Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-10-10

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

News Update

Friday, 10/10/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus President and Foreign Minister in Strasbourg for Council of Europe Summit
• [02] Finance Minister comments on intercommunal business transactions
• [03] Seminar on international trade law

[01] Cyprus President and Foreign Minister in Strasbourg for Council of Europe Summit

In statements to the press on arrival, President Clerides said that the US and the United Nations would deal with the Cyprus problem after the February 1998 presidential elections on the island.

He said that in the meantime the main concern of the US is that tension between the two sides is avoided so as to enable a favourable climate to exist within which the United States can act. He added that the UN agree with this policy.

Asked to comment on the talks with the Turkish Cypriot side on security issues, the President said that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash "considers the issue of security as very restrictive while we want a discussion of the wider meaning of security".

Asked about recent American efforts to promote commercial transactions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, President Clerides said this was not a new approach to solving the Cyprus problem.

President Clerides had a meeting in Strasbourg yesterday with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE, Leni Fischer, with whom he discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the role that the CoE can play in the search for a solution.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides also arrived in Strasbourg yesterday from Brussels where he met with the Secretary General of the European Union Council, Mr Jurgen Trumpf and Belgian Foreign Minister Erik Derycke.

Mr Derycke speaking after the meeting reiterated that Cyprus' entry to the EU is not linked to the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem and that entry negotiations with Cyprus would start early in 1998.

Asked to comment on threats by Turkey regarding Cyprus' entry negotiations, Mr Derycke said "If Turkey, which is a very large country, wishes to become a member of the EU, it has to exert tremendous efforts because the rules which exist apply to everyone".

[02] Finance Minister comments on intercommunal business transactions

The Minister was speaking at a press conference on the results of the meeting held on Tuesday in New York with US businessmen and journalists at the initiative of US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, and Cyprus' Ambassador in Washington D.C. Mr Andros Nicolaides.

Christodoulou said the briefing of US business leaders who are in a position to affect the US external policy, on the Cyprus economy would increase American interest in a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

The Minister said that Mr Holbrooke is aware that the efforts to encourage joint commercial transactions between the two "do not in any way involve the government."

[03] Seminar on international trade law

The seminar is organised by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic of Cyprus and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

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

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