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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-09-27Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News Update27/9/96CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus President meets UN Secretary-General Boutros-Boutros GhaliThe President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides had a meetingon Thursday (26.9.96) in New York with UN Secretary-GeneralBoutros-Boutros Ghali whom he briefed on the current situation inCyprus in the light of the incidents in August, when two unarmedyoung demonstrators were killed by the Turkish occupation regime.Prominence was given to the prospects for the resumption of peacetalks on Cyprus. President Clerides said he had told Ghali hewas ready for direct talks with the Turkish side by the beginningof 1997, provided that suitable preparatory work would takeplace. Answering questions, he explained that the lack of political willof the Turkish side was responsible for the deadlock. He added:"I refer you to the Secretary-General's Report which said thefollowing: 'Once again we find ourselves before the usualscenario of no progress because of the lack of political willfrom the Turkish Cypriot leadership'. And then he went on to saythat his good offices could not yield a result if one communityflouts international opinion as expressed in United NationsSecurity Council resolutions". President Clerides also said he had no reason to doubt theassurances given by the American President, Secretary of StateWarren Christopher and Ambassador Madeleine Albright that astrong initiative on Cyprus would be undertaken, but, he said,this had not begun yet. The UN Secretary-General's spokeswoman Sylvana Foa said Ghali'sand President Clerides' meeting focussed on prospects fornegotiations and added: "President Clerides emphasized the need for preparatory workbefore direct negotiations. He also emphasized the importance ofnegotiations being started and completed well before what hedescribed as the pre-election fever, that is for the Presidentialelections which are expected in February 1998. PresidentClerides spoke for the need of proper coordination amongst thevarious countries who are supporting the Secretary-General's goodoffices mission in Cyprus". [02] Accession to EU offers best opportunity for movement on CyprusEuropean Union President and Foreign Minister of Ireland DickSpring believes the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the EuropeanUnion offers perhaps the best opportunity in the past twenty-twoyears for a potential movement on Cyprus.Speaking at a press conference in New York on Thursday (26.9.96),he said the EU was very supportive of the efforts of the UNSecretary-General in negotiating a lasting settlement whichrespects the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity andunity of Cyprus in accordance with the UN resolutions. Spring felt that membership of the EU would have enormouseconomic, political and security benefits to the whole island. [03] Cyprus introduced legislation on money-launderingFinance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said that Cyprus hasalready introduced legislation which made money-laundering acriminal offence. Speaking on Thursday (26.9.96) at theCommonwealth Finance Ministers Conference in Bermuda,Christodoulou said that as "Cyprus is a growing financialoffshore centre it has set as one of its priorities thecombating of money-laundering".[04] Russian interest on Cyprus to continuePresident Clerides said that the Russian Federation continued toshow an interest in the Cyprus problem. This interest, he said,would be shown in practice in talks the Russian side would havewith Turkey in which it would spell out its views on the Cyprusproblem.Speaking to journalists after his meeting with the RussianForeign Minister Evgeni Primakov in New York on Thursday(26.9.96), Clerides said he had a general exchange of views withPrimakov and expressed some views on the question ofdemilitarization in the context of a solution to the Cyprusproblem. [05] Intensive consultations necessary before direct peace talks says Cyprus Foreign MinisterCyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides had talks on Thursday(26.9.96) with Peter Tarnoff, US Under Secretary for PoliticalAffairs in New York, in the presence of Under Secretary forEuropean Affairs John Kornblum and other officials. Speakingafter the meeting Michaelides said the main topic discussed wasthe method and ways of preparation for the start of Cyprus peacenegotiations. The Foreign Minister said he was assured of theUnited States' positive interest and intention to get involved inthe process for a settlement. He said the Cyprus Governmentencourages such initiatives and wants the efforts to besubstantive, aiming towards the goal of a comprehensiveagreement. Answering questions, Michaelides underlined the greatemphasis he puts on a well-prepared period of intensiveconsultations before direct talks to avoid failure at the end,and called for an immediate search for common ground between thetwo sides on the crucial issues of the problem in the first half of 1997.From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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