Major differences exist on fundamental issues

PRESIDENT Glafcos Clerides said yesterday there had not been any indication that there was a bridging of the positions between the two sides on issues of substance in the Cyprus problem.

He was speaking at Larnaca airport after his return from two days of talks in New York with United Nations Secretary-general Kofi Annan and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Clerides said there were differences on the most fundamental issues of sovereignty.

"There was a huge difference in views, and this prevented us from discussing other aspects of the problem like territory, the authorities of the government and the cantons, and the administrative structure," he said.

But he did say they had agreed to appoint two specialised committees to keep up the momentum while Denktash recovered from heart surgery scheduled for tomorrow.

"Because Mr Denktash will undergo surgery on Monday the Secretary-general suggested the creation of two committees in order not to lose any time," Clerides said.

He explained that one of the committees would be assigned with preparing the necessary legislation that would take effect when a solution was found.

The other committee would examine the treaties signed by both sides and determine which ones would be incorporated in a future state.

"These committees will make suggestions; they won't take decisions. Decisions will be taken on the negotiation level," the President said.

Asked whether looking into the agreements made by the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state suggested recognition, Clerides would only say: "The phobia of recognition."

He explained that the committee would look into the agreements to find out which ones would be in line with the new constitution.

Annan said on Friday that the leaders decided to create two ad hoc bilateral technical committees to begin work immediately on important technical issues.

"The purpose of these committees is to make recommendations on technical matters without prejudice to the positions of the two leaders on the core issues concerned," Annan said.

He added: "Their work shall be ad referendum and shall focus on treaties and future common state laws. The UN will assist the parties in this work."

Annan said there was no simple solution to the Cyprus problem.

"For this reason, a comprehensive settlement has to be a complex, integrated, legally binding and self-executing agreement, where the rights and obligations of all concerned are clear, unambiguous and not subject to further negotiation.

"I hope the work of the committees will help the leaders towards this end," the Secretary-general said.

Annan's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto said that the term 'common state' described "the state that will be at the centre of a reunified Cyprus".

De Soto said the UN would be assisting the work of the two committees and that he was returning to the island next week.

De Soto said everyone hoped for a solution before the end of the year, and added that Annan had asked both men to clear their calendars in order to be available throughout the month of November.

"A precise date and place for their next meeting, some time probably in early November, will be set in due course," de Soto said.