Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-04-14

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

News Update

Monday, 14/04/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Han Sung Joo starts new round of proximity talks
• [02] President Clinton promises new Cyprus initiative this year
• [03] Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Kranidiotis in Cyprus
• [04] Cyprus - Russia sign investment agreement
• [05] US Congressman frustrated with status quo in Cyprus
• [06] FIBA Eurocup final to take place in Cyprus

[01] Han Sung Joo starts new round of proximity talks

According to press reports, Mr Han will not be seeking an extension of his appointment as Kofi Annan's special envoy. The former South Korean Foreign Minister will complete a year in the post on 30 April.

Mr Han is today starting a new round of proximity talks on the Cyprus problem and will have separate meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash tomorrow.

[02] President Clinton promises new Cyprus initiative this year

He also expressed the belief that if a solution is reached in Cyprus, it would contribute towards stability in the region in the next thirty to forty years.

According to a Cyprus News Agency report on 11.4.97, after a speech at the American Society of Newspaper Editors' Convention in Washington, President Clinton said that "we are in the process of working through our new ambassadors and the new initiative might look bright". He noted the US "will find someone else who will go in especially and work on it (the Cyprus problem)."

He also stressed that "it is the people, especially the young people on Cyprus, the Greeks and Turks, and even in the two countries, if they could be brought together. We can establish a dialogue. I think we can work this out."

[03] Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Kranidiotis in Cyprus

Kranidiotis, who left the island yesterday after a four-day working visit, was received on 11.4.97 by President Glafcos Clerides with whom he discussed developments in the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' bid to become a full member of the European Union.

Later the same day Mr Kranidiotis and Cyprus Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides were the keynote speakers at a gathering organised by the Cyprus section of the Association of European Journalists on "The EU and the National Issues".

They both stressed that negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the European Union can only be held with the legal government of the Republic of Cyprus and that if the Turkish Cypriots want to participate in the accession talks they can join the Republic's delegation. They described Cyprus' bid to join the EU as a "catalyst" for a solution to the protracted Cyprus issue.

Mr Cassoulides added that, for the Turkish Cypriots to participate, three preconditions have to be met, namely it has to be accepted that the legal and internationally recognised government of the Republic will carry out the negotiations, that a solution to the Cyprus issue will be on course when they begin and that accession talks cannot be postponed.

Mr Kranidiotis on his part proposed a European conference for a Cyprus settlement, in which the US, Turkey and Russia could also participate and stressed the need for concerted pressure on the Turkish side, for a solution to be found.

[04] Cyprus - Russia sign investment agreement

"A new phase has begun in Cyprus - Russia relations," said Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou, after signing the agreement in Moscow.

Russian Deputy Finance Minister, Andrei Siapovulianc, stressed this is one more step in the ever-deepening links between Cyprus and Russia.

"For Russia, big or small states don't exist. For us, there are relations on an equal footing and we are obliged to expand those relations," the Russian Deputy Finance Minister said.

Christodoulou also met with Russian Culture Minister, Evgeni Sitorov, with whom he is Co-Chairman of the Cyprus -Russia Committee on Trade, Economic, Science and Technical Co-operation.

Both governments also committed themselves to increase contacts with a view to enhance the role of the Co-operation Committee.

[05] US Congressman frustrated with status quo in Cyprus

During a foreign policy briefing in Washington, Mr Hamilton said that the US foreign policy agenda is "a very crowded agenda and it is not easy to get the attention of American top policy-makers focused on the Cyprus problem".

"I very much hope the year of Cyprus will come about. I certainly will do all I can to make it come about", he pledged.

[06] FIBA Eurocup final to take place in Cyprus

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

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