Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-05-28

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

News Update

Wednesday, 28/05/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus Foreign Minister meets WEU General Secretary
• [02] EU-Cyprus Structured Dialogue continues
• [03] Britain will continue to remind Turkey of her obligations
• [04] UN Secretary-General meets Greece's Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs

[01] Cyprus Foreign Minister meets WEU General Secretary

The meeting was part of the ongoing dialogue between Cyprus and the WEU following a decision by Union ministers in their Lisbon meeting in May 1995 to carry out discussions with Cyprus, taking into account the ties between the two sides.

Dr Kassoulides briefed the WEU officials on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, the Republic's bid for accession to the EU ahead of membership talks, due to begin six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.

The WEU officials briefed Dr Kassoulides on the conclusions of the Paris meeting in May which dealt with the Union's role in European Security. WEU General Secretary Jose Cutileiro has accepted an invitation by Foreign Minister Kassoulides to pay an official visit to Cyprus this July.

[02] EU-Cyprus Structured Dialogue continues

The main issue under consideration was political asylum. Mr Michaelides presented statistical data showing that Cyprus does not face any particular problem in this issue.

At the end of the meeting a press release was issued by the Dutch Presidency which inter alia said:

"The ministerial meeting with Cyprus concentrated not only on asylum but also on immigration policies. This meeting was prepared through a meeting between the Troika of K.4 Committee and a Cyprus delegation. It appeared from a factual document provided by Cyprus that the number of asylum applicants in that country was relatively small. Ministers also had a very fruitful debate on the measures taken by the Cyprus Government against illegal immigration and illegal employment".

The next meeting of Interior and Justice Ministers in the framework of the EU - Cyprus Structured Dialogue will take place on 5.12.97 under the Luxembourg Presidency.

[03] Britain will continue to remind Turkey of her obligations

This was stated in a reply letter from Prime Minister Blair's Private Secretary to Australian MP Mike Rann (Labour leader, S. Australia) who had earlier requested Mr Tony Blair's urgent intervention to help achieve justice for Cyprus.

The letter, dated 16 May 97, from 10 Downing Street also stresses that the British Government has put its experience and expertise at the disposal of the UN in promoting face-to-face negotiations between the leaders of both communities and it also refers to Sir David Hannay's forthcoming visit to the island in June.

Furthermore, the letter says that the "British Government welcomes the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the EU" and that "there is no question of any country outside the EU exercising a veto on Cyprus' accession".

"Britain will continue to remind Turkey of her obligations", Mr Blair's Private Secretary also says in the letter and stresses that "Turkey's constructive input into the settlement process will be a key signal of her commitment to a productive and successful relationship with the rest of Europe".

[04] UN Secretary-General meets Greece's Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Mr Kranidiotis said that "the position of the Greek Government is that any new round of talks should be based on a set of principles" and that "a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem should be based on the UN resolutions and on the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979". He expressed support to the good offices of the UN Secretary-General and added that any initiative should be put under the framework of the UN. He pointed out that Turkey has to make the necessary moves and show the necessary political will and make concessions. The International Community, he said, should exert its pressure on Turkey to abide by the UN resolutions, to comply with international law and proceed in a good spirit to find a just and viable solution which would involve the end of the illegal occupation and the illegal presence of turkish troops and settlers on the island.

Replying to questions to the press, Mr Kranidiotis inter alia said that "Turkey is not in Cyprus to protect the Turkish Cypriots. Her long-term strategic goals are to play the role of a big regional power" and "unless there is a solution to the Cyprus problem there cannot be normalization of Greco-Turkish relations".

He also said that he is not very optimistic about the talks, though the effort should be made. "Things would have been easier if common ground had been established", he said.

"The Set of Ideas is an obsolete document and there are new elements now such as the EU prospect", he added.

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

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