Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] No-fly zone over Cyprus explored

[02] Cyprus Finance Minister flies to Moscow

1040:CYPPRESS:01

[01] No-fly zone over Cyprus explored

The US has also reiterated that it is not lending support for any kind of aggression on the part of Turkey, which has threatened action if Cyprus deploys Russian anti-aircraft missiles.

The American position was outlined by Defence Secretary William Cohen at a joint press conference here Thursday with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos, currently visiting the US.

Asked if the US would participate in enforcing a no-fly zone over Cyprus, Cohen noted the US is looking into ways to reduce tensions in Cyprus.

"The no-fly zone is one possibility that could be explored but we have not made any determination on what the result should be in terms of how we achieve this reduction in tensions," Cohen told the press conference.

Replying to questions on Turkish intentions, Cohen said "we are not encouraging Turkey to take any military action."

He said during his recent visit to Ankara he encouraged the government "to bring about a peaceful solution to the tensions that exist in Cyprus."

"There should be no mistake that we are in any way lending support for any kind of aggression on the part of Turkey," he said.

On his part, Tsohatzopoulos said the installation of the missiles is something which "reflects the situation of crisis in the country."

Noting that reduction of tension could be in the interests of both countries, the Greek minister stressed "the problem of the area is not if you increase and add to your defense systems in place in Cyprus, the point is that basically you have to embark upon a dialogue in order to find a solution to the Cyprus issue."

He referred to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for demilitarisation in Cyprus, outlined in a recent letter to UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan, which envisages gradual withdrawal and the island's complete demilitarisation with the possibility of not installing the missile system.

"If the other side has no volition for embarking upon a dialogue, it does not in fact accept the no-fly zone, which, if one had very clear-cut guarantees for this, you would have a partial demilitarisation, partial air demilitarisation and then that is to be extended for the whole of Cyprus," he explained.

If these two matters are not accepted by the other side (Turkish), he added, it is very very difficult for the Cyprus government to unilaterally move to disarmament.

"We have said that a very substantial effort should be undertaken for dialogue on the Cyprus issue to be commenced," he said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue of establishing a no-fly zone, State Department spokesman James Rubin said there had been talk about this in the past "and the bottom line is that we want the deal to be cancelled:

"With respect to any specific ideas on how to proceed, some of them that I first heard about were simply unrealistic in terms of shooting down planes in a no-fly zone or things like that," Rubin said.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA DA/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1345:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Finance Minister flies to Moscow

"This agreement was signed in 1982 with the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics," he said on his departure, adding that "after its collapse the member-states of the Federation of Independent States have undertaken to enforce it".

Christodoulou pointed out that the agreement has to be modernised and renewed, stressing that "it seriously affects our relations".

The Finance Minister, who is heading a delegation of his ministry and the Central Bank, said the issue will be discussed during his meetings in Moscow and expressed the hope a framework agreement will be reached.

"Relations between Cyprus and Russia are excellent in all fields and I'm sure that in this spirit we will be able to find solutions to our mutual benefit," he added.

Replying to questions, Christodoulou described the timing of his visit with that of President Glafcos Clerides and Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou to Russia as "coincidental".

Omirou is already in Russia whereas President Clerides is flying on Saturday.

CNA MAN/DG/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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