Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-02-06

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

Friday, February 05, 1999

Nato row rumbles on

FOREIGN Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides' apparent suggestion that Nato might deploy a force in the event of a Cyprus solution continued yesterday to be the focus of most of the papers. Cassoulides had been quoted as saying a Nato force would be a wise idea within the framework of demilitarisation on the island. Alithia quoted President Glafcos Clerides as saying that if an agreement on deploying an international military force in Cyprus was made, it should be under the authority of the UN Security Council. The paper said that Clerides continued that if Nato suggested it deploy the force, "We will say yes."

Alithia also reported a House debate condemning Israel for sending to Cyprus two agents, who were jailed on Monday for approaching a restricted military area. The paper continued that there were a range of opinions on the way the government had handled the issue. Disy's acting president Panayiotis Demetriou defended Attorney-general Alecos Markides' action on the issue, while Akel's House representative Andreas Christou expressed concern on the consequences caused by the issue.

Machi headlined Clerides' comments on the idea of a Nato force. The paper said Clerides' comments had been criticised by Akel. Machi's article began "A new argument has been caused by the government's proposal to deploy a NATO force in Cyprus." The paper continued that the proposal had resurfaced during Cassoulides' recent visit to Brussels.

Simerini continued in similar vein, saying there had been an "exchange of fire over Nato". The paper said a heated argument had broken out between the government and opposition on the issue, with main opposition party Akel accusing the government of being untrustworthy.

Left-wing Haravghi expressed Akel's opinion that the government was "ignoring the country's political leadership," in its decision to accept the deployment of an multinational military force on the island. Haravghi said that a statement released by the opposition party wondered how Clerides' could be discussing one way of dealing with the Cyprus Problem with the political leaders and then have the Foreign Minister voice a different opinion overseas.

Phileleftheros, meanwhile, focused on government spokesman Christos Stylianides admitting that the government did have an image problem after the decision not to deploy the S-300 missiles on the island. The paper continued that in an attempt to mend the damage, Clerides had issued strict instructions to put more emphasis on domestic policy.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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