Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-04-22

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

Wedneday, April 22, 1998

Green light for peace conference?

ONLY two newspapers were published yesterday because of the Easter holidays. They both reported the arrival and talks in Cyprus of US State Department's Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller. The American diplomat was in Cyprus for less than 24 hours on Monday and met both President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Apogevmatini notes that following his meeting with Miller Denktash appeared very positive about the US initiative to solve the long-standing Cyprus problem.

The paper says that Miller appears to have the green light from both sides for the American government to arrange for a four-party peace conference on the Cyprus issue.

Following his meeting with the American diplomat Denktash left for consultations in Ankara.

The paper points out that following the meeting Denktash did not renew his recent demands for the intercommunal talks to resume but on a state-to- state basis this time.

On another issue the paper says that during the Easter holidays there was increased activity by smugglers in the eastern sector of the Green Line, in the Kokkinotrimithia area.

The paper says that an eyewitness was chased by the smugglers moving in cars with no registration plates but managed to escape and notify the police. No arrests have been announced.

The paper also reports that because of over-eating 1,800 people were admitted to hospitals in 48 hours during the holidays.

Dilini reports that a four-party conference on the Cyprus problem appears certain to materialise in the summer.

The paper says that if the two sides agree on certain issues during US Presidential Envoy Richard Holbrooke's visit to Cyprus in May, American President Bill Clinton will then assume a more active role in the bid to solve the dispute.

The American mediators want the two Cypriot communities as well as Turkey and Greece to participate in a conference to be held somewhere near Washington D.C., USA.

The paper quotes diplomatic sources as saying that Denktash appears to be adopting a more conciliatory stance following his meeting with Thomas Miller on Monday.

Dilini predicts that the following days will be characterised by intense back-stage diplomatic activity in an effort to finalise plans for the four-party peace conference.

On another issue the paper says that although there were no deaths this year from the use of Easter firecrackers there were a lot of serious injuries.

A 16-year-old, Panayiotis Spetsiotis, of Xylophagou, is in hospital with first and second degree burns following a firecracker explosion on Saturday night. Spetsiotis has been reported in serious condition but out of danger.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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