Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-11-18

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

Wednesday, November 18, 1998

Turks flex their muscles

A VARIETY of lead stories appeared in yesterday's papers, ranging from the Turkish military exercises to fading peace efforts and from the murder in Limassol to attempts to set up a new political party.

Phileleftheros, under the headline "Show of strength aimed at blackmail", reported that the two Turkish military exercises being held in and around occupied Cyprus were an expression of aggressive designs. All the operations were similar to those of the National Guard exercise, Nikiforos- Toxotis, of last month, with one difference - Turkish forces were in attack formation.

The exercises, coupled with the continuous issue of threats by Turkish officials, were aimed at putting pressure on the Cyprus government with regard to the S-300 missiles, the paper said. It also cited the threats of a Turkish general visiting the north.

Alithia claimed that the process initiated by the UN's deputy Special Representative Dame Anne Hercus was heading for deadlock. Her initiative had lasted a month and a half, but had achieved nothing, the paper said.

Some irritation was evident from the complete lack of progress, and President Clerides has warned that this process could not drag on indefinitely. It said that foreign diplomats had taken note of Clerides' sentiments and were concerned about the failure to break the deadlock.

Simerini described Monday as a historic day for social democracy in Cyprus, as a meeting of five parties and political movements had agreed on the ideology of a new social democratic grouping. All that remained was to find a common position on the national issue; a committee had been set up for this purpose.

Edek, New Horizons, the United Democrats, the Movement for the Regrouping of the Centre and the Movement for Political Renewal had taken part in the meeting. The ideology would be based on that of European socialist parties.

Haravghi gave prominence to Akel's proposal for all-day primary schools, which was presented at a press conference. The proposal would upgrade education qualitatively and should be part of a comprehensive attempt reform the education system, Akel said.

Akel deputies, presenting the proposal, criticised the government for the "casual way with which it approached educational matters" and for cutting its real spending on education.

Machi praised the police which had managed, within 36 hours of a murder in Kandou in the Limassol district, to arrest two suspects, who had allegedly admitted to committing the crime.

CID investigators had already obtained evidence from an independent witness about the murder, the paper said. The two suspects were to appear in court yesterday.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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