Clerides and Greek PM in agreement on missiles

The Greek Cypriot President has apparently persuaded the Greek Prime Minister to agree to the installation in November of two batteries of Russian S-300 ground-to-air missiles on Cyprus, despite Turkish threats to "take out" the missiles once they are deployed.

Following talks in Athens between President Glafkos Clerides and Mr Costas Simitis on Thursday, the leaders announced, "there is no decision for a postponement" beyond November.

This stand was adopted in defiance of warnings from the US and Britain of the possibility of conflict embracing both Cyprus and Greece, which, under a "joint defence dogma" has pledged to defend Cyprus if attacked by Turkey.

Washington, London and the UN have asked Cyprus to cancel or suspend the missile deal with Russia. Moscow, more interested in the $600 million earned from the sale than Turkey's reaction, has stuck by the deal and guaranteed deployment.

Mr Clerides is facing strong pressure from coalition partners to deploy the missiles or resign, while Mr Simitis, aware that a war with Turkey would wreck the

troubled Greek economy, clearly has been compelled to back the Greek Cypriots with military force against his own best judgment.

Responding to Greek reservations, Mr Clerides offered to cancel or suspend the missile deal if there is progress in negotiations with the Turkish side for the reunification of the island in a bicommunal federation, or the demilitarisation of Cyprus, or agreement on a US proposal for a moratorium on military overflights.

However, the Turkish side rejected these three "face-saving" propositions and insists that the order for the missiles should be cancelled without any quid pro quo. Ankara has adopted a tough line ahead of general elections next April.

Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, now insists that the UN plan for a "federation" linking the two Cypriot communities is no longer feasible: only a loose "confederation" is a possibility if and when the international community recognises the sovereignty of the breakaway Turkish entity in the northern third of the island.

Given the strong stance adopted by the Turkish side it is not surprising that Hellenism prevailed in the encounter between the Greek Cypriot president and the Greek Prime Minister.

This is an unequal contest. Turkey has an expeditionary force of 35,000 troops and 500 main battle tanks on the island. The 10,000strong Cyprus National Guard with 100 tanks and supported by 900 regular Greek army troops is hardly a match for this force.

At the moment it would seen that a war between Greece and Turkey - ultimately encompassing the entire Balkan region - can be averted only if a crisis-ridden Russia defaults on the S-300 deal.