Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-01-19

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

Tuesday, January 19, 1999

Athanasios emerges as front-runner

SUNDAY'S first round of Church elections made the front page of all but one of the dailies yesterday.

The papers reported that first indications were that Abbot Athanasios of Machairas monastery had confirmed his status as favourite to succeed the disgraced Chrysanthos as Bishop of Limassol.

Though all the votes had not yet been counted, most of the special electors voted in yesterday were Athanasios suppers, the papers agreed.

Next in the running are archimandrite Apseros and Stavrovouni elder Varnavas (Athanasios's cousin).

Left-wing Haravghi, which has backed Athanasios's campaign, reported that the electoral procedure had been completed without hitch or incident, with Limassol town residents generally indifferent, but villagers in the district turning out in droves.

But Simerini disagreed, reporting that complaints by the representatives of the various candidates had marred proceedings.

Representatives of archimandrite Tsiakkas claimed persons had descended on Limassol from other areas with the sole aim of influencing voters. A representative for father Vasilios alleged a cleric who was on the list of candidate special electors had been present in one of the polling stations.

Only 50 per cent of those eligible to vote had turned out, the paper added.

The papers made no mention of the sordid run-up to the elections, during which Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos alleged Athanasios's 80-year-old mentor - elder Iosif of the Mount Athos monastery of Vatopedhi - was a pervert who had molested nuns and young girls during his stay in Paphos 17 years ago.

To Tharros reported that the National Guard command (GEEF) was working to oust National Guard commander Dimitris Dimou because of statements he made to the press claiming he had been allowed no say in the decision not to bring the S-300 missiles.

His statements, seen as critical of the controversial missile decision, had made his relationship with the GEEF command untenable, To Tharros reported.

Alithia also reported that the Water Development Department was resorting to throwing explosives down bore-holes in an effort to release more water from underground reserves. The theory is, and experts admitted it does not always work, that the explosion at depth causes fresh cracks in the water- bearing rocks and thus increases flow of water from the well.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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