Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-02-12

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

Friday, February 12, 1999

Lordos threat a first in Cyprus

Simerini yesterday gave front page attention to the continuing strikes at two Larnaca hotels, with management threatening trouble-making pickets with arrest.

Under the headline, "Explosive decision on Lordos hotel strike," the paper said Lordos Holdings' decision to sue troublesome strikers was the first of its kind in the industrial history of the Republic. The paper said the company's decision to seek court orders against the strikers had already come under fire from communist party Akel.

Alithia focused on what it called "mammoth expenditure on military projects." The paper said that the public would have to pay £135 million for projects that were either already under way or were planned for the near future. The paper said that the Paphos military air-base, which initially sparked the decision to import the controversial S-300 missiles, would cost £30 million alone.

Phileleftheros' headline was "Ankara once again threatens a crisis over the S-300s." The report said Turkey had issued new threats against Greece and Cyprus only 48 hours after the two countries signed an agreement to move the missiles' installation to Crete.

Phileleftheros said that Turkey had officially threatened to take measures without giving details on what these would be.

The paper also reported on comments by Justice Minister Nicos Koshis saying that the prisons were "bursting at the seams." Koshis made his comment during a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on crime on Wednesday. Phileleftheros quoted Koshis as saying that there were 313 prisoners in a space that should hold only 220. The paper said that for this reason Attorney-general Alecos Markides would be asked to pardon some of the inmates guilty of less serious crimes.

Haravghi's headline ran "Akel is the first party." The paper said that an independent poll carried out for Disy showed that the right-wing party had significantly fallen in popularity. According to the poll, Haravghi continued, "For the first time Disy falls into second place with 30.2 per cent... while Akel wins first place with 32.9 per cent."

"Clerides and Disy are opening their arms to everyone," Machi said. The paper said Clerides had already told Ministers to become directly involved in dialogue in an attempt to resolve recent unrest on the working front. The paper said that many felt Clerides' request was also an "ability test" for the Ministers running up to an expected, but officially denied, government reshuffle.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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