Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-03-24

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

Tuesday, March 23, 1999

Clerides blames Pangalos for S-300 moves

MOST of yesterday's papers led with reports on President Clerides' live television press conference, given on the completion of the first year of his second term in office.

Two points were highlighted: Clerides' claim that the United States were preparing a new diplomatic push that would take shape after the elections in Turkey; and the blaming of then Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos for the non-deployment of the S-300 missiles in Cyprus.

Alithia focused on the announcement about the US peace drive. According to Clerides, the Americans had prepared different 'scenarios' on all issues, including constitutional, territorial and security matters. However, the Greek Cypriot side had not been briefed about the content of these 'scenarios'.

Clerides dismissed suggestions that talk of a US initiative to solve the Cyprus problem had been a pre-election gimmick. The initiative would take place. He expected President Clinton to refer to the Cyprus problem during a Nato summit and during a visit to Istanbul in November. The US president would not have a direct involvement in peace efforts, Clerides conceded.

Politis, describing Clerides' TV appearance as "not particularly lively", said the president had been particularly careful not to create a "picture of optimism with regard to future developments". He was also at pains to explain that no peace proposals had been made by the US.

The president avoided making any mistakes, but did not avoid constant repetition, said the paper, criticising the format of the press conference - only four TV journalists asked questions exclusively about the Cyprus problem and the EU accession course. Clerides had made it clear he would not answer any questions about the domestic situation.

Simerini, under the headline "Clerides nails Pangalos about missiles", said that, for first time, Clerides had shifted the responsibility for the S-300 missile fiasco to the former foreign minister. Clerides accused Pangalos of negotiating the cancellation of the deployment of the missiles without even informing Nicosia.

His revelation was in response to criticism from Greece's Defence Minister, who said that the missiles were lost as soon as they entered the pre- election campaign. Admitting that the S-300s were necessary for Cyprus' air cover, Clerides said that a new missile system of smaller range would be purchased.

Phileleftheros reported that Washington had confirmed that the US was working out ideas and plans for a Cyprus solution. In his last visit to Cyprus, US envoy Thomas Miller discussed a range of issues with both sides and recorded their respective responses, which would determine the final proposals.

Diplomatic sources suggested that Britain was working on the development of plans and ideas about the constitutional issue and that there was an open channel of communication between London and Washington. British envoy Sir David Hannay also confirmed that there would be a US initiative after the Turkish elections.

Haravghi gave prominence to claims by union bosses that the two Lordos Holdings hotels in Larnaca, at which a strike by staff had entered its 53rd day, were planning to employ workers from Greece. The union chiefs had a meeting with the Minister of Labour on whom they called to intervene so there would be no bickering between Greek and Cypriot workers.

The unions have also asked the main trade unions federation of Greece to tell hotel workers' unions not to take employment at the Lordos hotels. The paper also claimed that the strike had affected all Larnaca hotels as tourists had been avoiding the town.

Machi alleged that the occupation army had been equipped with the latest electronic surveillance equipment and was monitoring all National Guard communications.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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