Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-07

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Israelis - Spying

[02] Clerides - S300 - Statement

[03] Israelis - Remand order

1115:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Israelis - Spying

A Police Spokesman told CNA here Saturday that Udi Hargov, 27, and Igal Damary, 49, were arrested in the early hours in the southern coastal village of Zygi.

Police found photographic lenses, tapes and wireless equipment. According to sources, the frequency of the wireless equipment was adjusted with that of the Police.

CNA AA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides - S300 - Statement

He stated that the National Council is not examining a further postponement of the deployment of the missiles.

The President made the statement, following a reference in the regular report from the European Commission on Progress towards Accession that the missiles' deployment has been delayed until spring 1999, and local press reports that the missiles will be deployed on the Greek island of Crete, instead of Cyprus.

The Commission report said "In January 1997, the government of the Republic of Cyprus placed an order for the purchase of Russian S300 SAM missiles. The delivery of these missiles has been delayed on a number of occasions, most recently until spring 1999..."

An official statement issued in Nicosia today says because of press reports about the surface-to-air missiles, President Clerides "reiterates once again that a public debate on the missiles issue is not in the best interests of Cyprus."

The President clarifies that reports about a postponement (of the deployment of the missiles) "are completely unfounded".

He stresses that as it has been repeatedly said, the decision to postpone the deployment of the missiles was taken by the National Council (the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem), and "only with a new decision of the National Council can this change."

The Cyprus President emphasises that "he has not raised at the National Council any issue for a new postponement of the arrival of the missiles," the statement concludes.

Cyprus ordered the S300 surface-to-air missiles in January 1997, in a bid to bolster the Republic's defence capability in case of a new Turkish offensive.

The US, Britain and other countries have objected to the planned deployment of the missiles while Turkey has threatened to destroy them.

The Cyprus government has said the missiles will be deployed unless there is substantial progress in the peace effort for a comprehensive solution or steps leading to the island's demilitarisation.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Turkey has ignored numerous UN resolutions calling for the immediate withdrawal of its occupation troops from the island.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Israelis - Remand order

Police sergeant Kyriakos Kyriakou told Larnaca District Court Saturday that police were investigating a case of espionage against the National Guard between November 6-7 in the southern coastal village of Zygi.

Udi Hargov, 27, and Igal Damary, 49, arrived on the island yesterday and were staying at a hotel complex in the area.

Kyriakou said policemen were watching the two Israelis after a tip off. Hargov was allegedly seen yesterday moving suspiciously near an army camp at Zygi area.

The court heard that while policemen were searching the Israelis' apartment, acting on a court warrant, one of the suspects switched off one of the two scanners which was in operation at the time and attached to a cassette player.

Police found that the cassette contained conversations of the police wireless, the police offer told the court.

Police also seized tourist maps, containing marked locations. Kyriakou told the court the two Israelis had visited Cyprus between October 15-22, when the National Guard staged its annual exercise code- named "Nikiforos".

Meanwhile, Justice and Public Order Minister, Nicos Koshis, said authorities were also investigating the possibility that the two Israelis were acting at the orders of the Israeli government.

According to Cyprus radio CyBC, Koshis said police discovered documents in the Israelis' possession.

He indicated that the discovery of the documents does not mean they were spying at the orders of their government.

However, he said the possibility is being investigated. The arrest of the two Israelis comes less than a week after Israeli President, Ezer Weizman, paid an three-day state visit to Cyprus, at the invitation of President Glafcos Clerides.

CNA MAN/AA/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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