THREE CYPRUS RESOLUTIONS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28753, 26 November 1958, Page 15

THREE CYPRUS RESOLUTIONS

Drafts For U.N.

Committee

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.)

NEW YORK, Nov. 25.

The Political Committee of the General Assembly will open its debate today on the Cyprus problem, with Greece demanding independence for the British colony. Three draft resolutions are already before the committee.

Britain seeks Assembly backing for her continued efforts at a solution, and an invitation to Greece and Turkey to co-operate with her.

Greece wants the United Nations to endorse independence for Cyprus after a period of selfgovernment. and the island's “insulation . . . from political, territorial or any other claims by any other country.’’

Turkey is asking for resumption of tripartite efforts at a solution “in application of the principle of equal rights and self-determination” for Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and an embargo on “support or encouragement to violence.”

The Greek Foreign Minister. Mi l Averoff Tossizza. was due to speak first in the 81-mcmbcr committee.' The British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Commander l Allan Noble, was scheduled to make a 90-minute statement in the committee, after Mr Averoff. 1

Commander Noble was expected, to explain in detail why Britain believed that a cooling-off period offered the best chance of ultimate long-term settlement and | why she had instituted measures; to that end.

Mr Averoff made his position' clear at a press conference yes-| terday, when he said the onlyi hope was an assembly resolution! which would bring moral pres-1 sure on the Three Powers to] discuss the problem within a United Nations framework.

The Turkish Foreign Minister.! Mr Fatin Rustu Zorlu. also is on I hand to present the views of his; Government.

Archbishop Makarios and Mr Fazil Kutchuk. the Greek-Cypriot leaders, arc in New York, but any bid to have the committee hear them formally will be opposed by Britain.

The debate is expected to go into next week, with few delegates yet ready to forecast the outcome. Th political committee’s decision is subject to endorsement (by a two-thirds majority) or rejection in the absence of that plurality by the Assembly.