Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-04-23

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

Thursday, April 23, 1998

Peace drive sparks suspicion

THE LATEST drive by the US to set up a new round of negotiations on Cyprus, involving Turkey and Greece, was main story in all of yesterday's papers.

Phileleftheros reported that the Americans were still uncertain as to how to convince all the interested parties to attend such talks. State Department envoy, Thomas Miller's "lightning visit" to the island was aimed at gauging the feelings of the Cyprus government about such a meeting.

Miller, who refused to give any details about the US plans, admitted that a lot of work had to be done with Turkey, but declined to say what could be expected from Ankara at present. The US had no objection to the talks being held under the UN umbrella as long as Washington had the initiative.

Haravghi gave prominence to the communist party Akel's hostile stance towards the US efforts. It quoted party leader Demetris Christofias as saying that the US wanted the Cyprus problem "closed regardless of the nature of the settlement".

This was unacceptable as any settlement had to be based on principles. Christofias claimed that if Rauf Denktash pushed his demand "for some kind of recognition" of the pseudo-state, there would be no chance for significant developments.

Simerini also took a hostile stance towards a possible quadripartite meeting involving Turkey, Greece, the Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriots. Such a meeting would downgrade the standing of President Clerides and upgrade that of Denktash it said.

Party leaders had described the holding of such a meeting as the "beginning of the end of the Cyprus Republic". The government denied that Miller had made such a proposal, although the paper said the US would be looking at this "formula".

Alithia noted that party leaders (Edek, Diko, Akel), despite the fact that no-one knew what form the peace talks would take, had voiced opposition to the US initiative. In contrast, Clerides and the Greek government said they welcomed the US move.

It also quoted the government spokesman as saying that the matter of the quadripartite meeting had not been raised. Quoting political circles, the paper said that the US was still looking for a formula for peace talks.

Machi said that the US had already prepared a formula for a resumption of the talks, that would be different from that employed by Sir David Hannay and Diego Cordovez, as it would not concentrate on constitutional aspects but on an overall settlement.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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