STAFF NOTES: WESTERN EUROPE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000500040003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2005
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 3, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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Cyprus Talks Show No Progress . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Vietnam issue Raised at Geneva Conference . . . 3
Belgian Lab..%r Problems 4
February 3, 1975
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Cyprus Talks Show No Progress
Tensions increased in Cyprus over the week-
end, following an outbreak of heavy gunfire between
Greek and Turkish forces. Each side also charged
the other with bad faith in the intercommunal talks.
The clashes, described by the US embassy in
Nicosia as the most serious in several months, began
on January 31 in northwestern Cyprus when Greek and
Turkish forces exchanged heavy gunfire for about 30
minutes. Heavy firing also broke out on February 1
near Nicosia airport and spread to the UN-patrolled
"green line," which separates Greek and Turkish
forces in Nicosia.
While there is no information on who initiated
the shooting on January 31, UN officials are "reason-
ably certain" that the two-hour exchange the following
day was begun by Turkish forces. UN officials arranged
a cease-fire, but more clashes could occur.
The latest incidents came amid Greek and Greek
Cypriot charges that the intercommunal talks had mads
no progress because of Turkish intransigence and de.-
laying tactics. Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officii_-.1s,
on the other hand, insist that some progress had bin
made despite what they termed the inflexibility of
the Greek side.
In fact, the negotiators made no significant
progress in their six meetings on substantive political
issues last month. They will have a final chance today
before the scheduled suspension of US military aid to
Turkey on Wednesday.
The lack of progress appears to be the result of
Turkish reluctance to make meaningful. concessions and
Greek unwillingness to accept token gestures which
might give the talks an aura of progress and lead to
an extension of the cutoff date.
February 3, 1975
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Vietnam Issue Raised 'at' Gehe;ia' Conference
The second session of the Diplomatic
Conference on International Humanitarian Law
Applicable to Armed Conflict--the conference on
the law of war--opened yesterday in Geneva.
Despite a vote last year that rejected attempts
by the Provisional Revolutionary Government of
Vietnam to be seated as a full member at the
conference, the issue of PR3 participation will
be raised again and may be decided as early as
today.
Conference rules of procedure specify that
the rulings on credentials made at the first
session apply to all subsequent sessions of the
conference as well. The PRG and its allies--in
particular, Algeria--are therefore presenting
the PRG accreditation issue as a "new question"
that requires a "new" conference decision. An
Algerian-sponsored resolution calls on the con-
ference to invite "both the governments in South
Vietnam" to participate in the conference's
work with full and equal rights.
Estimates of the voting outcome are very
close and the issue could again be decided by
just one vote--as it was last year. Once the
PRG representation issue is out of the way, the
conference may be able to get down to its real
business--improving the laws governing the
rules of warfare laid down in the Geneva ventions of 1949.
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Belgian Labor Problems
Rising unemployment could cause a government
crisis in Belgium. Unemployment reached approximately
150,000 or nearly six percent of the workforce, last
month. The number of partially employed also is rising
and the outlook fo:v 1975 is for a continuation of this
trend.
Unemployment is highest in French-speaking
Wallonia, particularly in the depressed Charleroi
area. The most immediate problem facing the govern-
ment is the closure of two glass factories in Charleroi,
one a bankrupt plant taken over by the government and
the other privately owned. Workers struck the latter
plant last month and occupied the premises when it
became apparent that the company planned to close the
facility after merging with a larger firm. In both
cases the workers are looking to the government for
a solution; the Ministry of Labor has asked the
company planning to close the one plant to delay
action until February 15.
Belgian metal workers also threatened to strike
when wage negotiations broke down last month. Plant
layoffs are the key issue since wages are tied to the
cost-of-living index. For this reason union leaders
have asked for guarantees that there will be no per-
manent layoffs in 1975. If negotiations are not re-
sumed, the metal workers plan to strike on February 10.
Because the major problems are centered in
Wallonia, the situation could have political reper-
cussions. Three members of the government, including
the Labor Minister, are from Charleroi. Additionally,
the government's majority in parliament is dependent
upon the support of the small Walloon Rally Party
which might disassociate itself from the government if
these labor issues are not resolved satisfactoril_ .
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February 3, 1975
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