Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-07-08

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

Thursday, July 8, 1999

'Epic battles' at the Palace

THE DEMONSTRATION by fishermen outside the Presidential Palace and the ensuing scuffles with police made several front pages yesterday.

Simerini claimed that "epic battles" had taken place outside the Presidential Palace between citizens and police for the second successive day. "Yesterday's (Tuesday) episodes were frightening in scope and violence and caused anxiety in the Presidential Palace area," the paper reported. Minister of Commerce Nicos Rolandis expressed the government's concern about the situation and said: "This is not a phenomenon the appears in healthy societies." Rolandis said that many professional groups were demanding cash handouts from the state without realising that there was not an unlimited amount of funds in the government's coffers.

Machi ran the banner headline, "Next for the palace", noting that "the day before yesterday it was the water-sports owners, yesterday the fishermen and tomorrow the potato growers". The water-sports owners had left the palace area, where they had stayed overnight on Monday after a meeting was arranged with the communications minister. Today, the potato growers are scheduled to arrive at the palace to demand higher compensation for their destroyed crops. A potato war is a possibility, the paper reported, adding that if the fishermen who were camped outside the palace were joined by the potato growers on Thursday, the menu for dinner would be fish and chips.

Politis was given a sneak preview of the Auditor-general's damning report about the activities of the board of the Hilton Hotel. The report accused former and current members of being responsible for bad management and of squandering public monies. The Council of Ministers was to study the report and was expected to appoint an independent investigative committee to look at the irregularities. According to the report, members of the board had submitted tenders for the supply of goods to the hotel after the board had invited tenders. A member of the board, who was a lawyer, represented a company (belonging to another board member) in negotiations with the board with regard to a contract for the renovation of the hotel, the report said.

Phileleftheros claimed that the US government had avoided putting any pressure on Turkey with regard to Cyprus, restricting itself to advising Turkey to co-operate in the imminent initiative. The US had been in accord with European governments, with regard to enhancing Turkey's EU accession prospects, in exchange for Ankara moves that would help the Cyprus peace process. Aware that Ankara was unhappy with the involvement of the G8 in the Cyprus issue, the US government believes that the next moves should satisfy Turkey's government. Nicosia believes that this stance by the US encouraged the Turkish side to appear so intransigent.

Alithia gave a different evaluation of the US role in Cyprus peace talks. It said that the American government had decided to take charge of the October talks at West Point, even though these would be under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. At the talks all G8 members-countries would be represented. Greece and Turkey would also be officially represented at the talks. US plans for the talks would be discussed at President Clinton's September meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Clinton will also warn Ecevit that the US will not tolerate any more nonsense from Rauf Denktash, the paper said.

Haravghi gave prominence to Akel's rejection of a Disy proposal for the co-operation of the two parties with regard to the handling of the Cyprus issue. Akel maintained that there should be co-operation among all parties in the National Council and not only when it suited Disy and the government.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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