Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-04-01

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

Wednesday, April 1, 1998

French reservations for entry before solution

ALL newspapers yesterday focused their attention on Monday's largely ceremonial opening of Cyprus accession talks with the EU. Another issue which received some attention were comments by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos that he made the suggestion for a no-fly zone over Cyprus to US Secretary of State Madelleine Albright on his own initiative.

Phileleftheros says that French officials said in Brussels on Monday on the sidelines of the EU meeting that it would be difficult for the Union to accept a divided Cyprus within its ranks.

The paper says that Greek Cypriot officials made it clear that the proposal for the participation of Turkish Cypriots in the talks will remain on the table despite Denktash's negative response.

On another issue the paper says that Pangalos revealed that the Cypriot government had no previous knowledge of his no-fly zone proposal.

But Pangalos said that the proposal was in line with the policy which calls for the eventual demilitarisation of Cyprus.

Simerini says that accession talks kicked off on a sour note after French comments favouring a solution before accession.

The paper says that Pangalos appeared ready to put forward the no-fly proposal during a meeting he was to have with Nato General Secretary Javier Solana.

Alithia is another paper to highlight objections by both France and Italy to Cyprus' EU entry before a solution is found.

The paper says that the accession talks got under way amidst threats from Turkey's Foreign Minister Ismail Cem that Turkey would integrate the occupied part of Cyprus if accession talks went ahead.

Machi gives prominence to comments by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel that despite the difficulties in the accession talks the Union will have to honour its decision to hold the talks.

The paper also reveals that former Greek Force Contingent (Eldyk) commander Demetris Demou will be the new National Guard commander as of April 15.

Haravghi says that the EU accession talks should act as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

According to the paper communist Akel party is prepared to accept the burdens on the economy of Cyprus from EU entry if EU membership would help solve the Cyprus problem.

According to Agon the US has expressed its readiness to pay Russia the value of Cyprus' S-300 missile contract if Russia undertakes to cancel the deal with Cyprus.

The paper says that Russia rejected the American offer.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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