Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-08-25

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

News Update

Monday, 25/08/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President pledges to reunite Cyprus
• [02] Respect of human rights integral part of solution
• [03] EU Commissioner disappointed with Cyprus talks

[01] President pledges to reunite Cyprus

Speaking on Saturday (23.8.97) at an anti-occupation rally, a few miles south of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, on the eastern coast of the island, President Clerides said he was certain that at the end of the day Cyprus will be vindicated, despite the many difficulties that may lie ahead.

"We shall not forget our occupied homeland, and we shall continue our struggle to rid our country from the Turkish occupation troops and settlers and reunite our island to ensure conditions of security, peace and prosperity for all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cypriots", he said.

Noting the "keen interest in efforts to solve the Cyprus question on the part of states which can influence Turkey's foreign policy", the President reminded the international community that the key to a settlement in Cyprus lies in Ankara and called on them to take more decisive steps in the months ahead to prepare the next round of talks.

The world community and in particular the permanent members of the UN Security Council, he added, should seek and find ways "to end Turkey's blackmailing and delaying tactics in Cyprus, which are contrary to the interests of Cyprus and its people."

The rally, attended by the island's political leadership and foreign dignitaries, was organised by the Famagusta Municipality to press on with its demand for the return of its lawful inhabitants to their homes as called for in UN Security Council resolution 550.

[02] Respect of human rights integral part of solution

Speaking at a gathering in the eastern town of Paralimni in memory of the three Cypriots killed by the Turks last year and others who died fighting for Cyprus' freedom, Kasoulides said "we shall not bargain away our human rights, nor shall we accept the division of Cyprus as an intractable reality."

"We are not interested in a short-term arrangement, we are only interested in a lasting and functional settlement," he stressed.

The Minister has also criticised the international community for encouraging Turkish intransigence over the years through lukewarm reactions to Turkey's continuing violation of human rights in Cyprus.

"Had the international community resolutely tackled the ethnic cleansing against Cyprus in 1974, perhaps no-one would have had the courage to repeat the same in Yugoslavia and Rwanda twenty years later," Kasoulides added.

He blamed the absence of substantive and practical responses on the part of the international community for having encouraged Turkish intransigent and provocative behaviour and impeded a speedy solution to the Cyprus question.

[03] EU Commissioner disappointed with Cyprus talks

Mr van den Broek felt that the precondition for progress set by Mr Denktash, implying the freezing of an EU decision to start accession negotiations with Cyprus in early 1998, was unacceptable and he reconfirmed that negotiations would be launched by beginning of next year, as agreed by the EU in March 1995.

The Commissioner responsible for relations with Cyprus and Turkey also criticised the signing of an "association agreement" between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, which called for the partial annexation of the occupied areas if accession negotiations go ahead between Cyprus and the EU, as not being conducive to creating the right negotiating climate.

He underlined "that a window of opportunity now exists to build a framework for a mediated settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem, before the start of accession talks, noting that Cyprus' adhesion to the EU would be in the interest of both communities on the island.

He also said attempts to frustrate any progress, even of a procedural nature, as demonstrated last week, in Switzerland, are detrimental to the whole population of Cyprus.

He recalled the recent pledge by the Turkish government to play a constructive role in the search for a negotiated Cyprus solution, and stressed that such a role would also favour the deepening of the relations between the EU and Turkey.

Van den Broek strongly urged the two parties to reach an early agreement on the continuation of direct talks and pledged the European Commission's full support for further efforts to be undertaken by Cordovez.

In the meantime, he noted, the Commission, in consultation with the government of Cyprus, will continue its bicommunal activities and projects aimed at informing the Turkish Cypriot community about the advantages of the accession of Cyprus to the EU.

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

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