Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 97-10-07

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Tuesday, October 7, 1997

Authorities probe ship fire

INQUIRIES into the blaze aboard the Cypriot cruise liner Romantica, US efforts to push for a Cyprus settlement and Akel's call to other opposition parties to unite against the Clerides government were the main stories in yesterday's press.

Simerini says police and the Department of Merchant Shipping were carrying out separate investigations into the accident on board the Romantica. They aim to give answers to the more general issue of the safety of Cyprus shipping. They will also seek to resolve contradictory statements on how the crew handled the emergency. The paper also quotes the police spokesman who said preliminary investigations show there is no criminal case to answer.

Alithia also leads on the inquiries into the shipping accident. "Inquiries in all directions" the newspaper says, adding that there will be pollution if the ships sinks. And it notes that Russian ambassador Georgi Muratov had complained the Russian embassy had not been notified about the accident -- even though there were 226 Russians aboard the ship. Communications Minister Leontios Ierodiaconou said this was a mistake, and expressed his apologies.

In another story Alithia reports on the bomb farce at Larnaca airport which led to a seven-hour delay to a Paris-bound Cyprus Airways airplane.

Phileleftheros says experts' temporary conclusions indicate the ship fire was an accident, but adds nothing conclusive can be said until the inquiries are completed. The paper's main story is on the Cyprus issue. It says the United States was working on two fronts to promote a Cyprus settlement. It says the US was trying to keep expectations down, but was working to help Ankara improve its relations with the EU. The second front was to bolster initiatives to attain some progress on security and humanitarian issues. It adds that the only things US presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke appears to have clear-cut views on is the need for a more general give and take to break the protracted stalemate on the Cyprus issue.

In another story Phileleftheros reports on the resumption on the Cyprus- EU political dialogue. And it says the legal services of the US State Department were trying to find a formula which would allow Turkish-Cypriot participation in the Cyprus-EU accession talks.

Haravgi leads with Akel general secretary Demetris Christofias' invitation to opposition parties to work to secure a change of government. The paper says Akel is extending a hand of friendship to all the democratic parties, urging them to concentrate on beating Glafcos Clerides in the polls.

Agon says Ankara had deceived the US on the S-300 missiles, issuing a statement different from the one agreed. It says Washington was unhappy with Turkey's behaviour.

To Tharos newspaper leads with the forthcoming military exercise Nikiforos '97. It says the exercise will include a landing scenario by Greek forces, adding that Defence Minister Akis Tsohatsopoulos is due in Cyprus on October 13 to watch the exercise.

© Copyright 1997 Cyprus Mail

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