Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-03-18

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Russian envoy to visit Turkey, Greece, Cyprus

[02] Spokesman comments on UN envoy's statements

[03] Sweden wants to contribute to Cyprus peace effort

[04] Denktash rejects President's proposal on EU talks

[05] Vassiliou meets Swedish official

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[07] UN envoy wants concrete talks

[08] Occupation regime "renews" detention of fishermen

[09] Clerides met Weizman, Netanyahu

1430:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Russian envoy to visit Turkey, Greece, Cyprus

Tchizhov will pay a two-day visit to Ankara, March 30 and 31, before flying on to Athens on April 1.

Following one-day of talks with Greek officials, the Russian envoy will travel to Cyprus, where he will have talks with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, between April 2 and 5.

The Russian spokesman did not rule out the possibility of Moscow sending Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Avdeev during Tchizhov's visit to Cyprus.

The Russian spokesman told CNA that Moscow is determined to make its own dynamic contribution to the efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

The Russian move will run parallel with the efforts being made by the US and Britain and will be supportive to UN efforts in solving the problem, he added.

The spokesman said during his three-nation tour the Russian envoy will convey Moscow's ideas and proposals, emphasising on Cyprus' demilitarisation related to the purchase by Cyprus of Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missiles expected to be deployed later this year.

A spokesman for the Russian manufacturers told CNA that the contract signed with the Cyprus government would be honoured despite pressures exerted on the Russian side on this issue. He did not elaborate.

CNA CG/AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Spokesman comments on UN envoy's statements

The spokesman was commenting on a statement by the UN top envoy for Cyprus that outsiders are more keen in a Cyprus settlement and that the UN are "seriously concerned" about the situation in Cyprus.

The UN official, who arrived here early today, warned against lack of interest if the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides do not show the political will to work for a negotiated settlement.

"The Cyprus government is convinced that the international community cannot allow such a crucial issue, as the Cyprus problem, to remain pending, " he said at his daily press briefing.

The government, he added, hopes that the process, which started with the direct talks in the US and Switzerland in the summer, will be allowed to continue through meetings President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will have with Diego Cordovez, the UN chief's top envoy for Cyprus.

"We believe that with the right moves on our part and with Greece's help international interest in Cyprus will be maintained to enable us to move towards a resolution," Stylianides said.

Referring in particular to Cordovez's statement that outsiders are more interested in a solution than the Cypriots themselves, the spokesman said the statement indicated "an intention for more encouragement" to work for a solution.

"The people of Cyprus have repeatedly proved their deep concern and interest in a settlement," he added.

He also pointed out the government considers that the international community is playing a "very important role in the process for a Cyprus solution and sees Cordovez's visit here as significant."

CNA KK/MM/GP/1998

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1450:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Sweden wants to contribute to Cyprus peace effort

At the same time it does not question Cyprus's right to defend itself, although it believes the non-deployment of the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles will help reduce tension in the region.

Speaking after meeting here Wednesday Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Swedish State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gunnar Lund said they "reviewed the entire situation, pertaining to the Cyprus problem, the UN talks, which we hope will be resumed soon and the EU negotiation process".

He repeated that he is on the island to "first and foremost listen and to learn", noting that his country has for a very long time taken a keen interest in Cyprus.

Stressing Sweden's dual capacity as member of the European Union (EU) and member of the Security Council, Lund said he wants to see "if we in some small way, can contribute to a resolution of the Cyprus problem".

Lund described President Glafcos Clerides' proposal to the Turkish Cypriots for participation in the forthcoming Cyprus - EU accession negotiations, as "very constructive".

He said he hoped Rauf Denktash and the Turkish Cypriot community would be prepared to "reconsider their first negative reaction to that proposal".

Lund said he raised the question of the S-300 missiles expected to be deployed in Cyprus later this year.

He stressed his government "does not find it helpful to see the deployment of the missiles in the particular situation we find ourselves" with the current efforts for the resumption of the UN talks and the forthcoming EU negotiations.

Asked if he recognises the right of Cyprus to defend itself, Lund said "by all means, we defend every government's right to defend itself and we state that right. It is a vital right and terribly important to Sweden. We do not question that at all".

However, he said it is "just a friendly advice that we offer in the particular situation and with the prospective we now have here, it would be a very positive development if those missiles were not deployed".

Regarding his meeting with Denktash this afternoon, Lund said he will review with the Turkish Cypriot leader the various issues he had talked with Kasoulides.

Asked if he will raise President Clerides' proposal for demilitarisation, Lund said "this is certainly a message that I will bring with me,".

The Swedish Secretary said he understands the Cyprus government's position on this aspect and will communicate it to Denktash.

To a question if the missiles will complicate the EU negotiations for accession, Lund said he does not find it conducive to the reduction of tension in this region.

Referring to his meeting with Lund, Kasoulides said they had a "very productive and useful discussion" and stressed that the swedish official appreciated the positions of the Cyprus government.

The missiles issue was raised by Lund "in a cordial manner", Kasoulides said.

However, he explained to Lund that the swedish friendly advice would be more productive if relevant significance was attached to the "sensitivity of the people (of Cyprus) on security issues, in the light of the presence of 35.000 Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus".

"The security of the people of Cyprus is equally important with that of their European course, therefore we will not sacrifice one for the sake of the other", the Minister added.

Kasoulides stressed that the only way the missiles would not be deployed is "either through a peace procedure which will eventually lead to permanent peace or through a dialogue to reduce forces, leading to demilitarisation, or even both".

"I think our message is clear" and it is a message which has not only been conveyed to Sweden, which is a very friendly country, but also to other countries, the Cypriot Minister added.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA EC/GP/1998

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1555:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Denktash rejects President's proposal on EU talks

The proposal was put forward by President Glafcos Clerides, in London last week, and was described by the European Union (EU) as "fair and generous".

