Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kasoulides - Albright

[02] Police report - Ocalan - Passport

0930:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Kasoulides - Albright

Speaking after a meeting yesterday in Washington with her Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides, Albright said she stressed to the Minister that she and the US President are "personally interested in helping to move ahead".

"We are urging both sides to work with Ann Hercus, the UN Deputy Special Representative for Cyprus, to put the Secretary-General's initiative into action", she added.

Furthermore Albright pointed out that she told Kasoulides that "President Clerides courageous decision not to deploy the S300 (Russian- made surface-to-air missiles) on Cyprus has opened new opportunities to find a resolution for the Cyprus problem".

She pledged "we will continue to work with both sides in public and in private and we will encourage both to negotiate creatively and flexibly".

The US Secretary of State added that "we will not hesitate to bring to the table whatever contributions we can make ourselves".

Albright referred also to the "very close relations" between the USA and Cyprus and that "we have an extensive trade relationship, we cooperate to fight crime, drug trafficking and terrorism and we have a common interest in building a Europe that is united, prosperous and free, a Europe in which all Cypriots fully participate".

The Cyprus Foreign Minister described his meeting with Albright as "very useful".

Kasoulides said he discussed with Albright a number of ways through which the US Administration can work actively for the implementation of the latest Security Council Resolutions, according to President Clinton's public statement to that effect.

He said "the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, have the right to enjoy freedom, peace and stability like any other people in the world".

Furthermore asked by journalists, after the State Department meeting, if there had been anything encouraging Kasoulides said: "Well, no. The commitment of the US Administration, as you heard it was reiterated and we discussed a number of tracks that have to be followed, in order to achieve progress in the efforts for a settlement to the Cyprus question.

He also said that he wasn't expecting any reciprocity from the Turks after the Cyprus government gesture not to deploy the anti-aircraft missile system S300 ¦n Cyprus.

"Although it was their obligation for some reciprocity, I must be honest that I wasn't expecting from them, knowing the, that they would reciprocate", he added.

Kasoulides said that despite that, he thinks that the gesture not to deploy the missiles on Cyprus gives the opportunity to Administrations like the one in the United States, "to be much more convincing towards the Turks, that the time has come for them to withdraw, of start withdrawing their army from Cyprus".

He added that "since the Cyprus problem is in the hands of the Unites Nations and the Secretary General, the United States as a permanent member of the Security Council has a role to play".

In his statements to Greek journalists Kasoulides said he made clear to the US Secretary of State that tension in Cyprus would be reduced when the principle of the reduction of armaments was accepted and that he discussed with Albright various ways of promoting this.

Kasoulides added he also discussed with Albright the report the State Department is working on for military weapons in Cyprus.

He added there are American pledges for intensive efforts for a Cyprus settlement after the elections in Turkey.

On Tuesday in New York, the Cypriot Minister had a meeting with US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke, who stated afterwards that the Cyprus problem was "a tough problem."

He said "the current disposition of the Turkish side makes progress extraordinary difficult and the US is fully committed to working for a solution."

Holbrooke said "President Clinton personally, Secretary Albright, myself, we are all working on it all the time. But I cannot, in all honesty, say to you that a breakthrough is imminent because that would require the cooperation and collaboration and active involvement of both sides.

Right now that is not what exists because of the positions that were taken last year by the Turkish side."

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

CNA DA/MK/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Police report - Ocalan - Passport

"The Police investigation regarding a report by a Turkish television that the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan was holding a Cypriot passport has almost been completed and will be submitted to the Attorney General early this afternoon," Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides said.

Turkish television showed pictures of a passport allegedly issued by the Cyprus Republic bearing the name of Cypriot journalist, Lazaros Mavros, and the picture of Ocalan.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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