Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-06-02

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

Tuesday, June 2, 1998

Missiles re-take centre stage

WITH the uproar against the government's tax package having faded, the old favourites - the missiles and the Cyprus problem - returned to the front pages with a vengeance.

Two papers led with stories taken from a Sunday Times report, claiming that Britain was planning the biggest airlift since WWII because of mounting fears of a war in Cyprus.

Alithia said the British paper had placed the arrival of the S-300 missiles (which could lead to fighting) in July "when it is well-known to everyone that the missiles will be delivered in autumn. It quoted a British Defence Ministry spokesman as saying that such contingency plans were made for many parts of the world.

The paper added that the US would raise the issue of the missiles at the UN Security Council meeting that will discuss the renewal of Unficyp's presence in Cyprus, later this month.

Haravghi saw the Sunday Times article as part of "the concerted pressure being applied by the US and Britain in order to prevent the arrival of the missiles". The reference to the possibility of war, had caused "panic" in the government which, according to its spokesman "was responsibly handling the issue".

The paper predicted that the "pressure" on the government, regarding the missiles, would increase this month and the next.

To Tharros, the Monday version of Machi, claimed the US Pentagon, which was strongly opposed to the arrival of the missiles, has been demanding the cancellation of the delivery. The Pentagon wants to prevent the arrival of Russian technical staff who will man the missiles.

According to the paper's exclusive information, US secret services staff, based at the US embassies in Athens and Nicosia, have been re-inforced with the arrival of agents speaking fluent Greek. Their job is to collect as much information as possible about the missiles, the paper said.

Simerini said top ranking Turkish and Israeli officers would be meeting in Tel Aviv to discuss the military co-operation between the two countries. Billions of dollars have been made available to help the two countries militarily.

The two sides will discus the joint development of a medium range missile and the geo-strategic conditions in the area. The paper predicted that the Cyprus missiles will also be on the agenda as their arrival would undermine the regional "policing" role of Turkey and Israel.

Phileleftheros claimed that European diplomats believed the chances of the EU summit in Cardiff, taking decisions which would satisfy Turkey were limited. The diplomats therefore did not expect a chance of stance by Turkey on Cyprus.

The same sources claimed that because Turkey has been encouraged to have higher expectations of the Cardiff summit, its disappointment would be even greater this time.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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