Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-11

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides flies to Moscow

[02] Defence Minister returns today from Moscow

[03] Cyprus does not forget 1974 Turkish invasion, says Clerides

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides flies to Moscow

Speaking on his departure President Clerides said he is paying a four- day courtesy visit to Moscow, which at the same time is substantive.

The President is visiting Moscow, July 11-14, at the invitation of the capital's mayor Yury Luzhkov as guest of honour at the World Youth Games, to take place in the Russian capital.

He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Under- Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.

Later today President Clerides will attend a cocktail hosted by Cyprus' ambassador to Russia, Platon Kyriakides.

On Sunday he will attend a ceremony to take place at the Moscow Municipality, to welcome the Olympic flame.

On Monday, President Clerides will have a meeting with Russian President Boris Yeltsin, followed by a working lunch given by Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov.

On the same day the President will meet the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II and will attend the start of the Youth Games.

He returns to Cyprus Tuesday afternoon.

CNA MAN/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Defence Minister returns today from Moscow

Speaking after their meeting yesterday, Sergeyev praised the Cypriot guardsmen for successfully completing their training in Russia on the use of the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

According to the Athens News Agency, the two ministers discussed the implementation of a military and technical cooperation agreement signed between Cyprus and Russia in 1996 and the prospects for its further development.

Omirou described his meeting with Sergeyev as "very fruitful", stressing the two countries' interest in peace, stability and cooperation in the Mediterranean.

He thanked Russia for its solidarity with the people of Cyprus in their struggle for independence and termination of the Turkish occupation of the Republic's northern third since 1974.

Both ministers refrained from commenting on the S-300 surface-to-air missiles, ordered by the Cyprus government in January 1997, in a bid to bolster its defence capabilities, in view of the 35.000-strong Turkish army in the island's occupied areas.

The Russian Defence Minister congratulated the Cypriot guardsmen and said they should feel proud because they learnt how to use the anti- aircraft system in a record time.

Omirou went to Moscow on Tuesday and his visit coincided with the completion of the training of a group of Cypriot soldiers on the S-300's expected to be deployed later this year.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus does not forget 1974 Turkish invasion, says Clerides

Responding to threats from Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, that his country would bring missiles to the occupied areas if the Cyprus government went ahead with the deployment of the Russian-made S-300 anti- aircraft missiles, the Cypriot President said such a development "would constitute an illegal act".

President Clerides was speaking on his departure for Russia, where at the invitation of Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov he will be guest of honour at the opening of the World Youth Games, to be held in the Russian capital.

Referring to his reply letter to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright concerning the S-300 surface-to-air missiles, President Clerides said he proposed that "if talks on the Cyprus issue begin and there is substantive progress, we could delay their arrival because we do not want to be blamed for blowing up the negotiations".

Foreign governments, including the US administration, have raised opposition to the deployment of the Russian-made S-300's ordered by the Cyprus government in January 1997. They are expected to be deployed later this year.

The Cyprus government confirmed this week that there was an exchange of letters between Clerides and Albright on the issue.

Yesterday Greek daily "Exousia" published three proposals it supported to be included in the President's reply to the US Secretary.

"If we see that there is progress towards a solution, then within the framework of Cyprus' demilitarisation we could discuss this (S-300) issue," President Clerides said.

Asked how the US responds to his proposal, he pointed out that "nobody can describe it as illogical" and said it is considered "positive".

According to "Exousia", in his letter to Albright the President says that the arrival of the S-300's could be postponed if talks for the reduction of arms on the island begins and cancelled if there is substantial progress in this direction.

His third proposal to Albright, according to the Greek daily, concerns the creation of a no-fly zone over Cyprus with guarantees, similar to that enforced in Iraq.

"There has been no development on this proposal because its first part (for the creation of a no-fly zone) was accepted but not the second," President Clerides said in response to a question on this issue.

"We do not accept the creation of a no-fly zone unless there are guarantees," he underlined.

The President also said that Albright's letter focuses on her briefing by Richard Holbrooke, now US Permanent Representative to the UN, about his visits here, in a bid to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.

Holbrooke, who was appointed US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus last year, visited Cyprus twice but did not manage to break the deadlock because of the Turkish side's intransigence.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has said he will not negotiate unless his illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied areas is recognised and Cyprus withdraws its application for European Union membership.

The President said Albright did not dispute the Cyprus Republic's right to decide on its defences and added she reconfirmed the US would continue its efforts to settle the Cyprus question.

Referring to his four-day visit to Moscow, President Clerides described it as both "a courtesy visit and substantive".

He said he would hold talks with Russian President Boris Yeltsin, on Monday, that will focus on issues "of common interest".

The President added he would exchange views on the Cyprus problem, its current position and issues of interest to both countries with Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov, the same day.

CNA MAN/KN/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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