Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXX, Greece; Cyprus; Turkey, 1973–1976

188. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Cyprus ¹

Washington, November 22, 1975, 1922Z.

277353. Subject: Cyprus Ambassador’s Call on Under Secretary Sisco.

1. Cyprus Ambassador Dimitriou called on Under Secretary on Friday, November 21. Dimitriou stated he was interested in Rauf Denktash’s call yesterday on the Secretary² but that he first wished to get into the more important question of Cyprus’ future. With the arms embargo lifted, the Turkish elections concluded and the UN debate over,³ Dimitriou wondered what would be the next step by the US.

2. Sisco said that we have been engaged in a major effort to get resumption of the talks and that the effort would continue. It had to be acknowledged that to date this effort has not been as fruitful as we both would have wished. Sisco stated that he was convinced all parties wanted the talks to resume, but if they were to be meaningful— they had to start on a meaningful basis. The thrust of our discussions with the Turks has been that the time is propitious for talks to start. We have indicated that to the degree that Turkey can be specific on territory the better are the prospects for successful negotiations. We have made it clear to the Turks that Congress expects movement and that the administration is committed to get meaningful talks started.

3. Sisco turned to the Cyprus resolution, which he termed unhelpful. Dimitriou asked why we abstained. Sisco said that we had made it clear we could not accept a resolution that was not acceptable to both sides. Replying to Dimitriou’s comment that we had voted against allowing Denktash to address the plenary, Sisco said that had been a matter of a constitutional principle. It had had nothing to do with the merits of the issues involved.

4. Dimitriou asked Sisco if he thought Denktash would resort to UDI in the aftermath of UN consideration of Cyprus. Sisco expressed the hope that they would not, and said he felt this particular action was not foremost in their minds at the moment.

Kissinger

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Joseph Sisco, 1951–1976, Box 21, Cyprus 1974/1975. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by J. Morton (EUR/SE) and approved by Sisco, James Lowenstein, Eagleton, and in S. Repeated Immediate to Ankara, Athens, London, and USUN.
2. See Document 187.
3. Regarding the lifting of the arms embargo, see footnote 5, Document 185; Turkish Senatorial elections were held October 22; and the UN debate concluded with the adoption on UN General Assembly Resolution on November 20 by a vote of 117–1 Yearbook of the United Nations, 1975, p. 300–301)