PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS

President Glafcos Clerides of Cyprus this afternoon reiterated his Government's support for a single sovereign State of Cyprus, with a single international personality and citizenship.

Responding to questions at a Headquarters press briefing, after addressing the General Assembly earlier, he said that to create two separate States -- as wanted by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash -- would lead to the destruction of Cyprus and the establishment of a Turkish protectorate in the north, and a Greek one in the south of Cyprus. He would not yield or accept a solution that meant a destruction of the country, he said.

(In his speech to the Assembly, President Clerides said, the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation required partnership and political equality of the constituent parts. The constitution must secure all fundamental human rights and freedoms for the citizens, and must, above all, safeguard the single sovereignty, its indivisibility and the unity of the federation).

Asked whether his Government accepted the call by the Foreign Ministers of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council for the resumption of direct negotiations on the basis of Security Council resolutions, he said he had responded positively to their proposal in his address to the General Assembly. He had also agreed to their call for avoidance of actions that might increase tension and jeopardize the negotiating process.

Asked whether it was true that he had asked United States President Bill Clinton to exert pressure on Turkey with regard to the Cyprus question, he said it was necessary for Turkey and also for Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to accept Security Council resolutions as a basis for negotiations.

Replying to questions about missiles his Government planned to acquire from the Russian Federation, he said he would not disclose the date of their deployment. As long as Turkish forces remained on the island, his Government would exercise its sovereign right to import any equipment it considered necessary for the defence of Cyprus, he said.

Asked whether there was any other way negotiations could be resumed in view of the insistence of the Turkish Cypriot leaders for the creation of a confederation, he said Security Council resolution 939 (1994) and others spoke of a federal constitution for Cyprus with a single sovereignty, single international personality and a single citizenship. That was not confederation, but a federation, he stressed.

He told a correspondent that if the good offices of the Secretary-General were reinforced by others, it might help the search for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Still on the import of missiles, he told a correspondent that Cyprus had no air force, and had been reminded frequently by Turkey that its air bases were a few minutes flying time from Nicosia. Cyprus needed to have an air cover for its defence forces. What it required for its defence needs had nothing to do with political considerations.

A correspondent asked whether the deployment of the missiles would be delayed if there were positive developments towards resuming negotiations. President Clerides said he was "a free agent and can take any decision at any time" if the situation warranted it.

Asked what the prospects were for a resumption of talks as proposed by the Foreign Ministers of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council, he said the groundwork had to be done first.

Replying to another question, he said it was time that the Security Council implemented its resolutions on Cyprus.

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