DATE=  10/6/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220886

TITLE=CYPRUS / PREZ (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFKOS CLERIDES SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT 

WILL PROCEED WITH DEPLOYMENT OF RUSSIAN-MADE MISSILES NEXT YEAR 

IF THE POLITICAL STALEMATE ON CYPRUS CONTINUES.  IN A SPEECH TO 

THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER DENOUNCED THE 

TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE FOR PERPETUATING THE STATUS QUO.  V-O-A 

CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:      



TEXT:  DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS FOR A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT INTENSIFIED 

THIS PAST YEAR.  U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN APPOINTED A NEW

MEDIATOR AND KEY GOVERNMENTS APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE SIDELINES.  

THE IDEA IS TO UNITE THE TWO COMMUNITIES LOOSELY UNDER A FEDERAL 

SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.



BUT LONGTIME RESENTMENTS BETWEEN THE CYPRIOTS AND BETWEEN GREECE 

AND TURKEY APPARENTLY PROVED STRONGER.  PRESIDENT CLERIDES 

REPORTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A DISAPPOINTING LACK OF PROGRESS

AND HE WARNED THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WILL DEPLOY NEW GROUND-TO-AIR 

MISSILES NEXT YEAR AS PLANNED:



                        //CLERIDES ACT//



         WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT RELINQUISH OUR INALIENABLE RIGHT 

         TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND TO DECIDE UPON OUR ARMAMENTS. 

         WE WILL NOT TIE OUR HANDS BEHIND OUR BACKS AND ALLOW THE

         TURKISH AIR FORCE TO BOMB OUR TOWNS AND VILLAGES AT 

         WILL, AS IT HAS DONE IN THE PAST.



                           //END ACT//



TURKISH TROOPS INVADED CYPRUS IN 1974 IN RESPONSE TO A COUP IN 

NICOSIA BACKED BY GREECE.  THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE SINCE 

DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND SET UP THEIR OWN REPUBLIC IN THE 

NORTH UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE TURKISH ARMY.



DIPLOMATS CLOSE TO THE SITUATION BELIEVE THE TURKISH COMMUNITY IS

CONTENT WITH THE DIVISION. TURKEY HAS WARNED IT WILL UNITE WITH 

THE NORTH IF GREEK CYPRUS BEGINS MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH THE 

EUROPEAN UNION.  THOSE TALKS ARE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR. 

(SIGNED)



NEB/EJ/RRM



















06-Oct-97 11:59 AM EDT (1559 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.