Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-06-18

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

News Update

Thursday, 18/06/98

CONTENTS

• [01] UN Secretary-General urges parties in Cyprus not to increase tension
• [02] Government satisfied with Cardiff conclusions
• [03] Britain wants Cyprus accession negotiations to proceed

[01] UN Secretary-General urges parties in Cyprus not to increase tension

In a report to the UN Security Council on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, Mr Annan said he counted on their fullest support in the United Nations continuing efforts.

In this context, he added in order to continue to explore possibilities that may lead to a new momentum, his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, intends to visit the island in the coming weeks.

The Secretary-General's report outlines his own efforts and those of Mr Cordovez and others involved in the Cyprus question over the past six months.

"It is regrettable that, so far, all these efforts have not proved sufficient to lead to a resumption of the process", he adds.

[02] Government satisfied with Cardiff conclusions

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said the conclusions were "positive" and reaffirmed that Cyprus' accession course would proceed unhindered without any preconditions.

He said that Cyprus had the Greek Premier Costas Simitis to thank for his "decisive and nationally dignified" stand.

Mr Stylianides also said the government was "surprised" at France's view that Cyprus should be considered a special case in terms of accession, in view of the Cyprus problem, characterising it a "wrong" move. He added that the leaders of the other 14 countries had reacted clearly in favour of Cyprus.

"Cyprus is not a special case at all, it remains in the same group of candidate countries and proceeds with its accession course without any problem," Stylianides said.

Referring to a telephone call in the early hours of Tuesday morning by US President Bill Clinton to Mr Simitis in which he urged Greece to adopt a more conciliatory attitude to Turkey's EU aspirations, Mr Stylianides said President Clinton should have addressed himself directly to Turkey.

Turkey, he pointed out, should be made to understand that it must give before it can take from the EU.

"Neither we, nor Greece, are against Turkey's European orientation but Turkey itself must decide whether it wants to follow this course and fulfil the criteria the EU set out", Mr Stylianides said.

[03] Britain wants Cyprus accession negotiations to proceed

"We began those accession negotiations, we want to see them go ahead, we have made it clear there are no pre-conditions", he said in an interview on Greek television.

"It is easier to do if we have a settlement that is lasting and durable for the island", he added.

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

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