    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [November 5, 1993]
    [Pages 1913-1915]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Cyprus Conflict
    November 5, 1993

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Chairman:)
        In accordance with Public Law 95-384 (22 U.S.C. 2373(c)), I am
    submitting to you this report on progress toward a negotiated settle-

    [[Page 1914]]

    ment of the Cyprus question. The previous report covered progress from
    the remainder of February, through July 15, 1993. The current report
    covers the remainder of July through September 15, 1993.
        Shortly after the visit of U.S. Special Cyprus Coordinator Maresca,
    Special U.N. Representative for Cyprus Joe Clark visited Ankara July 21-
    22, where he met with Turkish Prime Minister Ciller, Deputy Prime
    Minister Inonu, Foreign Minister Cetin, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Cyprus Expert Ambassador Ulucevik. Like Maresca, Clark stressed the need
    for public Turkish support for the confidence-building measures (CBMs)
    and was reassured by the Turkish side of its commitment to support the
    package.
        Also on July 22 Mr. Clark met with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Richard
    Barkley. Ambassador Barkley welcomed Mr. Clark's visit to Ankara, and
    noted the continuing high-level U.S. support for his mission. Both Mr.
    Clark and Ambassador Barkley welcomed the fact that there is now a more
    open and informed debate within Turkey about the Cyprus issue.
        On July 26 in Nicosia, the U.N. Secretary General's Deputy Special
    Representative for Cyprus, Mr. Gustave Feissel, met with President
    Clerides of Cyprus. This was followed by a meeting on July 27, also in
    Nicosia, between Mr. Feissel and Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Rauf
    Denktash. At both meetings, Mr. Feissel stressed the importance of
    overcoming the lack of information on the CBMs among the Turkish
    Cypriots.
        U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Robert Lamb, met with Mr. Denktash on
    July 30 and reiterated the U.S. position that the CBMs offer the one
    feasible route toward cooperation. Mr. Denktash stated that he was
    preparing a list of technical questions on the CBMs, but saw no prospect
    of movement on the U.N. process, including the CBMs, until after the
    Turkish-Cypriot elections scheduled for November 28.
        Although it was expected that Mr. Denktash would present his
    technical questions at his meetings with Mr. Feissel on August 6 and 7,
    he failed to do so. At those meetings, he told Mr. Feissel that any
    movement would have to wait for the scheduled elections to take place in
    the north.
        On Friday August 13, Assistant Secretary of State for European and
    Canadian Affairs Stephen Oxman met with Turkish Foreign Minister Cetin
    in Washington. Mr. Oxman reminded the Foreign Minister that the United
    States attaches great importance to a resolution of the situation in
    Cyprus. While noting that the Turkish Cypriots are in the midst of their
    election process, he stressed that it is of the utmost importance to
    maintain the momentum on the CBMs. Mr. Oxman said that the Turkish
    Cypriots now face the choice of either moving toward the CBMs package or
    being further isolated. Mr. Oxman also used this opportunity to urge the
    Turkish Foreign Minister to use Turkey's considerable influence with the
    Turkish Cypriots to move the process along--specifically, by publicly
    announcing Turkish support for the CBMs package, by encouraging early
    elections, and by urging the Turkish Cypriots to communicate promptly
    with the United Nations with regard to outstanding questions on the CBMs
    package.
        Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Ulucevik
    travelled to northern Cyprus August 24-26. While there he met with
    Turkish Cypriot leaders and privately relayed Turkey's support for the
    CBMs.
        Mr. Clark visited Washington on August 26 and met at the National
    Security Council with National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, and at the
    State Department with Under Secretary Peter Tarnoff, European and
    Canadian Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary Alexander Vershbow, and U.S.
    Special Cyprus Coordinator Ambassador Maresca. In all three meetings,
    Mr. Clark expressed appreciation for U.S. initiatives in Cyprus and
    urged continued U.S. support to maintain progress on the CBMs. Mr. Clark
    emphasized that the status quo cannot continue and was costly to all
    involved. He also requested that the United States discuss with the
    Turkish government the need for the Turks to reiterate their support for
    the U.N. ``set of ideas.'' Under Secretary Tarnoff reiterated the United
    States unwavering support for the CBMs and for Mr. Clark's role in
    promoting them. Ambassador Maresca agreed with Mr. Clark that we had to
    press for the promised list of specific Turkish-Cypriot questions about
    the CBMs package.
        On August 26, Ambassador Maresca met with Mr. Sahinbas, Deputy Chief
    of Mission at the Turkish Embassy in Washington. Ambassador Maresca told
    Mr. Sahinbas that it was important that all interested parties work to
    maintain the viability of the CBMs package past the election period in
    northern Cyprus. Ambassador Maresca and Mr. Sahinbas agreed that
    progress would

    [[Page 1915]]

    be difficult until after the elections of November 28.
        The final meeting during the period covered by this report was
    Ambassador Maresca's meeting with Under Secretary Ulucevik in Ankara on
    September 2. Ambassador Ulucevik spoke highly of the work of Mr. Clark
    and looked forward to presenting Turkish views to Mr. Clark in late
    September. Ambassador Maresca stressed the need to make positive
    progress on the CBMs package and supported Mr. Clark's efforts to
    develop understanding and sympathy for the package in the Turkish-
    Cypriot community.
        Finally on September 14, the Secretary General issued his ``Report
    on his Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus.'' The Secretary General noted
    that the President of Cyprus, Mr. Clerides, had reaffirmed his
    community's willingness to move forward with the provisions in the CBMs
    package proposed for Varosha and for Nicosia International Airport. The
    Secretary General also noted that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr.
    Denktash, continued his criticism of the package. The report stated that
    inaccurate and incomplete information had been presented on the impact
    of the Varosha/Airport provisions, thus causing confusion for the
    Turkish Cypriots. In addition, it said that the Turkish Cypriots looked
    to Turkey for guidance, but the Turkish government had not yet
    sufficiently conveyed its support for the package to the Turkish
    Cypriots. In the report, the Secretary General also proposed to send a
    team of senior experts to Cyprus in early October to address questions,
    which have been raised concerning the effects of the CBMs package.
        The Secretary General's report ended on a cautionary note. He stated
    that it is not possible to continue the current effort indefinitely. He
    stressed that it is essential that he receive the full cooperation and
    support of the Turkish Cypriots. If the current efforts do not succeed
    soon, he continued, he would have to invite the members of the Security
    Council to consider alternate ways to promote the effective
    implementation of the United Nations many resolutions on Cyprus.
        Despite the lack of progress during the period this report covers,
    we are still working for the approval of the CBMs. As I stated in my
    August 12 letter to Prime Minister Ciller, the United States seeks
    Turkey's support in helping to achieve a settlement. The Turkish-Cypriot
    community must recognize that if it rejects this proposal, which is
    viewed by the rest of the world as fair and constructive, it risks even
    greater isolation than it presently faces. I hope that this can be
    avoided. In the meantime, I will continue to lend full support to the
    U.N. efforts.
        I will continue to use all my energies in assisting in finding a
    solution to the Cyprus problem and look forward to your support in this
    effort.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

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