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7343425
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President's Letter to Congress Submitting a report on the progress of Cyprus negotiations
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7343425
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document
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President's Letter to Congress Submitting a report on the progress of Cyprus negotiations
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7343425
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1976-04-08
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1976
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Digitized from Box 24 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
4012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 9, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Pursuant to Public Law 94-104, I am submitting a
further report on the progress. of Cyprus negotiations and
the efforts this Administration is making to help find a
lasting solution to the problems of the island. In two
previous reports, I detailed the Administration's major
effort to encourage the resumption of negotiations between
the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. My
most recent report, submitted in February, indicated that
the two sides had agreed to resume the intercommunal
negotiating process later that month. That round of
talks did, in fact, take place.
The Greek Cypriot negotiator and his Turkish Cypriot
counterpart met in Vienna February 17-21, 1976, under the
aegis of UN Secretary General Waldheim. The meetings con-
cluded with agreement by the two sides to exchange proposals
on the key substantive Cyprus issues -- including control
of territory -- within six weeks. Moreover, the parties
agreed to meet again in Vienna following the exchange of
written proposals for the purpose, according to a joint
announcement made on February 21, of establishing a common
basis before the proposals are submitted to mixed committees
which will function in Cyprus during recesses in the
Vienna-level talks.
The commitment of both sides to introduce negotiating
proposals on the key territorial and constitutional issues
must be viewed as a significant advance. Until the recent
Vienna meeting, the two sides had never been able to agree
on a procedural formula which would allow the exchange of
their respective positions on these key issues of the Cyprus
problem. That obstacle has now been overcome.
At the recent Vienna talks, the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot negotiators also agreed to resume talks
in Nicosia on humanitarian considerations. To date, six
meetings have been held which have dealt with the problem
of missing persons, among other issues, and the situation
of the Greek Cypriots living in the Turkish sector. There
is evidence that these talks are producing concrete results.
For example, according to a United Nations communique issued
at the conclusion of the March 27 Nicosia meeting, nine
schools will be reopened in the Turkish sector on the island
to provide for the educational needs of the Greek Cypriot
population that has chosen to remain in that area.
The United States continues to remain alert to any
opportunity to assist the negotiating process more directly.
During the recent visit to Washington of Turkish Foreign
Minister Caglayangil, I emphasized the need for both sides
to negotiate in good faith so that progress on the Cyprus
problem can be realized as expeditiously as possible.
Secretary of State Kissinger also addressed the Cyprus
question in his discussions with the Foreign Minister. It
was clear from our conversations that Foreign Minister
Caglayangil believes these negotiations should be sustained
so that the entire spectrum of issues can be considered.
more
2
In sum, we are encouraged that the negotiating process
has been resumed and that a procedure has been developed
whereby the critical issues can finally be subjected to
serious negotiations. An important threshold has been crossed.
Equally encouraging is the impetus that has been created
to work out the humanitarian problems. Now we must all work
to maintain and increase momentum. We are ourselves again
reviewing the situation to see what more can be done to
complement the efforts of UN Secretary General Waldheim
and the parties, now that the stage has been reached where
proposals are being exchanged. We will give serious
consideration to any initiative or action -- consonant
with the wishes of those involved -- which would provide
greater impetus to the process that is now underway. In
the weeks ahead, we will be in touch with the parties
to explore such possibilities.
For the moment, we urge that the two sides engage in
realistic and statesmanlike discussions on the major issues
such as territory. For our part, we shall continue to
devote our energies and resources to finding a just solution
to the problems of Cyprus.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
APRIL 9, 1976
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