CNS Resources on the Missile Crisis over Cyprus

Conflict Averted: The Decision Not to Deploy on Cyprus

Following 29 December 1998 consultations with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Cypriot National Council, Cypriot President Glavkos Clerides announced that he had decided against deploying the Russian-built S-300PMU-1 surface-to-air missile [SAM] system on Cyprus. Clerides said that after discussing the issue with the Cypriot National Council, "the positions of the parties were clear. 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 also says that "my only and exclusive guideline in taking this decision was the best interest of the Cyprus people and the broader interests of Hellenism." According to Clerides, his decision was not the result of "giving in to pressure, threats and blackmail."[1] He adds that "I assume the responsibility for this decision and I feel duty bound to underline that my only and exclusive guideline in taking this decision was the best interest of the Cyprus people and the broader interests of Hellenism," adding that "I do not criticize or renounce as wrong the decision taken at that time [January 1997] to buy and deploy the S-300 missiles in Cyprus."[2]

Domestic Reaction

Reaction among Cyprus' political parties to Clerides' decision has been mixed. Vassos Lyssarides, leader of Cyprus' socialist EDEK party, said that Clerides' decision "will inevitably be interpreted as yielding to pressure and threats from Turkey and others," and announced his party's withdrawal of its coalition with Clerides' Democratic Rally party. On 4 January 1999, Defense Minister Ioannis Omirou and Education Minister Lycourgos Kappasboth EDEK memberssubmitted their resignations in protest of the decision.[3] On 29 December, Aris Spiliotopoulos, spokesman for the opposition New Democracy party, said that the Clerides government was responsible for the outcome of the S-300PMU-1 issue, and that Greece had "cashed in the results" of Clerides' decision.[4] Andreas Christou, parliamentary spokesman for the main opposition party, AKEL, described the decision as the "inevitable end" of the original decision to purchase the S-300PMU-1 missile system, while Democratic Party leader Spyros Kyprianou called Clerides' decision "a very sad development."[5]

However, Nicos Anastasiades, leader of the ruling Democratic Rally party, said the party fully supports the joint decision reached by the Cypriot and Greek governments. Anastiasides' was echoed by George Vassiliou, headed of the coalition United Democrats party, who said that Clerides' move was "correct and courageous."[6] Alexis Ghalanous, president of the Eurodemocratic Renewal party (ERP) described Clerides' decision as a historical failure and heavy political defeat, but added that "our duty continues to be to reinforce the Clerides government through constructive and, if necessary, harsh criticism instead of working to undermine the government or to make it to [sic] resign."[7]

International Reaction

International reaction to Clerides' decision against deploying the S-300PMU-1 system on Cyprus has been largely positive. US State Department spokesman Lee McClenny issued an official statement on 29 December, saying that "we [the United States] welcome and support Clerides' decision not to bring the S-300 missiles to Cyprus. We commend the government of Cyprus for taking this important step to ease tensions on the island." McClenny also said that "this action will give important new impetus to [United Nations] Secretary General [Kofi] Annan's September 30 initiative to reduce tensions and promote a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus dispute."[8] British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook called the decision "a significant contribution to international effortsin which Britain played a prominent partto reduce tensions in the region." Cook also stated that the decision "helps create the conditions necessary for securing a just and lasting political settlement to the Cyprus problem."[9] Austrian Foreign Minister and acting European Union President Wolfgang Schuessel called the decision "a great success for quiet diplomacy."[10]

Turkish officials have expressed opposition to the plan to deploy the S-300PMU-1 system on Crete. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated that "Deploying the missiles on the Greek island of Crete would be a big mistake," adding 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."[11] Meanwhile, the Italian government appears ready to deliver the Aspide short-range SAM system it was previously withholding due to the S-300PMU-1 controversy, and Russia has expressed interest in selling its 12km-range SA-15 SAM system to Cyprus as an alternative to the S-300PMU-1.[12]

Erik Jorgensen, January 1999.
© Center for Nonproliferation Studies,
Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Sources:

1. "President Clerides Announces that Missiles Will Not Be Deployed in Cyprus," Republic of Cyprus, 30 December 1998, (http://www.pio.gov.cy).

2. "President Clerides Announces that Missiles Will Not Be Deployed in Cyprus," Republic of Cyprus, 30 December 1998, (http://www.pio.gov.cy).

3. "Two Cypriot Ministers Resign in Missile Row," Reuters, 4 January 1999; in Infoseek, 4 January 1999, (http://www.infoseek.com).

4. "Greek Opposition Reacts to Athens-Nicosia S-300 Decision," Athens News Agency, 30 December 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-364, 30 December 1998.

5. "Cypriot Parties React to President's Decision on S-300," Cyprus News Agency (Nicosia), 29 December 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-364, 30 December 1998.

6. "Cypriot Parties React to President's Decision on S-300," Cyprus News Agency (Nicosia), 29 December 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-364, 30 December 1998.

7. Maria Miltiadhou, "Cypriot Party Leaders Supports S-300 Decision," Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (Nicosia), 31 December 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-365, 31 December 1998.

8. "U.S. Welcomes Cyprus' Decision on Russian Missiles," Xinhua, 29 December 1998, in Lexis-Nexis, 29 December 1998, (http://web.lexis-nexis.com).

9. "Britain Welcomes Cyprus Government Decision Not to Deploy S-300 Missiles," Agence France Presse, 30 December 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, 30 December 1998, (http://web.lexis-nexis.com).

10. "President Clerides Announces that Missiles Will Not Be Deployed in Cyprus," Republic of Cyprus, 30 December 1998, (http://www.pio.gov.cy).

11. Elie Austa, "Cyprus Says No to Missiles but Turkey Still Threatening," Agence France Presse, 30 December 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, 30 December 1998, (http://web.lexis-nexis.com).

12. "Italy Said Ready to Sell Aspide Missiles to Cyprus," Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Television Network (Nicosia), 28 December 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-363, 29 December 1998. Pambos Kaskanis, "Italy Ready to Export Missiles to Cyprus," O Filelevtheros (Nicosia), 31 December 1998, p. 1; in FBIS-WEU-98-365, 31 December 1998. Pambos Kaskanis, "Cyprus' Purchase of TOR Missiles Linked to Aspides," O Filelevtheros (Nicosia), 8 January 1999, p. 10; in FBIS-WEU-99-008, 8 January 1999.


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