Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-04-16

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

Thursday, April 16, 1998

Ambassador warns of `unacceptable' plans

A LEAKED report from Greece's ambassador to the United Nations, Christos Zacharakis, warning that the US State Department was working in support of a Turkish-Cypriot entity is one of the main stories in today's press.

Reaction to an Edek proposal for the establishment of a Council for National Policy was another lead story.

Phileleftheros brands Zacharakis' confidential report on the UN initiative a "bomb" and says the Greek ambassador had made it clear that Athens and Nicosia should tell the US they would not make any more concessions.

According to the report, leaked to the Athens newspaper Vradini, Zacharakis says the US was encouraging Turkey to use Cyprus' EU accession course to "take Cyprus hostage" and push for an unacceptable settlement. Cyprus and Greece had to make clear to Washington they too would not be changing their positions, Zacharakis added.

Haravghi says that the Zacharakis' report revealed the US was promoting recognition of the breakaway state. It says the ambassador sent a dramatic warning to the governments of Cyprus and Greece to detach themselves from the US bandwagon so as to avoid an abhorrent compromise.

On the same report, Simerini talks of Zacharakis' "bitter truths" and says the Greek ambassador had sent a clear warning that President Clinton's Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke and US State Department Special Co- ordinator Thomas Miller were leading the Cyprus problem to an abhorrent compromise which would render Cyprus hostage to Turkey through the European Union.

Machi leads on the same issue. It says Holbrooke has prepared a formula for the recognition of the Turkish-occupied north. And it says the US was so angry the report had been leaked it has asked Athens for explanations.

Alithia says the attorney general has ruled Edek's proposal for a Council for National Policy was unconstitutional. But Edek president Vassos Lyssarides countered the issue was political, not legal and expressed surprise at the reaction of opposition parties.

On the same issue Agon says President Clerides would go ahead and set up the Council because he considered it a political, not a legal issue. Agon says it is possible that some aspects of the proposal which clash with the constitution will be amended, but without altering the substance of the proposal.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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