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14 January 1998

TEXT: CLINTON LETTER TO CONGRESS ON CYPRUS QUESTION

(Intense effort exerted to effect a settlement) (530)
Washington -- President Clinton reported to Congress January 13 that
"U.S. diplomacy to advance progress toward a Cyprus settlement
continued at an intense pace during the reporting period" of October 1
through November 30.
"Special Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard C. Holbrooke,
Special Cyprus Coordinator Thomas J. Miller, and other U.S. officials
met in the United States and overseas with key participants in the
process," President Clinton said in the report.
In addition, the president's letter said, "Senior U.S. officials met
extensively during the reporting period with officials of the European
Union, EU member states, and others to support Cypriot EU accession
prospects and to encourage stronger EU-Turkish relations."
Following is the text of the letter:
(Begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 14, 1998
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
January 13, 1998
Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Chairman:)
In accordance with Public Law 95-384 (22 U.S.C. 2373(c)), I submit to
you this report on progress toward a negotiated settlement of the
Cyprus question covering the period October 1 to November 30, 1997.
The previous submission covered events in the period covering August 1
to September 30, 1997.
U.S. diplomacy to advance progress toward a Cyprus settlement
continued at an intense pace during the reporting period. Special
Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard C. Holbrooke, Special Cyprus
Coordinator Thomas J. Miller, and other U.S. officials met in the
United States and overseas with key participants in the process.
Ambassadors Holbrooke and Miller met extensively with Cypriot
President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash during their
visits to the United States. The two U.S. Envoys also traveled to the
region in October to meet with the Turkish and (in the case of
Ambassador Miller) Greek leadership to follow up on discussions begun
with Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright at the U.N. General
Assembly in September, and again in November when Ambassador Holbrooke
brought the two Cypriot leaders together in the buffer zone for an
informal exchange of views on achieving a Cyprus solution.
Also during November, Ambassador Holbrooke moderated a privately
sponsored conference of business leaders from both Cypriot communities
in Greece and Turkey to discuss the mutual benefits of the economic
cooperation in the region. Ambassador Miller and U.S. Ambassador to
Cyprus Kenneth C. Brill also participated.
Senior U.S. officials met extensively during the reporting period with
officials of the European Union, EU member states, and others to
support Cypriot EU accession prospects and to encourage stronger
EU-Turkish relations.
Tensions rose on the island during the October and November
(respectively) Greek/Greek Cypriot military exercise NIKIFOROS and the
Turkish/Turkish Cypriot military exercise TOROS. The exercises
effectively ended the May 9 moratorium on overflights of Cyprus by
combat aircraft. Interceptions by Turkish fighters of the Greek
Defense Minister's transport aircraft during the NIKIFOROS exercise
further exacerbated tensions in the region.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
(End text)