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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-29Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateWednesday, 29/01/97CONTENTS
[01] UN Special Representative visits Cyprus in renewed efforts to start talks.Professor Han Sung-Joo, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus arrives in Nicosia late today (Wednesday 29.1.97) with urgent instructions to hasten preparations for face-to-face talks between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.This is the fourth visit of professor Han to the island since his appointment last year and although he said he does not bring with him any new written proposals he explained: "We have actually plenty of papers produced in the course of the last few years. We have concepts, but not everything put down in one paper... Speaking to Reuters News Agency before leaving New York Mr. Han said he expected to hold two or three meetings each with President Clerides and Rauf Denktash. Asked whether he would try to ease tensions over the planned missile purchase and overflights of the island by Greek and Turkish aircraft, Han said: "I'll concentrate on the more general, overall issues." "Clearly the current situation is presenting greater difficulty to what is already a difficult circumstance. But I think it is all the more reason that you have to find a solution and I'll try to drive that point to the leaders -- not only the top leaders, of both communities. A special luncheon has been arranged in Nicosia for Professor Han and Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political party leaders at the residence of deputy Special Representative in Cyprus Gustave Feissel. Mr. Han Sung-Joo is to spend a week in Cyprus, then fly to Ankara and Athens. The Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued the following statement on Tuesday (28.1.97) following a meeting on Monday between the two men. "The Secretary-General met yesterday with his Special Representative for Cyprus, Professor Han Sung-Joo , who is leaving today for a two-week visit to Cyprus and the region. The heightened tensions in and around Cyprus have added urgency to the Secretary-General's determination to intensify his efforts to address the substance of the Cyprus issue and achieve an overall political settlement in the course of this year. This determination enjoys the support of the international community. The Secretary-General has therefore instructed Professor Han to discuss with the leaders of the Cypriot communities preparations for face-to-face talks in the coming months." [02] President of EU Commission insists on keeping agreement with CyprusThe President of the European Union Commission Jacques Santer responding to a question said that the EU "insists on the agreement reached on 6th March 1995 which stipulates that accession talks with Cyprus begin six months after the EU Intergovernmental Conference".Speaking after his address to the 1997 Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Santer also said he hoped that problems between Greece and Turkey "will not be of the kind which can influence the enlargement of the EU and in particular the accession of Cyprus to the European Union". [03] Russian high-ranking official on Cyprus visitGovernment Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said the imminent visits to Cyprus by high-ranking Russian officials "is an indication of the interest Russia is showing in the efforts towards a solution of the Cyprus problem". Vladimir Tchizhov, newly appointed Director of the Third directorate for European Affairs at the Russian Foreign Ministry, arrives in Cyprus on Thursday (30.1.97) as part of a fact-finding mission that includes visits to Ankara and Athens.Tchizhov, who had served for many years in the Soviet Embassy in Nicosia, is expected during his first round of visits to convey Moscow's views and intentions towards assisting efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem. His contacts will pave the way for a visit by a Russian Deputy Foreign Minister in about a month. The Russian official started his three-nation tour from Ankara, where he had a meeting with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Inal Batu. [04] Government Spokesman on Robin Cook's remarks about rotating presidency in CyprusFollowing reactions in the Cyprus press and from political parties in the wake of statements by Robin Cook, British Labour Party Shadow Foreign Secretary, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told journalists on Tuesday (28.1.97) that Mr. Cook did not submit a proposal to President Glafcos Clerides for a rotating presidency as part of a Cyprus settlement.He added that President Clerides never accepted the idea of a rotating presidency and noted that his replies are always based on the 1989 unanimous decisions of the National Council. The President was asked by Mr. Cook about his position on a rotating presidency and he explained our 1989 position for a common electoral list including both Greek and Turkish Cypriot voters, the Spokesman said. However, the spokesman noted, that like British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, who proposed a ten-point plan for a Cyprus settlement as the end of his December visit to the island, Robin Cook made similar statements at his press conference last week. "These are his positions and suggestions" Cassoulides clarified, noting they have never been submitted to the government. Meanwhile, the London office of Conservative MP Roger Gale, a member of the all-party "Friends of Cyprus" group in Parliament, in a press release issue on 25.1.97 said: "Mr. Cook's statement, at a time when the Turkish government is threatening the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean through 'visiting' warships, is insensitive and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the needs of the Community. I cannot believe that Mr. Cook's remarks will be seen as in any way helpful at a time when the Government, working with all interested parties, is seeking a resolution of the problem based upon the historic freedoms of movements, domicile and employment. [05] IN BRIEFExternal Trade Figures for January - October 1996External Trade figures for the period January-October 1996, released by the Statistics Department of the Republic showed an 11.6% increase in imports to 1,549 million Cyprus pounds, compared to 1,115,5 million in the same period of 1995. European Union imports amounted to 48.1% i.e. CP 745,6 million. Exports totalled CP 540,0 million, compared to CP453,7 million in 1995. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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