DATE=7/13/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-235362 TITLE=RUSSIA / CYPRUS (L) BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN DATELINE=MOSCOW CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND VISITING CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES HAVE REAFFIRMED A CONTROVERSIAL DEAL TO SUPPLY THE DIVIDED ISLAND WITH RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES. V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS THE TWO MET MONDAY AT THE KREMLIN. TEXT: AN AIDE TO PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS THE RUSSIAN AND CYPRIOT LEADERS DID NOT DISCUSS A TIMETABLE FOR DELIVERY OF THE S-300 ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES. BUT THE AIDE, SERGEI PRIKHODKO, SAYS THE TWO REAFFIRMED THEY WILL MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ARMS DEAL. /// PRIKHODKO ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER /// THE KREMLIN AIDE SAYS "MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CYPRUS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF BILATERAL RELATIONS." RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS IT HAS ALREADY TRAINED CYPRIOT FORCES ON HOW TO USE THE WEAPONS SYSTEM. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED TO CYPRUS LATER THIS YEAR. RUSSIA HAS COME UNDER CRITICISM FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR GOING AHEAD WITH THE ARMS SALE. WESTERN CRITICS CHARGE THAT DEPLOYMENT OF THE GROUND-TO-AIR MISSILES WILL ONLY ESCALATE TENSIONS ON CYPRUS. RUSSIA ARGUES IT IS SIMPLY A COMMERCIAL DEAL NOT AIMED AT SPARKING NEW CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES. NEVERTHELESS, TURKEY HAS WARNED IT MIGHT USE FORCE TO BLOCK THE DEPLOYMENT, ARGUING THE WEAPONS SYSTEM IS A THREAT BOTH TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS AND TO TURKEY. PRESIDENT CLERIDES, WHO HEADS THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT, TOLD REPORTERS BEFORE HE CAME TO MOSCOW THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER DELAYING THE DELIVERY -- BUT ONLY IF TURKISH CYPRIOTS AGREE TO REUNIFICATION TALKS AND IF THE NEGOTIATIONS MAKE PROGRESS. CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDIDED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED FOLLOWING A GREEK-BACKED COUP. REUNIFICATION TALKS ARE AT A STANDSTILL. (SIGNED) NEB/MLK/JWH 13-Jul-98 8:38 AM EDT (1238 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .