Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-01-28

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

Monday, 28 January 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly adopts a resolution on Cyprus
• [02] Government Spokesman: the resolution as a whole is positive
• [03] Bill Clinton regrets not being able to resolve the Cyprus problem
• [04] US view on Cyprus has not changed at all
• [05] Presentation of credentials

[01] Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly adopts a resolution on Cyprus

Resolution 1267 states that the Cyprus problem "remains one of the most sensitive in Europe and most difficult to resolve" but notes with satisfaction that after a long period of deadlock, leaders of the two communities have entered into a series of face-to-face talks, in the presence of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, aimed at reaching a settlement.

It points out, inter alia, that today Cyprus faces a new situation with the Republic of Cyprus negotiating its accession to the European Union and refers to the European Council decision at Helsinki (December 1999), which declared that an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem was not a prerequisite to its accession. "The Assembly nevertheless believes that a political agreement between the two sides on the future of the island is possible and desirable before the entry to the European Union", it adds.

The Assembly therefore:

A. Welcomes the fact that the leaders of both communities have accepted the invitation by the United Nations Secretary General to participate, without preconditions, in the United Nations resumed talks in order to achieve an overall settlement on the basis of the United Nations resolutions;

B. Calls upon the leaders of both communities:

i. to contribute to the search for a formula that would allow the whole population of Cyprus to benefit from membership of the European Union;

ii. to avoid getting stalled on the terminology to be used as regards the form of the future solution and to concentrate on concrete political issues;

iii. to refrain from using negative rhetoric when referring to the other community and from educating their children in a way that could increase hatred and distrust towards them;

iv. to co-operate in good faith in the efforts to ascertain the fate of missing persons;

v. to remove restrictions on the freedom of movement of visitors to either side of the island;

C. Calls upon the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus:

i. to continue their efforts to bring about the participation of the Turkish Cypriot community in the accession negotiations with the European Union and to keep the Turkish Cypriots well informed of the benefits of accession;

ii. to refrain from sending political messages, in connection with the European Union, which could be interpreted by people living in the northern part of the island as a provocation;

iii. to show a more understanding attitude towards those international negotiators who aim at helping both sides to find a solution to the problem when they refer to personalities in the northern part of the island with regard to titles, without prejudice to the firm stance of all international organisations for the exclusive recognition of the State of the Republic of Cyprus;

D. Calls upon the Turkish Cypriot authorities:

i. to adopt a more positive attitude towards the European Union and inform the public accordingly about the potential benefits membership can bring;

ii. to remove restrictions on individual contacts with people living in the Republic of Cyprus and any other obstacles in the way of reconciliation, including contacts with political parties;

iii. to provide all non-governmental organisations and the media with unrestricted freedom to operate;

E. Calls upon the guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom:

i. to play a constructive role in ensuring that the efforts taken by the United Nations Secretary General lead to positive results in the months ahead;

ii to be instrumental in the creation of favourable conditions for the Turkish Cypriot administration/community to join in the European Union accession negotiations;

iii. to respect judgements of the European Court of Human Rights concerning Cyprus;

F. Bearing in mind recent statements made by the Turkish authorities as regards the Republic of Cyprus' accession to the European Union and Turkey's role as a guarantor power, calls upon the Turkish authorities:

i. to refrain from launching threats against the Republic of Cyprus in connection with the accession of Cyprus to the European Union prior to a political settlement;

ii. to persuade the Turkish Cypriot leaders that future membership in the European Union presents advantages for both communities;

G. Calls upon the European Union:

i to seek furtherways of contact with the Turkish Cypriot community;

ii. to find furtherways to inform the Turkish Cypriot population, if possible through opening an information centre in the northern part of the island, about the potential benefits accession to the European Union could bring;

iii. as a contribution to confidence building measures to create, in co- operation with the relevant chamber of commerce in the northern part of Cyprus and if possible the relevant chamber of commerce in the southern part of Cyprus, a clearing mechanism through which products and goods from the northern part of Cyprus can be exported to the European Union without being hampered by the political differences among the two entities;

H. Calls upon the United Nations Secretary General:

to intensify his efforts aimed at seeking a political solution, based on bi- zonal and bi-communal structures and taking into account the internal and external balances;

I. Resolves:

i. to explore ways to integrate more closely the elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly and its committees, beyond the framework of Assembly Resolution 1113 (1997) and integrated to the Cypriot delegation;

ii. to continue to observe closely the situation through its competent committees and hold seminars on specific topics in co-operation with other international organisations;

iii. to improve dialogue also with the civil society in both communities and to invite their representatives to committee meetings when issues of concern to them are being discussed;

J. Instructs its Political Affairs Committee to follow closely the political situation in Cyprus and to report back when it considers it necessary.

