By Jean Christou
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday insisted that today’s meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis would not focus on the Russian-made S-300 missiles ordered by Cyprus.
But in Athens, Simitis said the missiles would top the agenda of the key talks in the Greek capital, which will also be attended by the foreign and defence ministers of both countries.
Leaving yesterday for Athens, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said the meeting was simply part of a regular exchange of views, although he did not rule out that the issue of the missiles might be raised.
“The President is not going to Athens to discuss the issue of the missiles, ” Cassoulides said at Larnaca Airport.
“He is going to discuss all the parameters of the Cyprus problem; if the missiles are part of these parameters, then he will discuss that as well.”
Media speculation in Greece and in Cyprus has been running high in the run- up to the meeting, suggesting Simitis will impress upon the government the need to back down on the high-risk missile deployment strategy.
It is thought a final decision may be taken on where, when and whether to deploy the S-300s (although any such decision would still have to be ratified in Nicosia by the National Council), with Athens looking to find a way out for the Cyprus government which has come under heavy international pressure to scrap the deal.
Ankara has consistently threatened military action over the S-300s. Last week, Turkey’s second highest-ranking general warned Greece that war would break out if the weapons were deployed in Cyprus.
Persistent speculation that the missiles might go to Crete instead has been denied by the government.
But at a news conference yesterday, Simitis would not directly deny that the missiles could end up in Crete.
“The S-300s are not an end in themselves. We will discuss and decide which course helps solve the problem,” he said.
Back in Larnaca, Cassoulides said no one should expect to see a decision at today’s meeting, saying it was likely to produce “neither black nor white smoke”.
“This is a regular, routine meeting to exchange views and assessments about all parameters of the problem,” he insisted.
Meanwhile Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou would not comment yesterday on reports that Israel and Greece would establish a military co-operation deal similar to the arrangement Israel has with Turkey.
“We shall wait for the formal proposal of the Israeli Minister to Athens,” Omirou said. “This is something we are interested in and we shall pursue it.”
