DATE= 10/6/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220886
TITLE=CYPRUS / PREZ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFKOS CLERIDES SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT
WILL PROCEED WITH DEPLOYMENT OF RUSSIAN-MADE MISSILES NEXT YEAR
IF THE POLITICAL STALEMATE ON CYPRUS CONTINUES. IN A SPEECH TO
THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER DENOUNCED THE
TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE FOR PERPETUATING THE STATUS QUO. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT: DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS FOR A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT INTENSIFIED
THIS PAST YEAR. U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN APPOINTED A NEW
MEDIATOR AND KEY GOVERNMENTS APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE SIDELINES.
THE IDEA IS TO UNITE THE TWO COMMUNITIES LOOSELY UNDER A FEDERAL
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
BUT LONGTIME RESENTMENTS BETWEEN THE CYPRIOTS AND BETWEEN GREECE
AND TURKEY APPARENTLY PROVED STRONGER. PRESIDENT CLERIDES
REPORTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A DISAPPOINTING LACK OF PROGRESS
AND HE WARNED THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WILL DEPLOY NEW GROUND-TO-AIR
MISSILES NEXT YEAR AS PLANNED:
//CLERIDES ACT//
WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT RELINQUISH OUR INALIENABLE RIGHT
TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND TO DECIDE UPON OUR ARMAMENTS.
WE WILL NOT TIE OUR HANDS BEHIND OUR BACKS AND ALLOW THE
TURKISH AIR FORCE TO BOMB OUR TOWNS AND VILLAGES AT
WILL, AS IT HAS DONE IN THE PAST.
//END ACT//
TURKISH TROOPS INVADED CYPRUS IN 1974 IN RESPONSE TO A COUP IN
NICOSIA BACKED BY GREECE. THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE SINCE
DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND SET UP THEIR OWN REPUBLIC IN THE
NORTH UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE TURKISH ARMY.
DIPLOMATS CLOSE TO THE SITUATION BELIEVE THE TURKISH COMMUNITY IS
CONTENT WITH THE DIVISION. TURKEY HAS WARNED IT WILL UNITE WITH
THE NORTH IF GREEK CYPRUS BEGINS MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH THE
EUROPEAN UNION. THOSE TALKS ARE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/RRM
06-Oct-97 11:59 AM EDT (1559 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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