[EXCERPTS] STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, MARCH 26, 1998
DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING INDEX Thursday, March 26, 1998 Briefer: James P. Rubin ............. CYPRUS 10-11 S-300 Missiles ............ ARMENIA 15 Reported Russian Sale of S-300 Missiles to Armenia .................... U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING DPB # 37 THURSDAY, MARCH 26,1998 12:40 P.M. (ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED) ............... Q: Greek and US national interests, as Mr. Pangalos made very clear, are opposed in long list of issues. So I asked how comfortable is the United States Government with the current Greek foreign policy? It was not a speech, it was a direct question with details. MR. RUBIN: We had a good meeting with Foreign Minister Pangalos. As far as the US position on the S-300 missiles on Cyprus is concerned, our view has not changed. Although we do not question Cyprus' right to make decisions about its defense, we believe the S-300 missile deal increases the danger of conflict on the island and is a serious obstacle to our efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus dispute. We continue to urge the Government of Cyprus to cancel the deal. We have also urged Turkey to address the S-300 issue through diplomatic means and to refrain from threats to take the missiles out militarily. With regard to the idea of a no-fly zone that Foreign Minister Pangalos raised in his meetings with Secretary Albright and Under Secretary Pickering, we certainly would welcome the establishment of a permanent moratorium of all combat aircraft over-flights over Cyprus by Greece and Turkey as a serious effort to reduce tensions and build confidence. We do not agree, however, that a no-fly enforcement regime that could potentially pit one NATO ally against the other, is the best way to accomplish this objective. ................... Q: Mr. Rubin, Russian S-300 missiles sale to Armenia, which they based also a violation of the several arms agreement. Do you have any concern about this sale? MR. RUBIN: We always have concern about arms sales, in particular. I would have to get you an answer for the record as to what we know about this reported sale. But in general practice, this is not a part of the world that would benefit from more arms. Q: Thank you. (The briefing concluded at 1:30 P.M.) (end transcript)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
