USIA - Transcript: Athens Media Op With Cavanaugh on Cyprus, 97-01-14

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From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>

TRANSCRIPT: ATHENS MEDIA OP WITH CAVANAUGH ON CYPRUS

(Says he does not expect missiles to be deployed in Cyprus) (910)

The official is on a mission to Cyprus in an effort to defuse the political situation there which accelerated after Cyprus purchased S-300 missiles from Russia.

Cavanaugh told reporters, "I think the United States has also made clear our view that there will be no acceptable or justifiable response to the decision by the government of Cyprus to have purchased these missiles.... We made progress also yesterday in Nicosia on working on measures that would reduce the prospects for incidents along the cease-fire lines."

He said of his meeting yesterday with Rauf Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, and President Clerides, "I received from both Mr. Denktash and President Clerides full support for the immediate implementation of a package of measures that had been proposed several months ago by the United Nations. And I am encouraged that as those move forward, the people of Cyprus will be able to sleep more peacefully and know that their situation is better."

This morning, Cavanaugh met briefly with Greek Foreign Minister Pangalos, discussing with him the trip to Nicosia, "the progress achieved there yesterday, and some of the steps we hope to take in the near future toward working on a settlement for Cyprus."

Tomorrow, Cavanaugh will travel to Ankara to "talk to the government there about how we can move this forward. There should be no doubt that the United States is committed to working to move forward a solution to the problem in Cyprus."

Following is a transcript of the January 14 media opportunity in Athens:

(Begin transcript)

ANSWER: I think if you look at what happened in Nicosia yesterday, some actual, positive steps have been taken to help reduce tensions. It is clear -- I announced this Yesterday in Nicosia -- that this issue of missiles is no longer an issue that's a crisis issue. I think there is time now before us to work on a solution to this problem so that we don't face any potential for conflict. I think the United States has also made clear our view that there will be no acceptable or justifiable response to the decision by the government of Cyprus to have purchased these missiles.

Let me add one other point. We made progress also yesterday in Nicosia on working on measures that would reduce the prospects for incidents along the cease-fire lines. I received from both Mr. Denktash and President Clerides full support for the immediate implementation of a package of measures that had been proposed several months ago by the United Nations. And I am encouraged that as those move forward, the people of Cyprus will be able to sleep more peacefully and know that their situation is better.

The meetings I had today here in Athens were very useful. I met briefly this morning with Foreign Minister Pangalos. He reviewed with me his recent diplomatic mission to Belgrade. He passed on some very interesting information. It was very clear that it was a useful, productive mission. I will convey that to Washington, in fact, later today. I discussed with him also the trip I had just completed to Nicosia, the progress achieved there yesterday, and some of the steps we hope to take in the near future toward working on a settlement for Cyprus.

Q: Will the United States guarantee the security on the island?

A: I think you will see that the international community is very committed to working on both an initiative and proposals for a settlement. I think, though, I must be honest in saying that the United States pointed out that the recent decision to acquire and purchase missiles was also a setback for some of those international efforts. I will travel to Ankara tomorrow where I will talk to the government there about how we can move this forward. There should be no doubt that the United States is committed to working to move forward a solution to the problem in Cyprus.

QUESTION: Are you optimistic concerning Ankara's stance until now?

A: I am hopeful that Ankara's stand will be positive. We have had some support from Ankara in the past on steps we've been trying to take to reduce tensions, and we look to both Ankara and Athens for support to find solutions to the problems in Cyprus.

QUESTION: (taken while walking. Garbled, but regarding purchase of S-300 missiles by Cyprus.)

A: They signed an agreement to purchase the missiles; they have made a commitment that no single ....

Q: I'm talking about the Greek side.

A: The Greek side? I did not discuss with Greece the intentions to purchase the S-300 missiles.

Q: What happens now? Do you think 16 months is enough time for...?

A: The United States has made it clear that it is opposed to this decision and believes that this was not helpful to the process. And that opposition will remain...

Q: No, I mean whether 16 months is sufficient time to solve the problem.

A: My expectation is those missiles will never be deployed in Cyprus.

(End transcript)

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