Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-03-12

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

News Update

Thursday, 12/03/98

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides invites Turkish Cypriots to participate in EU accession talks
• [02] Robin Cook: Britain is strongly committed to Cyprus' EU application
• [03] President Clerides meets British Prime Minister
• [04] Diego Cordovez will try to resume peace talks on Cyprus
• [05] Russian envoy to visit Cyprus
• [06] Defence Minister to visit Athens

[01] President Clerides invites Turkish Cypriots to participate in EU accession talks

After the meeting President Clerides made the following statement regarding the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in accession negotiations:

"At the meeting I had today with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Mr Robin Cook, having in mind paragraph 28 of the Luxembourg Conclusions, which states, inter alia, that '... the accession of Cyprus should benefit all communities and help bring about civil peace and reconciliation...', I repeated my wish that the Turkish Cypriot Community nominate representatives to be included as full members of the Cypriot team, which will conduct the negotiations.

I emphasised to the Secretary of State that regarding the participation of the Turkish Cypriot community on the Delegation, I was making an earnest and solemn invitation to my Turkish Cypriot compatriots to participate; for I firmly believe that they should take an active part and make their contribution to the negotiating process for acceding to the European Union.

Indeed, we are faced with a historic challenge. There is no doubt in my mind that the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union will certainly shape the future of Europe. Entry of the Republic into the Union will most certainly benefit enormously both communities.

Should the Turkish Cypriot community respond favourably to this proposal they may rest assured that the points of view and the opinions of their representatives will be discussed freely, seriously and in good faith and that the conclusions reached will constitute an important element in formulating the negotiating positions of the Cypriot team.

I hope that the response of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community will be positive".

Replying to questions afterwards President Clerides said that Mr Cook considered the statement very constructive. He added that he believed the next steps are that the Turkish Cypriots "must first reply that they accept and then we shall discuss the modalities".

[02] Robin Cook: Britain is strongly committed to Cyprus' EU application

The Foreign Secretary was replying to journalists in a press briefing at the Foreign Office yesterday in view of the European Conference being held today in London.

Mr Cook reiterated that Cyprus is a strong candidate. "It has a much higher standard of living than any of the other applicants, it has a healthy economy and it has worked very hard to bring its law s into line with EU Acquis".

The British Foreign Secretary added that "it would be entirely wrong if Cyprus' application were to be held back because of a veto by either Mr Denktash or by Ankara."

Mr Cook said it would be much better if the EU were to welcome a single and not a divided island. "That is why we have stressed that the UN process of reconciliation must proceed in parallel with the negotiation for membership and that is also why we have requested the Cypriot authorities to try and ensure a mixed delegation of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators", he added.

Mr Cook said that the government of Cyprus cannot deliver on that alone. "It will require co-operation from the Turkish Cypriots themselves in order to provide a mixed delegation. I hope they will respond positively".

Moreover, the British Foreign Secretary told the House of Commons on Tuesday (10.3.98) that the Turkish Cypriots had "more to gain than anybody else from Cyprus' EU accession", pointing out that Turkish Cypriot income is currently a quarter of that of Greek Cypriots.

"We have urged the government of Cyprus to bring a mixed delegation of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators," Cook added and welcomed President Glafcos Clerides' willingness to do that.

He also noted that "the present stubbornness on the Turkish Cypriot side may prevent that from happening".

[03] President Clerides meets British Prime Minister

According to CNA, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said after the meeting "the friendly discussion covered prospects for a Cyprus settlement and accession negotiations."

The spokesman added that the Prime Minister stressed the need for progress towards a settlement despite the difficulties and looked forward to the beginning of accession negotiations.

After the meeting, Blair hosted a dinner for the heads of state or government participating in the European Conference.

The British Premier called on the leaders of aspiring members of the European Union to seize the "historic opportunity" before them and create a peaceful, prosperous and stable Europe.

"We watched with enthusiasm how barriers in Europe have come and how the European Union seeks to expand its frontiers," he said, noting his country's pride in presiding over the EU at the time of launching the EU enlargement process.

He said candidate countries seeking EU entry aim at creating "a genuine, peaceful and steady European future" and added "it is extraordinary to think of all those changes that have taken place, of the progress that Cyprus has made."

[04] Diego Cordovez will try to resume peace talks on Cyprus

UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, had a meeting on Tuesday at the UN headquarters with the envoys of the five permanent members of the Security Council, who assured him of their support towards UN efforts to revive negotiations aimed at ending the division of Cyprus.

Mr Cordovez will fly on to Athens on 23 March and Ankara on 24 March, before travelling to Geneva on 26 March to brief envoys appointed to follow developments in the Cyprus problem.

The Cyprus radio reported yesterday that Cordovez will convey letters from the Secretary-General to the leaders of the two communities urging them to participate in the peace talks aiming at a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

[05] Russian envoy to visit Cyprus

The ambassador said Tchizhov will visit Cyprus within the framework of Russia's interest to back efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

Asked to comment on threats by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that he will not participate in peace talks, Mouradov said his country favours the continuation of the dialogue between the two communities of Cyprus.

"This is the only way to find a fair solution," he said.

Mouradov expressed Russia's view that "UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions should be implemented, as well as the two high level agreements between the two communities."

Invited to comment on press reports that the US is exerting pressure on the Cyprus government to postpone the deployment of the surface-to-air missile system S-300 it ordered from Russia, he stressed the deal is legal in all respects.

Mouradov said "Cyprus needs this defence system and this is why no pressure should be exerted and there should be no involvement in our bilateral relations."

Ambassador Mouradov and Interior Minister Michaelides discussed a co- operation agreement on emergency situations, such as earthquakes and fires.

[06] Defence Minister to visit Athens

The further upgrading of co-operation between Cyprus and Greece in the defence field and the joint defence pact agreed between the two governments in 1993, will be discussed.

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

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