Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-03-07

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

Saturday, March 7, 1998

EU demands appealing proposal

THE main message conveyed to the government by EU commissioner Hans van den Broek and the envoy of the EU British presidency, Sir David Hannay was that a formula for the participation of Turkish Cypriots in accession talks was essential.

Phileleftheros, said that the intransigence of Rauf Denktash on the EU issue, had in no way diminished the resolve of Brussels to secure "the most advanced proposal" for the involvement of Turkish Cypriots in the accession process.

Both Sir David and van den Broek submitted suggestions and ideas, in their meetings with President Clerides, that they hoped would be incorporated in the formulas being worked out by the government. They want the government's final proposal to be as appealing as possible to the Turkish Cypriots so that it would also be deemed satisfactory by the EU, the paper said.

Simerini also spoke of the EU's insistence on the formulation of an appealing proposal for Turkish Cypriots. Van den Broek had made it clear that the EU wanted a formula that would work - allow the taking of decisions without affecting the procedure.

Nicosia, which needs to have its proposal ready by March 15, was given assurances that accession talks would start at the end of March as had been planned. The government declined to comment on Sir David's view that accession negotiations could not be conducted without the Turkish Cypriots.

Alithia reported a gloomy observation by the government's chief negotiator, George Vassiliou, after his meeting with van den Broek. He said: "We can submit proposals that will be acceptable to the EU, but I do not believe there is a power in the world that could make such suggestions that would be acceptable to the Turkish side".

The paper also noted that EU membership and a Cyprus settlement were a joint target of the international community.

Agon said the Attorney-general's office was preparing legal arguments, in an effort to convince the court to issue orders for freezing the bank accounts and assets of suspected drug traffickers. However there are still legal points that needed to be studied, the paper said.

Haravghi gave prominence to Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou's claim that in the second round of the 1993 presidential elections, Edek chief Dr Vassos Lyssarides had suggested backing the candidacy of Glafkos Clerides. Lyssarides denied ever taking such a stand.

Machi described Kyprianou's outburst as a "rabid attack" against Lyssarides, aimed at causing divisions within Edek. The attack, which was not supported by any evidence, proved that Diko had become a satellite of the communist party Akel, the paper said. Akel has been accusing Edek of being responsible for Clerides' election win last month.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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