November 30, 1997

Harmonious and fruitful co-existence in a demilitarized Federal Cyprus Republic, where human rights are safeguarded, should be the dream of all Cypriots.

This was stessed on 15 November by President Clerides, in a message for the anniversary of the illegal declaration of independence of the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey, the occupying power, is the only country, that recognizes the illegal entity, and in his message, President Clerides also noted "In doing so it has violated not only the relevant UN resolutions but also the Treaty of Guarantee under which the three guarantor powers (Britain, Greece and Turkey) have guaranteed among other things, the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus."

Referring to the new initiative for a solution to the Cyprus problem President Clerides said that if it succeeds, the Federal Republic of Cyprus will become a reality which will make the Turkish occupation and the so-called "Turkish Cypriot state" a thing of the past.

"A just solution of the Cyprus problem will safeguard the unity and security of a demilitarized federal Cyprus Republic where all human rights will be safeguarded", President Clerides said, stressing that:

"Such a solution will put an end to the present uncertainty and will make the harmonious and fruitful co-existence of all the legitimate inhabitants of the island a reality."

"This should be-and I firmly believe it is - the dream of all Cypriots, Greek, Turkish, Maronites, Armenians and Latins," he concluded.

* TURKISH CYPRIOT DEMANDS ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION TALKS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED

The Cyprus government has dismissed terms put forward by the Turkish Cypriot leader for participation in accession talks with the European Union, scheduled for April next year, as "utterly unacceptable."

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides warned Mr. Denktash that this kind of tactics won't bear fruit. Mr. Denktash had said that he would adopt a more conciliatory stand if his illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied Cyprus is recognized by the international community as a "sovereign entity" and if Turkey is included among the candidate countries for EU membership.

The EU and the Cyprus government back suggestions for Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession process but the Turkish Cypriot leader has already turned down a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides to have Turkish Cypriots negotiate with the Greek Cypriots as one delegation, that of the Republic of Cyprus, which is the sole interlocutor in the EU talks, in accordance with EU decisions.

"The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime will not be recognized under any form, excuse or method. This was made abundantly clear by the international community," Minister Kasoulides pointed out.

The UN Security Council described the secessionist entity as "legally invalid" and called in its resolution 541 (1983) for its withdrawal, urging all states not to recognize it.

* TURKISH SETTLERS MUST RETURN BACK TO TURKEY

On 19 November the Cyprus Government reiterated its position that the illegal Turkish settlers cannot remain on the island after a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

"Our position is that the settlers must return to Turkey once a solution is reached, apart from some humanitarian cases," Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said.

According to Turkish Cypriot sources, it is estimated that over 80 thousand mainland Turks have been brought to the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since it invaded the island in 1974. The Turkish Cypriot press and Turkish Cypriot politicians have for long been criticizing Mr. Denktash's regime and Turkey for importing illegal settlers from Anatolia Turkey in the occupied part of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots say they have become a minority within their own community. The implantation of Turkish settlers in the northern part of Cyprus is part of a deliberate policy by Turkey to alter the demographic character of the occupied part of Cyprus.

Minister Kasoulides was responding to statements made by Britain's envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, that the Turkish settlers have been living in the occupied areas for many years and do not differ a great deal from the Turkish Cypriots.

* CYPRUS AND CHINA SIGN CULTURAL AGREEMENT

On 7 November, the seventh programme of cultural cooperation between Cyprus and China was signed in Nicosia by the Chinese Minister of Culture Liu Zhongde and the Cyprus Minister of Education and Culture George Hadjinicolaou. The programme, covering the period until 1999, stipulates exchanges between the two countries in the fields of practical arts, theater, culture, cinema, education, mass media and youth issues.

The Chinese Minister who was in Cyprus on an invitation by his Cypriot counterpart told the press that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council , will make every effort to assist towards a solution of the Cyprus problem. "the government of China believes that Cyprus' sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom must be respected," he said. Furthermore he affirmed the fervent interest of the people of China in a solution to the Cyprus problem.

"We hope the two communities in Cyprus will solve the problem through negotiations and peaceful means on the basis of UN resolutions and high level agreements reached between them," he added.

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