• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=3/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227884
TITLE=CYPRUS TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHRIS DRAKE
DATELINE=NICOSIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO REUNITE THE DIVIDED 
MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CYPRUS ARE GATHERING PACE WITH A VISIT TO
THE REGION BY THOMAS MILLER, THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT'S SPECIAL 
COORDINATOR FOR CYPRUS.  HE TRAVELS TO GREECE AND TURKEY FOR 
TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THERE, AFTER COMPLETING A TWO-DAY
VISIT TO THE ISLAND TO SPEAK WITH LEADERS OF THE GREEK AND 
TURKISH COMMUNITIES.  BEFORE LEAVING CYPRUS, HE TALKED WITH 
REPORTERS IN NICOSIA.  CHRIS DRAKE HAS DETAILS.
TEXT:  THE SITUATION HERE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST 
COUPLE OF MONTHS, WITH THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS NOW DEMANDING THEY BE
RECOGNIZED AS HAVING A SEPARATE STATE IN THE NORTH OF THE ISLAND.
THIS MEANS THEY  NO  LONGER WANT TO DISCUSS REUNIFICATION ON THE 
BASIS OF TWO COMMUNITIES, BUT AS TWO STATES.
THAT'S QUITE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE GREEK CYPRIOTS -- WHO RUN THE 
INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED GOVERNMENT IN THE SOUTH -- BECAUSE IT 
WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO REWARDING TURKEY FOR ITS INVASION AND 
OCCUPATION OF THE NORTH BACK IN 1974.
BUT THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS, SUPPORTED BY TURKEY, REMAIN ADAMANT -- 
AND MR. MILLER ADMITTED THIS MADE HIS TASK, AND THAT OF OTHER 
FOREIGN MEDIATORS, MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.  EVEN SO, HE INSISTED A 
SOLUTION IS STILL FEASIBLE -- PROVIDED BOTH COMMUNITIES FACED THE
FACTS.
                        ///MILLER ACT///
         IF THERE IS TO BE A SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, WHAT
         IS NEEDED IS CREATIVITY AND FLEXIBILITY ON THE PART OF 
         BOTH SIDES AND THIS IS SOMETHING, THIS IS ONE OF THE 
         MESSAGES I BRING.
                          ///END ACT///
MANY YEARS OF MEDIATION HAVE SHOWN LITTLE INTEREST IN EITHER 
CREATIVITY OR FLEXIBILITY, AND MR. MILLER AGREED THAT THE 
RESPECTIVE MOTHERLANDS HAVE A VITAL PART TO PLAY IN CHANGING THAT
SITUATION.
THE AMERICAN ROLE IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM HAS TAKEN ON 
ADDED IMPORTANCE, NOW THAT CYPRUS -- IN EFFECT, MEANING THE GREEK
CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION -- IS ABOUT TO START FORMAL TALKS ON 
JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION.
BUT TURKEY'S REQUEST TO DO THE SAME HAS BEEN REFUSED.   NOW, THE 
TURKISH CYPRIOTS SAY THEY'LL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EUROPEAN
UNION, AND ARE REFUSING TO MEET ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIVES. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/CD/PCF
10-Mar-98 10:29 AM EST (1529 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.