DATE=11/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241364
TITLE=ISRAEL / CYPRUS SPIES (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO ISRAELI MEN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CYPRUS ON CHARGES OF
SPYING. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.
TEXT: THE ISRAELIS WERE ARRESTED SATURDAY IN AN APARTMENT NEAR A
CYPRIOT MILITARY BASE ON THE ISLAND'S SOUTHERN SHORE. POLICE SAY
THE MEN HAD BEEN ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY AND THAT A CHARGE OF SPYING
IS SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE FOUND IN THE APARTMENT.
THE EVIDENCE INCLUDES DOCUMENTS, COMPUTERS, TAPE RECORDERS AND A
RADIO THAT SCANS POLICE FREQUENCIES. A COURT ORDERED THE MEN
HELD FOR EIGHT DAYS.
THE CYPRUS POLICE SAY THE MEN ALSO VISITED THE SAME AREA IN
OCTOBER, DURING A LARGE CYPRIOT MILITARY EXERCISE.
ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER AND THE
CYPRIOT AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL SAID HE HOPES THE ISSUE CAN BE
RESOLVED QUICKLY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE AMBASSADOR AND OTHERS FAMILIAR WITH THE
CASE SUGGEST THE ISRAELIS MAY HAVE BEEN SPYING FOR TURKEY --
EITHER AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR UNDER ORDERS FROM ISRAEL'S
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THE MOSSAD.
CYPRUS HAS FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT ISRAEL'S CLOSE
DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP WITH TURKEY. CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFKOS
CLERIDES RAISED THE ISSUE WITH ISRAELI PRESIDENT EZER WEIZMAN
LAST WEEK, WHEN MR. WEIZMAN MADE THE FIRST-EVER VISIT TO CYPRUS
BY AN ISRAELI PRESIDENT. AT THE END OF THE VISIT, PRESIDENT
WEIZMAN EXPRESSED REGRET HE HAD NOT SUCCEEDED IN CONVINCING THE
CYPRIOTS ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH TURKEY TO NOT THREATEN ANY
COUNTRY.
PRESIDENT CLERIDES' ETHNIC-GREEK GOVERNMENT RULES MOST OF CYPRUS,
BUT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND IS OCCUPIED BY TURKEY AND
CLAIMS TO BE A SEPARATE COUNTRY.
CONCERN ABOUT THE ALLEGED ISRAELI SPIES WAS ALSO EXPRESSED IN
GREECE. ONE NEWSPAPER WROTE THIS INCIDENT DEMONSTRATES FEARS
ABOUT THE ISRAEL-TURKEY RELATIONSHIP AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
GREECE AND CYPRUS ARE JUSTIFIED. (SIGNED)
NEB / AWP / DW / WD
08-Nov-98 7:41 AM EST (1241 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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