Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-05-30

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

News Update

Friday, 30/05/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Kofi Annan expected to set face-to-face talks on 9 July
• [02] A new impetus will be given to the Cyprus problem in 1997, says Nicholas Burns
• [03] Bicommunal business meeting held
• [04] Comments on military dialogue submitted
• [05] Cyprus Foreign Minister and EU Commissioner Papoutsis discuss accession process

[01] Kofi Annan expected to set face-to-face talks on 9 July

Eckhard said invitations to the participants had not yet been sent out but Annan would propose the 9 July date. The negotiations are expected to be at a secluded spot in the New York suburban area, but a location has not been fixed.

If the meeting goes well, Annan has said he hoped to hold two more sessions that would indicate by September whether progress could be made.

[02] A new impetus will be given to the Cyprus problem in 1997, says Nicholas Burns

Mr Burns was replying to questions from Athens News Agency at the end of the NATO Enlargement Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.

He said that the US government intends to become dynamically involved in the Cyprus problem within the framework of efforts made at the UN and elsewhere, and to contribute towards a solution through its initiative.

Foreign Secretary Madeleine Albright shows a great interest in the Cyprus issue and respects efforts made by the Cyprus government and Turkish Cypriot community, he said.

"We firmly support direct negotiations", he added.

Asked whether Washington links the Cyprus problem to Greco-Turkish differences, Mr Burns said that Washington does not consider that the two issues are interconnected and expressed the conviction that a solution will be found soon.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, commenting on Mr Burns' statements, stressed that Greece has always maintained that the Cyprus problem is an international one and has always encouraged the active involvement of other powers such as the US.

"If the US approaches the issue on the basis of UN resolutions and aims at their implementation - because this is what the Cyprus problem is all about - then this would be a very positive development", Pangalos said.

Moreover, Cyprus Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides today welcomed Nicholas Burns' statement that the US intends to become dynamically involved.

"Cyprus is waiting to see what practical results this dynamic intervention will bring, within the framework of the direct negotiations", he said.

[03] Bicommunal business meeting held

The meeting was held out of the public eye and was not announced beforehand. Details only came to light yesterday, the paper said.

Around 80 businessmen from both sides of the Green Line attended the meeting, held under the auspices of the British High Commission.

It came after a similar meeting in Istanbul at the weekend in which businessmen from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey took part.

Wednesday's meeting, entitled "The Day After", focused on the issues which would face all Cypriots after a solution is found.

The sources said the meeting, which was addressed by two businessman from each side, had been very successful and showed momentum to bring people from both sides together.

"It was a fair and frank discussion with some concrete suggestions," the sources said.

Some of the main proposals were made by well-known businessman and former deputy Constantinos Lordos, one of the two Greek Cypriot businessmen who addressed the meeting. The other Greek Cypriot speaker was former Chamber of Commerce chairman Phanos Epiphaniou.

Lordos suggested a Joint Chamber of Commerce be set up to encourage businesses from both sides to join freely.

Other concrete suggestions made by Lordos included the joint funding of a language school under UN auspices, a business council to include Greece and Turkey, a business fund to foster the arts and the opening of Nicosia Airport as suggested in previous political talks.

[04] Comments on military dialogue submitted

The "next step" in the process was up to the UN, the Spokesman said, adding that further contacts between military commanders might take place if the UN called for them.

"Neither side has any official information concerning the other's comments, and the UN has not yet evaluated the suggestions or observations submitted, " Christofides said.

The UN proposals focus on the extension of the 1989 unmanning agreement for Nicosia to the whole of the cease-fire line, a common code of conduct for opposing forces and the unloading of weapons in areas where the two sides are in close proximity.

Christofides stressed the government's determination to protect the citizens of the Republic. "This is our basic aim and our proposals have been along these lines", he noted.

[05] Cyprus Foreign Minister and EU Commissioner Papoutsis discuss accession process

The two men discussed the Republic's course of accession to the European Union, and Kasoulides briefed Papoutsis on recent developments concerning the Cyprus problem.

Conveying the Commission's satisfaction, Papoutsis expressed certainty Cyprus will be fully harmonised before accession talks begin, six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.

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

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