Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-07-23

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

Thursday, July 23, 1998

Hannay's meetings inconclusive

BRITISH envoy Sir David Hannay's contacts again dominated the headlines, with papers focusing on different aspects of his talks.

Phileleftheros said that Sir David had brought no new ideas for a resumption of the talks with him. He did, however, propose that the Cyprus government lift its embargo on the occupied area in return for Turkish Cypriot participation in EU accessions talks.

He said that the lifting of the embargo would be temporary as it would be imposed again if the Turkish Cypriots abandoned accession talks. The government, avoiding comment, was not enthusiastic about the proposal, the paper said.

Alithia said that while Sir David was at pains to persuade Turkish Cypriots of the need to avoid partition and of the benefits of EU membership for a united Cyprus, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced the second convention of the Association Council between Turkey and the pseudo- state.

The Association Council, set up in response to Cyprus' EU application, aims at strengthening political and economic ties between Turkey and the occupied north. The convention is to be held in Nicosia today.

Simerini said that Sir David had conveyed to President Clerides a message from Prime Minister Tony Blair about the missiles and their contribution to the heightening tension. The paper was unable to give more details.

During his meeting with Clerides, the envoy said there was no indication that the Turkish side would soften its stance. He also said that the EU would however continue its effort to secure the participation of Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus' accession talks.

Machi said that the political leadership was considering a one per cent increase of VAT in order to cover defence spending. If all the political parties agreed to this measure, the bill, stipulating a one per cent increase in the defence levy, pending from 1996, would be scrapped.

Once agreement was secured, the new bill would be passed at a specially- convened session of the House on August 5 as a matter of urgency. Even Akel, which had opposed the increase in the defence levy, supported this measure, the paper said.

Haravghi led with a report about the Pissouri protest by vine-growers, who were demanding a higher subsidy for their crops from the government.

The paper claimed that the Clerides government was solely responsible for the financial disaster facing the vine-growers, who planned to continue their protests until their demands were satisfied.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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