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02 January, 1999
Tuesday's decision by Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides to deploy Russian S -300 missiles on the Greek island of Crete instead of Cyprus is within the framework of the Greek-Cyprus joint defence pact, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Thursday.
Speaking in Thessaloniki, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that the d ecision was in no way an indication of backtracking.
He called threats from neighbouring Turkey over the decision groundless and noted that "Turkey is facing significant domestic problems ...its slide into threats simply confirms its weakness".
Kranidiotis terms non-deployment of S-300 on Cyprus a 'tactical move':
Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis has assured that the decision not to deploy Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on the island does not undermine a defence agreement between Cyprus and Greece. In an interview with the Cyprus news age ncy CNA, Mr. Kranidiotis stressed that Greece "secures and guarantees Cyprus' defence and promotes the aspirations and interests of Greek Cypriots".
He remarked that "spectacular steps have been made in recent years in the field of defence" and the Cyprus problem had been promoted in diplomatic fora in Europe. Stressing that the defence agreement between Greece and Cyprus goes beyond the S-300, Mr. Kranidiotis reaffirmed Greece's commitment that "any Turkish offensive move against Cyprus is cause for war for Greece".
Commenting on the prospects of deploying the S-300 surface-to-air missiles on the Greek island of Crete, Mr. Kranidiotis said it is in the framework of the joint defence pact agreed between Cyprus and Greece (in 1993). He stressed that the qualitative upgrading of Cyprus' defence capability had been decided.
The Greek official described the decision not to deploy the missiles on the island as a "tactical move", adding that the decisive factor was to secure Cyprus' vested interests. Mr. Kranidiotis repeated that Greece stands for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and pointed out that militarisation favours Turkey which aims at creating tension and disorientation from the real nature of the problem. "The first aim should be the implementation of the two recent UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and the use of their positive elements," Mr. Kranidiotis said. "The second aim should be the withdrawal of US-made arms on the island in violation of US legislation," he added, noting that they are in the possession of the Turkish occupation forces and stressed that Greece would press towards this goal.
Mr. Kranidiotis underlined as a third aim "the promotion of Cyprus' accession course to the European Union," pointing out that "it is a catalyst in developments in the Cyprus problem".
Concluding the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country's determination to continue working hard for a solution of the Cyprus problem and stressed that "the Cyprus problem calls for greater national unity".
Source: Athens News Agency
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