"We have already informed our EU partners about Mr. Denktash's rejection," the sources said.

Clerides proposed that "the Turkish Cypriot community nominate representatives to be included as full members of the Cypriot team, which will conduct the negotiations."

He also assured Turkish Cypriots that their views will be discussed "freely, seriously and in good faith and that the conclusions reached will constitute an important element in formulating the negotiating positions of the Cypriot team."

The same sources reiterated the view that the Turkish Cypriots would be welcome to join in the membership talks, due to start on March 31, at any time.

Denktash has always maintained that the application by the government of the Republic, filed in July 1990, does not represent the Turkish Cypriots and has publicly accused the EU for derailing the peace effort with its decision to begin accession talks.

He has refused to meet any EU official and argues that Cyprus cannot join in the EU unless Turkey becomes a member.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1650:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Vassiliou meets Swedish official

Vassiliou said he briefed the Swedish delegation on Turkish intransigence in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem.

"A settlement to the Cyprus issue has not been possible because the Turkish side was and continues to be completely negative," he added.

The former Cyprus President pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side "has the good will for a solution, but in order for us to move forward the Turkish side must cooperate."

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has turned down an invitation by President Glafcos Clerides for Turkish Cypiots to participate in the team that will carry out the EU negotiations.

Denktash also said he would not participate in talks for a Cyprus settlement unless the illegal regime, established in the areas occupied by Turkey since 1974, is recognised.

The puppet regime, unilaterally declared in 1983, is recognised only by Turkey and numerous UN resolutions call on all states not to recognise or in any way facilitate it.

Lund, who is in Cyprus heading a five-member delegation, described the situation on the island as "highly unfortunate".

Speaking during a tour of the demarcation line in Nicosia, where he was escorted by the capital's mayor Lellos Demetriades, he said the purpose of his visit "is to explore possibilities for resolving the Cyprus problem."

"We hope that Cyprus will be able to join the EU as a federation and that we will no longer see this situation in the future," he added.

EU accession talks with Cyprus are scheduled to open on March 31.

CNA MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    85.23 ( 0,71)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  97,42 ( 0,36)
Approved Investment Companies          65,19 ( 0,79)
Insurance Companies                    62,45 ( 0,92)
Industrial Companies                   80,25 ( 0,53)
Tourist Industries                     74,53 ( 1,26)
Commercial Companies                   47,10 ( 2,97)
Other Companies                        73,60 ( 2,71)

Trading Voulume                        1.217.476

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:07

[07] UN envoy wants concrete talks

Diego Cordovez, UN Secretary-General's special advisor for Cyprus, also called for "quiet diplomacy" and said a lot of people believe outsiders are more keen to solve the Cyprus question than Cypriots.

"It is time for quiet diplomacy, we have to go into much more specific discussion, specific provisions concerning certain elements of the issue," he said after a meeting with Cyprus' chief negotiator in accession talks with the European Union (EU) George Vassiliou.

Recognising that the UN procedure in last summer's inconclusive peace talks was incorrect, Cordovez said "there was too much talk about general principles and concepts and we have to go into some specifically, we have to go into the specifics."

Cordovez chaired two rounds of talks in New York and Switzerland during which there was no negotiation because Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash refused to cooperate following an EU decision to open accession talks with Cyprus.

He refrained from saying whether the UN is prepared to discuss changing the basis of the negotiations, conducted between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, and would not comment on possible measures the Security Council may take if the Turkish Cypriot side insists on inter-state talks.

Denktash threatened not to return to the negotiating table unless his puppet regime, unilaterally established in 1983 in Turkish occupied Cyprus, is recognised by the international community.

Replying to questions, Cordovez said "we have to keep knocking at the door of the interlocutors and sometime they open the door."

He also expressed the view that there is a difference of opinion between the positions of the two sides and said "a lot of people say that outsiders are more interested in solving the Cyprus problem than Cypriots."

Cordovez said the purpose of his trip to the island, the second since his appointment last year, is to "listen and learn things" and pointed out it is important to see what the two community leaders think.

The Republic's chief negotiator with the EU described the meeting as "interesting" and said he explained to Cordovez the government's readiness to accept Turkish Cypriots in the Republic's negotiating team.

Cyprus is among the six countries with which the EU will open accession talks end of March.

Vassiliou said it is up to the UN to persuade the Turkish Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table and abandon any notion of recognition of their self-styled regime, in Turkish occupied Cyprus, which nobody barring Turkey recognises.

"All UN resolutions refer to bicommunal talks and the mandate of the UN Secretary General is to promote intercommunal dialogue and not some kind of interstate dialogue," Vassiliou said.

CNA KN/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Occupation regime "renews" detention of fishermen

Andreas Constantinou and George Lefteri were apprehended on March 14 by Turkish occupation troops who opened fire on them while they were fishing off the eastern coast of the island.

Government sources described the abduction of the fishermen as a "premeditated move aimed at creating problems for Cyprus" in view of the start of membership talks the Republic will start with the European Union.

This is not the first time Turkish forces abduct Greek Cypriot fishermen out at sea, claiming they "tresspass" the so-called borders of the territory they occupy since 1974 when they invaded.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Clerides met Weizman, Netanyahu

The President, on a private visit to Israel, exchanged views with Weizman and Netanyahu on matters of mutual interest.

Both sides underlined that they were pleased with the good relations Cyprus and Israel enjoy and expressed the wish to further develop them.

President Clerides also met Patriarch of Jerusalem Diodoros.

The President returns home on Thursday evening.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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