Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 97-11-11

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

Tuesday, November 11, 1997

Holbrooke's visit puzzling

MONDAY'S Greek newspapers focused their attention on the continuing uncertainty as to whether Diko ministers in the Clerides administration would leave their posts before Wednesday and the visit to Cyprus by US presidential emissary Richard Holbrooke.

Phileleftheros says that Diko is not ruling out a new coalition with Disy but without Clerides as the common candidate this time around.

The paper says that the ministers were to meet Clerides yesterday to discuss with him the problems that have been created by Diko's insistence that they cut ties with the government immediately.

On Holbrooke's visit the paper notes that the US diplomat aims to pave the ground for the scheduled initiative after the presidential elections in February.

Alithia seems more informed if one is to judge by its story on the visit. The paper claims that Holbrooke will try to secure a `mini-deal' on issues like confidence-building measures and military exercises.

The paper says that he will exert both political and economic pressure during his meeting with Clerides and Denktash in Nicosia today.

Regarding the February elections the paper says that according to Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades various people are expected to announce in the next few days their support for the President's candidacy.

Simerini says that foreign diplomats have branded Holbrooke's visit to the island as crucial.

Quoting well-informed sources the paper says that important steps need to be taken in the period up to the presidential elections in Cyprus.

In another story Simerini says that a priest claims that his daughter has been brainwashed to enter the monastery of Ayios Heraklidios in Nicosia as a nun.

Haravghi highlights comments by Diko's Press Officer Andreas Constantinou who said that his party will never again vote for Glafkos Clerides.

The Diko official said that Diko will discuss a coalition with Disy but for the support of another common candidate, not President Clerides.

To Tharros says that the real motive behind Holbrooke's visit to Cyprus is the Iraq crisis and not the Cyprus problem.

The paper says that in the event of a military strike against Iraq the US are planning to use the military airports at Akrotiri and Lefkoniko.

Agon says that the five Diko ministers are reported to differ as to when they should leave their posts.

The paper says that Defence Minister Costas Eliades is the only one supporting that they all leave immediately.

Two other proposals being discussed are that they leave after their meeting with Clerides and the third that they stay on until Wednesday.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1997

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