Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 00-01-22

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

Saturday, January 22, 2000

Turkey's stubborn stance blunts optimism

YESTERDAY’S papers were dominated by the Papandreou-Cem talks in Ankara and reported that despite the improved new climate in the relations between the two countries, there were still obstacles that were hard to overcome due to Turkey's stubborn stance. What was confirmed during the talks in Ankara, the papers said, was the Turkish side's willingness to proceed in further improving relations between Greece and Turkey, but not with the Cyprus issue as the priority. According to reports from Ankara, the Turks want the problems between Greece and Turkey to be solved first, claiming this would help the Cyprus question. The Greeks on the other hand insist that a settlement in the Cyprus problem would solve all the problems. But yesterday’s papers also found the space for several other stories, including claims by an Israeli newspaper that financial co-operation was being promoted between Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Israel, the Communication Ministry's effort to improve taxi drivers' image by setting up a special police force to check them, and reports on the surplus banana issue.

Phileleftheros reported that the Communications Ministry was creating a special police force that would carry out surprise checks on taxis and other means of public transport. According to the newspaper, the officers would even check if a driver was dressed accordingly or even if he was shaved. Communications Minister Averoff Neophytou said he wanted to improve the drivers' image because they give the first impression to tourists who just arrived on the island. The House has already approved the budget for hiring 13 special officers who will take up duty as soon as possible. Their only job would be to enforce the law and regulations concerning public transport safety. They will improve the public transport image while looking after public safety. The 13 officers will be allocated to the districts according to their needs.

Alithia quoted a report from a Greek paper, itself quoting an Israeli publication, which claimed that a financial agreement was being promoted between Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and Israel. According to the paper, the story had been reported in the Israeli financial newspaper Globes. Alithia maintains the article had been given to the Greek press for publication by the Israeli embassy in Athens, a fact that it says gives the report more credibility. According to the article, the initiative is promoted by Greek Transport Minister Ana stasios Mandelis who is visiting Israel and will meet his counterpart Yitzhak Mordechai. It is also reported that the two ministers have agreed to carry out a financial project, like a free trade zone, which will symbolise peace in the Middle East. Alithia claims that the government does not know anything about such a plan, but unnamed government sources say that there is an ongoing effort to reinforce relations between Greece, Israel and Cyprus.

Simerini reported on the problems faced by banana growers, the main one being the huge surplus. The newspaper said that according to official calculations, every Cypriot consumes 13 kilos of bananas every year, a quantity which is not satisfactory for a country which produces bananas. Germans for example consume 65 kilos per head. Commenting on the statistics, a Trade Ministry representative jokingly said that we have to be monkeys to eat the bananas we produce. Officials however noted that an organised advertising campaign on the health benefits of bananas could help increase consumption.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 2000

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