Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-24

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

Thursday, December 24, 1998

Waiting for the UN resolutions

YESTERDAY'S papers for the most part focused on the build-up to the much- awaited UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus. Overnight details of the resolutions themselves came too late for publication. Attention was also given to the ongoing sagas of the Bishop of Paphos and the Interior Minister.

Machi, however, differed in its lead, headlined "Arrest warrant for Panicos Aeroporos". The paper said its sources had information concerning an arrest warrant for Panicos Aeroporos being withdrawn after the murder of his brother Hambis last week. The same sources said the decision had been taken to avoid a new outburst by the Aeroporos family. The clan have accused police of being involved in a vendetta to wipe out their family, and two policemen are being held in connection with the murder of Hambis.

Alithia focused on the Security Council negotiations. The paper said that, according to its New York sources, Russia would promote a strict resolution including the complete demilitarisation of the island. The report continued that a softer stance was expected from the USA and Britain, introducing little change to existing resolutions.

The paper also reported that Interior Minister Michaelides was considering legal action against the chairman of the House Watchdog Committee Christos Pourgourides, who had accused him of corruption, of which the minister had been cleared by the Attorney-general on Monday.

Phileleftheros said that the Security Council negotiations involved "hard and continuous bargaining". The paper continued that changes were continuously being made and that Nicosia's goal was for resolutions that would be helpful in the future.

A report on the investigation into the Bishop of Paphos' allegations against two other clergymen also appeared on the front page. It said that the Archbishop had urged the Synod's investigation committee probing the allegations not to rush its work.

Continuing in the Security Council vein, Simerini said that the resolutions would ultimately result in the cancellation of the S-300 missile deal. The paper reported that government spokesman Christos Stylianides had referred to unnamed pressures in regard to the missiles and Cyprus's negotiations with the Security Council.

Meanwhile, the paper said that Archbishop Chrysostomos did not believe that Mount Athos involvement in the Bishop of Paphos' allegations amounted to interference. Other clergy members had condemned the Greek monasteries' involvement in the issue, which centres around allegations against a Mount Athos monk.

Haravghi focused on continued rumours that there would be a government reshuffle. The paper reported that the Ministers most likely to be bounced included Michaelides, Health Minister Christos Solomis and Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou. They would be followed, the paper said, by Education Minister Lycourgos Kappas, Labour Minister Andreas Moushiouttas and Communications Minister Leontios Ierodiakonou.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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