Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-06-27

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Saturday, June 27, 1998

Praise for historic Greek visit

ALL YESTERDAY'S papers led with extensive reports about the visit to Cyprus of Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos.

The papers all agreed that the visit had sent "very significant" messages in all directions.

Haravghi noted that the first president of the Greek state to visit Cyprus was given a very warm welcome by the people. It quoted Stephanopoulos as saying that "Greece does not forget nor will it ever forget Cyprus".

He brought the message that "for Greece, Cyprus is a national issue of primary importance". He added that if the need arose, Greece "will be by the side of Cyprus in order to defend legality".

Alithia, describing the visit as an "historic event", said Stephanopoulos had visited Cyprus before, but not in his official capacity. "My position (as president of Greece) makes my visit a holy, national pilgrimage," it quoted him as saying.

The paper also highlighted Stephanopoulos's invitation to Turkey to help make Cyprus a bridge of understanding and co-operation for all the people of the region. Cyprus could become a catalyst for trust between Greece and Turkey as well as between the European Union and Turkey.

Simerini, in a front-page editorial, welcomed Stephanopoulos's pledge to "examine and qualitatively improve the Unified Defence Dogma, which should be continuously updated". This improvement was an imperative if we are to have the potential to counter Turkey's provocations and threats, the paper said.

Cyprus welcomed the president with the most "genuine and enthusiastic feelings", it said and concluded: "Cyprus now expects him to convey these impressions and evaluations to the prime minister of Greece."

Machi also read great significance into the visit. The warm and moving greeting extended to the president, as well as the participation of all political parties in the welcoming ceremony, "proved that Greece is not only our national and political backer, but also a factor for our unity".

"The blue and white flags and patriotic slogans revived the vision for struggle and soothed the national conscience of Cyprus's Greeks," the paper said.

Phileleftheros focused on Stephanopoulos's remark that the wall which divides Cyprus "simultaneously separates Turkey from Europe, because it is the point Europe will stop at if the other side does not change its policies and tactics".

With this crystal-clear message to Greece's European partners and to Ankara, the president began his visit to Cyprus, the paper said. Stephanopoulos said he was "absolutely certain" that Cyprus would join the EU.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article