Calls Cyprus Settlement “Core Issue” of Regional Stability

Despite great differences in the positions of the parties, the U.S. will continue its efforts since a Cyprus settlement is key to defusing regional tensions, U.S. Special Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke said in Nicosia on November 11.

During his first visit to Cyprus since President Clinton appointed him earlier in the year to lead U.S. efforts on Cyprus, Holbrooke first met separately with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on November 10 and then held a joint four and one-half hour meeting with Clerides and Denktash on November 11.

The differences between the parties “are very profound,” Holbrooke said afterwards, adding that “on their publicly stated positions, the two sides have incompatible positions on two or three central issues,” such as sovereignty and “the right of refugees to return.” On sovereignty, the Turkish position remains outside the U.N. framework, while the Turkish side also rejects the right of all refugees to return to their homes, as called for in numerous U.N. resolutions.

The U.S. will continue its efforts to achieve regional peace because the area is “critical to stability for the U.S. national security and the Europeans,” Ambassador Holbrooke said.

He also expressed concern over on-going military tensions between Greece and Turkey since “stability is an essential goal in the post cold war period and in my view the other issues between Greece and Turkey cannot be dealt with unless Cyprus is dealt with centrally, it is the core issue.”

Reiterating that the Cyprus government welcomes the U.S. initiative, which he said was “serious and dynamic,” government spokesman Manolis Christofides said on November 13 that “with the U.S. leading international interest for a settlement to the Cyprus problem, we believe the U.N. has at its disposal the dynamism needed to proceed towards a solution.”

The meeting between Clerides and Denktash was “very candid and intense . . . there were no substantive results, nor did we expect any,” the U.S. State Department spokesman said on November 12, adding that “the purpose of these meetings was to keep the process going, keep both sides talking and create opportunities for progress.”

Holbrooke, accompanied by the State Department Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom Miller, met with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and other Turkish officials on November 12, while on November 13 he discussed international efforts on Cyprus with Greek Foreign Affairs Underscretary Kranidiotis and E.U. External Affairs Commissioner Hans Van den Broek.

On November 18 the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, arrives in Cyprus to further explore the positions of the parties in an effort to narrow the differences between the parties prior to a resumption of direct talks, to take place   next year.

Turkish Provocations Continue

The Holbrooke visit followed weeks of growing regional tension during October and early November, as Turkey harassed Cyprus government defense exercises and repeatedly violated Cyprus’ sovereign airspace and territorial waters.

Turkey continued with these provocations despite warnings by the international community, and particularly by the United Nations and the United States, that efforts should be made to reduce tensions and that Turkey’s provocations run counter to its public profession of peace.

These tensions intensified in early November, when Turkey’s illegal occupation forces began a series of mock military attacks. Turkey’s massive display of force included the docking of a flotilla of naval vessels in ports in occupied Cyprus, and transporting tanks and additional military hardware to occupied Cyprus.

Turkey’s provocations underscored the importance of Cyprus acquiring an antiaircraft defense system, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said on October 16, so that Cyprus “will never become a Turkish colony.”  While continuing to propose the complete demilitarization of Cyprus, Clerides added on October 14 that in light of Turkey’s continuing invasion, the Cyprus government has both the right and obligation to bolster its defenses “as long as Turkey launches threats against Cyprus.”

“Turkey's military presence in occupied Cyprus, already very strong, creates tension,” Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said on October 27, in expressing his concern over the fact that Ankara was sending additional equipment into an area the U.N. Secretary-General has already called “one of the most militarized areas in the world.”

The Cyprus government protested to the U.N. over “an alarmingly increasing number of violations of the airspace of the Republic of Cyprus and of the Nicosia FIR (Flight Information Region) by military aircraft of the Turkish Air Force.” The government emphasized that “such overflights increase political tension on the island and undermine efforts towards achieving” a final Cyprus settlement.

In an outrageous display of aggression, Turkish jets also harassed the aircraft that brought Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos to and from Cyprus.

On October 20 State Department Spokesman James Rubin called these reports “disturbing,” and stressed that “if Turkish aircraft flew provocatively close to the Greek defense minister’s aircraft, such action would not be consistent with Turkey’s stated desire to reduce tension with Greece.” He also called on the parties to “avoid steps that complicate or detract from efforts to promote dialogue and negotiations.”

