Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-07-10

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

Saturday, July 10, 1999

Potato farmers protest at the Palace

_MACHI

_ yesterday devoted its front page to the latest Presidential Palace demonstration, this time by potato producers. The paper said the farmers had given their demands in writing to House President Spyros Kyprianou and to the secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.

The farmers want compensation for poor export sales. During their strike outside the Presidential Palace and the House of Representatives, the Commerce Committee heard Minister Nicos Rolandis say that the problem had been caused by over-production.

The paper also said the Commerce ministry had announced that summer sales would begin on July 19.

_Alithia

_ said that, according to its sources, the National Guard had almost exhausted its supply of bullets and that a huge problem had occurred in the last few weeks over security limits.

_Politis

_ said that there had been "A barrage of reactions" to the government's announcement that higher duties on cigarettes would not be taken into account when the cost of living allowance (CoLA) was to be calculated. The paper quoted Finance Minister Takis Klerides as saying that the government had no intention of changing the institution of CoLA.

The paper also said that the government and opposition party Akel were in the throes of a "paper war" over new international initiatives on the Cyprus problem while both agree that the problem is at its most critical stage.

The paper said that President Glafcos Clerides, in response to Akel general- secretary Demetris Christofias' concerns, issued a statement saying that the government did not underestimate the difficulties faced but was following a quiet preventative diplomatic strategy. Akel, however, insisted that the government was trying to make light of the situation.

_Simerini

_ gave its front page attention to the Islamic Council "closing its door on the Cyprus Republic and opening it to recognising the pseudo-state."

The paper said the Council, which represents Muslim states, called on its members to stop the embargo against the occupied areas.

_Simerini

_ reported that the House Plenum had begun discussion on an Akel proposal that the implementation on the law on the mandatory wearing of crash helmets for motorcycle and scooter riders be postponed.

Akel wants the law's implementation to be delayed until October 31 this year; it came into force on July 1.

_Phileleftheros

_ said that UN secretary-general Kofi Annan's expected invitation to dialogue between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides had turned out to be a "headache."

The paper said the phraseology of the invitations would cause difficulties for the UN and Annan as Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has said that he will not attend talks if the occupied areas are not recognised a separate sate and he is not addressed in the same terms as Clerides.

The paper also reported that temperatures would reach 40 degrees celsius over the weekend, "confirming that July is the hottest month." The paper continued that it could get as hot as 44 degrees before the month was over.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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