Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-08-31

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

News Update

Monday, 31/08/98

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides attends NAM Summit in Durban
• [02] Congressmen call on Clinton to display aggressive diplomacy on Cyprus
• [03] Unified European Left reaffirms position on Cyprus
• [04] Conclusions of the 15th Conference of Overseas Cypriots

[01] President Clerides attends NAM Summit in Durban

The meeting is attended by 80 Heads of State and is chaired by South African President, Nelson Mandela.

President Clerides will address the official opening on the 2nd of September on behalf of the European group of NAM member-states.

He will also address the delegates on Thursday. Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides and Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides also participate in the Summit.

Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sotos Zackheos as well as other Foreign Ministry senior officials are members of the Cypriot delegation.

[02] Congressmen call on Clinton to display aggressive diplomacy on Cyprus

In a letter dated June 25 and made public last Friday, the Congress members refer to the increasingly intransigent position of the Turkish side with regard to Cyprus. Moreover they describe preconditions set by Mr Denktash for the resumption of peace talks as "clearly unreasonable" and reflecting "Turkey's lack of objectivity and true willingness to achieve a fair solution."

Although they commend President Clinton for his support and commitment to a Cyprus resolution, the Congressmen stress the need for the US to be "more aggressive in its diplomacy".

They also underline that a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem "will also strengthen peace and stability in the volatile Eastern Mediterranean and significantly advance our national security interest in the region and beyond".

The members of Congress conclude their letter by outlining the view that a Cyprus settlement "should include a reunited country with a single sovereign citizenship and international personality and with a strong federal government in which the federated states derive their powers from the federal Constitution".

[03] Unified European Left reaffirms position on Cyprus

In a statement released at the end of the meeting, the Group reaffirmed its previous position on the situation in Cyprus and called on the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE to be more actively involved on the efforts towards a final solution to the Cyprus problem.

In its statement, the Group "condemns all illegal threats of use of force and provocations by the Turkish side, which may lead to an escalation of tension in the area", welcomes President Clerides' proposal for a complete demilitarisation of the island and urges the representatives of the two communities "to resume as soon as possible the intercommunal negotiations under the auspices of the UN".

[04] Conclusions of the 15th Conference of Overseas Cypriots

In their concluding remarks the two Presidents described the Conference as very successful, stressing that during its deliberations special emphasis was laid on enlightenment issues and the huge amount of work which is carried out by representatives of overseas Cypriots around the world.

In a brief intervention, the Presidential Commissioner Manolis Christofides said that we should make the most of the large number of Cypriots living abroad to help promote our national interests and the Cyprus issue.

Mr Christofides suggested the establishment of an ad hoc parliamentary committee for overseas Cypriots, an institution which is in force in many other countries.

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

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