“The large-scale maneuvers of Turkish troops practicing sea and air landings, firing and other operations, give rise to doubt that they are of a defense character,” a Russian foreign ministry spokesman said on November 6, adding that Turkey’s exercises “do not facilitate the search for a comprehensive solutions to the years old Cyprus problem.”

Commonwealth Concerned Over Turkish Threats

The Commonwealth Summit, in its final communiqué on October 27, also expressed concern over “recent threats of use of force and integration of the occupied territory by Turkey,”  reiterated support for Clerides’ demilitarization proposal, and reaffirmed earlier calls for the withdrawal of all Turkish forces and settlers from Cyprus.

During the summit President Clerides conferred with many heads of state on ways to overcome Turkey’s intransigence and achieve progress on Cyprus.

Clerides to Seek Second Term

President Glafcos Clerides announced on November 6 that he will seek a second five-year term during February’s Presidential elections.

The other candidates are United Democrats’ leader and former President George Vassiliou, DIKO leader and former President Spyros Kyprianou, EDEK leader Vassos Lyssarides, Liberal Party leader Nicos Rolandis, and George Iacovou, running as in independent, supported by AKEL.

Massive Cache of Stolen Cypriot Artifacts Found

Turkish Art Dealer Arrested in Germany

A huge collection of over 100 pieces of ancient and Byzantine artifacts looted from churches and archaeological sites in occupied Cyprus were discovered on October 14 in the Munich home of a Turkish art dealer, Hikmet Aydin.

The icons, frescoes, ancient pottery, statues and coins in Aydin’s possession, which were being illegally sold on the international market had an estimated value of $46 million.

Aydin, who has been charged with trading in stolen artifacts, appears to have been a key player in a systematic campaign facilitated by Turkish occupation authorities to eradicate any trace in the occupied area of Cyprus’ Hellenic and Byzantine cultural heritage.

Effort to Retrieve Artifacts Continues

“We are determined to get back any archaeological or church treasures stolen from the Turkish occupied areas of the island, no matter how much time elapses,” Cyprus Attorney-General Alecos Markides said in Nicosia on October 16. Aydin’s arrest¾the result of a coordinated effort by the Cypriot and German police¾is the most dramatic development in ongoing efforts by the Cyprus government and the Church of Cyprus to end the smuggling and illegal sale of Cypriot artifacts on the international art market.

Since Turkey’s 1974 invasion and occupation of 37% of Cyprus, most, if not all of the pieces of art in the 500 churches, monasteries, and museums of occupied Cyprus have been stolen and illegally sold on the world art market. These actions, well-documented by the international media, have been condemned by UNESCO and other international organizations.

In 1992 Turkish art smugglers were dealt a major setback when a U.S. District Court ruled that the sale to an Indianapolis art dealer of four 6th century mosaics, stolen from the Church of Kanakaria in occupied Cyprus, was illegal and ordered the return of the mosaics to the Church of Cyprus.

U.S. Congressional Resolution Calls for End to Rights Violations of Cypriot Enclaved

A resolution calling on U.S. President Bill Clinton “to undertake efforts to end restrictions on the freedoms and human rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus” was introduced by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the U.S. House of Representatives on October 29.The resolution (H. Con. Res. 181)further urges the President to remain engaged “until the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the enclaved people of Cyprus are restored, respected, and safeguarded.”

The resolution points out that the occupation authorities routinely deny basic human rights to the 500 Greek Cypriots still living in occupied Cyprus, including freedom of movement and limited access to mail, newspapers, medical care, and education. A similar resolution is expected to be introduced in the U.S. Senate soon.

Among the original co-sponsors of the House resolution are Representatives Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Mike Pappas (R-NJ) and Bobby Rush (D-IL).

Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Helm-Wallen, who visited the enclaved in occupied Karpass in October, also expressed her concern over their plight. The enclaved “live a complicated life,” she said, adding that “we in the international community have a special responsibility” to improve their lives.

Several thousand Greek Cypriots remained in the occupied area immediately after Turkey’s invasion,  but their numbers have steadily declined. A confidential 1994 U.N. report concluded that the occupation authorities are subjecting them to inhumane conditions in order to ethnically cleanse occupied Cyprus. Turkey’s actions are in flagrant violation of the 1975 Third Vienna Agreement, meant to safeguard the rights of the enclaved.

