Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-02

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

Wednesday, December 2, 1998

New missile postponement certain

THE OBSESSION with the S-300 missiles is still going strong, with the papers all looking for different angles from which to present the same issue.

Simerini concluded that the missiles could not be installed in Cyprus by the end of the year, as is provided in the purchase contract, because there is no time. The outcome of last week's Athens meeting constituted a de facto postponement of the arrival of the missiles, the paper said.

As the National Council was not due to meet to discuss the issue until the middle of the month, there was no chance the missile would arrive before the end of the year. Even if it decided to give the green light, the delivery would be made next year, as the ships carrying them would need three weeks to come here.

Phileleftheros reported that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would intervene in the second half of December in order to secure the postponement of the missiles' arrival. Annan's move would be linked to the contacts being made by UN deputy representative Dame Ann Hercus.

Both the governments in Cyprus and Greece have been informed about Annan's intention, which has the blessing of the US, and they fully support it. Even Moscow officially voiced its support for the move. This was part of the international community's efforts to prevent the arrival of the missiles, the paper said.

Alithia reported that the governments of Greece and Cyprus had "different views" about the missiles, which was why they had reached no decision at Friday's meeting in Athens.

Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades contradicted the Greek Defence Minister's assertion that there was no divergence of views between Athens and Nicosia. He said there was "a different understanding and different thinking" between the two.

Haravghi, for the second day running, led with the views of Akel leader Demetris Christofias about the missiles. Christofias insisted that the Greek and Cyprus governments should take a joint decision about the missiles because this was a question of war or peace.

It would be unwise for Cyprus to take decisions that could affect Greece directly. He said his party would refrain from taking a stand before being briefed by President Clerides about the Athens meeting.

Machi reported that Disy was concerned about the image of certain ministers, whose "hardline and inflexible" stance on issues reflected badly on the government and the party. Disy was also unhappy with the government's failure to promote the projects it had undertaken.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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