Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-02-03

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

Tuesday, February 3, 1998

Candidates disagree on sovereignty

ALL of Monday's Greek newspapers focused on the election gatherings of the seven presidential candidates.

Phileleftheros says that with the elections being just six days away all candidates are now engaged in fierce attacks against each other's policies.

Regarding the two main contenders, President Clerides and George Iacovou, the paper says that their attacks are mainly directed against each other. They both avoid criticising the other five candidates in view of the fact that they will need to secure their backing to win the second round of elections on February 15.

Regarding the Greco-Turkish dispute the paper says that the United States, through their State Department co-ordinator Thomas Miller, are trying to get the two countries to sign a non-aggression pact.

Alithia says that Diko MP Tasos Papadopoulos has made it clear that a large number of party voters have been annoyed by the party's indecision as to whom to back as candidate in the period leading to the Iacovou candidacy.

The paper says that Papadopoulos is critical of Diko not grabbing the opportunity offered by Akel in the past to announce a candidate of its liking who would then be supported by Akel.

Simerini highlights an opinion poll presented by Logos TV on Sunday night.

According to the results Clerides leads Iacovou by 0.9 percentage points in the first round. The poll showed Clerides again leading Iacovou in the second round by 1.4 percentage points.

The paper also reports on the two main candidates's difference of views regarding the issue of sovereignty in a future federal Cyprus.

Haravghi says that the positions of President Clerides on the issue of sovereignty are `disastrous'.

The paper says that the majority of political parties disagree with Clerides' position that the Turkish Cypriots should be offered `internal sovereignty'.

On another issue the paper says that Cyprus Airways employees yesterday refused to work until election posters of Clerides in their offices were taken down.

To Tharros says that the United Democrats and Edek are discussing the possibility of the two parties forging a united front during the second round of the presidential elections.

The paper says that this solution is favoured by the leaders of the two parties, George Vassiliou and Vassos Lyssarides.

Agon says that members of the election teams of George Iacovou and Glafkos Clerides have already had contacts with officials of smaller parties.

According to the paper these contacts are expected to be intensified this week. The paper does not rule out the possibility of the two main contenders presenting written proof of their policies in order to secure backing by the smaller parties during the second round of the elections.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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