Military

DATE=11/1/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268706

TITLE=U-N / CYPRUS (L-O)

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A new round of negotiations aimed at re-uniting the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus has opened in Geneva. For the next 10-days, leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities will be holding separate talks with a U-N mediator. Lisa Schlein has the story from Geneva.

TEXT: There have been many negotiating sessions aimed at ending the 26-year division of Cyprus, but all of them have failed. And the U-N mediator for the latest talks on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, is not promising that these latest talks will be any different.

Mr. de Soto says the two sides are far apart on such key issues as territory, security, governance, and property. The U-N mediator sees little hope of an agreement in the near future.

/// DE SOTO ACT ///

This is a process that is likely to take a while. And I have appealed for patience. We are not expecting spectacular results as we go along. We do not expect to be able to announce major breakthroughs. And, as you can see, I am trying to play down expectations.

/// END ACT ///

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the island to put down a Greek-led coup. In an effort to end the division, the U-N Security Council has, in the past, called for a federation of Greek and Turkish Cypriot regions. But Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has long opposed a federation, saying he wants Cyprus to become a confederation of two independent states.

It is because of Mr. Denktash that the two sides are holding separate talks in Geneva. He refuses to conduct face-to-face talks with his Greek Cypriot counterpart (President Glafcos Clerides) until he receives international recognition of his Turkish Cypriot State, which is only recognized by Turkey.

Mr. de Soto will be spending the next 10-days shuttling between the two delegations. The U-N mediator says he hopes the talks will benefit from, among other things, the recent warming of relations between Greece and Turkey.

/// 2ND DE SOTO ACT ///

It would not be accurate to describe us as optimistic. It would not be accurate either to describe us as pessimistic. We think there is an opportunity afforded by the improvement in relations, particularly between Greece and Turkey and other events such as decisions taken by the European Union that should help these talks along. These factors did not exist before.

/// END ACT ///

These reunification talks have acquired greater urgency since the Greek Cypriot government, which is internationally recognized, is poised to join the next wave of enlargement by the European Union. The organization is anxious to avoid admitting a divided island, especially since Turkey's own membership bid is in question. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/KL/RAE