Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-07-21

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

News Update

Monday, 21/07/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Greek Cypriots' future will be safeguarded, assures President
• [02] Protests against the Turkish invasion
• [03] Russian representative hopes new methodology on Cyprus will be successful
• [04] Clerides receives US State Department officials
• [05] US congressmen demand withdrawal of occupation forces from Cyprus
• [06] Italian Parliament condemns Turkish invasion of Cyprus
• [07] New Italian Ambassador says division cannot continue
• [08] Western European Union Secretary-General relations with Cyprus will improve

[01] Greek Cypriots' future will be safeguarded, assures President

He assured, moreover, that he will devote all his energy to ensure that the process started in Troutbeck, may have the desirable conclusion.

In a message to the people of Cyprus on the occasion of the anniversary of the coup and Turkish invasion, President Clerides said that one of the conclusion to be drawn from the events of 1974, "one of the darkest periods of Cyprus' history", is that "we must all respect fully our democratic institutions and engage in continuous dialogue and reach consensus in a spirit of mutual understanding".

President Clerides also said that the two communities in Cyprus "must envisage and plan a common future and establish a climate of confidence, mutual understanding and co-operation to the benefit of all the citizens of this long-suffering island".

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side has shown "goodwill and made painful concessions" in these 23 years, he said the government showed a positive attitude during the UN-led direct negotiations between himself and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, held in the US on 9-12 July.

He stated that before the start of the second round of talks in Switzerland, he will meet with Mr Denktash in Cyprus and discuss the matter of the missing persons and the enclaved.

The President concluded his message by reassuring the people that with the assistance of the Greek government as well as of other states, the struggle of Cyprus will be successful.

[02] Protests against the Turkish invasion

Several British politicians, including the European Parliamentary member of the Socialist group, Mrs Pauline Green, and Labour MP Mr Tom Cox, addressed the gathering, promising their loyal support to the Cyprus struggle while condemning the Turkish invasion.

Mr Spyros Kyprianou President of the House of Representatives also addressed the gathering expressing his gratitude on behalf of the people of Cyprus to those British politicians present at the gathering for their support for Cyprus' struggle for justice.

Moreover a concert of remembrance of the Turkish invasion took place yesterday in New York at Manhattan's Bryant Park.

A large number of people, representatives of the diplomatic corps of Cyprus and Greece, members of the American Congress and leading figures of the Greek Cypriot community abroad attended the demonstration.

Leading figures of the Greek and Greek Cypriot diaspora addressed the crowd, denouncing the Turkish invasion and continuous occupation of Cyprus.

Meanwhile in Cyprus, a delegation of the Pancyprian Committee of Parents and Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons sent a letter to the ambassadors to Cyprus of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council calling on them to take all necessary steps to solve the humanitarian question of those missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

[03] Russian representative hopes new methodology on Cyprus will be successful

Speaking after a meeting with President Clerides in Cyprus on Friday (18.7.97), during which views were exchanged in the Cyprus problem, Mr Tchizhov expressed the hope that the new methodology the UN has introduced in its renewed effort to solve the Cyprus question will be successful.

"In the past, the UN and successive Secretaries-General presented documents, noted both sides' observations and then reported to the Security Council that the chasm remains and could not be bridged. Now, however, negotiations have begun on specific issues", he added.

He said that, while the issue of sovereignty was a major stumbling block to a solution and that both sides on the island held widely divergent views on the issue, he did not exclude the possibility that some sort of agreement could be reached on that sticking point.

Asked to comment on the widely-held impression that active US involvement in the peace process, could deliver the impetus needed to push the two sides to an overall solution, Tchizhov said he does not expect this to happen.

"I believe, as is the official position of my government, that the whole process must continue to develop within the UN framework because the Secretary-General's mission of good offices on Cyprus has been set by the Security Council", he said.

Tchizhov said the Russian document outlining seven points on the fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem, submitted to the UN Security Council last April, did not meet any negative reactions from anyone.

"The spirit of the document, I think, is reflected to a certain degree, if not word for word, in all that (UN Secretary-General Special Advisor on Cyprus Diego) Cordovez in doing", the Russian official added.

Mr Tchizhov also met with House President Spyros Kyprianou, who said that "the involvement of Russia in the efforts is of a great importance for our side".

[04] Clerides receives US State Department officials

The delegation, which has already visited Ankara, is due to fly to Athens for further contacts with Greek Foreign Ministry officials.

It was reported that the US officials visit the area to prepare the ground for the forthcoming visit of US Presidential Emissary on Cyprus Richard Holbrooke to European capitals, expected towards the end of July, and to the Eastern Mediterranean in autumn.

[05] US congressmen demand withdrawal of occupation forces from Cyprus

This was stressed during a special order in the US House of Representatives, organised by Congressman Michael Bilirakis, on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the occupation of 37 per cent of its territory.

Moreover, the Congressmen called for a halt to US aid to Turkey if it does not withdraw its occupation forces from this eastern Mediterranean island.

They said Cyprus should be unified again and that it is a shame for Nicosia to be the only divided capital in the world today.

Moreover, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee last week unanimously approved a resolution on Cyprus calling for an end to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which perpetuates an unacceptable violation of international law and basic human rights and affects the whole population of Cyprus while at the same time undermining US interests in the region.

The resolution considers that permanent peace in Cyprus can best be achieved through total demilitarisation of the island and welcomes President Clinton's greater commitment to Cyprus.

[06] Italian Parliament condemns Turkish invasion of Cyprus

It says that "despite the efforts of the international community there has been no peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem or to the tragic situation of the refugees which constitute almost a third of the population".

Moreover the resolution states that Cyprus remains one of the most militarised zones of the world.

It concludes by calling on the Italian government to support the international organisations for the achievement of "civilised coexistence of the two communities in view of a solution to the Cyprus problem and the accession of Cyprus to the European Union'.

[07] New Italian Ambassador says division cannot continue

Presenting his credentials to President Clerides, Mr Bascone referred to the island's division and said Italy "cannot be reconciled with the present unnatural situation, with barbed wire separating two parts of the island and its capital city".

Bascone expressed the hope that the historical opportunity "which is being provided by the strong commitment of the international community and of the UN Secretary-General in particular, to promote a negotiated solution and the indispensable solution of all parties concerned" will be seized.

Such an achievement, Bascone said, "would not only bring benefits to the population of Cyprus and to the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean" but it would greatly facilitate the successful conclusion of accession negotiations with the European Union.

[08] Western European Union Secretary-General says relations with Cyprus will improve

During his stay, Cutileiro held meetings with President Clerides, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and House President, Spyros Kyprianou.

Referring to the relations of Cyprus with the WEU, Cutileiro said "the relations with Cyprus will increase in substance as Cyprus progresses in its accession negotiations with the European Union".

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

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