Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-10-19

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

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[01] Commonwealth to appoint Cyprus envoy

1930:CYPPRESS:02

[01] Commonwealth to appoint Cyprus envoy

Nicosia, Oct 19 (CNA) -- The Commonwealth will appoint a special representative for Cyprus to convey the organisation's feeling on the problem and possibly to touch base with the parties to the talks.

This was stated today by Commonwealth General Secretary, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on BBC World Service Question Time, pointing out at the same time that the leading role in efforts for a Cyprus settlement is with the United Nations.

Asked by CNA on the role of a Commonwealth Action Group for Cyprus, set up in 1983, Chief Anyaoku said it "is still in existence but since then the scene for action has moved decisively to the UN".

"At the moment the UN is in the lead position", he said, pointing out, however, that the Commonwealth fully supports the efforts of UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, towards a peaceful settlement.

Asked on the possibility of appointing a Commonwealth special representative for Cyprus, he said:

"I do intend to appoint one who will be present at the future UN- sponsored talks on Cyprus and his or her role would be to try and convey the general feeling in the Commonwealth on the Cyprus question and possibly touch base with the parties to the talks."

Chief Anyaoku also rejected the view that there are situations that do not let themselves to dialogue.

"I believe that every situation has to be negotiated and that the possibility of reaching solutions through negotiations always exists", he said.

"My hope is that the Cyprus problem which has been on for far too long should be negotiated and I believe that the leaders, particularly the President of Cyprus is making every effort in that direction", he added.

Also commenting on the Cyprus problem, European Union Human Rights Commissioner Emma Bonino, pointed out that in a dialogue "it takes two to tango".

"So when one of the two sides does not want to tango the international community has to react in some way and not simply wait for years until they change their mind", she said.

"Dialogue is sometimes to say: Well enough is enough", she added.

Pointing out at the difficulties of taking decisions in the EU since they have to be unanimous, Bonino said for this reason countries turn to the US rather than the EU for solutions to their problems.

On his part well-known English writer and former BBC and Reuters correspondent, Frederick Forsyth described Cyprus as one "of the abiding thorns with Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kashmir".

"These are problems that have been with us for nearly a generation and still seem to elude every kind of negotiated settlement", he said.

Expressing disagreement with the view that all problems are susceptible to reasonable negotiations, Forsyth added:

"Reasonable negotiations must presume that the participants are reasonable people, and I do not think that Karadic, the IRA or that certain parties on the Turkish Cypriot side are reasonable."

He also pointed out that "it was not a reasonable negotiation that stopped the Bosnian war it was the US air-force".

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

CNA MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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