Jack Wall
Question:75 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact, if any, he has had with the Turkish or Cypriot authorities regarding recent developments in that sphere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14734/97]
Written Answers - Turkish-Cypriot Relations.
The major recent development in regard to Cyprus was the start of the process of direct talks between the leaders of the two communities on the island with the objective of seeking an overall political solution to the Cyprus question. This process was established under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General. Two sessions of meetings have taken place between the two leaders, in July in New York and in August in Glion, Switzerland.
There has not as yet been any substantive progress in the talks process. At the August session in Switzerland, Mr. Denktash, the Turkish-Cypriot leader, indicated an unwillingness to continue the process further until he had received an undertaking that the intended EU-Cyprus negotiations on accession to the EU be postponed. However the General Affairs Council on 15 September reaffirmed that there could be no link between face-to-face talks on Cyprus and the start of the accession negotiations.
The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr. Diego Cordovez, is currently in contact with both leaders with a view to agreeing a resumption of the direct talks process in early 1998, after the period of Presidential elections in Cyprus later this year.
Another recent and welcome development has been the agreement reached between the two leaders, following an initiative by the United States, to hold direct talks in Cyprus on the important issue of security arrangements in respect of both communities.
During my visit to the UN General Assembly in New York last week, I had the opportunity to meet with the Foreign Minister of Cyprus. Mr. Kassoulides and with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Cem. On both occasions I recalled Ireland's particular interest, underlined by our longstanding participation in UN peacekeeping in Cyprus, in seeing a political and peaceful comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
I took the opportunity in my discussion with Foreign Minister Kassoulides to stress that Ireland and her EU partners wished to see the direct talks process between the leaders of the two communities come to a successful conclusion. In recalling the decision of the EU to begin accession negotiations with Cyprus, I mentioned that there was a clear wish on the part of the EU to see a united Cyprus accede to the Union. Foreign Minister Kassoulides assured me that his Government was fully committed to the talks process and its success.
I also made clear that both communities on the island, and in particular the Turkish-Cypriot community, would benefit greatly from accession to the Union. In response to my suggestion that it was also important that representatives of the Turkish-Cypriot community participate in the accession negotiations, the Foreign Minister assured me that he agreed with this and confirmed that a formal proposal to this effect had been made by President Clerides to Mr. Denktash.
During my meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister I raised the Cyprus issue and repeated our interest in seeing a final political settlement. I underlined the importance the Government attaches to supporting the UN sponsored talks process and its wish to see a successful outcome.
I also stressed that the prospect of accession by Cyprus to the European Union offers a real and unique opportunity to achieve a just settlement, and that accession would be of particular benefit to the Turkish-Cypriot community.
I asked Foreign Minister Cem to help ensure that the Turkish Government uses its influence with Mr. Denktash to secure a positive and constructive approach to the talks process. Mr. Cem indicated in reply that whilst there were considerable difficulties in the way of a solution, Turkey also wished to see a peaceful settlement to the Cyprus question.