DATE= 10/13/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221170
TITLE= TURKEY/CYPRUS (S/L VER)
BYLINE= AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE= ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///// TO OPT NOTATION FOR A SHORTER VERSION. /////
INTRO: U-S SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, HELD
TALKS MONDAY IN ANKARA WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL
AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS. IT WAS HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE REGION
SINCE BEING APPOINTED TO HIS NEW POST. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN
ZAMAN REPORTS.
TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING WITH TURKISH PRIME
MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ, MR. HOLBROOKE STRESSED HE HAD NOT COME
TO TURKEY WITH A PEACE PLAN. HE SAID HE WAS IN TURKEY ONLY TO
LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF TURKISH OFFICIALS ON A RANGE OF ISSUES,
WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CYPRUS. MR. HOLBROOKE ADDED HE WOULD
RETURN TO WASHINGTON WITH WHAT HE TERMED A VERY POSITIVE VIEW OF
THE TURKISH POSITION.
IN A STATEMENT FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH MR. HOLBROOKE, TURKISH
PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL SAID THE CYPRUS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT
BE ALLOWED TO IMPINGE ON TURKISH U-S RELATIONS. SOME WESTERN
DIPLOMATS INTERPRETED THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS AS A CLEAR WARNING TO
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION THAT TURKEY WELCOMES U-S INTEREST IN
THE ISSUE, BUT IT DOES NOT WANT TO BE PRESSURED BY AMERICA.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND REMAINS DIVIDED BETWEEN GREEK AND
TURKISH CYPRIOTS SINCE TURKISH TROOPS INTERVENED IN 1974 AFTER A
GREEK-BACKED COUP AIMED AT JOINING THE ISLAND WITH GREECE.
EFFORTS BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO NEGOTIATE A LASTING PEACE HAVE
FAILED, SO FAR.
TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES MOUNTED IN RECENT MONTHS AFTER
THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUY AND DEPLOY
RUSSIAN-MADE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ON THE ISLAND. TURKEY HAS
THREATENED TO STRIKE THE MISSILES, IF AND WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYED.
GREECE SAYS IT WOULD CONSIDER ANY TURKISH MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
THE GREEK CYPRIOTS AS AN ACT OF WAR AGAINST GREECE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE
13-Oct-97 11:11 AM EDT (1511 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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