E.U.: Turkey Must Support Cyprus Accession

If E.U.-Turkish relations are to improve, “the climate must change and the threats of war must change,” E.U. Commissioner Hans Van den Broek said on October 26.

In recent weeks European officials have repeatedly stressed to Turkish officials that Ankara is expected to support Cyprus’ accession to the European Union, and to play a positive role in U.N. efforts to achieve a comprehensive Cyprus settlement.

British Minister of State Douglas Henderson said on October 29 that he told Turkish officials during a recent trip to Ankara that “ all people of Cyprus will benefit as a result of a solution, and anything which causes tension and puts obstacles are to be condemned.”

Last summer the Turkish side undermined U.N.-sponsored direct talks on Cyprus by insisting that the Turkish side would not negotiate until the E.U. deferred the process of Cyprus’ E.U. accession.

Turkey’s role during the talks was “not constructive,” Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen said in Nicosia on October 15, and she expressed concern over Turkey’s threat to annex the occupied areas.

Turkish Claims Rejected

Three international jurists have rejected claims by Turkey that Cyprus’ accession to the E.U. violates the treaties establishing the Republic of Cyprus.

“The Cyprus Republic had the right to submit an application for accession and there is no legal impediment in its goal to become a full member of the European Union,” according to a recently-released opinion by three internationally recognized legal experts, all members of the International Law Commission. While the provisions prevent the Republic of Cyprus from uniting with another state, it does not prevent “cooperation with a team of states such as the E.U.”

The opinion reaffirms the view of the U.N. General Assembly, the Security Council and the European Court of Human Rights that there is no legitimate state on Cyprus other than the internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus.

The legal opinion, prepared by James Crawford, professor of International Law at Cambridge University, his colleague at Vienna University, Gerhard Hafner, and professor of International Law at Paris University, Alain Pellet, was circulated as a U.N.  document on October 24.

Strong Growth of Cyprus Economy Continues

Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou presented the proposed 1998 state budget to the Cyprus House of Representatives on October 15.

Although the budget provides for increased funds for several large infrastructural projects, the government anticipates a reduction of the deficit to 3.8% of GDP in 1997, down from a deficit of 5.5% of GDP in 1996. Inflation (3.3%) and unemployment (3.3%) are also expected to remain low, while the economic growth rate this year is estimated to rise to 2.5%, compared to 1.9% last year.

Business Services a Key Economic Sector

An increase in the number of tourists this year and the continuing commitment of the government and private sector promoting Cyprus as a regional business center are major factors in the vibrant rate of economic growth.

In 1996 the business services sector contributed 71% of GDP, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said on October 16, and “this outstanding performance underlines our responsibilities to preserve our competitiveness with the continuous improvement of the level and kind of services.”

Cyprus continues to take steps to adapt its economy to those of the E.U. member-states and to promote Cyprus-E.U. economic relations. In October Cyprus participated in “Europartenariat 1997,” the largest business-meeting program of the European Union, aimed at strengthening cooperation among small and medium European enterprises.

In Brief . . .

In his message to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on October 24, the 52nd anniversary of the founding of the U.N., Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides reaffirmed Cyprus’ continuing support for U.N. principles and stressed his commitment to work with the international community to achieve “a just solution to our problem, based on the relevant resolutions of the U.N. and the principles enshrined in the U.N. Charter.”

The exhibit, “From Books to Brushes: The Story of Cyprus Through the Eyes of its Children,” opened at the Capital Children’s Museum in Washington, DC, on October 29. Inaugurating the exhibition, Ambassador Andros Nicolaides said that through the eyes of the children “we see a liberated outlook on the global values of freedom, justice and equality,” as well as the “discernible marks that have been engraved in the children's hearts by (Turkey's) invasion, occupation and continued division of Cyprus". The subjects of the paintings are drawn from ancient history and mythology as well as from the modern political turmoil of the forcible division and foreign occupation of their country.  The exhibit of paintings, created by children 9-11 from the village of Emba in southwestern Cyprus, will remain open until November 30. Cyprus First Lady Lilla-Irene Clerides has been the driving force behind this unique exhibition, which has been displayed throughout Cyprus, and in London and Washington. Prior to being on display at the Children’s Museum, part of the collection was exhibited at the World Bank.
 

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