DATE=7/16/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-235597 TITLE=CYPRUS / PENTAGON L UPDATE BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY'S TOP GENERAL AND THE TOP U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS TALKED OVER WAYS TO REDUCE TENSIONS IN CYPRUS AT THE PENTAGON THURSDAY. PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE DISCUSSIONS PRODUCED NO MAJOR PROGRESS ON THE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT DIVIDE THE ISLAND INTO GREEK AND TURKISH SECTORS. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, THE TALKS ARE PART OF A LONG-TERM EFFORT TO FIND PEACE ON THE DIVIDED ISLAND. TEXT: THE CHIEF OF THE TURKISH GENERAL STAFF, GENERAL ISMAIL KARADAYI (PRONO: KARA-DIE-YAH) MET PRIVATELY WITH U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, GENERAL HUGH SHELTON. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A 'DRAMATIC NEED' TO REDUCE TENSIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY OVER CYPRUS, BUT PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAID HE HAD LITTLE SPECIFIC PROGRESS TO REPORT. /// BACON ACT /// WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE BOTH THE GREEK SIDE AND THE TURKISH SIDE TO STEP BACK FROM POTENTIAL CONFLICT, TO STEP BACK FROM THE CURRENT CONFRONTATION, AND TO LOOK FOR MORE PEACEFUL, MORE STABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS. /// END ACT /// MR. BACON SAYS WASHINGTON HAS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO RESOLVING THE CYPRUS ISSUE. HE SAYS A HIGH RANKING PENTAGON OFFICIAL IS ABOUT TO RETURN FROM TALKS IN TURKEY ON THE MATTER, THE GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER VISITED FOR DISCUSSIONS LAST WEEK AND SECRETARY COHEN VISITED BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY EARLIER THIS YEAR. MR. BACON SAYS GREEK CYPRIOT PLANS TO BUY SOPHISTICATED ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES FROM RUSSIA ARE A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. HE SAYS THE 'S-300'S' INCREASE TENSIONS ON THE ISLAND AND MAKE THE GREEK CYPRIOTS LESS SECURE. CYPRUS HAS BEEN SPLIT BETWEEN GREEK AND TURKISH SIDES SINCE A TURKISH INVASION IN 1974. THAT ACTION FOLLOWED DAYS AFTER A COUP AGAINST THE ISLAND GOVERNMENT BACKED BY THE GREEK MILITARY GOVERNMENT. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS BEEN TRYING TO RE-START TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, BUT THE TURKS COMPLAIN THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THE GREEK-LED CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION AS THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF THE ENTIRE ISLAND, WHILE IGNORING THE TURKISH COMMUNITY THERE. MR. BACON SAYS BESIDES CYPRUS, THE TURKS AND AMERICANS DISCUSSED PEACEKEEPING IN THE BALKANS BY BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY, AS WELL AS THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED NATO SUGGESTIONS FOR 'CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES' IN THE AEGEAN. THESE MEASURES ARE THOUGHT TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS LINKS BETWEEN THE TWO MILITARIES TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL CONFRONTATION, AND BANNING ARMED TRAINING FLIGHTS BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT.(SIGNED) NEB/JR/LTD/JO 16-Jul-98 5:14 PM EDT (2114 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
