Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-30

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

Wednesday, December 30, 1998

Missiles seem headed for Crete

THE PAPERS agreed yesterday that the Russian S-300 missiles were headed for Crete and not for Cyprus.

Machi reported that Greek deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis had already informed the Russian ambassador in Nicosia, Giorgi Muratov, that the missiles were not coming to Cyprus as agreed.

But the right-wing paper also reported that President Clerides had visited the anti-occupation vigil at the Ledra Palace check-point and assured protesters that he had not changed his thinking on the controversial missiles.

The paper also reported that Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos had made it clear he favoured the Cretan option for the missiles.

Philelephtheros reported that the widely expected decision not to deploy the missiles on the island was likely to spark a government crisis, with Edek likely to abandon its coalition with Clerides's Disy. The paper also noted that Turkey had wasted no time in stating that deployment in Crete would not be an acceptable option.

Alithia focused on the President's promise to bear the burden of responsibility for the missile decision personally - should the National Council fail to arrive at a unanimous verdict.

Greek Defence Minister Akis Tzohatzopoulos was quoted as saying the decision on where the missiles should go was a "technical issue."

Simerini also led on Clerides's pledge and added that the President had said Turkish intransigence had not changed but all possible options for the S-300s remained open.

Left-wing Haravghi said the decision to send the missiles to Crete was a foregone conclusion and Clerides's meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens yesterday a mere formality.

Alithia also reported that an expert on Church law had said there appeared to be "organised ecclesiastical crime within the Cyprus Church."

The statement was made by Areti Paschalidou at a press conference by the lawyer representing a Mount Athos monk charged with sexual misdemeanours by the Paphos Bishop.

The Greek monastery is considering suing the Bishop over his statements. Representatives for the monastery called on the Cyprus Church to rein the Bishop in.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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