Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-17

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

News Update

Friday, 17/01/97

CONTENTS

• [01] UN Cyprus envoy arrives for intensive talks
• [02] Potential crisis averted, says Cavanaugh in Ankara
• [03] Statements by Foreign Officials on recent events on Cyprus continue
• [04] Central Bank cuts rates
• [05] Latest health statistics

[01] UN Cyprus envoy arrives for intensive talks

He said the visit was "part of our intensified effort to prepare the ground for direct talks as soon as possible".

Commenting on the ongoing military dialogue between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces, he appeared optimistic that an agreement on the UN measures is imminent.

Asked why no agreement has been reached so far, Feissel said the preferences of each side, involved in the dialogue, differ and added "as it is often the case here, they have coordinated their positions very carefully to make sure that each likes something else".

He said the UN has made it clear to both that agreement must be reached "on the entire package" of measures and not just on one of the three proposals under discussion, which include the extension of the unmanning to cover the length of the demarcation line, the removal of loaded weapons and a code of conduct.

The UN, he added, has also warned both sides that if they continue to insist on agreement on a specific item, this would be tantamount to a rejection of the measures and refusal to discuss them.

[02] Potential crisis averted, says Cavanaugh in Ankara

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara yesterday (16.1.97), Cavanaugh said the Cyprus government promised not to deploy recently purchased anti- aircraft missiles on the island for another 16 months, "a substantial period of time in which this issue can be addressed and be put aside, so that it will no longer be a problem in this region".

He termed his visit to the region as "a successful diplomatic mission in what the United States was concerned could have been a crisis atmosphere that could spin in directions that no one had hoped for or would have wanted".

He reiterated US opposition to the Cyprus government's decision to purchase the Russian missiles, that they thought this was a mistake and that this was not the path towards working on a peaceful settlement for Cyprus. "Equally", he added, "we were firm in our view that there was no acceptable aggressive response to this decision".

"I think the government of Cyprus understands fully, not only that we thought that was a mistake, but that that will remain the position of the United States government. These missiles should never come to that island. This is not a way to enhance peace and stability in this region".

Referring to what he said were some very lengthy meetings he had with Turkish Foreign Ministry and military officials, Mr Cavanaugh said that he had conveyed the basic message he'd been passing all along on this trip, as well as the positive things he had heard in Nicosia and Athens that make him believe that any potential for crisis now has gone.

Asked if the US feared that this issue has blighted any chance of any diplomatic initiative towards getting the two leaders of the island together for the next 16 months or more now, Mr Cavanaugh said "the US is concerned that this is definitely a setback to international efforts to advance a settlement in Cyprus. It's also a setback to some specific efforts that we have been engaged in. I think there can be no doubt about it that this decision has soured in many ways the political atmosphere".

He added that part of his mission in Cyprus was to put things back on a more positive track. In that connection he said he was able to get the commitment of both the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community to move quickly ahead with the implementation of the

UN package of measures to improve security along the cease-fire lines.

Mr. Cavanaugh said that the Cyprus government decision on the missiles has hurt the political atmosphere and hoped that the problem will be resolved diplomatically. He added: "I don't expect Turkey to have to bargain to be able to get this decision reversed. The hope is that the United States and others in the international community will be able to do that -- to make it clear that the missiles aren't needed and aren't coming".

Asked whether the U.S. was prepared to allow non-NATO weapons and technology in the eastern Mediterranean, Mr Cavanaugh said that there are too many weapons and too many troops in Cyprus. "As you know, we do not sell weapons to Cyprus. We believe that it would not fit with that policy. We have not sold them weapons. We also have restrictions on the delivery of weapons to Cyprus". He added: "The way to enhance the security of the people of Cyprus is through a comprehensive political settlement acceptable to both communities. That's a direction we are working on".

He also said that while obviously countries have a right for self-defense, purchases of arms should never be done in a way in which they undermine security and create greater tension.

