Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-22

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

Tuesday, December 22, 1998

Cabinet reshuffle on the cards

MOST papers carried speculation about the imminent UN Security Council resolutions with regard to the missiles.

But Haravghi avoided the missiles. It led with a report about an imminent cabinet reshuffle, which it described as a "desperate attempt by President Clerides to improve the bad picture of the government". It claimed the reshuffle was dictated by opinion polls, which showed low rating for many government members.

It also listed the ministers destined to be axed. Dinos Michaelides would leave the interior ministry in the wake of the corruption allegations. The others set to go were Christodoulos Christodoulou (finance), Andreas Moushiouttas (labour), Christos Solomis (health) and Lykourgos Kappas (education).

Phileleftheros reported that the US, Britain and the EU presidency would give "verbal guarantees" with regard to the two UN Security Council resolutions about Cyprus - the first on the renewal of the Unficyp mandate and the second on the Secretary-General's good offices mission.

President Clinton, Prime Minister Blair and the Austrian presidency of the EU would make statements about the resolutions, guaranteeing the implementation of their provisions. The prevention of the deployment of the missiles is the objective of these diplomatic moves.

Simerini said the issue of the missiles had entered its final straight, as one of the two UN resolutions, expected this week, would ensure that the missiles would be transferred to Crete. It quoted Athens press reports as saying that Clerides had already informed the Greek government of his decision to have the missiles deployed temporarily in Crete.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Clerides and the foreign minister had meetings with the ambassadors of the US and Britain in order to discuss the content of the UN resolutions, which would recommend a freezing of arms purchases.

Alithia reported that the government would announce the creation of a think tank immediately after the holidays. Described as a "forum for liberal ideas", it will be named Eurodemocratic Institute and will be financed by EU funds.

The board of the Institute will consist of academics, former ministers and businessmen. It will carry out studies on economic, social and political issues, with the objective of strengthening democracy, safeguarding the rights of citizens and fostering private initiative.

To Tharros led with a report about the extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod, called at the request of the Bishops of Kyrenia and Morphou, to discuss the allegations made by the Bishop of Paphos against a Mount Athos monk.

It quoted Archbishop Chrysostomos as saying that the meeting was needed so that calm could be restored in the Church. He also criticised the Paphos Bishop for making his allegations in public.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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