TRANSCRIPT: U.S. OFFICIAL MEETS WITH CLERIDES, MICHAELIDES
(Cavanaugh sees "goodwill on all sides") (1670)
Nicosia, Cyprus -- Carey Cavanaugh, director of the Office of Southern European Affairs at the Department of State, met January 13 with President Glafcos Clerides and with Foreign Minister Michaelides in Cyprus in an effort to defuse the political situation there.
Following is a transcript of statements by Cavanaugh after those meetings:
(Begin transcript)
CAVANAUGH: I would just like to make a brief statement about the meeting I just had with President Clerides. This was a very productive discussion, and I think points at very positive directions. I made clear once again some of the points that I announced last night upon arrival to this island: that we were upset by this decision to purchase the missiles, that we find intolerable any prospect of a military response to that decision. I would like to tell you I did not ask President Clerides to cancel that decision. I did not raise this item at all.
What he did do though, and I find this very helpful, was that he gave us assurances that not a single component of those missile systems would be brought to this island within the next 16 months. I believe that effectively should defuse this as a crisis issue for Cyprus; people should not be talking now about concerns of conflict here because that is not a problem of today.
We had further discussions that were very useful on other steps that could be taken in the island in the near term to help reduce tensions. I intend to continue those discussions this afternoon when I visit the North and meet with Mr. Denktash. Whether progress can be made today or not at this point, I cannot be certain. But I want to emphasize again these were very positive discussions here, headed in a positive direction, and I thank president Clerides for those.
QUESTION: Why does the U.S. insist on Cyprus being at the Mercy of the Turkish army?
CAVANAUGH: We do not insist on Cyprus being at the mercy of the Turkish army. Our intent here is to help promote a settlement for Cyprus, a durable settlement that will bring peace and prosperity to the people of this island, who we believe have deserved that for a long, long time.
QUESTION: Have you set any preconditions for the start of the U.S. initiative?
CAVANAUGH: I have made clear our desires on how we could start an initiative. We discussed steps that, as I have said, could be taken to help reduce tensions on the island now. A lot of those have been in play for several months, and I hope that soon we will soon be able to move forward with many of those.
QUESTION: What about the overflights?
CAVANAUGH: We discussed the overflights as well. It remains an item on the table, and we will continue to discuss that.
QUESTION: What exactly will you discuss with Mr. Denktash?
CAVANAUGH: When I meet with Mr. Denktash today, I will talk to him about the positive steps that were made here today on the missiles. As I have said, this is a very good step forward because it defuses this as an issue of crisis for today. I will also to him about steps that could be taken in the very near term to try to reduce tensions on the island.
QUESTION: The weapons of the Turkish Occupation Army come From the U.S. in violation of U.S. laws. What does the U.S. intend to do about that?
CAVANAUGH: This is not an issue we were discussing today. The Turkish army has had weapons for long before the '74 invasion. I do not wish to waste time discussing that situation. What I wish to spend my time on today in Cyprus is looking at ways to help defuse tensions and looking at ways to help promote a settlement. I must go now.
QUESTION: Do you intend to meet with General Karadayi (Turkey's chief of staff) today?
CAVANAUGH: I do not intend to meet with General Karadayi today, but I have had frequent discussions with the Turkish military staff, and I will be visiting Ankara later in the week.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
