Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-12-04

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

Tuesday, 4 December 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides and Mr Denktash will meet in mid January 2002 for direct talks
• [02] Foreign Minister returns from China

[01] President Clerides and Mr Denktash will meet in mid January 2002 for direct talks

"At the meeting held today, 4 December 2001 between H.E Mr Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader and H.E Mr Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, at the residence of the UN Chief of Mission and in the presence of Mr Alvaro de Soto, the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Cyprus, the two leaders agreed to the following:

· That the Secretary General, in the exercise of his mission of good offices, would invite the two leaders to direct talks;

· That these talks will be held in Cyprus starting in mid January 2002 on UN premises;

· That there will be no preconditions;

· That all issues will be on the table;

· That they will continue to negotiate in good faith until a comprehensive settlement is achieved;

· That nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed."

[02] Foreign Minister returns from China

In a statement to the press on arrival at Larnaca airport Mr Kasoulides expressed satisfaction with his visit, which was organized in the framework of the efforts of the Government to brief the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and to strengthen relations between Cyprus and the UN Security Council permanent members.

Mr Kasoulides pointed out that China, a country with rapid economic development, plays an important role in the international scene. While in China, Mr Kasoulides said he and his Chinese counterpart had the opportunity to review not only the situation in Cyprus but also the international situation.

Replying to a question on China's position on the Cyprus problem, Mr Kasoulides said that China supports the implementation of the UN resolutions with a special emphasis on the fact that there is only one Cyprus in the same way that there is one China, which represents the Chinese nation internationally. "There is only one Cyprus and whatever solution the two communities may agree upon will be based on the principle that there is one Cyprus with a single sovereignty, nationality and personality and with its territorial integrity safeguarded," he added.

Invited to comment on Mr Denktash's intransigent positions Mr Kasoulides said that if Mr Denktash's initiative to call for a meeting were aimed at cooperating constructively to break the deadlock so that the UN process could continue on the basis of the UN resolutions and the Secretary General's good offices mission, he would get a similar response from President Clerides. If however Mr Denktash were bluffing in order to escape from the difficult situation he had found himself into with his refusal to accept the Secretary General's invitation, or in order to deviate from the correct basis or framework of the process, again he would get a similar response from President Clerides.

Replying to a question on weather the United Nations will propose a plan for an overall solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr Kasoulides said he believed that this issue is rather premature since the negotiations have not started and there is no indication if the 4 December meeting would lead to constructive negotiations.

Asked to comment on the statement made by the Turkish Prime Minister Mr Ecevit that the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus are a part of Turkey, Mr Kasoulides said that the Prime Minister of the invasion is even more intransigent than Mr Denktash himself. "Mr Ecevit speaks as the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire spoke and has not yet realized that we are now in a new millennium. This is the drama of the situation regarding the duo Ecevit- Denktash," he added.

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

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