(13 Jan 1997) English/Nat
U-S envoy Carey Cavanaugh says the immediate crisis has been defused in Cyprus after a promise that Russian missiles will not be delivered there for at least 16 months.
However both sides in Cyprus are holding firm in their positions.
Turkish officials warn of a military intervention if the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles are deployed in southern Cyprus, while the Greek-Cypriots say they intend to take delivery on those missiles.
U-S Envoy Carey Cavanaugh arrived at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia for a meeting with Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides.
Carey was sent in to defuse tensions on the divided island after a decision by Greek- Cypriots to buy Russian missiles.
Turkish officials have warned that delivery of these missiles would mean military intervention.
Prior to the meeting with the Greek-Cypriot president, Cavanaugh clearly blamed both Cyprus and Turkey for creating the crisis.
After the one hour meeting Carey was confident the immediate crisis had been defused.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I made clear once again some of the points I announced last night on arriving on this island, that we were upset by this decision to purchase the missiles, that we don't tolerate any prospect of a military response to that decision. I would like to tell you that I did not ask President Clerides to cancel that decision, I did not raise that item at all. What he did though, and I find this very helpful, is he gave assurances that not a single component of those missile systems would be brought to this island in the next 16 months. I believe that should effectively defuse this as a crisis issue for Cyprus. People should not be talking now about concerns of conflict, here because that is not a problem of today.
SUPER CAPTION: Carey Cavanaugh, U-S Special Envoy
The Greek-Cypriots have said all along that they would deploy the missiles in 12 to 18 months time.
However the Greek-Cypriot side again made it clear that they would not back down from taking delivery on those missiles.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This offer is there, we signed it, it stands imposed, but nothing will arrive within the next 16 months of the conference of this agreement to Cyprus. Therefore focusing attention on what will happen after 16 months is not the right policy. Focusing attention on what we will do today for a solution to the Cyprus problem is the key issue.
SUPER CAPTION: Alekos Michaelides, Greek-Cypriot Foreign Minister
Cavanaugh then crossed into the north for a meeting with the Turkish-Cypriot leader.
He was somewhat less upbeat after that meeting.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I would say it's to early to say the tension has been fully reduced. I think what we have seen is a serious reduction in the tension as regards to the situation with the Russian missiles. What we hope is what we now see are indications that there will very quickly be steps taken that will reduce tension along the cease fire lines.
SUPER CAPTION: Carey Cavanaugh, U-S Special Envoy
The shuttle diplomacy will continue as Cavanaugh heads for Athens on Monday night and to Ankara by midweek.
The Turkish-Cypriot side is also holding firm with the leader that they're not ready to rethink a response on the missile deployment.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Turkey has made it absolutely clear that Turkey will not allow these missiles to come into Cyprus. So the Greek side has to consider what provocation this is to Turkey, to a neighbour and what provocation it is to us and should stop it if they really mean business in talking resolution with us.
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