CNS Resources on the Missile Crisis over Cyprus

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Cyprus, the S-300PMU-1 Missile System, and Regional Security:
An Annotated Chronology.[1]

Update -- 1 February 1999.

December 1998

12/29 After meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and other top Greek officials, and with the Cypriot National Council, Cypriot President Glavkos Clerides announces that the S-300PMU-1 missile system will not be deployed on Cyprus. Clerides says that after presenting the views of the Greek government on the issue to the Cypriot National Council, "the positions of the parties were clear, as it was also clear that there was no unanimity. As a result of this, as President of the Cyprus Republic, being fully aware of the responsibilities I am shouldering and being fully conscious of the critical times our national issue is passing through, I reached the decision not to deploy the missiles in Cyprus and I agreed to negotiate with the Russian Government for their possible deployment in Crete." Clerides acknowledges that Greece's support for deploying the missiles on Crete instead of on Cyprus weighed heavily in his decision, and he states that the "only and exclusive guideline in taking this decision was the best interest of the Cypriot people and the broader interests of Hellenism." Clerides also says that he stands by his 1997 decision to purchase the S-300PMU-1 missile system from Russia, and that in not deploying the system in Cyprus he is not "giving in to pressure, threats and blackmail."

12/29 Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis comments on Clerides' decision by saying that "it is a decision which the Greek government fully backs." Simitis also declares that Greece remains committed to its joint defense doctrine with Cyprus, and that "Greece guarantees the right of Greek Cypriots to live in security and will continue to defend that right by all means available." According to Simitis, the S-300PMU-1 system will be deployed on Crete, but paid for and operated by Greek Cypriots.

12/29 US Department of State spokesman Lee McClenny praises Clerides' decision, saying that "we [the United States] welcome and support President Clerides' decision not to bring the S-300 missiles to Cyprus and we commend the government of Cyprus for taking this important step for easing tensions on the island."

12/29 Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem says that the Cypriot government made "a very wrong calculation" in its plan to deploy the S-300PMU-1 missile system on Cyprus as a means to pressure Turkey into making concessions on the Cyprus dispute. He adds that Turkey's policy of threatening to destroy the missile system if it was deployed on Cyprus "ended with the Greeks and Greek Cypriots getting themselves into a comical situation." The Istanbul newspaper Hurriyet hails Clerides' decision as a victory for Turkey, adding that Turkey will now seek to prevent deployment of the missile system on Crete.

12/29 As acting European Union President, Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel calls Clerides' decision "a great success for quiet diplomacy."

12/29 British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook declares that Clerides' decision "is a significant contribution to international efforts-in which Britain played a prominent part-to reduce tensions in the region. It also helps create the conditions necessary for securing a just and lasting political settlement to the Cyprus problem."

12/29 An unidentified Cypriot Defense Ministry official says that following transportation to Crete, at least six to 12 months will be required to ready the S-300PMU-1 missile system for deployment. According to the source, sites must be prepared for the missile system as well as for decoy missiles.

12/30 According to the Nicosia-based I Makhi newspaper, the Cypriot and Greek governments have reached an agreement whereby three batteries of Russian-built SA-15 short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems will be transferred from Greece to Cyprus, as a substitute for the S-300PMU-1 SAM system that was to have been deployed on the island.

12/30 Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem comments on Greek Cypriot President Clerides' proposal to deploy the S-300PMU-1 missile system on Crete instead of Cyprus, saying that "if anyone reckons that Turkey is now going to give in to blackmail over this plan to deploy these weapons outside Cyprus, they are very much mistaken. Turkey has no intention of succumbing to any international pressure over these destructive weapons."

January 1999

1/2 Vassos Lyssarides, leader of Cyprus' socialist EDEK party, states that the decision against deployment of the S-300PMU-1 missile system on Cyprus "was not called for under the circumstances" and announces that his party will withdraw from the coalition with Clerides' Democratic Rally party. Lyssarides says that Clerides' decision will "inevitably be interpreted as yielding to pressure and threats from Turkey and others," and that Cyprus' ministers of defense and educationboth EDEK memberswill resign their posts on 4 January in protest.

