Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides - Arrival

2130:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides - Arrival

President Clerides did not make any statements on his arrival, as he was not feeling well because of a mild food poisoning he and the officials accompanying him have suffered.

Immediately after the Cyprus Airways plane arrived at Larnaca Airport, the President left for Nicosia.

He is reported to be in good health but feeling a bit run down and would like to rest.

President Clerides was in Athens for a meeting with Greek Premier Costas Simitis on Friday, attended by the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries.

On Saturday, the President flew to Patra, at the invitation of the Patra University where he spoke on the Cyprus problem and revealed monuments of two Greeks who lost their lives during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Speaking to the press on Saturday, the President dismissed press reports that Greece has proposed the installation of the S300 surface-to- air missile system ordered by the Cyprus government in the Greek island of Crete.

He said that "the suggestion was made long ago by foreigners and was repeated from time to time", clarifying that by foreigners he meant "the US, Britain and other European countries".

President Clerides explained that what they had suggested was "one part of the missiles to be deployed in Cyprus and another in Crete so that neither part could operate", something he rejected.

"No proposal for the missiles to be taken to Crete and not Cyprus was made", President Clerides said, repeating his call for more restraint on press reports on this issue.

He refrained from replying to a question regarding the time of arrival of the S300 missiles, ordered by the government in a bid to boost its air defences.

The President said that with the Greek government they discussed international reaction to the Russian-made S300, how it can affect the Republic's European Union accession course and what measures could be taken to tackle such an outcome.

Replying to questions, President Clerides also said that the plans for the construction of a navy base in Cyprus are ready.

CNA MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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