By Charlie Charalambous
THE GOVERNMENT’S 1999 defence budget is hanging in the balance, with opposition parties saying they will not approve new weapons systems that could take them down the S-300 road.
Today’s scheduled House plenum debate on the defence budget has now been postponed, with Akel and the United Democrats saying they are prepared to vote against any new weapon systems purchases that could sidetrack the peace process.
Diko for its part has declared it has “grave reservations” about approving funds, which leaves Edek and Disy in the minority.
The defence budget was submitted to the House in January, but has been held up at committee stage for over four months as the parties weigh up the political costs of ordering more hardware.
Cyprus last year came under sustained international pressure over its decision to purchase S-300 Russian missiles, with tensions rising to boiling point in the region as a result.
With Turkey threatening to strike the missiles if they were deployed on the island, and Greece visibly uncomfortable with the decision, President Clerides finally scrapped the deal last December.
It is understood that the 1999 budget (whose itemised expenditure is not made public) includes funds for attack helicopters, medium-range Russian missiles and two missile boats.
Party leaders, wanting to avoid the S-300 controversy, have urged Clerides to hold a high-level defence summit in which a coherent and consensual policy on military spending can be thrashed out.
Akel are even calling for the issue to be discussed at the National Council.
“Taking into account the S-300 fiasco, the government should have informed us of their plans before the National Council,” Akel deputy Doros Christodoulides said yesterday.
He also accused the government of not consulting with Greece on planning an effective military programme as part of the 1993 Defence Pact.
United Democrat Michalis Papapetrou said his party, a junior government partner, would not support the buying of new weapons systems this year that could give the Turkish side another excuse to avoid direct peace talks.
“We will vote for the defence budget, but our disagreement is over the purchase of new weapons systems,” Papapetrou said.
“Our defence budget should reflect our political aims,” he added.
Disy deputy Averof Neophytou blamed Akel for dragging its feet in the House Defence Committee in order to cause maximum discomfort for the government.
“Akel have been delaying negotiations because they only gave their written position in April,” Neophytou said.
Committee chairman Takis Hadjidemetriou said it was time to dismiss the S- 300 saga as an isolated incident.
“Cyprus has a need for defence and the strongest possible defence; we need to forget about the S-300s,” said Hadjidemetriou.
