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Voice of America
DATE=1/13/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-208616
TITLE=CYPRUS TALKS (L-O) CORRECT
BYLINE=CHRIS DRAKE
DATELINE=NICOSIA

INTRO: U-S DIPLOMAT CAREY CAVANAUGH SAYS LEADERS OF THE GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES ON CYPRUS HAVE AGREED TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS, AND HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THERE IS NO LONGER A DANGER OF IMMINENT MILITARY CONFLICT. CHRIS DRAKE IN NICOSIA ALSO REPORTS THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT SAYS A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IT IS BUYING FROM RUSSIA WILL NOT BE INSTALLED FOR 16 MONTHS. BUT TURKISH CYPRIOTS STILL ARE NOT HAPPY.

TEXT: WHILE MR. CAVANAUGH SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THERE IS NO LONGER A CRISIS HERE, THE CYPRIOT TURKISH LEADER, RAUF DENKTASH, DISAGREES.

MR. DENKTASH SAID HE WELCOMES CONFIRMATION THE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM IS NOT SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE FOR 16 MONTHS. BUT HE CALLED THIS A "STOP-GAP MEASURE" AND SAID THE CRISIS WILL REMAIN UNTIL PLANS TO INSTALL THE MISSILE SYSTEM ARE DROPPED ALTOGETHER.

DIPLOMATS SAY THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IS BASED ON THE TIME FACTOR, WITH MR. CAVANAUGH HAPPY TO HAVE REDUCED TENSION IN CYPRUS, BUT MR. DENKTASH ANXIOUS TO ECHO TURKEY'S VIEW THAT THE LONG-TERM PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

THEY SAY CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES IS GIVING THE INTERNATIONAL POWERS A 16-MONTH DEADLINE FOR SECURING AN OVERALL SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

MR. CAVANAUGH'S ANNOUNCEMENT BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED TO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE MEANS THERE IS NOW A GENUINE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PROGRESS ON KEEPING THE TENSION LOW.

AMONG THE PRIORITIES FOR DISCUSSION IS A REDUCTION OF EACH SIDE'S FORCES ALONG THE U-N-PATROLLED BUFFER ZONE WHICH RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE ISLAND AND SEPARATES THE COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE OPPOSING TROOPS ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS A REDUCTION IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID INTERCOMMUNAL VIOLENCE OF THE SORT WHICH FLARED LAST SUMMER.

IT IS NOT CLEAR YET JUST HOW QUICKLY NEGOTIATIONS WILL RESUME AND WHAT PART THE UNITED STATES WILL PLAY. BUT OFFICIALS SAY AFTER THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK, IT IS ASSUMED THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ANXIOUS TO DEMONSTRATE ITS SERIOUSNESS ABOUT PLAYING A LEADING ROLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/CD/JWH/RAE

13-Jan-97 3:24 PM EST (2024 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America