Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-08

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

Tuesday, December 8, 1998

Holbrooke looks for face-saver

IN THE absence of any major story at the weekend, yesterday's papers all led with speculation about the missile saga.

Phileleftheros reported President Clerides' assertion that the unanimous decision of the National Council to bring the missiles to Cyprus remained valid, as were the conditions he had set for a cancellation of the arrival.

The paper described this assertion as a message to third parties, underlining that Clerides had no intention of taking any unilateral decision about the missiles. US envoy Richard Holbrooke was currently looking for a compromise solution, that would save face for Clerides without bothering Ankara, which saw the missiles as a Greek problem.

To Tharros said that Clerides' assertion must have made all those who were allergic to the Russian missile system, anxiously look for ways of satisfying the conditions set by the Cyprus government for cancelling their arrival.

"Let us prepare to welcome this important military tool that will strengthen out defence", the paper concluded.

Alithia reported that Athens and Washington were looking for ways to impose the Crete solution for the missiles. US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, confirmed that the Greek and American governments were both working in this direction.

US officials he expressed the wish that Clerides would also embrace this point of view. As for the objection of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to the deployment of the missiles in Crete, it was dismissed by a diplomat as a "crude exaggeration".

Haravghi gave prominence to a speech made by Akel leader Demetris Christofias, who insisted that Clerides should take full responsibility for any decision about the missiles.

He did, however, list eight factors that should be taken into account before any final decision was taken. These included how the missile arrival would affect settlement prospects and the drive for demilitarisation, the reaction of the international community and Turkey and the Greek government's views.

Simerini identified a possible trap for the Cyprus Republic in the event of a visit to the island by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

If the status of Rauf Denktash was not clarified before Annan's visit, then there was a danger that at any meeting with Clerides and the Secretary- General, the Turkish Cypriot leader would have the same status as the President of the Republic.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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