• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=1/11/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-208535
TITLE=CYPRUS CRISIS (S&L)
BYLINE=CHRIS DRAKE
DATELINE=NICOSIA

INTRO: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOY CAREY CAVANAUGH FLIES TO THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CYPRUS SUNDAY IN A BID TO DEFUSE GROWING TENSION OVER THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO INSTALL A SOPHISTICATED MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM. TURKEY, WHICH SEIZED THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND IN 1974, THREATENS TO MAKE A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AT ANY SUCH SYSTEM WHICH IT SEES AS UPSETTING THE STRATEGIC BALANCE IN THE REGION. CHRIS DRAKE REPORTS FROM NICOSIA.

TEXT: DESPITE THE OBJECTIONS OF THE U-S AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT DROPPING ITS PLANS TO BUY THE RUSSIAN-MADE SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES.

PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES HAS MADE THIS CLEAR. NOW THAT TURKEY HAS THREATENED TO ATTACK ANY MISSILE INSTALLATIONS, HIS GOVERNMENT IS EVEN MORE ANXIOUS NOT TO BE SEEN TO BE BACKING DOWN.

THE PRESIDENT WILL REMIND MR. CAVANAUGH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE DEPLOYED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR -- AND THAT LEAVES PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE SUFFICIENT PROGRESS TOWARDS SECURING AN OVERALL SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM AND SO RENDER IT UNNECESSARY ANYWAY.

HE WILL ALSO REPEAT HIS GOVERNMENT'S OFFER TO WORK FOR COMPLETE DEMILITARIZATION, PROVIDED TURKEY DOES THE SAME IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR OF THE ISLAND WHICH ITS ARMY CONTROLS.

GIVEN THIS SMALL ISLAND IS NOW RECOGNISED AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY MILITARIZED ON EARTH, IT IS ASSUMED THE AMERICAN DIPLOMAT WILL WANT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THIS DUBIOUS CLAIM TO FAME. ANY SUCCESS IN THIS DIRECTION WILL AUTOMATICALLY DECREASE THE TENSION NOT JUST IN CYPRUS BUT ALSO BETWEEN THE MOTHERLANDS OF ITS TWO COMMUNITIES, GREECE AND TURKEY.

TO THIS END, HE WILL CONCENTRATE ON BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO A LONG-STANDING PLAN FOR A TROOP REDUCTION ALONG THE BUFFER ZONE WHICH SEPARATES THE COMMUNITIES AND IS PATROLLED BY U-N PEACEKEEPING TROOPS.

THIS YEAR HAS ALREADY BEEN EARMARKED FOR A CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO FIND A SOLUTION AND THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT IS ANXIOUS TO INSURE GLOBAL INTEREST IN DOING SO IS MAINTAINED. INDEED, IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE PLAN TO BUY RUSSIAN MISSILES WAS DESIGNED TO ATTRACT ATTENTION, AND SO FAR IT IS WORKING. (SIGNED)

NEB/CD/DW/MMK

11-Jan-97 1:23 PM EST (1823 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America