Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-03-06

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

Friday, March 5, 1998

Federal Cyprus to join EU?

MOST front pages were dominated by reports about the arrival of EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek and envoy of the British presidency Sir David Hannay as well as the refusal of Rauf Denktash to see either of them.

Simerini said that Denktash had shut the door to the EU, shattering the efforts by van den Broek and Sir David to ensure the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in accession talks. While Sir David said that talks would begin without the Turkish Cypriots, he hoped a bizonal federal Cyprus would join the EU.

In the document that will signal the start of the accession procedure, the British presidency, as well as other EU member countries, want to leave the door open to the Turkish Cypriots and make full membership conditional on a settlement, the paper said. Greece was certain to express reservations about this.

Alithia also highlighted Sir David's position that talks could start without the Turkish Cypriots. He added that there was still plenty of time for the Turkish Cypriots to become involved in the accession procedure.

Denktash was not convinced, claiming that participation in accession talks would prove a trap for his 'state', set up by the EU, Cyprus and Greece. If the Cyprus Republic joined the EU, the island would be partitioned for good, he said.

Phileleftheros said that during his visit, van den Broek would be discussing the harmonisation of Cyprus law with legislation in EU countries. The EU Commissioner would also look at the harmonisation of legislation in the occupied north.

Athens and Nicosia had studied the matter and would have no objection to harmonisation "if van den Broek meant the de facto legislation in the north, without affording it any legality". Both Athens and Nicosia took a positive attitude, it said.

Agon quoted van den Broek as saying that conditions were not what he had expected. This, however, should not give rise to pessimism, as each subject would be addressed when it arose.

Haravghi reported that the Akel central committee, after a meeting to discuss the effects of the presidential elections, had sent a message of unity and underlined its resolve to continue the fight.

Many members spoke at the central committee meeting which was marked by the spirit of unity. Its decisions would be made public at the weekend.

Machi claimed that Diko had formulated a clear-out plan, which would lead to the expulsion from the party of all dissenters. This would enable parliamentary spokesman Tassos Papadopoulos and deputy Markos Kyprianou to take over the party leadership.

Once this was done the party would be turned into an Akel satellite, the paper claimed.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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