1345:CYPPRESS:01
Cyprus to buy Russian surface-to-air missiles
CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
Nicosia, Jan 4 (CNA) -- A multi-million dollar contract was concluded here today for the purchase by Cyprus of surface-to-air missiles from Russia, CNA has learned.
A meeting between Cypriot government Ministers and representatives of the Russian state-controlled Rosvoorouzhenie company was held today at the Ministry of Defence in Nicosia.
The meeting was attended by the Cypriot Ministers of Defence and Finance, Costas Eliades and Christodoulos Christodoulou.
The meeting was also attended by the new Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Georgi Muratov.
Both Ministers declined to say whether the contract for the purchase of the Russian surface-to-air missile system was signed today.
However, Eliades expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting.
Christodoulou described the cooperation between Cyprus and Russia as ''very good''.
Last year, Cyprus bought modern Russian tanks T80-U. In 1995, Cyprus bought Russian BMP-3 armoured vehicles.
With the purchase of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, Cyprus aims to boost its air defences, countering Turkish threats.
Cyprus and Greece agreed in November 1993 to adopt a joint defence pact in order to face Turkish expansionist designs against the two countries.
Greece has warned Turkey with war in case the Turkish occupation troops advance towards the government-controlled southern part of this East Mediterranean strategic island.
Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.
CNA GP/1997 ENDS,
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