Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-02-02

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

Tuesday, February 02, 1999

Athanasios certain to become bishop

YESTERDAY'S papers had little in common on their front pages. The one common story featured in the majority of the papers was the second round of voting for the new Bishop of Limassol.

Phileleftheros said that the odds on favourite for the position, Abbot of Machairas Athanasios, would receive the votes of all 50 representatives chosen on Sunday to vote. The paper continued that Athanasios would almost certainly overcome his rival, Archimandrite Kyprianos Apserou. In the first round, the paper recalled, 150 of the 200 special representatives elected by the people of Limassol were Athanasios supporters. The 50 general representatives chosen on Sunday were chosen from these 200. They, along with 23 clergymen chosen by the Holy Synod, will make their final decision between Athanasios and Kyprianos on February 11.

To Tharros claimed an exclusive in reporting that Greece was planning to station a military 'sting' team in Cyprus. The paper quoted sources as saying the air and naval team would be set up within the framework of and to strengthen the Joint Defence Doctrine between Greece and Cyprus.

On the Church elections, the paper simply headlined: "Athanasios is the definite Bishop of Limassol."

Simerini said "the procedure for choosing the new Bishop of Limassol is now just for appearances sake." The paper said that the second round of elections had revealed all 50 representatives chosen to be Athanasios' supporters.

The paper continued that the elections on Sunday had lasted three hours and were problem free. Simerini concluded by saying that the new bishop would officially be appointed on Valentine's day, February 14.

The paper also reported that Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides had begun a "diplomatic operation to combat confederation." the paper continued that Cassoulides was on a campaign to cultivate a positive climate in efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem. Cassoulides left for Brussels on Sunday.

Alithia said that 192 of the 200 special representatives had voted for the 50 general representatives, with the remainder abstaining from the vote.

The paper also claimed that the "S-300 issue will be cleared in Athens." The paper said Defence Minister Yiannakis Chrysostomis would close the deal on February 8 during a visit to Greece. The Cyprus government last month chose not to deploy the missiles in Cyprus and negotiations have since been under way between Cyprus, Greece and Russia to deploy the missiles in Crete.

Haravghi focused on the case of two Israeli, spying suspects, due for sentencing yesterday. The paper reported that they had information that a presidential pardon was being planned for the two Israelis.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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