Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-06-18

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

Thursday, June 18, 1998

Simitis resists 'Clinton blackmail'

GREEK Prime Minister Costas Simitis' rejection of President Clinton's demand for the upgrading of Turkey's relations with the EU was the main topic of the day.

Phileleftheros reported that Clinton had called Simitis to warn him that if Greece did not lift its objections to the upgrading of Turkey-EU relations, tension would be created.

Simitis replied that it was impossible for Athens to agree to a change of the decisions of the Luxembourg summit regarding Turkey. If there was tension, then Turkey would be exclusively responsible, Simitis told Clinton.

Greece was not the only country to take such a stand during discussions about Turkey's links with the EU in Cardiff. Germany and Luxembourg also supported this view.

Simerini said that in the end none of the decisions taken at the Luxembourg summit had been changed in Cardiff. Greece's refusal to budge from its positions, was a "big success", considering that Simitis did not give in to pressure from Clinton.

Simitis' stand was justified, the paper said, as subsequent events proved. Clinton had sent a letter to Turkey's Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, asking him to show more flexibility in the Cyprus issue, but his request was turned down by Ankara.

Britain had suggested a way round the Greek veto of financial assistance to Turkey, through the channelling of funds directly from the EU budget. This was also opposed by Simitis.

Machi said that "Clinton's blackmail" had failed. It also noted that Turkey had reacted cautiously to the outcome of the Cardiff summit.

It quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem as saying that "there were positive developments". He also said that Turkey would respond positively to countries which had shown good will towards her at the summit.

Alithia described House President Spyros Kyprianou's decision to order all the House police guards to leave their posts as "political antics".

Political circles said Kyprianou's decision was an attempt to mislead the public and deflect attention from the serious internal problems faced by his party, Diko. Kyprianou was also criticised for showing a lack of respect for the decisions of the executive.

Haravghi reported that Disy deputy, Christos Pourgourides was to be sat in the dock by his party leader for likening the behaviour of President Clerides during the presidential elections to that of a "Roman emperor".

Pourgourides had recently said that he stood by his opinion and that for him nothing had changed.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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