Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-08-04

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

Tuesday, August 4, 1998

Athens ignores Nicosia on missiles?

MOST newspapers led with a variety of speculative reports, primarily based on stories that had appeared in the previous day's Athens papers, about the Russian missile saga.

Simerini said that the Greek government was attempting to create a climate in favour of the cancellation of the missiles' deployment in Cyprus, regardless of Nicosia's wishes. It had pursued this objective by leaking reports that it is in favour of US proposals for the non-deployment of the missiles, the paper said.

It cited a report in an Athens Sunday paper with close links to the Foreign Ministry, which said that the US proposal would ensure a flight moratorium in exchange for the cancellation of the missile order. A report in another Greek paper, demanded that Nicosia should decide what it wants and stop criticising the Athens government.

Alithia, also citing Athens press reports, said that the US was working on a formula regarding the cancellation of the missile deployment in exchange for an overflights ban. This agreement would be monitored by Nato, using the radar systems of the British bases.

Greek Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis was expected in Nicosia this week to brief the Cyprus government. Yesterday he was scheduled to meet US ambassador Nicholas Burns to discuss how the American proposals would be implemented.

To Tharros said that the main objective of the US, which was supported by Britain, was to turn Cyprus into a Nato base in order to prevent Russia's presence. All proposals, formulated by the Pentagon, served the "geo- strategic interests of the US".

Quoting an Athens press report, it said the US wanted, as part of a settlement, to create a neutral zone in Cyprus under the jurisdiction of 6, 000 Nato soldiers. The immediate aim was the cancellation of missiles deployment, while the general aim was to prevent Russian presence in Cyprus, only 70 miles away from Israel's and Syria's coasts.

Phileleftheros said that the Cyprus government had been on the receiving end of requests to repeat its invitation for the participation of Turkish Cypriots in EU accession negotiations.

This request had been made by British envoy Sir David Hannay on his last visit, by the representative of the Austrian presidency of the EU and by a delegation from The Netherlands. President Clerides was urged to make an official call to the Turkish Cypriots rather than repeat the invitation in his public statements.

Haravghi reported that Akel leader Demetris Christofias had submitted a proposal to the National Council suggesting that all members of the National Council hold a meeting in Athens with the Greek Prime Minister to discuss the "critical situation", surrounding the national problem.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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