[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[January 13, 1998]
[Page 48]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on Cyprus
January 13, 1998

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Chairman:)
    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 October 1 to November 30, 1997. The 
previous submission covered events in the period covering August 1 to 
September 30, 1997.
    U.S. diplomacy to advance progress toward a Cyprus settlement 
continued at an intense pace during the reporting period. Special 
Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard C. Holbrooke, Special Cyprus Coordinator Thomas J. 
Miller, and other U.S. officials met in the 
United States and overseas with key participants in the process. 
Ambassadors Holbrooke and Miller met extensively with Cypriot President 
Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader 
Denktash during their visits to the United 
States. The two U.S. Envoys also traveled to the region in October to 
meet with the Turkish and (in the case of Ambassador Miller) Greek 
leadership to follow up on discussions begun with Secretary of State 
Madeleine K. Albright at the U.N. 
General Assembly in September, and again in November when Ambassador 
Holbrooke brought the two Cypriot leaders together in the buffer zone 
for an informal exchange of views on achieving a Cyprus solution.
    Also during November, Ambassador Holbrooke moderated a privately sponsored conference of business 
leaders from both Cypriot communities in Greece and Turkey to discuss 
the mutual benefits of the economic cooperation in the region. 
Ambassador Miller and U.S. Ambassador to 
Cyprus Kenneth C. Brill also participated.
    Senior U.S. officials met extensively during the reporting period 
with officials of the European Union, EU member states, and others to 
support Cypriot EU accession prospects and to encourage stronger EU-
Turkish relations.
    Tensions rose on the island during the October and November 
(respectively) Greek/Greek Cypriot military exercise NIKIFOROS and the 
Turkish/Turkish Cypriot military exercise TOROS. The exercises 
effectively ended the May 9 moratorium on overflights of Cyprus by 
combat aircraft. Interceptions by Turkish fighters of the Greek Defense 
Minister's transport aircraft during the NIKIFOROS exercise further 
exacerbated tensions in the region.
        Sincerely,

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, and Jesse Helms, chairman, Senate Committee on 
Foreign Relations. This letter was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on January 14.