Cyprus, Russia conclude missile deal - news agency
Sat, 4 Jan 1997 11:00:29 PST
C-reuters@clari.net (Reuters)
Copyright 1997 by Reuters
NICOSIA, Cyprus (Reuter) - Cyprus Saturday concluded a contract to buy surface-to-air missiles from Russia, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said.
It said Cyprus defense and finance ministers met representatives of Russia's state-controlled Rosvoorouzhenie company and the Russian ambassador in Nicosia Saturday.
``A multimillion dollar contract was concluded today for the purchase by Cyprus of surface-to-air missiles from Russia, CNA has learned,'' the agency said. It added that the two ministers declined to confirm whether a contract was signed.
The Cyprus government has kept official silence on reports that it planned to buy the S300 missile air defense system, also known as SA-10c, from Russia.
The S300, with a range of 90 miles, 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 defense pact between Cyprus and Greece aimed at repelling the perceived threat of Turkey.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller expressed concern over the planned missile sale to Cyprus during a visit to Russia last month.
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.
A Cypriot defense source said Friday a ministerial commission had taken the decision to buy the missiles, but it still had to go to parliament for approval.
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