Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-11-04

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

Wednesday, November 4, 1998

Turkish ties overshadow Weizman visit

THE VISIT to Cyprus by Israeli president Ezer Weizman took the spotlight on yesterday's front pages, with most papers highlighting concerns about Israel's military ties with Turkey.

Simerini, under the headline "Israeli support for Cyprus", says that Weizman's visit strengthens the island's diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. The paper said Tel Aviv saw Cyprus as a gateway to the Arab countries.

The paper also focused on developments in the investigation into the attempted murder of Andreas Xiourouppas in Larnaca last month.

According to the paper, Xiourouppas - speaking to journalist Dimitris Mamas on Sigma - described his attacker as a Black Sea Russian.

Alithia says that the military agreement between Israel and Turkey overshadows Weizman's visit. The paper says the visit itself is, "an attempt to make light of Cyprus' worries on the agreement".

Phileleftheros says the Israel-Turkey agreement is at the centre of President Weizman's contacts. The paper says the Israeli government is insisting that the agreement has no bearing on Cyprus-Israel relations.

The paper also gives attention to another attempted murder, that of Loucas Fanieros in August.

Phileleftheros sources are quoted as saying that a Larnaca resident has given a written testimony to police, naming two people as the attackers. The two assailants, according to the paper, are already in police custody facing other serious charges.

Machi continues its attack on political parties that allegedly received funding from a company associated to Junta collaborator Vasilis Vintzilaious. There was an outcry earlier in the year when Vintzilaious was allowed into Cyprus despite his presence on the 'stop-list'.

The paper says that centre-right party Diko was given a total of £30,000 months before the last general elections.

Haravghi highlights Russian ambassador Georgi Mouratov's statement that he did not include communist party Akel in his statement on those that opposed military co-operation between Russia and Cyprus. Mouratov was quoted as saying that "Akel is at the forefront of the battle we are waging to develop friendly relations between Russia and Cyprus."

The paper also gave attention to unedited footage shown on television the previous night showing the beating of the illegal immigrants being held in Larnaca. Haravghi says the footage showed the immigrants being taken back to their cells after the fire was put out and then taken out into the yard once again to be beaten.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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