    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 3, 1991]
    [Pages 464-465]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Cyprus Conflict
    May 3, 1991

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Chairman:)
        In accordance with Public Law 95-384 (92 Stat. 739; 22 U.S.C.
    2373(c)), I am submitting to you this report on progress toward a
    negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question. This report covers the
    period from January through March 1991.
        This was a period characterized by developments that hold promise
    for reopening negotiations, under the aegis of the United Nations
    Secretary General, for further work on a draft outline for a final
    settlement. As I reported on January 30, the Secretary General's Special
    Representative in Cyprus, Ambassador Oscar Camilion, and his Director
    for Cyprus in New York, Mr. Gustave Feissel, had for several months been
    meeting with leaders of the two communities to explore elements of the
    outline on which they might agree.
        In support of this process, Mr. Feissel held during January and
    February a series of discussions with a representative of the Turkish
    Government. After concluding these discussions, Mr. Feissel traveled to
    Cyprus during the first week of March where he joined Ambassador
    Camilion for separate meetings with President Vassiliou and Mr.
    Denktash.
        On March 27 the Secretary General reported orally to the members of
    the Security Council on the status of his good offices mission on
    Cyprus. His assessment included the main issues that require further
    clarification. The Secretary General noted that ``current conditions are
    favorable. Progress is within reach if all concerned are willing to
    seize the moment and make their contribution.'' He called for a
    continuation of the discussions of the last few months in order to
    resolve outstanding issues, and said that once this was accomplished, it
    would then be possible to complete the draft outline and invite the two
    leaders to meet with him again.
        On March 28 the President of the Security Council issued a statement
    in response to the Secretary General's oral report. The statement
    renewed the full support of the members of the Security Council for the
    Secretary General's efforts, and encouraged him to continue those
    efforts. It also urged ``all concerned to act in a manner consistent
    with resolution 649 (1990), to cooperate fully with the Secretary-
    General and to continue the discussions that have taken place over the
    past few months in order to resolve without delay the outstanding
    issues.''
        On the island, other developments contributed to a more positive
    environment between the two communities. First, on February 12, several
    Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political leaders met jointly for the
    first time in almost a year at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the buffer
    zone. On March 18 several Greek Cypriot political leaders crossed the
    buffer zone to north Nicosia to attend an anniversary reception for a
    Turkish Cypriot opposition political party. Additional intercommunal
    contacts among political party delegations followed.
        Second, on March 21 the Minister of Defense of the Government of
    Cyprus, Mr. Andreas Aloneftis, announced that his government's defense
    fund expenditures for 1991 were to be cut in half. This is a welcome
    development.
        With respect to U.S. involvement in the Cyprus issue, I am pleased
    to report that Secretary of State James Baker met on March 1 with
    Foreign Minister George Iacovou of the Republic of Cyprus for a thorough
    discussion of prospects for movement on the Cyprus issue. Foreign
    Minister Iacovou also met with my Assistant for National Security
    Affairs, Brent Scowcroft, Assistant

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    Secretary of State Raymond Seitz, and my Special Cyprus Coordinator,
    Ambassador Nelson Ledsky.
        In mid-February Foreign Minister Alptemocin visited Washington to
    continue a dialogue on Cyprus that he and Secretary Baker had
    established through an exchange of letters in January. He had meetings
    with Secretary Baker and me. On March 15, during his trip to Ankara,
    Secretary Baker discussed the Cyprus question with Turkish President
    Ozal and Foreign Minister Alptemocin.
        On March 23 I discussed the Cyprus issue with President Ozal during
    his visit to Camp David. At that time Secretary Baker also continued his
    discussions with the Turkish President. In all of these discussions
    Secretary Baker and I have had as our firm objective the facilitation of
    the U.N. Secretary General's good offices mission.
        I believe these developments provide hope that we are on the right
    path to completing a draft outline. I note with pleasure the cautious
    optimism of the Secretary General that, with the help of the leaders of
    the two Cypriot communities, the task can be completed within the next
    few months. The United States will continue to do all it can to
    facilitate this process.
        Sincerely,

                                                                 George Bush

                        Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S.
                            Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
                            and Claiborne Pell, chairman of the Senate
                            Foreign Relations Committee.