[02] Government Spokesman: the resolution as a whole is positive

"I would like to make some comments in relation to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly resolution on Cyprus. The final text of the resolution was issued last night and our parliamentary delegation returned late last night. The Government asked for clarifications today and is immediately making comments. Consequently, any publications, which allege that the Government was avoiding taking a position for two days, are unjust to say the least.

The Government considers the resolution as a whole to be positive. It includes serious positive elements and in this direction it congratulates the House of Representatives parliamentary delegation, which has given a difficult political fight with positive results. Having said this does not mean that we are happy with each and every line or word included in this resolution. There are some references that could have been worded differently but this in no way affects our general concept that it is a positive text in relation to the Cyprus problem.

As far as the two central axes of Cyprus' policy are concerned, namely the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and the efforts for accession to the European Union, the resolution is very positive. As far as the first is concerned I would like to underline, among many other references, that in Paragraph 9A the resolution 'welcomes the fact that the leaders of both communities have accepted the invitation by the UN Secretary-General to participate, without preconditions, in the UN resumed talks in order to achieve an overall settlement on the basis of the UN resolutions'.

This reference, apart from being especially important in relation to the reference to the UN resolution as a basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem, clarifies once again the nature of the talks, which are underway, i.e. that the talks are being held at the invitation and in the framework of the United Nations.

As far as our accession course is concerned, paragraph 3 of the resolution states that today Cyprus faces a new situation, that the Republic of Cyprus is negotiating its accession to the European Union and there is a specific reference to the important European Council decision at Helsinki which said that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a prerequisite for Cyprus' accession, something that the resolution strongly states.

In paragraph 9C iii there is a reference to 'the firm stance of all international organisations for the exclusive recognition of the State of the Republic of Cyprus', something which is significant also in relation with some other references with which we are not particularly happy.

Also in reply to the obstacles systematically set by the Denktash regime to contacts between the two communities, to meetings of a bicommunal, rapprochement nature on the level of trade unions, organisations, parties, and other - for which there is a specific negative reference in the UN Secretary General's last Report to the Security Council - the Council of Europe takes a clear position and calls upon the Turkish Cypriot authorities 'to remove restrictions on individual contacts with people living in the Republic of Cyprus and any other obstacles in the way of reconciliation, including contacts with political parties'.

In addition, there is a special reference to Turkey's threats in connection with the accession of Cyprus to the European Union prior to a political settlement and Turkey is called upon to refrain from launching such threats against the Republic of Cyprus.

Finally, paragraph G iii focuses, and justly so, on the disagreement of the Cyprus delegation, which voted against it together with the members of the Greek delegation, regarding the suggestion to the European Union to find 'a clearing mechanism through which products and goods from the northern part of Cyprus can be exported to the EU without being hampered by the political differences among the two entities'. The axes of our policy were never aimed at economically strangling or isolating any Turkish Cypriot. There are, however, some principles guiding our approach, which are included in the decision of the European Court of Justice as well as in the need not to directly or indirectly recognise the Turkish occupation regime, as this would be in violation of the relevant UN resolutions.

We agree with the evaluation of the members of our parliamentary delegation as well as that of the Greek delegation that this reference and some other weaknesses of this decision do not influence the general positive impact of this resolution".

[03] Bill Clinton regrets not being able to resolve the Cyprus problem

" I have few regrets about my service as President. One is I could never persuade the parties in question to solve the problem of Cyprus. I have always believed that if Greece and Turkey could put their past behind them and build their common future, it would change the future of that part of the world: from the Balkans, backwards towards the islands of Greece. But I am glad I have tried and I think eventually it will happen. But when it happens, it will have to be, not just in favour of the head, but in favour of the heart".

[04] US view on Cyprus has not changed at all

Asked to comment on a statement by US Ambassador to Greece Tom Miller that the US would support the European Union membership of Cyprus, whether there is a solution to the Cyprus problem or not, Mr Reeker said that his country's "view on Cyprus hasn't changed at all and certainly we have welcomed the positive steps we have seen in terms of the UN-sponsored process between the two sides on the Cyprus issue and we would like to see more on that".

"We keep watching that closely. Obviously Ambassador Miller being in Athens is also interested in that", he added.

[05] Presentation of credentials

During his private meeting with the Swedish Monarch, Mr Papadimas conveyed to the King the warm greetings of President Clerides as well as an official invitation to visit Cyprus. Mr Papadimas also thanked him for the steady support of Sweden to Cyprus' EU accession course and its struggle to solve its political problem.

The Cyprus Ambassador briefed the king on the latest developments in view of Cyprus' forthcoming accession to the EU, as well as on the direct talks that have recently begun.

The Swedish King returned the good wishes and thanked for the invitation to visit Cyprus in the future. He assured the Ambassador of his country's support to Cyprus and expressed the hope for a just solution to the Cyprus problem. He also complimented Cyprus for the important progress it has made in its EU accession negotiations.

During the meeting bilateral relations and the prospects of their further development, especially in the sector of tourism and other sectors of common interest, were discussed.

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

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