Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-05-19

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

News Update

Monday, 19/05/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Annan expects Cyprus peace talks at UN in June
• [02] Government calls on opponents to concert to respect those who wanted to attend
• [03] Greek Public Order Minister visits Cyprus
• [04] US Congressman introduces resolution on Cyprus
• [05] Communist leader wants more Russian involvement

[01] Annan expects Cyprus peace talks at UN in June

"I intend to invite them to New York in June for us to have face-to-face negotiations," Annan told a news conference during an official visit to Moscow.

He said President Clerides and Denktash had both indicated they were willing to talk.

Sir Kieran Prendergast, UN under secretary-general for political affairs, said in Nicosia on Friday, after meeting both Clerides and Denktash, that the invitation from Annan was likely.

Speaking in Nicosia on Saturday, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said that President Clerides had expressed reservations to Sir Kieran over Turkey's feared inflexibility in direct talks. Clerides had "explained why direct talks have to be well-prepared and why common ground has to be reached between the two sides if such talks are to have fruitful results," he said.

He added that the decision to call for direct talks rests in the hands of the UN Secretary-General and the government will abide by it.

Asked why the UN is pushing for direct talks given that common ground has not been achieved, Cassoulides said: "It may feel that since there have been no results in proximity talks, it should try to achieve results through direct talks."

He said if the talks failed the consequences would be "grave", but added that the government was relying on Sir Kieran's statement that "the UN will make every effort to ensure that the talks do not fail".

Cassoulides said the UN was in a position to know how much goodwill each side had shown. He added that Clerides had made it clear he would judge from the outcome of the first round of talks how to proceed further.

[02] Government calls on opponents to concert to respect those who wanted to attend

"We respect the views of all those opposing or reacting to it, either in the Greek or the Turkish Cypriot community, but at the same time we urge them to respect other people's views," he said.

Christofides said opponents of the concert have the democratic right to call on people not to attend Monday's event, but noted "it wouldn't be democratic to act in a manner which would prevent the rest, who wished to attend, from doing so."

The concert, by Greek singer Sakis Rouvas and Turkish singer Burat Kut, will take place tonight in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Nicosia.

The spokesman called on both sides to undertake their responsibilities and "evaluate the significance and the benefit Cyprus would gain of this first youth meeting after decades."

Christofides also said the government "will take all necessary measures to ensure that citizens wishing to attend will do so in safety."

Moreover, referring to developments in the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman said the government expects that all countries, which have recently declared their intention to help current UN efforts towards a Cyprus solution, will show their actual interest, when direct talks are convened between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, probably in late June.

He reiterated that face-to-face talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash should be appropriately prepared by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to ensure they yield results.

"We expect the countries, which have declared their intention to help the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission, and especially the Security Council five permanent members, to show in practical terms their real interest during direct talks," he said.

He added that this might entail interventions and putting pressure on Turkey, Denktash and other parties, to get replies to six or seven key questions on Cyprus, pending for years."

He said neither the UN Secretary-General nor President Clerides wish to engage in another round of talks, which would fail.

[03] Greek Public Order Minister visits Cyprus

Romeos, who was speaking after a meeting on Friday with President Glafcos Clerides, said he had been briefed on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and had exchanged views on efforts for a solution.

The Greek Minister also held talks with Cyprus Justice and Public Order Minister Nicos Koshis and met with House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

[04] US Congressman introduces resolution on Cyprus

The resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Lee Hamilton of Indiana, Mike Bilirakis of Florida, John Porter of Illinois, Carolyn Maloney of New York and Eliot Engel of New York.

The resolution which has bipartisan support, urges Congress to reaffirm "its view that the status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable and detrimental to the interests of the United States in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond".

It "considers lasting peace and stability on Cyprus could be best secured by a process of complete demilitarisation leading to the withdrawal of all occupation forces, the cessation of foreign arms transfers to Cyprus, and providing for alternative internationally acceptable and effective security arrangements as negotiated by the parties".

The resolution welcomes and supports the commitment by President Bill Clinton to make the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem a priority of US foreign policy, and encourages him "to launch an early substantive initiative, in close co-ordination with the United Nations, the European Union, and interested governments".

[05] Communist leader wants more Russian involvement

Speaking after a meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on Saturday (17.5.97), Zyuganov reaffirmed his country's support for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem which would safeguard the Republic's territorial integrity and respect for human rights.

Zyuganov, on a two-day visit to Cyprus at the invitation of left-wing AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias, had meetings with House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou and the AKEL leader.

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