SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY

Press Release
SG/T/2060

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY

ISTANBUL, 6 June -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Mr. Rauf Denktash conducted an extensive review of all aspects of the Cyprus problem today. The two men met for over an hour in Istanbul. Following the meeting, the Secretary-General said he would be meeting with Mr. Glafcos Clerides in Geneva on 11 June.

The Secretary-General expressed the hope that it would be possible to create the basis for the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to resume direct talks. To this end, he called on the two sides to cooperate with the newly appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cyprus, Han Sung-Joo, and with the Deputy Special Representative, Gustave Feissel, in order to create a new momentum in favour of a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem.

The Secretary-General later met with the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Emre Gonensay. They discussed relations between Turkey and the United Nations and ongoing efforts for reform of the United Nations.

They also discussed the memorandum of understanding signed on 20 May between the United Nations and Iraq regarding the "oil-for-food" formula. Turkey is one of the countries that suffered most as a result of the imposition of sanctions against Iraq.

They reviewed proceedings of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul and preparations for the summit meeting scheduled for 12 June, which the Secretary-General is expected to attend.

The Secretary-General reiterated his gratitude to Turkey for its contributions to various United Nations peace-keeping operations around the world.

Both meetings were attended by Mr. Feissel.

The Secretary-General left Istanbul for Geneva this afternoon.

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