Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-03-16

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Tuesday, March 16, 1999

What will the Americans do next?

SPECULATION about the nature of the next Cyprus peace initiative was yesterday's dominant theme, although each newspaper advanced its own theory.

Phileleftheros said that the US, in an attempt to reduce tension in the region, was approaching the Cyprus problem and Greco-Turkish differences as a package, although peace efforts would run parallel to each other. The Americans believe all the issues are inter-related, which is why they are hoping to get talks between Greece and Turkey as well as between Clerides and Denktash.

The general election in Turkey and the negative climate in Greece-Turkey relations will put any US move back to the summer, even though the preparatory work has already begun. The Americans are co-operating with Britain, and have built channels of communication with the EU presidency and Russia. A Camp David-type conference is what the US is working on.

Politis said that while the Americans were working to create some diplomatic mobility in Cyprus, they had no intention of taking a leading role, because they did not want to be credited with another failed initiative. This was why the US was trying to get the five permanent members of the UN Security Council involved or the Group of Eight.

Washington had informed the government in Nicosia that the strengthening of Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit in April's elections would make the prospects of a Cyprus breakthrough more remote than before. On the other hand an Ecevit win would weaken the hand of the Islamists.

Alithia quoted President Clerides as saying that the international community was "expected to start its most intense exploratory effort for the resumption of the Cyprus talks after the elections in Turkey".

Clerides also stressed that he would not agree to the "unacceptable conditions set by the Turkish side regarding recognition of the pseudo- state and confederation, for the resumption of talks". The Greek side had always been ready for talks in contrast to the Turkish side "the negative stance of which created insurmountable obstacles".

Haravghi published the results of an Amer opinion poll, which found that communist party Akel's popularity had shot up to 37 per cent, while that of Disy had sunk to 32 per cent. Diko and Edek both stood at 10.8 per cent.

The results underlined the "overwhelming acceptance of Akel's positions," claimed Akel deputy Nicos Katsourides, who added that they showed the "spectacular failure of the government and its main backer, Disy". As Clerides' policies had collapsed and the government had no intention to resign, the least it could was to adopt the positions of the opposition parties.

Simerini claimed that Turkey's intention in building a nuclear power station on its southern coast was gradually to turn itself into a nuclear power, like India had done. Competition for the contract for supplying a nuclear reactor to Turkey had become very intense, the paper said, and major multi-nationals are fighting for the lucrative contract. The first phase of Turkey's nuclear programme will cost four billion dollars. The nuclear station will cover between two and three per cent of Turkey's energy needs.

To Tharros claimed that Turkey had transferred weapons for chemical warfare to the occupied north, putting the entire region at risk. Its source was a secret report prepared by Greece's secret services.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article