Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-12-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Spokesman - Clerides - EDEK

[02] Foreign Minister - UN resolutions - Implementation

1455:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Spokesman - Clerides - EDEK

He also called on socialist party EDEK, that has been participating in government for the past 10 months, to reconsider its decision to pull out.

Commenting on statements made today by House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, that Clerides should resign, Stylianides said "the President of the Republic has no intention to sumbit his resignation."

Kyprianou said he suggested to President Clerides "that he should resign because of the latest dramatic developments and his concessions."

The House President said President Clerides was elected in February "with pre-election pledges that he has now abandoned."

In a written statement issued on Tuesdy, the President announced his decision not to deploy the Russian-made S300 defence missile system and that he would negotiate with Moscow its possible depoloyment in the southern Greek island of Crete.

The spokesman underlined that President Clerides' decision was necessary under the circumstances and said it was taken together with the government of Greece.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the US, the UK, the European Union and other governments welcomed the President's decision but created problems for the government in the home front.

Socialist party EDEK yesterday took the initial decision to pull out of the coalition Clerides government at a Political Bureau meeting. The decision will be put before the Central Committe scheduled to meet on Saturday.

The Government Spokesman today called on EDEK to reconsider its decision, admitting that its decision poses problems for the government.

"I believe that EDEK should remain in government," he said, adding that times are difficult and crucial and the country needs cooperation between political parties as well as the widest possible consent.

Stylianides said the socialist party "contributed constructively to the formation of political positions and decisions."

CNA MA/MK/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Foreign Minister - UN resolutions - Implementation

Following a decision announced by President Glafcos Clerides not to deploy the S300 defence missile system in Cyprus, Kasoulides said Cyprus now has every right to demand the implementation of UN resolutions.

The Foreign Minister did not appear to be surprised with statements made by his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem that the S300 missiles cannot be deployed in the southern Greek island of Crete, noting that Turkey is always intransigent and arrogant.

"We have not resigned from the right to take any decisions we consider necessary for our defence or our armaments if we see that there are no developments in the future and promises made are not kept," Kasoulides said.

In a written statement issued Tuesday President Glafcos Clerides announced a decision not to deploy the Russian-made S300 anti-aircraft missile system in Cyprus and to negotiate with Moscow its possible deployment in Crete.

The decision was welcomed by the UN Secretary-General, the US, Britain, the European Union (EU) and other governments.

Pointing to two resolutions on Cyprus adopted by the UN Security Council last week, Kasoulides said "we now have the right to demand that obligations and promises are met."

The UN resolutions back Kofi Annan's good offices mission for a settlement in Cyprus based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and the reduction of tensions and armaments.

"The Europeans had also insisted that we take the decision taken (not to deploy the S300) and we are now waiting to see what their stance will be towards our EU accession course," Kasoulides said.

Cyprus opened substantial accession course with the EU in November. Invited to comment on statements made by Cem that the deployment of the S300 in Crete will increase tensions in the Aegean, Kasoulides said he had no doubt about "Turkish intransigence and arrogance".

"From now on I would like to see if Mr Cem will be allowed to continue acting big with his statements," he added.

CNA MA/../1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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