Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-03-27

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

Friday, March 27, 1998

Turks in diplomatic reprisal

ONLY two evening papers appeared yesterday because of the March 25 public holiday.

Dilini, the same paper as Simerini except in name, led with a report about the "diplomatic reprisals" planned by the Turks in view of the start of Cyprus' accession talks with the EU.

On March 31, the official start of accession talks, the first meeting of the "Integration Council" will take place between representatives of the Turkish government and the pseudo-state. The objective is the gradual integration of the occupied north with Turkey.

Apogevmatini reported that US interest in Cyprus was focused on security issues, with the Richard Holbrooke team concentrating on how to broker a freeze on defence spending.

US diplomacy had re-introduced the idea of an overflisghts ban, in combination with efforts aimed at cancelling the purchase of the S-300 missiles. The US was told that the purchase would be cancelled only if a long-term moratorium was imposed and guaranteed by the US and Nato.

Dilini reported that farmers of the Larnaca district had warned that unless they were given water their produce would be destroyed. At present, only greenhouse owners were being given water, while the other farmers are demanding that some water from the southern conveyor belt project, be given to them.

Apogevmatini reported that a heart patient at the new Limassol Hospital took his drip out and went home after being made to wait on trolley in the corridor for seven hours. He had been told that he should wait for an empty bed. An elderly patient did exactly the same thing, the paper reported.

Dilini said that Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou had said he was ready to co- operate with the Clerides government on two conditions: he would be regularly briefed about the Cyprus problem and the government would stop undermining his party.

Apogevmatini claimed it had uncovered a network that exploited senior citizens. This network would arrange for the elderly to be taken to old people's homes owned by the wives of public servants. The care offered by these homes was primitive, while nursing staff had no training, it reported without backing any of the claims.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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