Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-22

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

News Update

Wednesday, 22/01/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus is ready for an initiative and wants substantive efforts to solve the Cyprus problem
• [02] US expresses disappointment and calls for restraint
• [03] News in brief

[01] Cyprus is ready for an initiative and wants substantive efforts to solve the Cyprus problem

Mr Michaelides met with US Ambassador Kenneth Brill and then with the ambassadors of EU countries resident on the island to outline Cyprus' positions as they were laid down after the Athens talks.

He told the press after the meetings that Cyprus welcomes the fact that the US and the EU are in close contact and co-ordinating their actions as this shows that the EU is determined to contribute towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

"We are ready for an initiative. We want to see substantive efforts to pave the way for direct negotiations", he said.

The Minister added that the proposals to reduce tension had also been discussed and that he had expressed support that the military dialogue should continue. He added that there should also be provisions to enable the UN to make sure that whatever is agreed is implemented.

He said he had also explained why the government rejected the US proposal for a moratorium on military overflights, saying that that would be tantamount to conceding the right to control Cyprus' air space to Turkey.

"A halt of overflights would mean we recognise the right to Turkey to share with us ownership of our air space. This cannot be accepted", he said.

He added, however, that once the process towards a settlement gets underway the government would do all it deems necessary to help improve the climate, reduce tension and give results.

Commenting on the joint statement between Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot regime threatening to set up air and naval bases if Cyprus goes through with the purchase of the Russian anti-aircraft missile system, Mr Michaelides dismissed it as "not serious".

He pointed out that the whole of the occupied area is in itself a Turkish military base. The "harsh reality" for Cyprus, he said, is that for the past 22 years Turkey has been occupying 37 per cent of the island's territory, keeps 35 thousand troops stationed there and uses the airport at Lefkoniko for military purposes and Kyrenia as a naval base, a reality which has forced many Turkish Cypriots to emigrate.

[02] US expresses disappointment and calls for restraint

"We believe that this approach of a moratorium offers a diplomatic alternative to the deployment of an anti-aircraft system, and there is a link between them, and that the agreement on the moratorium perhaps makes it unnecessary to deploy the anti-aircraft system in 1998, about a year-and- a-half from now", he said.

He added that nonetheless, the US would continue to work with all the parties, including the Turkish government, on this proposal and also on the other measures along the green line and the other issues involved in the Greek and Turkish relationships, "so that all these problems can be resolved peacefully and without resort to threats".

Asked to comment on the joint declaration between Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot regime for military co-operation, Mr Burns called upon all parties for restraint.

"There is no reason for the Turkish government or the Turkish Cypriots to overreact to the events of the last ten days", he said.

He added that President Clerides' promise that the anti-aircraft system will not be deployed for up to 16 months is a very significant promise and should allow all the parties to work out their differences "amicably without resort to the kind of dramatic statements and threats that have been made".

[03] News in brief

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

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