Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-03-09

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

Tuesday, March 09, 1999

Greece steps up rhetoric

THE DECISION of the Greek government to respond to Turkey's threats with a tough warning by Defence Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos received extensive coverage yesterday.

Politis gave prominence to the Minister's warning that Turkey was playing with fire and that she "will be responsible for anything that happens". It said that Greece had been forced to go on the counter-offensive after the spate of daily threats by the Turkish government. At the weekend Turkish PM Bulent Ecevit accused Greece of encouraging terrorism.

Tsochadzopoulos' comment was the first official response to Ankara. He warned that things were becoming dangerous as Turkey had started engaging in provocations that brought the risk of a heated incident that much closer.

Alithia also focused on Tsochadzopoulos' comments. "Being a power of peace and stability in the region we assure everyone that we will not follow the slippery road of threats," the minister was quoted as saying. He added that Greece was "determined and ready to respond to every provocation and every threat in an effective way".

To Tharros applauded Tsochadzopoulos' statements, saying it was high time Greece responded to the Turkish threats. It added: "If Turkey thinks it can play the tough guy it is welcome. Turkey will be given an answer from a Greece which is determined and ready... Greece is not afraid of threats, heated incidents or anything else."

Simerini reported that a "war has been raging among insurance firms", all of which were trying to dominate the local market. Things were expected to come to a head with the arrival in Cyprus of Greek insurance boss Demetris Kontominas and the taking over of the Shacolas Group's insurance companies by the Cyprus Popular Bank.

Meanwhile one of the largest insurance firms in Cyprus, Eurolife, is in danger of being left out of the stock exchange if its two biggest shareholders - Bank of Cyprus and Popular Bank which hold 35 per cent each - do not reduce their shareholding. Meanwhile two other banks, Hellenic and Alpha Credit, are both looking for insurance firms to buy, the paper said.

Haravghi revealed that a recent opinion poll, which found that the popularity of the Clerides government was on the rise, was conducted by an employee of the presidential palace. The survey was conducted by Janus Communications Ltd which is owned by the Lottides family. One of the directors, Demetris Lottides, had been appointed a 'publicity consultant' for the President.

The paper claimed that there were irregularities in the procedure for Lottides' appointment, a few months before last year's elections. Apart from dismissing the survey as a sham, the paper alleged that the questions were worded in such a way that Clerides' government would get a high rating.

Phileleftheros reported that the government was involved in secret contacts with well-known personalities in an effort to convince them to join the government. Politically, these personalities belonged to opposition parties, but their inclusion in the cabinet would make the government more broad-based and representative.

The political parties to which these personalities belong have not been too pleased with the government's moves, said the paper.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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