Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-01-29

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

Friday, January 29, 1999

Christofias 'ready for battle'

THE PAPERS yesterday focused on Tuesday morning's latest gangland murder, on the Akel's leader's return to his office after kidney trouble and on Cyta's first step towards privatisation.

Machi said that Pavlos Hadgicostas, the man arrested on suspicion of the murder of Giorgos Ioannou, had told a relative that he wanted to kill Ioannou. The paper said that this evidence had been revealed in court when police asked for Hadgicostas to be remanded for five days.

On Christofias' return to the public eye, Machi focused on reports that the Akel general secretary was preparing his succession. The paper continued that the most likely candidates were deputies Nicos Katsourides or Andreas Christou.

Machi also reported on the "marathon" meeting of the Council of Ministers, which took important decisions on the privatisation of Cyta and liberalising interest rates.

Akel mouth-piece Haravghi devoted half its front page to Christofias' return. Under the headline "Strong as iron and ready for battle," Haravghi said that Christofias was visibly moved and happy to be before the public again.

The paper said that Christofias had assured the public that he would be battling beside them, "because we have a lot to do and Akel has an important role to play in the salvation of this country".

On Cyta's privatisation, the paper said that the unions would not take this decision lying down and that industrial action against the decision was expected. It continued that union leaders were deeply upset that the government had ignored their expressed opinion on the matter after having asked for it.

Alithia ran the headline "The economy is being modernised". The paper said the privatisation of Cyta and the liberalisation of interest rates were to be put to the House of Representatives.

The paper also gave front page-attention to the build-up to yesterday's four-hour strike by Cyprus Airways. The article gave a general round-up of events leading to yesterday's action and what exactly would be involved.

Simerini said that the police had little evidence on Limassol's latest underworld killing, in spite of Ioannou's arrest. The paper said that police had admitted that the murder had been well planned.

The paper continued that the government had given the green light for Cyta's privatisation before Communications and Works Minister Leontios Ierodiaconou had even finished his discussions with the unions.

Phileleftheros, meanwhile, focused on the Cyprus problem, saying that Washington was once again promoting confidence-building measures. The report said that the State Department was preparing ideas on security and confidence building that would be discussed during Foreign Minister Iannakis Cassoulides' visit to Washington next month.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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