DATE=  10/13/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221170

TITLE= TURKEY/CYPRUS (S/L VER)

BYLINE= AMBERIN ZAMAN

DATELINE= ANKARA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



       ///// TO OPT NOTATION FOR A SHORTER VERSION. /////



INTRO:  U-S SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, HELD 

TALKS MONDAY IN ANKARA WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL 

AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS.  IT WAS HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE REGION

SINCE BEING APPOINTED TO HIS NEW POST.  FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN 

ZAMAN REPORTS.



TEXT:  SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING WITH TURKISH PRIME 

MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ, MR. HOLBROOKE STRESSED HE HAD  NOT  COME 

TO TURKEY WITH A PEACE PLAN.  HE SAID HE WAS IN TURKEY ONLY TO 

LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF TURKISH OFFICIALS ON A RANGE OF ISSUES, 

WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CYPRUS.  MR. HOLBROOKE ADDED HE WOULD 

RETURN TO WASHINGTON WITH WHAT HE TERMED A VERY POSITIVE VIEW OF 

THE TURKISH POSITION.



IN A STATEMENT FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH MR. HOLBROOKE, TURKISH 

PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL SAID THE CYPRUS PROBLEM SHOULD  NOT  

BE ALLOWED TO IMPINGE ON TURKISH U-S RELATIONS.  SOME WESTERN 

DIPLOMATS INTERPRETED THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS AS A CLEAR WARNING TO

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION THAT TURKEY WELCOMES U-S INTEREST IN 

THE ISSUE, BUT IT DOES NOT WANT TO BE PRESSURED BY AMERICA.



                   /// REST OPT FOR LONG /// 



THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND REMAINS DIVIDED BETWEEN GREEK AND 

TURKISH CYPRIOTS SINCE TURKISH TROOPS INTERVENED IN 1974 AFTER A 

GREEK-BACKED COUP AIMED AT JOINING THE ISLAND WITH GREECE.  

EFFORTS BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO NEGOTIATE A LASTING PEACE HAVE 

FAILED, SO FAR.



TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES MOUNTED IN RECENT MONTHS AFTER

THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUY AND DEPLOY 

RUSSIAN-MADE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ON THE ISLAND.  TURKEY HAS 

THREATENED TO STRIKE THE MISSILES, IF AND WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYED.

GREECE SAYS IT WOULD CONSIDER ANY TURKISH MILITARY ACTION AGAINST

THE GREEK CYPRIOTS AS AN ACT OF WAR AGAINST GREECE.   (SIGNED) 



NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE



13-Oct-97 11:11 AM EDT (1511 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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