Cyprus close to buying Russian missiles
Fri, 3 Jan 1997 9:01:00 PST
C-reuters@clari.net (Reuters)
Copyright 1997 by Reuters
NICOSIA, Jan 3 (Reuter) - Cyprus is close to concluding a deal to buy surface-to-air missiles from Russia to boost its air defences, a Cypriot defence source said on Friday.
``A decision was taken to buy by a ministerial commission,'' said the source, who asked not to be named. ``It still has to go to parliament for approval.''
The Cyprus government has kept an official silence on reports it will buy the Russian S300 surface-to-air missile system, also known as SA-10c.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third after a coup engineered by the military ruling in Greece at the time.
The Mediterranean island is the site of a heavy military build-up with 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in its north.
Last year the Cyprus government bought 43 BMP-3 Russian infantry fighting vehicles.
According to the semi-government-run Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Cypriot officials and representatives of the state-controlled Rosvoorouzhenie company will sign the missile deal on Monday.
The S300, with a range of 150 km (90 mile), will be deployed for the protection of naval and air bases under construction on the island's western coast, according to the media reports.
The bases are being built under a joint defence pact between Cyprus and Greece aimed at repelling the perceived threat of Turkey.
The 11,500-strong Greek Cypriot national guard in the south has launched a comprehensive programme to upgrade its defence capabilities. It has a weak air defence system.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller expressed concern over the planned Russian missile sale to Cyprus during a visit to Russia last month.
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