Asked whether the next 16 months will be a way to solve the Cyprus issue, now that this incident has shown that there can be crisis situations easily on the island, or whether it will be another 16 months to solve the missile crisis only, Mr Cavanaugh replied: "I think the situation in Cyprus is longstanding. It's one that really can't be tolerated in the long term, if we want to have the kind of peace and stability necessary to allow this corner of Europe to advance politically and economically in the way everyone would like to see it advance".

He added: "The international community has been determined to try to find a solution. Efforts have been stepped up over the past year or two to work on that solution. I don't think, however, that the missile decision itself enhances the prospects for that solution. As I said, it sours the political atmosphere. This isn't leverage that leads to a solution". Moreover, Mr Cavanaugh said: "Our hope was that some of the measures that Mr. Denktash and President Clerides said they fully support are a way to help move ahead the discussions on a restriction on the overflight of combat aircraft, which we think also is a tension reduction effort for Cyprus. If that advances, that's yet another way to build an atmosphere to move ahead. What we hope to do in the 16 months is both make sure this missile situation is gone but also make sure that you can craft the environment so you can move ahead toward a solution for Cyprus, and hopefully not requiring anywhere near 16 months. We would much rather see this happen in th e near term".

Asked whether a Dayton-style agreement is envisaged for Cyprus, Mr Cavanaugh said: "A settlement for Cyprus would be one that's arrived at not so much by the international community but by the parties themselves, that the parties themselves have to sit down together and find a settlement that is mutually acceptable, that meets the needs of their communities, that they can be comfortable with". He added that no one should expect a solution to be quick or easy nor can it be forced as it would then not be durable.

He expressed support for Cyprus' intended accession to the European Union, but added that the best way for it to do so was with a political settlement as that would enhance the accession process.

"The bringing into the European Union of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a very strong Turkish component would also be an enhancement for Turkey's relationship with the European Union", he added

[03] Statements by Foreign Officials on recent events on Cyprus continue

He added that they will do everything possible in order to reach a solution through intensive negotiations with all interested parties including Turkey. "We have already started contacts with the US and the UN. It is of primary importance to work jointly with only one agenda," Mr. Van Den Mierlo said.

Moreover, the Dutch Foreign Minister said that they have requested both sides in Cyprus to abstain from any action which could lead to more tension in the area".

The Russian Federation will continue its diplomatic efforts in order to contribute to the solution of the protracted Cyprus problem and Russian diplomats will travel to the region for contacts, Russian Foreign Ministry representative Guennadi Tarasov said during a press conference on 14 January. Recent events prove that what we are doing is absolutely necessary, Mr. Tarasov added.

Turkey's reaction to the decision of the Cyprus Government to buy the S-300 missiles is exaggerated and dangerous, the German Christian Democrat MP Dr. Friedberg Pfluger said. He added that threats from military action have no place in today's Europe.

"It would be very welcome if Turkey sought to use her influence to support the UN in achieving an early solution." British Minister of State David Davis said in a letter to Labour MP Tom Cox. Mr. Davis was responding to points raised by Mr. Cox during the Christmas Adjournment Debate.

On the question of demilitarisation, "we have always made clear that we would welcome moves to reduce the levels of troops and military hardware on both sides," Mr. Davis said.

[04] Central Bank cuts rates

[05] Latest health statistics

General medical practitioners account for 20 per cent of the total, followed by paediatricians numbering 11 per cent, doctors of internal medicine at 10 per cent gynaecologists at 7 per cent, and general surgeons at 6 per cent.

Out of the 543 dentists practising in Cyprus, an overwhelming 94 per cent were in the private sector.

While almost half the total number of doctors and dentists practise in Nicosia, Limassol has the largest share of the total number of clinics and beds, with 36 clinics and 541 beds, followed by Nicosia with 31 and 522, Larnaca with 19 and 215, Paphos with 13 and 183 and Famagusta with 4 and 84. Clinics are generally of one speciality with about 58 per cent obstetric-gynaecological. Most clinics have between 1 and 20 beds.

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

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