Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-04-09

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

Thursday, April 9, 1998

Clerides opposes Denktash moves

DEVELOPMENTS in the Cyprus issue, the visit of the Italian deputy foreign minister Pierro Fassino and the fall-out from Cyprus' failure to decriminalise homosexuality were some of the main stories in today's newspapers.

Phileleftheros leads with the letter from President Clerides to UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan protesting over efforts by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to change the basis of the talks. Clerides said the Turkish move hurts the negotiating effort with unpredictable consequences not only for Cyprus but for peace and stability in the region. He urged the UN Security Council to reiterate its commitment to a peaceful settlement on the basis of the high-level agreements and within this context tell the Turkish-Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table.

On the visit of deputy foreign minister Pierro Fassino, the paper says Italy had given assurances it would not impose an arms embargo on Cyprus.

On the same issue Agon says Cyprus and Greece had warned Italy they would cancel all arms contracts from Italian companies if Italy refuses to meet its contractual obligations and deliver the Aspide missiles to Nicosia.

In its main front-page story Agon says there was a split between the government, the House of Representatives and the church on the issue of homosexuality, with Cyprus bound under a decision of the European Court of Human Rights to decriminalise homosexuality.

Machi says the government had made clear to Italy that if the Aspide missiles are not delivered, then it will look elsewhere for arms purchases.

Alithia says President Bill Clinton's envoy on Cyprus Richard Holbrooke was laying the ground for the convening of a Camp David style conference on Cyprus in June. It says that Holbrooke, on his return to Cyprus in May, would suggest a joint meeting between President Clerides and Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the United States. Depending on the progress made, the invitation will be addressed either by Holbrooke or by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The paper also says that Holbrooke's failure to raise the issue of the S- 300 missiles had taken the government by surprise.

Simerini says that Holbrooke considers rapprochement a key to efforts for a Cyprus settlement and has submitted a package of measures in this direction. They include restoration of religious and cultural monuments on both sides of the Green Line, the establishment of mixed schools for Greek and Turkish Cypriots, telephone links and free water from Turkey.

Haravgi leads on a strong statement from Peo's secretary general warning that the trade union movement would not accept a wage freeze nor privatisation of semi-government organisations.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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