Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-02-18

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

Wednesday, February 18, 1998

Six Diko rebels expelled

THE decision by Diko's executive committee to expel six of its members including its vice-president Dinos Michaelides made the front pages of all Greek newspapers yesterday.

Phileleftheros reports that Diko has expelled six of its members accusing them of promoting the candidacy and eventual election to the presidency of Glafcos Clerides instead of party favourite George Iacovou's.

The paper reveals that some of the six members who have been banned from the party are considering taking legal measures after they were branded `traitors' by Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou.

On a related issue the paper says that President Clerides will waste no time in appointing his new Council of Ministers in view of the developments expected soon regarding a new initiative to solve the Cyprus problem.

The paper says that President Clerides had less than 24 hours to celebrate his election victory as contacts on the Cyprus issue started on Monday morning.

Alithia points out that despite of the fact that the six Diko rebels have been expelled Kyprianou has agreed that they can participate in a party congress to be held later to defend their actions.

The paper also points out that other Diko officials who disagreed with the party, like Polyvios Kolokos and Andreas Moushiouttas have not been disciplined. Moushiouttas has expressed his disappointment at the tough stance taken by the Diko executive.

Simerini says that both Akel and Diko have rejected an offer by President Clerides to participate in a national unity government.

The paper says that following Diko's decision not to participate Clerides will probably include in his Council of Ministers Diko rebels Dinos Michaelides and Andreas Moushiouttas.

Agon highlights comments by Archbishop Chrysostomos that a national unity government will be a positive development in domestic politics.

The Archbishop said that he does not know when the new US initiative to solve the Cyprus problem will materialise.

On the Diko issue the paper says that Spyros Kyprianou has inferred that if Clerides appoints any party rebels as ministers he will react strongly.

Machi says that following George Iacovou's failure to get elected he is seriously considering joining the ranks of Diko.

The paper says that Akel and Diko seem to be fond of the idea of forming a united front opposed to the new Clerides administration. The paper points out that following these reports it is evident that Kyprianou was not being serious when he accepted Vassos Lyssarides' proposal for the formation of a new Social-Democratic party in Cyprus.

Akel-backed Haravghi says that following Clerides' election victory on Sunday the Cyprus Stock Market took a plunge on Monday.

The paper says that the market's reaction shows that Clerides' economic policies are not approved of by the leading corporations in the country.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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