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29 April 1998

[EXCERPTS] TRANSCRIPT: WHITE HOUSE DAILY BRIEFING, APRIL 29, 1998

White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry briefed.
Following is the White House transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 29, 1998
PRESS BRIEFING
BY MIKE MCCURRY
The Briefing Room
.................
Q: It was reported that -- President Clinton is going to talk directly
-- Cyprus. Could you please comment or is there some way --
MCCURRY: I have not heard anything that suggests to me that the
President would be speaking directly either to President Clerides or
to Mr. Denktash. I do know that Ambassador Holbrooke intends to see
them when he arrives in Cyprus, I believe Friday -- correct? And
obviously 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. And we will raise other issues that have also been a
source of concern to us, particularly the reported acceptance of a
proposed shipment of SA-300 missiles.
Q: -- today give a strong warning to Cyprus for a new Turkish invasion
on the excuse of the Russian missiles, as you mentioned. May we have
your reaction, since the White House is directly involved for a
solution?
MCCURRY: Well, 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've made that quite clear. We've
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 other to take measures in reaction.
And for all those reasons, we think it's important to set aside that
sale and that proposed transfer.
Q: The status of the threats of an invasion from Turkey? How do you
comment?
MCCURRY: I know that there have been threats made. I would not cite
any specific threats as being any more or less alarming than simply
the fact that the introduction of technologies that are potentially
destabilizing represents the wrong direction at a time when we are
trying to promote reconciliation and dialogue that could lead to a
peaceful settlement of the issues that have divided the Turkish
community and the Greek community on Cyprus.
............
(end transcript)