Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-07-04

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

News Update

Friday, 04/07/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Burns hopes talks will begin a process to bridge the divide in Cyprus
• [02] Direct talks to proceed as scheduled
• [03] Cyprus government denounces Turkish claims
• [04] Turkey announces change in its Cyprus policy
• [05] President Clerides replies to Ecevit
• [06] Cyprus signs agreement on illicit traffic by sea
• [07] International Civil Aviation Organisation affirms Cyprus as only legal authority of FIR

[01] Burns hopes talks will begin a process to bridge the divide in Cyprus

"We hope the New York session will lay a foundation for future negotiations this year and next", he said, reaffirming the US' very strong support for these discussions.

Mr Burns said he had talked with US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, "about everything that needs to be done to move forward on Cyprus".

"He's really the best man that we could choose for this mission", he said and confirmed that Holbrooke will meet privately and separately prior to the talks with the two Cypriot leaders in New York, as well as with other UN officials.

The Spokesman reiterated that Holbrooke would not be attending the talks and that the US will be represented in Amenia at a low level. He added that Holbrooke has been quite active over the past couple of weeks in trying to lay the groundwork for his own work on this issue and plans to go to the region at some point after the talks.

"He very much respects the position of the United Nations. That's why he will not be attending these talks. This is a UN affair. We want to give the United Nations every support here to promote a good basis for these discussions in New York", Mr Burns said.

He also announced that the US were "zeroing in" on a Cyprus co-ordinator - someone who will work with Holbrooke, under his authority, on a full-time basis.

"As you know, Dick is still in private life as an investment banker. He only works with us about a week a month. But he probably puts in about 120, 130 hours in that week. So it's almost like a full-time job. It's good to have him back working with us", Burns said.

[02] Direct talks to proceed as scheduled

Commenting on press reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had threatened to boycott the talks if a document whose contents were unknown to him were placed on the table, Mr Brandt said "the indication I have is that the talks are proceeding and all parties will be present."

He added that it was his understanding that the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, as is usual in a mediation process like this, is working on his ideas and proposals that will be the basis for the talks to take place in Troutbeck, but did not think Cordovez intends to present the proposals before the time is right

Asked whether UN Resident Representative, Gustave Feissel was dealing with the matter, Brandt replied, Feissel "is conducting a very intense round of quiet diplomacy and it would not be prudent to comment on it."

The UN Spokesman reviewed arrangements surrounding the talks, noting that Secretary-General Kofi Annan, will host a dinner for President Clerides and Rauf Denktash at his residence in New York on 8 July and a, lunch for the two sides in Troutbeck at the site of the talks on 9 July, and would make a statement in the presence of the two leaders. The UN Secretary-General will then return to New York in the afternoon, leaving Cordovez to conduct the day to day negotiations.

"The Secretary-General", noted Brandt, "will obviously be kept apprised of the progress made in the talks and will be ready to step in, as may be necessary, over the course of the five days."

[03] Cyprus government denounces Turkish claims

Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides stated that both the governments of Cyprus and Greece have dismissed claims by Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that the two countries offer military support to the Kurds.

Pointing to unprecedented international interest for a comprehensive Cyprus solution, Christofides said "we will attend the talks with goodwill, aiming to achieve a Cyprus solution."

[04] Turkey announces change in its Cyprus policy

He told a Turkish newspaper that Cyprus is a priority and the most sensitive foreign policy issue before the new Turkish government,.

He said that after the visit to Ankara by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Washington will be officially informed that "there are very serious changes in Turkey's Cyprus policy".

He said that it was time for Turkey "to move openly and become clearly involved" in the Cyprus problem in view of the forthcoming talks on Cyprus in New York and the "heavy pressure" expected to be exerted on Denktash.

"Until recently we were saying that the Republic of Turkey is the TRNC's (the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) guarantee. Now a more important situation than this has come up. That is from now on the TRNC is Turkey's guarantee", Ecevit said.

He cited the decision by the Cyprus government to purchase the Russian S- 300 missile system as one of the main factors that have forced Turkey to make this new policy change, saying that this threatens Turkey's security concerns.

"From now on we will tell the world that your real respondent is Turkey because the Greek Cypriots' stance has made the TRNC Turkey's guarantor", Ecevit said.

Former Prime Minister Ecevit, who ordered the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and is back in office after 18 years in opposition, has been insisting over the past several years that Cyprus was not a burden on Turkey, but a key component of its national security.

Turkey has already declared that it will prevent by all means and, if necessary, won't hesitate to use force to prevent, the deployment of Russian missiles on Cypriot territory.

[05] President Clerides replies to Ecevit

"Mr Ecevit's statement that Cyprus is a danger to the security of both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey constitutes the height of absurdity. Cyprus with only 0.65 million people, is no threat to Turkey with its 65 million. Cyprus is arming itself out of an imperative need to be in a position to erect the most effective defences against the 40,000 Turkish troops, which are stationed in Cyprus in contravention of every principle of international law and the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, which call for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Cyprus.

In the naval and air base currently under construction, Greece, as a guarantor of the Republic of Cyprus, will also have facilities enabling her to be ready to implement her publicly and repeatedly declared policy that any Turkish expansionist move on Cyprus constitutes a casus belli.

For years now, my proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and the establishment of an international force with a mandate from the UN Security Council has been on the table. Such a force could intervene whenever one community through illegal actions endangers the security of the other, or violates agreements, or acts in any way endangering the independence and territorial integrity of the federation to be established. Turkey rejected this positive proposal and now claims that her security is being threatened by Cyprus.

As regards Mr Ecevit's message that Turkey will be the main respondent, this does not add anything new that we did not already know and this is why we always pointed out to all concerned that they should direct their efforts not to Denktash, but to Ankara. If the position announced by Mr Ecevit is the policy of the new Turkish government, this does not augur well as regards Turkey's attitude on the Cyprus problem.

Regardless of this, however, our side will go to the New York talks with goodwill and will make every effort to find a solution to the Cyprus problem".

[06] Cyprus signs agreement on illicit traffic by sea

[07] International Civil Aviation Organisation affirms Cyprus as only legal authority of FIR

Eurocontrol Director-General Yves Lambert affirmed this in a written response to Turkish objections over Cyprus signing last week of Eurocontrol's revised treaty.

Turkey had submitted a document disputing the validity of the Cypriot delegation at the diplomatic conference in Brussels for the signing of the relevant treaty.

The Cypriot delegation stressed in a letter the validity of the government of the Republic of Cyprus as the only internationally recognised delegation from Cyprus at the conference.

Following the signing of the Eurocontrol treaty, the Cypriot delegation made up of Communications and Works Ministry Permanent Secretary, Vassos Pyrgos, and Civil Aviation Department Director, Michalis Herodotou, travelled to Georgia, where they signed an air transport co-operation agreement with that country.

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

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