Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-12-16

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

16/12/96

CONTENTS

• [01] British Foreign Secretary arrives in Cyprus
• [02] President Clinton's Report to Congress on Cyprus
• [03] Cyprus satisfied with EU call on Turkey to implement UN resolutions on Cyprus
• [04] Municipal elections held yesterday

[01] British Foreign Secretary arrives in Cyprus

Welcoming the British Foreign Secretary, Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides said this is the first visit to Cyprus a British Foreign Secretary has paid to Cyprus for the purpose of looking at the Cyprus problem.

The Minister said he was encouraged by the increased interest displayed by Britain, and by many others, because if there is a concerted interest and co-ordinated effort, then we can all join together and give a big push to the Cyprus problem and we can hope to see an end soon to the Cyprus drama.

"I am optimistic that 1997 may be the year for Cyprus", Mr Michaelides said. Replying Mr Rifkind said that sadly the problems in Cyprus have not been resolved and are still a challenge primarily to the people of Cyprus but also for the friends of Cyprus.

He said he comes here for two reasons: to learn a little bit more about Cyprus, about its people and about the views of its leaders, and secondly to encourage those who are working for a peaceful solution.

He said he does not come with some separate British initiative, explaining that the international community acts under the aegis of the UN and countries that have friendly long links with Cyprus can all work together as a single effort to encourage the process of finding solutions.

Saying that while he does not expect progress to happen overnight, he said he believes there is an opportunity to move towards real dialogue, real negotiations between the two communities and leading to a solution that all the people of Cyprus can feel comfortable with.

He expressed the belief that "there is a willingness to look forward, to learn from the past, but not to be captured by the past, ... to identify common ground and to address the solutions that are required in a comprehensive way".

He said he looked forward to Cyprus joining the European Union, adding that "there are great opportunities ahead that can bring economic prosperity, stability and security to the people of Cyprus".

Asked what the EU expects from Turkey to do, Rifkind said that while the main way in which progress will be achieved is by the people of Cyprus and the leaders of the two communities of Cyprus coming together, Britain also recognises that ''both Turkey and Greece have a particular influence and a particular ability to help progress if they wish to do so.''

On the issue of guarantees and security, Rifkind said the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee continues to be important, but would not propose detailed ways in which these matters can be taken forward, saying that is for the people involved in a detailed negotiation to address.

''Security for all the people of Cyprus is a very important part of a settlement. People will need to feel secure as well as be secure", he said.

''I think it is for the leaders of Cyprus to identify the way in which they wish to address these matters and if it does require some help from the wider international community, I suspect the international community will be very willing to give a positive response,'' he added.

Mr Rifkind will meet Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides over a working breakfast this morning, and later will cross into the Turkish-occupied part of the island to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[02] President Clinton's Report to Congress on Cyprus

"These incidents raised intercommunal tensions to their worst level in many years and complicated efforts aimed at achieving a lasting solution to the Cyprus dispute", President Clinton pointed out.

The Report, however, goes on to stress that: "Notwithstanding the tragic events of August and September, my administration remains committed to promoting a lasting peace on the island".

"Given the urgency of the current situation, we are appealing again for the implementation of practical measures to reduce the potential for conflict. We remain hopeful that both sides will recognise the importance of such measures and put them into immediate effect", the US President's report concluded.

[03] Cyprus satisfied with EU call on Turkey to implement UN resolutions on Cyprus

It is the first time that the European Union Council has mentioned Turkey's involvement and the role it can play in the search for a solution.

The EU Dublin conclusions in a separate section on enlargement, indirectly refer to Cyprus, through recalling the EU Madrid conclusions. The Madrid conclusions of December 1995 reiterated that "accession negotiations with Malta and Cyprus will commence six months after the conclusion of the Inter- Governmental Conference (IGC)".

The Dublin document "confirms the timetable for the enlargement process" and also "takes note of the Council's report on the implementation of the pre-accession strategy in the second half of this year".

The government of Cyprus expressed satisfaction with the conclusions of the EU Dublin Summit with regard to Cyprus. Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides told reporters before he left Dublin: "We believe the conclusions are very positive as far as Cyprus is concerned".

"The message these conclusions convey is very positive, because in essence the EU Council wishes to get Turkey involved in the process for a settlement on Cyprus and, in practice, it lays some responsibility on Turkey", the Minister noted.

Asked what Cyprus expects the EU to do to implement its conclusions, Michaelides said "underlining to Turkey what is expected of it, is a positive change in the EU position on Cyprus and in conjunction with Turkey's responsibility".

Referring to Turkey's presence there, he said it was important to note that the Turkish presence took place after the end of the EU summit.

[04] Municipal elections held yesterday

They were the third such elections since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.

A total of 315.000 voters elected Mayors and Councillors for the towns in both the free government-controlled areas of the island and those in the Turkish-occupied north.

Independent and party alliances mayoral candidates contested for the posts in 21 out of 24 municipalities in the government-controlled towns of the island and in five out of nine municipalities in the Turkish occupied part.

Seven candidates had earlier been elected Mayor unopposed, three for towns in the free areas and five for towns in the occupied part.

A total of 565 polling stations operated, 460 of these for the free areas and 105 for municipalities under occupation. Refugees had the right to vote twice, for the municipalities they are temporarily residents of and for the municipalities of their origin.

For the first time, the counting of ballots took place at the polling stations. Results for the posts of mayors were out in the early evening yesterday and those for municipal councillors were out in the early hours of today.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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