Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-09

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

News Update

Thursday, 09/01/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Albright sees a heightened U.S. role for a Cyprus solution
• [02] No U.S. threat to halt initiative, says Government Spokesman
• [03] Robert Mugabe urges Turkey to relinquish territorial ambitions in occupied Cyprus

[01] Albright sees a heightened U.S. role for a Cyprus solution

-Across the Mediterranean in Cyprus, another long standing disagreement remains unresolved. In 1996, the parties moved no closer to a final decision on the status of the island. Moreover, disturbing incidents of violence marred the climate for negotiations, while underlining their urgency. The dispute here and related differences between our two NATO allies, Turkey and Greece, affect European stability and our vital interests. Accordingly, we are prepared in this new year to play a heightened role in promoting a resolution in Cyprus, but for any initiative to bear fruit, the parties must agree to steps that will reduce tensions and make direct negotiations possible, Mrs Albright said.

During the same hearings, Democratic Senator Joseph Biden urged the U.S. administration to put Cyprus -at the top of the agenda" and -make the reunification of Cyprus one of our highest priorities. The full reference of Senator Biden was: -Elsewhere in Europe, we see in Cyprus a country that remains divided after more than 22 years. You were very supportive of our initiative in the creation of a special Presidential envoy to Cyprus. But in my view, unfortunately, every president, Democrat and Republican, takes great interest initially in Cyprus, and then it goes away. There are some recent, in the minds of many, disturbing initiatives that have taken place with regard to Cyprus. I' d like to know and - urge the president and you to make the reunification of Cyprus one of our highest diplomatic priorities. I believe the most sensible policy is the complete demilitarization of the island, the withdrawal of all foreign forces, and firm guarantees for the safety and rights of minorities. But none of that will happen, in my view, unless it literally is put at the top of the agenda".

[02] No U.S. threat to halt initiative, says Government Spokesman

Cassoulides said: "The US expressed concern about the arms deal. We have made it clear that we do not intend to deploy these missiles against anybody unless others attack us. We hope we will not give either the chance or the pretext to anybody to attack. We hope 1997 will be a time for political dialogue which will focus on the search for a political solution of the Cyprus problem."

He also said the government awaits the US initiative and looks forward to preparing the ground for a political solution to the Cyprus question."

The Government Spokesman also commented on the American Ambassador's statement that the purchase of the long-range S-300 missiles places Cyprus in the Aegean geostrategic sphere, saying that it is the presence of Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus and the 90 Turkish fighter planes, stationed in southern Turkey, only 40 miles from Cyprus, which changes the balance in the Eastern Mediterranean.

-If the Turkish air-force had no aggressive intentions towards Cyprus, why has it stationed fighters opposite the island, when it has to oversee a lengthy border line elsewhere? the Spokesman asked.

[03] Robert Mugabe urges Turkey to relinquish territorial ambitions in occupied Cyprus

Speaking at Larnaca airport on Wednesday (8.1.97) president Mugage said: "It cannot be right to leave injustice uncorrected, it cannot be right that external forces seek to enhance their own territorial ambitions by occupying another country, in this case Cyprus".

He pointed out that the occupying force, Turkey, must realise the world today is founded on "togetherness, international law and good relations".

-"We want these relations to exist between Turkey and Cyprus, but not on the basis of occupation but on the basis of recognising each other as equal sovereign states, irrespective of the size of the state," Mugabe underlined.

He called on the international community, through the UN, to -take vigorous steps to address the problem of Cyprus and pledged that Africa will -do its best to urge the new UN Secretary-General to attend to the problem as urgently as possible.

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

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