Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-07-08

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

Wednesday, July 8, 1998

Cabinet reshuffle on cards?

ALL the papers carried front-page reports about the forest fire in the Tylliria area which was brought under control late on Monday night after re- igniting in the morning.

Simerini, in its lead report, said strong winds had re-ignited the fire which spread very fast, reducing a forest area to ashes and charcoal. It also re-ignited in the occupied area and spread to the free areas.

Some 25 square km of forest were destroyed, while in the occupied area the blaze destroyed an uninhabited village. Two other villages in the north, Limnitis and Potamos, were evacuated because of the proximity of the blaze.

Haravghi claimed President Clerides was "seriously considering" a cabinet reshuffle according to circles close to Disy and the presidential palace. It said Clerides was concerned about the strained relations between Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou and Disy top brass, as well as between leaders of parties belonging to the government alliance.

It said Christodoulou was held responsible for the crisis in relations between Clerides and United Democrats leader George Vassiliou. Speculation suggested that Minister of Communications Leontios Ierodiaconou would become finance minister. The ministers of health, the interior and education were also on the way out, the paper said.

Machi said officials at Greece's ministries of foreign affairs and defence feared that Turkey would provoke a 'heated incident' in Cyprus. Information received by Greek intelligence suggested that "Ankara is considering an act of provocation that would lead to the partition of the island".

This information was discussed by Greece's Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns.

Phileleftheros said Cyprus-Russia talks had acquired added diplomatic and military interest following the announcement of Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou's visit to Moscow. This would precede Clerides's visit to Russia.

It was no coincidence that Omirou would be returning to Cyprus on Saturday, the very day Clerides is flying to Moscow, because the government does not want the two visits linked. In Moscow Omirou will discuss the delivery date of the S-300 missiles with his Russian counterpart, the paper said.

Alithia said the UN Security Council had called on the leaders of Cyprus's two communities to resume negotiations immediately. The plea was made after the council was briefed by UN envoy Diego Cordovez about his contacts in Cyprus last week.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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