court of Human Rights and how this institution could help the Council's objectives.

President Clerides and Tarschys exchanged views on a CoE decision to introduce the institution of a Human Rights Commissioner. CNA/MA/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2140:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Holbrooke - Miller to visit Ankara, State Department says

Washington, Oct 10 (CNA) -- US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, and State Department Coordinator for Cyprus, Tom Miller, will visit Ankara between October 12-13. Miller will then go to Athens but the trip will not include Cyprus.

State Department Spokesman, James Rubin, told CNA today that the two men will "continue discussions with Turkish leaders they began in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly."

He said "they will discuss the full range of issues relating to our (US) efforts to promote a settlement of the Cyprus dispute."

Rubin emphasised that the visit "is not a negotiation" but a "continuation of discussions."

He described it as a "natural follow up to discussions" which Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Assistant Secretary Marc Grossman, Holbrooke and Miller had with Turkish officials in New York.

"We are engaged in an active process of discussions to see what assistance we can provide the parties in coming to a conclusion," he said.

Rubin said Holbrooke and Miller "look forward to meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash when he visits the US later this month."

The State Department Spokesman said the US believes "now is the right time to continue the process in Ankara."

Asked by CNA whether the two men would visit Athens and Nicosia, he said Miller will "travel on from Turkey to Athens".

He emphasised that "it is not necessary for an American official of whatever prominence to go to Greece and Turkey every time they go to the region."

Meanwhile, speaking from Strasbourg, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told CNA he was not informed about any visit by Holbrooke to Cyprus.

"Nothing of the kind was mentioned to me" he said, adding that when he last met Holbrooke, the US official was wondering when he should come to Cyprus.

CNA DA/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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