Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-02-21

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

Saturday, February 21, 1998

Post-election rifts develop

STORIES about the aftermath of the presidential elections and the efforts to set up a national unity government continued to feature prominently on the front pages.

Alithia was the only exception, leading with report about the "unprecedented mobility in the Cyprus problem". UN special representative Gustave Feissel had gone to UN headquarters for talks and would return with a plan for the peace efforts.

US ambassador Kenneth Brill would be going to Washington to discuss with State Department officials when the US initiative would begin. Next week Sir David Hannay, acting as representative of the EU would also be in Cyprus. These moves proved President Clerides's prediction, that immediately after the elections peace initiatives would be undertaken, correct.

Machi once again alleged that a power struggle was taking place within the communist party Akel, after Sunday's election defeat. A group, backing leader Demetris Christofias have been trying to convince the party that he is irreplaceable.

The team, supposedly, was countering calls for Christofias' resignation, prompted by the election defeat. It was also involved in a whispering campaign against leading members, who were after the leadership, claiming the that the pretenders would be unable to unite the party.

Haravghi reported that the "triumvirate of the presidential palace" (under-secretary Pantelis Kouros, finance minister Christodoulos Christodoulou and foreign minister Ioannis Cassoulides) was back in charge, choosing the ministers and provoking strong reactions from Disy.

Disy members are angry because Clerides will not replace the old Disy ministers as he had promised. There is anger in Disy about the intention to appoint a non-Disy member, Christos Stylianides, government spokesman, while the triumvirate is opposed to George Vassiliou being put in charge of EU negotiations, the paper said.

Simerini reported that both Diko and Akel had declined Clerides' invitation to join a national unity government. In a letter responding to Clerides' invitation, Diko said that the decision to include two Diko rebels in the cabinet ruled out the possibility of the party joining a unity government.

Akel took an even more hardline stance, saying that fundamental differences existed, on the handling of the Cyprus problem and the approach to the coup, between the party and Clerides.

Agon claimed that Edek leader Dr Vassos Lyssarides was considering whether to accept the offer to become foreign minister. He admitted that close associates and friends had encouraged him to accept, but he had not taken a final decision.

Phileleftheros reported that the contract of service of National Guard chief, General Nicolaos Vorvolakos, which expired at the end of 1997 would be extended to the end of this year. This was made necessary because of the critical phase the Cyprus problem was entering and the imminent arrival of the S-300 missiles.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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