Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-03-16

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

News Update

Monday, 16/03/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus' EU entry talks to go ahead as scheduled
• [02] Clerides: "Objectives of my trip were fully accomplished"
• [03] Turkish Cypriots are being offered full participation in the Cyprus negotiating team for EU accession
• [04] Cordovez believes prospects for Cyprus are "rather dim"
• [05] Turkey has created its own obstacles to EU integration

[01] Cyprus' EU entry talks to go ahead as scheduled

The proposal does not make a joint Greek-Turkish Cypriot delegation a condition for negotiations, nor does it make the resolution of the division of Cyprus an explicit condition for accession.

France and Greece both withdrew rival amendments to the British EU presidency's proposed opening position in the talks.

The French wanted to delay accession talks until all sides could be brought into the negotiations.

Greece had threatened to block the entire accession process, including talks beginning on the same day with five former communist central and east European states - Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Estonia - if Cyprus talks were treated differently.

To meet the French concerns, Britain amended the EU opening statement to say "our objective remains a united Cyprus" instead of saying "our objective means the accession of a united Cyprus".

The European Commission is to monitor the negotiations closely and report regularly to the EU council of ministers, and Britain will refer at the opening of the talks to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' offer to include Turkish Cypriot representatives as full members of the Cypriot negotiating team.

"It was also recognised that if a genuine, fair offer is made, the government of Cyprus cannot be held responsible if there is an unreasonable refusal to take part," Cook said.

[02] Clerides: "Objectives of my trip were fully accomplished"

"The objectives of my trip were fully accomplished, since our proposal to the Turkish Cypriots to join the government's negotiating team was welcomed, " he said.

President Clerides expressed regret that the Turkish Cypriot side had rejected the offer.

He added, however, that he is "satisfied with the fact that all countries have appreciated our gesture, describing it both in private and in public as courageous and imaginative, and giving the opportunity to the Turkish Cypriot side to respond positively," he added.

President Clerides added that there had been "negative comments against Ankara" in European circles following information that the Turkish side's rejection was not taken by Mr Denktash alone, but in co-operation with Ankara.

"It seems that the way we handled the case bore fruit, since we were told by everyone that there will be no problem in our accession course if the Turkish Cypriots insist on their negative stance."

Replying to questions, President Clerides said "it is obvious that Denktash's stance will be negative" to a UN proposal asking the two sides to resume the soonest direct peace talks.

The proposal will be conveyed by UN chief's top envoy for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, who arrives in Cyprus tomorrow.

"In such a case, it will be up to the Security Council and the Secretary- General to decide on future steps," he said and added that a discussion on the Cyprus problem by the Security Council will be of "paramount importance".

"In essence", he concluded, "Turkey's intransigence on the basic aspects of the Cyprus problem is continuing. In essence, what Denktash has been calling for - namely direct or indirect recognition - continues to be the Turkish side's policy".

[03] Turkish Cypriots are being offered full participation in the Cyprus negotiating team for EU accession

"We are proposing to the Turkish Cypriot community that it comes and participates as a full member, that is, not with the status of observer; that it will appoint its representatives and that it will play a substantial part in the formulation of negotiating positions," he clarified.

He was commenting from London on President Clerides' proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus' EU accession talks.

Mr Stylianides said the Turkish Cypriots would join the Cyprus negotiating team "as equal citizens of the Cyprus republic."

Commenting on statements by French President Jacques Chirac to the effect that Cyprus' EU entry should not be effected before the Cyprus problem is solved, Mr Stylianides said such statements were only "comments" and that the government would stick to interpreting official EU statements.

[04] Cordovez believes prospects for Cyprus are "rather dim"

In a statement afterwards the members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the high level of tension on the island and in the region and called on the two sides to take the practical steps required in order to promote the negotiating process effectively.

In an interview with CNA, Cordovez said the prospects for getting both sides to return to the negotiating table are rather dim.

Indeed, he added, there would be little pressure on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to commit to immediate talks although eventually any settlement would require extended negotiations.

Nonetheless, Cordovez said he was "encouraged" by two factors. One is the fact that although Denktash has refused to see other envoys, he has agreed to meet him, leaving at least one door open.

Secondly, he said he was heartened by the realisation in Nicosia that "this is a time for quiet diplomacy", expressing disappointment that his efforts in the past have been undermined by leaks, "that have destroyed a number of possibilities for making progress".

Cordovez noted that a core issue is whether both sides "want a settlement or not."

He acknowledged that he now faces a situation in which "Mr Denktash has taken a rigid position against negotiations".

The UN envoy said that like it or not, there is a linkage now between Cyprus' EU accession negotiations and the peace process he is to attempt to reinvigorate.

The Security Council, according to UN diplomats, is in an impatient mood. It believes that tensions on the island and the region are running at "unacceptably high levels" and that it is time to "move the leaders of the two communities away from discussion of principles by focusing on practical steps to move the process forward".

Cordovez added that he would probably be taking personal letters from the Secretary - General to President Clerides and Denktash.

[05] Turkey has created its own obstacles to EU integration

"We hope that the EU's door (to enlargement) will remain open as well. We appreciate the difficulties and complexity involved in joining the EU. But we still support the EU's eventual expansion to all those states that were invited to the European Conference".

"No one thinks Turkey's full integration into the European Union mainstream will be easy. Turkey has created its own obstacles to integration, from its record on human rights to its share of responsibility for the failure to find a solution to the Cyprus question," Mr Talbott said.

Mr Talbott also reiterated the administration's support for a bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus which would allow all the people living on the island, irrespective of religion or ethnic background, to "be fully enfranchised and vested citizens of that country."

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

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