Turkey defies U.S. call, renews threat on Cyprus

Turkey defies U.S. call, renews threat on Cyprus

ANKARA (AFP): Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller warned yesterday that Turkey will not allow the Greek Cypriots to deploy long- range missiles despite a U.S. call to refrain from threats to attack the divided Mediterranean island.

Turkish-Cypriot Rauf Denktash, meanwhile, threatened to send settlers into the deserted Greek-Cypriot coastal resort of Varosha, which would in effect scuttle any chances of a political settlement to end the division of Cyprus.

"It is out of the question for these missiles to be deployed," Ciller, who is also deputy prime minister, told a press conference.

Turkey "will not remain idle and allow the island to be transformed into a powder-keg," she said. Her country would "do what is necessary, even if that means strikes."

The U.S. State Department warned Turkey on Thursday to stop threatening military action if the Greek Cypriots go ahead with the deployment of the Russian S-300 missiles.

"It would be completely out of bounds for Turkey to take this action," said spokesman Nicholas Burns. "There is no reason for the Turkish government to threaten anybody."

Ciller said Turkey has protested to Russia over the missile deal with Cyprus. The contract was announced last Saturday but the missiles are not expected to arrive for up to eight months.

Joining in the threats, Denktash warned that the Turkish- Cypriots would occupy Varosha if the missiles are deployed.

The resort, which the Turkish army has wired off since its 1974 invasion of the northern third of Cyprus, will be "integrated socially and economically to the Famagusta region," he said, quoted by the Turkish-Cypriot news agency TAK.

Denktash also said he was withdrawing support for a package of UN confidence-building measures. The proposals were "meaningless ... given the bad intentions shown by the Greek- Cypriots in buying the missiles," he said.

Under the proposals, Varosha was to be returned to the Greek- Cypriots and Nicosia airport, also closed since 1974, reopened for use by both communities.

Amid the rising tension since the announcement of the S-300 contract, Turkish Defense Minister Turhan Tayan warned Wednesday that his country could strike southern Cyprus.

"We could do what we did in 1974," he said in a reference to Turkey's invasion. "If necessary, we could strike."

Nicosia says the missile system is purely defensive, but the United States and Britain maintain it will lead to an arms build- up which undermines efforts to end the 23-year division.

Turkish mainland forces invaded northern Cyprus after a coup in Nicosia backed by the military junta then ruling Greece. A breakaway Turkish-Cypriot state declared in 1983 is recognized only by Ankara.

Britain, the former colonial power in Cyprus, has called for restraint from all sides through its embassies in Athens and Ankara, the Foreign Office in London said yesterday.