Sadat cuts ties with Cyprus, calls leader 'a political dwarf'

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 5

Sadat cuts ties with Cyprus, calls leader 'a political dwarf '

NZPA-Reuter Cairo . Cypriot diplomats yesterday prepared to pull out ot Cairo after Egypt severed all ties with the Mediterranean island over the bloodv gun battle between Egyptian commandos and Cypriot troops at the weekend.

On Wednesday Egypt, which lost 15 soldiers killed when its commandos attempted to storm an aircraft commandeered by two Arab gunmen at Larnaca airfield, announced it was severing all ties with Cyprus and withdrawing recognition of the Cypriot President (Mr Spyros Kyprianou). The Cypriot Foreign Minister (Mr John Christophides) said that Egypt’s decision was an act of mque, and Cyprus would not ae retaliating. Dimplomatic observers in Nicosia said ties between the countries had been unusaliy close over the years. The break comes at a crucial time for Mr Kyprianou in his diplomatic initiative to retain the idea of a single State on the Island. Observers say the only other country which does not recognise Mr Kyprianou as President of Cyprus is Turkey, whose troops have occupied the northern sector of the island since July, 1971. The Government in Nicosia has in the past looked to Egypt as an influential Third-World State to support its insistence that it represents the whole island.

i On Wednesday. Dr Ghaii I said Egypt would be taking further measures against Cyprus, but did not elaborate. “Al-Ahram” said that the measures were being discussed but gave no details. Even as President Anwar Sadat’s Government announced its decision efforts were being made to heal the rift. The semi-official Cairo newspaper “AI-Ahram”, said that the Greek Ambassador had offered to mediate and had discussed the affair with Dr Boutros Ghaii, the Deputy Foreign Minister. President Sadat on Wednesday described Mr Kyprianou as a political dwarf.

Speaking to Egyptian commandos after a funeral for the 15 soldiers, President Sadat said: “Today, before you sons, after "(the late President) Makarios, there is no room to deal with such dwarfs.” He also said there was no justification for the Cypriot action against the 'Egyptian commandos. “Cyprus was unable to stop two criminals. Is there a collusion?” he asked. The gunmen, Mr Sadat said, "had insulted President Kyprianou by refusing to talk to him. The perfidious decision of Kyprianou resulted in the martydom of a number of my sons and he should pay the price.” Cyprus has accused Egypt of violating its sovereignty in trying to attack the plane, while Cairo maintains Cyprus was fully informed about the commando raid. “Al-Ahram” said yesterday it would file a court case against the Government of Cyprus for “negligence which led to the killing of Mr Sebai,” the paper’s chief editor, who was killed by the gunmen before they took over the plane. It said Mr Sebai’s family would do the same but did not say where the case would be raised.