[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.