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PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX
1211 GENEVA 19, SWITZERLAND

EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION IN CYPRU

Rapporteur : Mr. Hannu Kemppainen (Finland), President of the Committee

Report endorsed by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 163rd session
(Moscow, 12 September 1998)


(...)

6. With regard to the situation in and regarding Cyprus, the Committee was dismayed to note that since its previous session, at Windhoek in April last, no progress had been made, whether concerning political and military issues or concerning cultural questions, the issue of the missing persons or indeed any other matter.

7. No positive development had taken place within the context of the framework for the settlement of the Cyprus issue defined by the United Nations and reiterated in resolution 1179 (1998) of 29 June 1998 of the UN Security Council: " a Cyprus settlement must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession. "

8. Similarly, no progress had been made, in particular, with a view to the involvement of the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the European Union which were initiated on 31 March 1998 and are scheduled to continue until the summer of 1999.

9. As regards the military situation, the Committee cannot but endorse Security Council resolution 1178 of 29 June 1998, reiterating " its grave concern at the continuing excessive and increasing levels of military forces and armaments in the Republic of Cyprus and the rate at which they are being expanded, upgraded and modernised, including by the introduction of sophisticated weaponry, and the lack of progress towards any significant reduction in the number of foreign troops in the Republic of Cyprus, which threaten to raise tensions both on the island and in the region. "

10. It is extremely concerned that not one iota of progress has been made regarding the progressive withdrawal of Turkish troops from northern Cyprus which is and remains a priority demand of the international community.

11. It also remains very worried that the delivery of the S-300 anti-aircraft system was not cancelled as urged by the IPU among others, even if it was delayed from July to October 1998. It however finds in the proposal for demilitarisation formulated both by President Clerides and the Russian Federation an encouragement that the delivery of the S-300 missile by the Russian Federation will not take place.

12. The Committee notes with concern that since April 1998, yet another series of incidents and developments - involving violations of Cyprus's airspace by Turkish military forces, the landing of Greek combat aircraft on Paphos airbase in southern Cyprus and the anchoring of Turkish warships in the ports of Kyrenia and Famagusta - have taken place, perpetuating the political and military tension in Cyprus. The Committee places some hopes in the discussions currently under way between the United Kingdom, the US, key partners and the NATO Secretary-General regarding confidence-building measures and a possible moratorium on military overflights.

13. As far as the resumption of direct negotiations between the two Cypriot Leaders at the UN is concerned, the Committee regrets that it is unable to report any progress and invites the Council to urge both sides to resume such negotiations as soon as possible, in an effort to bring about a peaceful settlement.

14. In support of such direct negotiations between the two leaders, the IPU has always advocated contacts at the level of all political parties in Cyprus to explore ideas and thus help to bridge the existing gap. The Committee is bound to note, however, that these contacts have been completely suspended since December 1997 by Mr. Denktash. It wishes to suggest that the IPU remains at the disposal of political parties to facilitate contacts, as indicated below.

15. Similarly, the IPU has continuously encouraged intercommunal contacts at the level of civil society, particularly chambers of commerce, professional organisations and trade unions as well as non-governmental organisations, as a means of building confidence and creating the necessary environment for progress towards a negotiated settlement. Such contacts, already very limited and made difficult by variations in political circumstances, have also been halted by Mr. Denktash as of December 1997.

16. It may be recalled that the Cyprus issue continues to be the subject of intensive diplomatic efforts on the part of the Special Advisor for Cyprus to the UN Secretary-General, Mr. D. Cordovez, and the Special Deputy Representative in Nicosia, Dame Ann Hercus, the Representative for Cyprus of the European Union Presidency for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, the Representative of the Russian Federation, Mr. Chisov, the US Representatives, Mr. Holbrooke (US Presidential Envoy and currently US Ambassador to the UN) and Mr. Miller (US State Department Co-ordinator), and since very recently a Chilean Envoy, Mr. Ignacio Gonzalez Serrano, and an Australian Envoy, Mr. John Spender.

17. The Committee notes that its mandate is coming to an end but that its interlocutors find it important that the IPU should find some way of facilitating the continuation of contacts between the parties concerned. To that effect, it recommends that the Council consider the following option*:

a) In consultation with the parties concerned, the IPU Council would appoint from one to three MPs to act as facilitators for dialogue between the parties;

b) The House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus and the representatives of the Turkish Cypriots would be invited, on the basis of political equality, to respond positively to an invitation by the IPU to come together with the facilitator(s) on the occasion of the 101st IPU Conference at Brussels (10-16 April 1999);

c) The facilitator(s) would hold a separate session with the Greek and Turkish Cypriots representatives only and another session with them and representatives of all three Guarantor Powers; no written material would be submitted;

d) The facilitator(s) would present to the IPU Council a report, either oral or written as appropriate, on the usefulness of their activity and consultations.


* By approving the proposal, the IPU Council appointed the following three MPs to act as facilitators: Mr. H. Gjellerod (Denmark), Mr. J. Hunt (New Zealand), and Mrs. Y. Loza (Egypt)

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