1/2 Cypriot defense analyst Aristos Aristotelous says that deployment of the 12km-range Russian SA-15 short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system on Cyprus instead of the S-300PMU-1 system will not provide Cyprus with even a rudimentary air-defense capability. According to Aristotelous, without the protection of at least a medium-range SAM system, the Greek Air Force would be unable to aid Cyprus effectively in the event of a crisis.

1/3 The Athens-based To Vima tis Kiriakis newspaper reports that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) believes that if the S-300PMU-1 missile system had been delivered to Cyprus, Turkey would have conducted a series of provocative military threats to pressure Cyprus to remove the missiles. According to the CIA assessment, Turkey would not have attacked the missiles. However, one US analyst believes that "what would have been highly likely is that Turkish aircraft would fly everyday over Paphos Air Base, thus practically humiliating the joint defense doctrine and the missiles." The CIA reportedly believed that Turkey would have used "bullying" tactics to harm Cyprus' tourism and investment industries, thus creating additional pressure for the removal of S-300PMU-1 missile system.

1/3 Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yannos Kranidiotis writes in the Athens-based To Vima tis Kiriakis newspaper that "as far as Greece is concerned, the Cyprus problem remains the number one national issue of the highest priority in its foreign policy." According to Kranidiotis, there are three objectives to be pursued on the Cyprus problem: implementation of UN resolutions 1217 and 1218, withdrawal of US-made weapon systems from Cyprus, and promotion of Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

1/4 According to a report in the Greek Cypriot newspaper O Filelevtheros, despite the 31 December 1998 expiration of a contract for Aspide short-range surface-to-air missiles, Italy intends to delivery the Aspides to Cyprus.

1/4 According to the Nicosia-based I Simerini newspaper, if the S-300PMU-1 missile system is deployed on Crete, it will be accompanied by approximately 70 Russian military advisors and 170 Cypriot officers trained to operate the system.

1/4 Cypriot Defense Minister Ioannis Omirou and Cypriot Education Minister Lycourgos Kappas, both members of Cyprus' socialist EDEK party, resign their posts in protest of Cypriot President Clerides' 29 December decision against deploying the S-300PMU-1 missile system on the island. Omirou says that the decision was a "severe injury to the sovereign rights of Cyprus. It was a national humiliation."

1/7 Following a meeting with Cypriot President Clerides, Russian ambassador to Cyprus Georgy Muratov says that Russia and Cyprus are discussing pending issues of the S-300PMU-1 contract, including payment for the missile system's storage in Russia.

1/7 Andonis Karras, a deputy of Cyprus' Democratic Rally party, rejects claims that Greece has taken advantage of Cyprus by planning to deploy the S-300PMU-1 missile system ordered by Cyprus on Crete. According to Karras, Greece still fully supports Cyprus under the joint defense doctrine, and has shipped hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons to the island for its defense.

1/9 The Greek and Greek Cypriot press report that Egypt and Syria have expressed interest in purchasing the S-300PMU-1 missile systems formerly destined for Cyprus.

1/9 Commenting in a radio interview on allegations that Cypriot President Glavkos Clerides promised to deploy the S-300PMU-1 missile system on Cyprus only to enhance his chances of re-election, Cypriot government spokesman Khristos Stilianidhis says that both the Cypriot government and opposition parties were guilty of "exaggeration and unnecessary publicity on defense matters." Asked whether this remark applied to Clerides, Stilianidhis replies that "I am under the impression that an admission on the part of the government spokesman implies a lot."

1/10 The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) reports that a joint Greek and Cypriot military air-defense study determined that Cyprus needs a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system with a range of over 70km. The study, conducted prior to January 1997, is reportedly what led to the Cypriot government's tender for a SAM system and to the decision to purchase the Russian-built S-300PMU-1 system. Cypriot military sources reportedly told CyBC that Cyprus requires a SAM system with a range of at least 35km to protect the island from Turkish threats, and that the Russian SAM systems currently being considered for purchase, such as the 12km-range SA-15, do not have sufficient range to meet this requirement.

1/11 United Nations special envoy to Cyprus Ann Hercus resumes efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem by meeting with Greek Cypriot President Glavkos Clerides. Hercus is scheduled to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas later in the week. She reports encouraging signs of progress, but provides no details.

