Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-04-15

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

Wednesday, April 15, 1998

US paving ground for Dayton-style talks

MOST Greek newspapers report on rumours that the US is paving the ground for a Dayton-style peace conference to solve the Cyprus problem later this year.

Phileleftheros says that the government is expecting that if the US decides to go ahead with a conference along the lines of the one that was held for Yugoslavia, the invitation for it will come from the United Nations and not the US itself.

The government expects to have a better understanding of the intentions of the US after the visit to the island of the US State Department's Special Co-ordinator Thomas Miller and US Presidential Envoy Richard Holbrooke.

On another issue the paper says that the police are out in force these days to prevent further injuries caused by Easter firecrackers.

Alithia quotes government spokesman Christos Stylianides as saying that the government is ready to enter into negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem as long as they are conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.

The spokesman said that the form the talks take is not as important as the fact that this form does not in any way challenge the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

Simerini says that during his visit to Cyprus early next month Holbrooke will present the two Cypriot leaders with an invitation to talks directly from US President Bill Clinton.

The paper says that the United States are aiming for a conference on the Cyprus problem which will be opened by Clinton himself.

On a related issue the paper reports that the Brussels Group, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen, are making progress in the formation of a team of experts which will undertake to restore historic monuments on both sides of the dividing line.

Machi reports that the Denktash regime has offered Turkish Cypriot holders of a Cyprus Republic passport a grace period of 90 days to hand them back.

According to the paper anyone who fails to do so will be `prosecuted'.

Haravghi says that if the interest rates are liberalised the Cypriot economy is expected to take a heavy blow.

According to the paper the government is planning to go ahead with the liberalisation in four stages. During the first stage Cypriots will be allowed to borrow in foreign currency and interest rates will be allowed to fluctuate above or below the current nine per cent.

Agon reports that a Dayton-style conference as an idea does not appeal to the government because there is the possibility that it will be invited to participate as a community together with the Turkish Cypriot community and the three guarantor powers.

On the other hand Nicosia considers this to be a way to overcome Denktash's demands that the talks are conducted on a state-to-state basis.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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