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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-08Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1750:CYPPRESS:01[01] Foreign Minister on Holbrooke's visitLarnaca, Nov 8 (CNA) -- Richard Holbrooke, US presidential emissary for Cyprus, would not be coming to the island next week if he thought he would be confronted with a brick wall on the part of the Turkish side.Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides expressed this view on his return from talks in Athens with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos. "I do not think Holbrooke's visit should surprise anyone. If he had any second thoughts about the visit it is because he did not want to come here without first having detected some kind of disposition from the Turkish side to respond," Kasoulides said. He also pointed out that "if he were to be faced with a brick wall, he would not be coming." Holbrooke's decision to visit Cyprus was taken after the last meeting he had with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, he explained. "It seems that his consecutive meetings with Denktash have enabled him to come to the conclusion that he should visit," the Minister said. Asked if any changes may occur as a result of Holbrooke's visit, Kasoulides replied "we do not anticipate any significant change on the substance of the Cyprus question but we do not wish to preempt anything." He stressed there will not be negotiating during any of the meetings Holbrooke is scheduled to have, including a joint meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash. Replying to questions, the Minister said the government's decision to deploy Russian surface-to-air missiles may be on Holbrooke's agenda during his talks in Moscow, expected in the next couple of days. CNA MM/RG/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1815:CYPPRESS:02[02] US envoy outlines targets for Cyprus visitWashington, Nov 8 (CNA) -- The US aims at bringing Turkey closer to Europe and securing a pledge from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to negotiate as a team their accession to the European Union, according to the "Washington Post"."The U.S. strategy is to try to improve Turkey's prospects for eventual European Union membership and at the same time persuade (President Glafcos) Clerides and (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash to consider a joint delegation for Cyprus' negotiations with the European Union" the paper says. "Both of these steps face formidable obstacles, officials said," the paper adds. The US, it notes, has been trying to improve Turkey's position with regard to the EU and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright raised the issue Wednesday in a long meeting with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. The paper quotes Richard Holbrooke, US presidential emissary, as saying that he is neither a pessimist nor an optimist. "I do believe in creating opportunities and possibilities," Holbrooke said referring to his visit to Cyprus on Monday, where he is due to hold a joint meeting with the leaders of the two communities. One source of opportunity, according to the paper, may have been presented by the outcome of a Southeast Europe summit on the island of Crete earlier this week. Administration officials, it adds, have no expectation of an early resolution to the Cyprus issue, but said they were encouraged that the two long time rivals (Greek and Turkish premiers) have agreed to resume direct talks after saying during recent visits to Washington that they saw no point in doing so. CNA DA/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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