Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-06-30

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

Tuesday, June 30, 1998

New revelations on Bishop's business deal

MOST newspapers led with reports about "clear messages sent out in all directions" by the four-day visit of Greece's President Costis Stephanopoulos, who left Cyprus on Sunday.

But Alithia chose to lead with new revelations about the Bishop of Limassol's business dealings. It published a police report of 1996, which recorded the findings of an investigation into Bishop Chrysanthos' efforts to raise a loan of 500 billion Iraqi dinars to be used for humanitarian purposes.

According to the report, Chrysanthos had given power of attorney to two individuals whom he had asked to secure him a loan amounting to $50 million. He had also written a note, saying that he could provide creditors with guarantees from 25 European banks.

The two individuals then approached two Greek companies for the loan - Inebank and IBB Hellas, an offshore oil company. While there was no wrongdoing, the police report raised more questions about the Bishop's business dealings, the paper said.

Tharros waxed lyrical about Stephanopoulos' "visit of multiple messages which takes on dimensions of a top political event". At a time of political tension and intense pressure from the international community, the visit by Greece's head of state "had clear symbolism for the national dimension of the Cyprus tragedy".

Greek Cypriots were genuinely moved by the visit, which raised their morale considerably, the paper said.

Haravghi said the Greek president's messages were directed at the Cyprus government, the international community, the EU and Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

The most significant message was that of peace and friendship which he sent to the Turkish side in the hope that it would respond. He was quoted as saying that the future of Cyprus was not only the concern of Greek Cypriots, but also of Turkish Cypriots.

Phileleftheros noted that the views expressed by the Greek President reflected the positions of Greece's entire political leadership. "Encouraging messages" had been sent to Greek Cypriots as well, the paper said.

The paper also noted that Stephanopoulos had felt the need to express his gratitude to the UN Secretary-general, the UN Security Council and foreign mediators involved in the Cyprus peace efforts.

Simerini reported that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's demands had been completely ignored in the drafting of the UN Security Council resolution on the Secretary-general's good offices mission for Cyprus.

It had obtained a draft copy of the resolution, showing that Denktash's three demands - recognition of two state in Cyprus, recognition of two sovereignties and a change to the basis of the talks - had been ignored.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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