Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 97-11-21

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

Friday, November 21, 1997

Clerides furious with Kyprianou?

IT SEEMS that until February, there will be little else on the front pages than reports about presidential elections. `Developments' in the Cyprus peace efforts will also get the occasional look-in, as was the case yesterday.

Simerini claimed that President Clerides was "enraged" to receive a message from Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou not to stand for re- election. Clerides is said to have replied that not only would he stand, but his election campaign had already started. He would be speaking to a Disy conference on Sunday.

Kyprianou meanwhile was considering calling a meeting of Diko's executive office so as to formulate a final proposal about the elections that would then be submitted to the party's central committee for approval.

Machi claimed that the possibilities of Attorney-general Alecos Markides being a presidential candidate were non-existent. It came to this conclusion after Diko's Dinos Michaelides had announced that Kyprianou would be the party candidate. Rumours had been circulating that Diko would back Markides.

It said Markides had decided not to stand because he did not enjoy the support of the majority of Diko and had no prospect of winning votes from Edek.

Agon took a different line, saying that Markides would make decision on whether to stand at the end of the month, after his return from Strasbourg where he will be in his official capacity.

Political friends of Markides, had said that now there was a greater probability he would stand than a few days ago. The paper reported that Clerides had told the Disy political bureau that Markides would not stand.

Haravghi, quotes extensively from an Akel statement criticising the government for the state of the economy. It said: "We do not need to make a special effort to convince the Cypriot people that in the last few years the economy is on a downward spiral because of the government's mistaken and amateurish handlings."

Phileleftheros reported that government was very unhappy with the comments of British envoy Sir David Hannay, who had said that the Turkish settlers would not leave Cyprus and that Turkish Cypriot "officials" would participate in the EU accession talks.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides had informed Britain that the Cyprus government would adopt a tougher stance after Sir David's remarks.

Alithia said that Rauf Denktash had set four conditions for agreeing to the participation of the Turkish Cypriot side in EU accession talks. They were: 1) recognition of the `TRNC' as a sovereign entity; 2) inclusion of Turkey among the candidates for EU membership; 3) maintenance of Turkey's guarantee rights in Cyprus; 4) Turkey should have the same rights in Cyprus as other EU countries.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1997

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