[House Document 106-121]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-121


 
 A REPORT COVERING THE CYPRUS QUESTION PROGRESS FROM JUNE 1, 1999 TO 
                             JULY 31, 1999

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

PROGRESS TOWARD A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE CYPRUS QUESTION COVERING 
   THE PERIOD JUNE 1 TO JULY 31, 1999, PURSUANT TO 22 U.S.C. 2373(c)




    September 13, 1999.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
69-011                     WASHINGTON : 1999

                                           The White House,
                                    Washington, September 10, 1999.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In accordance with Public Law 95-384 (22 
U.S.C. 2373(c)), I submit to you this report on progress toward 
a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question covering the 
period June 1, 1999, to July 31, 1999. The previous submission 
covered events during April and May 1999.
    Cyprus was one of the many issues raised at the G-8 Summit 
in Cologne, Germany, this past June. My colleagues agreed that 
a resolution to the dispute is long overdue and issued a 
statement urging U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to ``invite 
the leaders of the two parties to negotiations in the fall of 
1999.'' This is a positive step toward addressing the 
legitimate concerns of both sides and reaching a just and 
lasting solution for all Cypriots.
    In July, Secretary of Defense William Cohen traveled to 
Greece and Turkey to enhance our bilateral relations and 
underscore the important role Greece and Turkey play in 
maintaining stability in the southern European region. 
Secretary Cohen also emphasized the U.S. commitment to reaching 
a Cyprus solution.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
                 President's Bimonthly Report on Cyprus

                              ----------                              


                             June-July 1999

    U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill met on June 1 with 
Cypriot Foreign Minister Yannis Kasoulides to discuss next 
steps on Cyprus.
    On June 9, Donald K. Bandler appeared before the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee regarding his nomination as the 
next U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus.
    On June 20, the G-8 leaders while meeting in Cologne, 
Germany, issued a statement on Cyprus that called upon the UN 
Secretary-General ``to invite the leaders of the two parties to 
negotiations in the fall of 1999.'' To that end, the G-8 
leaders also urged ``the two leaders to give their full support 
to such a comprehensive negotiation, under the auspices of the 
UN Secretary-General.''
    On June 22, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a report 
on the UN ``Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus.'' The report 
reviewed UN activities over the past 6 months, including the 
meetings his Special Representative for Cyprus, Dame Ann 
Hercus, held with the leaders of both sides. The report also 
indicated that the Secretary-General was ready to invite both 
leaders to ``enter into a process of comprehensive negotiations 
without preconditions and in a spirit of compromise and 
cooperation.'' A copy of the report is attached.
    On June 29, the UN Security Council adopted two resolutions 
on Cyprus. Resolution 1250 endorsed the June 20 G-8 Summit 
statement requesting the Secretary-General ``to invite the 
leaders of the two sides to negotiations in the autumn of 
1999.'' Resolution 1251 renewed the UN Peacekeeping Force in 
Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six-month period ending on 
December 15, 1999. Copies of both resolutions are attached.
    Also on June 29, Ambassador Brill net with Turkish-Cypriot 
Leader Rauf Denktash to discuss the prospects for comprehensive 
negotiations in the fall. The Ambassador underscored the U.S. 
commitment to finding a just and lasting solution that 
addresses the legitimate needs of both sides.
    On July 1, the Senate confirmed Donald K. Bandler as the 
next U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus.
    On July 9, Ambassador Brill met with Mr. Kasoulides to 
follow up on the G-8 statement calling for negotiations in the 
fall. The Ambassador emphasized the need for all parties to 
work toward a just and lasting settlement.
    Secretary of Defense William Cohen visited Greece and 
Turkey from July 14-15. In Athens on July 14, Secretary Cohen, 
accompanied by Ambassador Nicholas Burns, met with Prime 
Minister Simitis and Defense Minister Tsohatzopoulos. He 
traveled to Ankara on July 15 and, accompanied by Ambassador 
Mark Parris, met with Prime Minister Ecevit, Defense Minister 
Cakmakoglu, and Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff, 
General Ozkok. In both capitals, Secretary Cohen underscored 
the need for a peaceful resolution to the Cyprus problem, 
expressed support for comprehensive negotiations, and urged 
both the Greeks and Turks, as well as the Greek Cypriots and 
Turkish Cypriots to take positive steps toward that goal.
    In a final call as U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Ambassador 
Brill met with President Clerides on July 20. He emphasized the 
U.S. determination to continue efforts to facilitate 
comprehensive negotiations in the fall of 1999.
    On July 21, Ambassador Brill made his final call on Mr. 
Denktash. He urged the Turkish side to be flexible on the 
Cyprus issue and engage in negotiations in the fall. The 
Ambassador emphasized that the goal of negotiations is a just 
and lasting solution that addresses the needs of both sides.
    Donald K. Bandler was sworn in as the next U.S. Ambassador 
to Cyprus on July 21; Deputy Secretary Talbott presided over 
the ceremony. In his statement, Ambassador Bandler noted, 
``(t)he goal (in Cyprus) is clear: to find a fair and durable 
settlement that ends the political division of the island.''
    Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas J. Miller traveled to 
London and Athens for consultations on Cyprus. In London on 
July 21, Ambassador Miller met with U.K. Special Representative 
for Cyprus Sir David Hannay. On July 26, Ambassador Miller, 
accompanied by Charge d'Affairs Terry Snell and State 
Department Office of Southern European Affairs Director Morton 
Dworken, met with Alternate Foreign Minister Kranidiotis in 
Athens.
    Ambassador Brill departed the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia on 
July 23, 1999.
    On July 28, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan 
``regretfully'' announced the resignation of his Special 
Representative for Cyprus, Ann Hercus, for personal reasons. 
Special Representative Hercus will remain at her post until the 
end of September.

                                  
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