1/11 The Nicosia-based newspaper O Filevtheros reports that Cyprus, Greece, and Russia will sign a new contract for the S-300PMU-1 missile system by January 31. According to the report, the new contract will specify dates for the missile system's transport and delivery to Crete. However, due to "technical obstacles," delivery of the S-300PMU-1 should "not be expected soon."

1/12 The Greek-Cypriot daily newspaper O Filelevtheros reports that the S-300PMU-1 missile system would have arrived on Cyprus between 9 and 15 January 1999, if Cypriot President Clerides had not decided against its deployment on the island. According to the report, prior to Clerides' 29 December decision, Russian government officials proposed using two Russian navy ships to transport the missile system to the island and defend it against attack. Cypriot and Russian government officials reportedly would have negotiated how long the Russian ships would stay in Cyprus following the system's delivery.

1/12 The parliament of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) approves a new coalition government composed of members from the National Unity and Communal Liberation parties. The coalition was formed on 29 December 1998, following legislative elections on 6 December. Dervish Eroglu will continue in his position as TRNC prime minister.

1/12 Incoming Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit says that his government will not waver in support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Ecevit says "the fact that the Greek-Cypriot government had to go back on deploying Russian missiles [i.e., the S-300PMU-1 missile system] on the south of the island was a result of the process of strengthening relations between Turkey and the TRNC. That process will continue under our government."

1/13 Cypriot government spokesman Khristos Stilianidhis announces that Cypriot, Greek, and Russian officials are holding negotiations at Cyprus' Presidential Palace concerning a proposal for Cyprus to purchase short-range Russian SA-15 surface-to-air missile systems as an alternative to the S-300PMU-1 missile system.

1/14 Cypriot government spokesman Khristo Stilianidhis states that the Cypriot government has agreed to halt weapons purchases, if Turkey accepts existing UN resolutions on Cyprus. Cypriot President Glavkos Clerides reportedly sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in which he agreed to postpone weapons acquisitions for a "reasonable" amount of time, in order to allow Turkey to comply with UN resolutions regarding Cyprus. Clerides, however, warns that he cannot postpone pending arms contracts "indefinitely."

1/16 According to the London-based Guardian newspaper, Greek Cypriot economists estimate that the S-300PMU-1 missile saga may cost Cypriot taxpayers more than $300 million. One estimate suggests that the total amounts to approximately $700 for every Greek Cypriot voter. Ioannis Tirkides, an economist with the Cyprus Popular Bank, says that "the whole missile affair has hindered economic growth and had a very negative impact on local fixed investment such as construction." Greek Cypriot defense analyst Aristos Aristotelous declares, "never before has so much money been wasted on military hardware, it has literally gone down the drain."

Sources

1. This chronology of the S-300PMU-1 dispute is based on news reports, official statements, and documents published by AFX News, Agence France Presse, Alithia, Anatolia, Associated Press, ATV, Boston Globe, British American Security Information Council, Business Wire, CNN, Cumhuriet, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Cyprus Mail, Cyprus Weekly, DefenseLINK, Defense News, Defense Week, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Electronic Telegraph, Elevtheros Tipos, Elevtherotipia, Elliniki Radhiofonia Radio Network, Epta, Exousia, Federal Register, Financial Times, The Guardian, Globes, Haaretz, Hurriyet, Independent, I Makhi, Interfax, International Herald Tribune, ITAR-TASS, I Simerini, Izvestia, Jamestown Monitor, Janes Defence Weekly, Jane's Intelligence Review, Jane's Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems, Jerusalem Post, Kaleidoscope, Kommersant Daily, Middle East International, Milliyet, Moscow Times, New York Times, NTV, O Agon, O Filevtheros, O Logos, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Republic of Cyprus, Russkiy Telegraf, Sabah, Segodnya, Sunday Times, Reuters, Toronto Star, To Vima Tis Kiriakis, Turkish Daily News, the United Nations, United States Information Service, Washington Times, Xinhua, and Yeni Yuzyil.

Information from these sources regarding the S-300PMU-1 sale to Cyprus is included in the International Missile Database of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). This database contains over 9,000 abstracts on international sales and development of ballistic and cruise missiles, missile-defense systems, and missile components and technologies. Access to the full collection is only available by subscription. For subscription information click here.

Michael Barletta and Erik Jorgensen, 1 February 1999.
© Center for Nonproliferation Studies,
Monterey Institute of International Studies


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