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DATE=4/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230477
TITLE=U-S / CYPRUS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT 
REPORTED RUSSIAN PLANS TO DELIVER ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES TO THE 
GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT LATER THIS YEAR.  THIS, AS U-S ENVOY 
RICHARD HOLBROOKE PREPARES TO VISIT CYPRUS LATER THIS WEEK TO TRY
TO JUMP-START TALKS TO REUNITE THE DIVIDED ISLAND.  V-O-A'S 
DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.
TEXT:  FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS QUESTION IS A PRIORITY 
FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.
AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE -- WHO WAS NAMED SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS 
LAST YEAR AFTER BROKERING THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS FOR 
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -- ARRIVES ON THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND FRIDAY,
ACCORDING TO WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY. 
                     // MCCURRY ACTUALITY //
         HE WILL CONVEY THE STRONG SENTIMENTS OF THE PRESIDENT 
         THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PARTIES NOW TO TAKE AN 
         OPPORTUNITY TO SET ASIDE THE DIFFERENCES THAT HAVE 
         DIVIDED THE ISLAND FOR THE LAST 20-PLUS YEARS. 
                          // END ACT //
THE ISLAND -- DIVIDED BETWEEN THE GREEK CYPRIOTS IN THE SOUTH AND
TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN THE NORTH -- IS A SOURCE OF FRICTION BETWEEN 
KEY NATO ALLIES, GREECE AND TURKEY.
U-S OFFICIALS FEAR TENSIONS WILL ESCALATE IF MOSCOW MAKES GOOD ON
A PROMISE TO SHIP THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT ADVANCED AIR 
DEFENSE MISSILES.  TURKEY HAS THREATENED MILITARY RETALIATION.
THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY REPORTS THAT RUSSIA PLANS 
TO DELIVER THE MISSILES IN AUGUST -- DESPITE U-S AND TURKISH 
CONCERNS.
SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAYS AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE WILL LIKELY RAISE THE
ISSUE DURING HIS CYPRUS VISIT.
                     // MCCURRY ACTUALITY //
         WE CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SOLUTION THAT WOULD 
         PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION TO THE ISLAND OF MISSILE 
         TECHNOLOGY THAT WE THINK WOULD BE DESTABILIZING.  WE 
         HAVE MADE THAT QUITE CLEAR.  WE HAVE RAISED OUR  
         CONCERNS WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.  WE HAVE RAISED 
         OUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADERSHIP 
         AND WITH OTHERS.  AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE ARMS 
         TRANSFERS CAN HAVE A POTENTIALLY DESTABILIZING AFFECT, 
         COULD LEAD OTHERS TO TAKE MEASURES IN REACTION.  AND FOR
         ALL THOSE REASONS, WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SET ASIDE
         THAT SALE AND THAT PROPOSED TRANSFER.
                     // END ACT //          
AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE MADE HIS FIRST VISIT TO CYPRUS AS SPECIAL 
ENVOY LAST NOVEMBER.          
TALKS TO RESOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE HAVE FALTERED, IN PART, OVER 
TURKISH ANGER OVER THE EUROPEAN UNION'S DECISION TO CONSIDER 
MEMBERSHIP FOR CYPRUS -- BUT NOT FOR TURKEY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/ENE/JO
29-Apr-98 6:31 PM EDT (2231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.