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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-03Cyprus 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 UpdateMonday, 03/02/97CONTENTS
[01] President Clerides: Security of two communities of utmost importanceUpon his return from Davos on 2.2.97 where he attended the Word Economic Forum, President Clerides said he discussed with the UN Secretary General ways to break the deadlock in the protracted Cyprus problem. He said that at the first stage proximity talks are expected to begin in order to establish if there is enough common ground between the Greek and Turkish sides, for face-to-face talks.Asked whether there was a decision over which issues should have priority, President Clerides said he had put forward his view that the security of the two communities is of utmost importance and should be addressed first. If a solution does not ensure the future of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, no common ground can be found, he added. President Clerides said he also outlined his position concerning the demilitarisation of Cyprus, the deployment of an international force on the island and foreign guarantees for the safeguarding of a solution. Asked to comment on press reports that the US and Britain are cooperating in a draft solution to the Cyprus problem, President Clerides said he had no concrete information on this issue. The President said he does not expect a draft solution to be put on the table, because at a first stage proximity talks will be carried out and maybe a draft solution will come out of them. Replying to a question, President Clerides said he has not given the US a commitment that Greek military planes would not fly over Cyprus. He reiterated the government' s position that when the US initiative for a solution to the Cyprus problem begins, it is prepared to stop Greek military plane flights over Cyprus until the end of August, in order to maintain a good climate. I believe this gives sufficient time to efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem, President Clerides added. Asked to comment on statements made by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Dentktash that he can make no concessions on the Cyprus issue, President Clerides said that if this is the case, then no common ground can be reached. He also noted there are no signs that Ankara has moved from its intransigent positions on the Cyprus issue. [02] Annan and Clerides discuss Cyprus problemThe new UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides met for the first time in Davos, Switzerland, and discussed the Cyprus problem, on 1.2.1997.The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. President Clerides said that they exchanged views on various aspects of the Cyprus problem, and gave emphasis on what can be done for a dialogue between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to begin. He added that Mr. Annan accepted his view that talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem should be well prepared for, to ensure their success. The President said the issue of missing persons since the Turkish invasion and occupation of part of Cyprus, in 1974, was also discussed. He added he presented Mr. Annan with talking points on the issue and conveyed a request from the committees of the families of the missing persons for a meeting. Speaking at a press conference in Davos, the U.N. Secretary General said there is a window of opportunity to solve the Cyprus issue in 1997. Mr. Kofi Annan said he will urge both parties in Cyprus to begin talks this year, because 1998 is expected to be more difficult. He noted presidential elections are to be held in Cyprus next year and negotiations for Cyprus' European Union accession are also expected to begin then. The UN chief stated he will insist in his efforts to persuade the parties to begin face- to- face talks, noting this is necessary because of a rise of tension on the island. [03] Cyprus Government protests to U.N. on 'Joint Declaration' by Turkey and pseudostate in occupied part of Cyprus"The 'Joint Declaration' is yet another manifestation of Turkey's continued violation of its international obligations, the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and United Nations resolutions on Cyprus, which have been committed since the 1974 Turkish invasion and continued military occupation of 37 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus."The above was stressed in a letter sent to the U.N. Secretary General on 28.1.97 by the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the U.N. The illegal 'Joint declaration' was issued in Ankara on 20.1.97 between President S. Demirel and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash. More specifically, it was stressed in the letter that the signing itself of the Declaration with Mr. Denktash, purporting to act as the President of the so- called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a secessionist entity in the occupied area of Cyprus, amounts to a flagrant violation of the 1960 Treaty of establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and the Treaty of Guarantee. It also violates Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984). Furthermore, it is added in the letter that the threats contained in the Joint Declaration including, inter alia, that if the Republic of Cyprus continued with its defence programmes Turkey would retaliate with military and political measures, amount to a direct threat to use force against the Republic of Cyprus in violation of article 2, paragraphs 4 and 7, and Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Republic of Cyprus is a sovereign State and a Member of the United Nations and it has the inalienable right to defend itself and the freedom to decide on its armaments. In addition, the letter to the U.N. Secretary General says: "The assertion that the Republic of Cyprus is not entitled to apply for membership with the European Union and proceed with the accession negotiations is legally unfounded and totally outside the letter and the spirit of the international treaties of 1960." "The position entertained in the Joint Declaration that the achievement of a just and lasting settlement will not be in reach so long as, inter alia, the 'sovereign rights of the Turkish Cypriot people are not recognised' stands in blatant violation of the above- mentioned treaties and the Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, by which the Council reaffirmed its position that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions in a bicommunal and bizonal federation, and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession. A reminder is also made in the letter that the Government of Cyprus once again expressed its sincere wish that a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on United Nations resolutions, is reached as soon as possible. [04] Cyprus Government protests to U.N. about Turkish warships in FamagustaA letter dated 28.1.1997 from the Charge d' affaires of the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations was addressed to the Secretary - General to bring to the U.N.'s attention new and serious Turkish actions in violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. The letter was referring to the three Turkish Navy warships which sailed on 25.1.97 and docked at the closed port of Famagusta in the occupied part of Cyprus.[05] British Foreign Secretary calls for Resumption of Talks in CyprusThe British Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, said at a press conference he gave in Rome on 29 January 1997 that Cyprus was among the issues discussed at the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain with their Turkish counterpart, Mrs Tansu Ciller, earlier that day.He said that at the meeting he initiated the discussion on Cyprus, and added: "I have put forward the very strong British view that Cyprus needs to experience a resumption of proper negotiations with a view to finding a solution of the Cyprus problem. And these negotiations need to be taking place this year with a view to major progress... Cyprus is unique of all the major international crises, because already both communities - the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community - agree on what the final result should be. They are both committed to working towards a bizonal, bicommunal federation. And if, having agreed on the end result, there has been such a woeful lack of progress on how to get there, then that must be because of a lack of political will. I believe that not only the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities need to resolve that, but of course the two countries with the greatest influence on them - Greece and Turkey - have to play a more prominent role in ensuring progress in t he near future." The British Foreign Secretary added that the U.K. will work with the United Nations and with others who are seeking progress on this important matter because the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, remains a very major flashpoint. There could be a very serious deterioration which would not just affect those immediately involved, but have implications for wider European security. 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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