Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-04-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN Cyprus envoy welcomes US involvement

[02] Miller meets Denktash

[03] Clinton points to negative developments

[04] UNFICYP to reduce local staff

1050:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN Cyprus envoy welcomes US involvement

United Nations, Apr 3 (CNA) -- UN's top Cyprus advisor Diego Cordovez has warmly endorsed US active involvement in the search for a Cyprus settlement.

Cordovez told CNA, he welcomed the decision by US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, to visit the island and that he looked forward to a closer working relationship with the American diplomat.

"I am happy Mr. Holbrooke is going to Cyprus because we are all working towards the same end, and the fact that he is there now will remind these two gentlemen, Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash, that the international community is expecting them to go back to the negotiating table."

He added "The US has a very important role to play in the resolution of this problem."

Cordovez said he did not have the chance to compare notes with Holbrooke, prior to his visit to Cyprus, as the latter travels to Nicosia directly from Hong Kong.

The UN envoy, pointed out, however, he fully briefed Tom Miller, the State Department Special Cyprus Coordinator, who arrived in Cyprus yesterday.

Holbrooke was scheduled to arrive in Cyprus this evening for meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Speaking to CNA, Cordovez was less than sanguine about his recent trip to Cyprus, pointing out he was "disappointed" in the results and that there appeared to be "no common ground".

A serious procedural problem developed in the format of the talks, he explained, namely the issue raised by Denktash about the status of the two interlocutors.

Both sides agreed, he said, that if the format is to be changed it would have to be done by the UN Security Council.

Cordovez deflected questions about Cyprus' European Union accession and it was clear it was a "troublesome complication."

"The mood between Clerides and Denktash during the first round of talks last year at Troutbeck (US) was extremely good. All the elements for moving towards a settlement were in place. Agreement was even reached on the missing persons issue. Then this bomb exploded", he said.

Officials talks for accession to the EU started on March 31. Turkey has reacted to this with threats of integrating the northern part of the island, it occupies since its 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

CNA JD/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Miller meets Denktash

Speaking after the meeting, which lasted over an hour, Miller said they had "a very useful and productive discussion and exchange of ideas, as we had in the past".

Miller accepted an invitation for lunch today, during which they will continue discussion.

Denktash said they had a discussion of the Cyprus problem "from all angles".

The US official, who arrived in Cyprus yesterday, was received last night by President Glafcos Clerides.

Miller came to the island one day ahead of the visit of US Presidential Emissary on Cyprus Richard Holbrooke, who will meet separately Clerides and Denktash, in a fresh effort to achieve resumption of the Cyprus peace process.

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

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1140:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clinton points to negative developments

Washington, Apr 3 (CNA) -- US President, Bill Clinton points to negative developments in Cyprus, namely the suspension of bi-communal contacts by Turkish Cypriots and the construction of a military airbase in the western Paphos district.

In his bimonthly progress report to Congress on the situation in Cyprus, covering the period December 1, 1997 - January 31, 1998, he refers to the issue of the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missiles expected to be deployed later this year.

This is the first time in a long period the US President stresses negative developments in his report.

The first negative development, Clinton points out is that "on December 27, the Turkish Cypriots indefinitely suspended bi-communal contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots".

The second negative development, according to the US President was that "in January, the Greek Cypriot National Guard assumed control of the Paphos airbase, which was upgraded to serve as a base for fighter aircraft".

Clinton says that the US "reiterated to the Greek Cypriots our concerns about proceeding with the purchase of the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, which present a serious obstacle to achieving a settlement based on a bizonal, bi-communal federation".

Noting that "international efforts on the Cyprus issue slowed during this period in anticipation of the February 1998 Cypriot Presidential election", Clinton points, however, to developments "that affect Cyprus, including those in the area of European Union-Turkish relations".

According to the US President, "Turkey perceived the Luxembourg-EU Summit as a setback to its goal of closer integration with Europe".

He adds that during a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, last December, he "urged him to remain focused on Turkey's long-term interest in Europe".

CNA DA/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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