Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-04-15

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

Thursday, April 15, 1999

'Flames of war' set to spread?

ALL the papers led with stories about the spread of the Kosovo fighting to the Albania-Yugoslavia border.

Politis said that the "flames of war in Yugoslavia" had almost spread to Albania after clashes between Serbian forces and members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The clashes took place on Albanian territory, prompting "Western propaganda to talk about a Yugoslav invasion of Albania". Belgrade denied the report, attributing it to "sick minds".

Simerini accused Nato of arming ethnic Albanians and sending them to the border with Kosovo, where "death games" were taking place. It said the government spokesman of Yugoslavia had denied his country's troops had invaded Albania. Serbs claimed that the "Albania invasion story" was a blatant attempt by Nato to deflect attention from the attack on a Serbian train, which killed 10 people.

Phileleftheros said that, after talks in Washington, it had transpired that President Clinton was opposed to the idea of arming the Kosovars; the idea was supported by US Senators. While the intensity of the bombing of Yugoslavia would be sustained, Clinton told Congress that an attack by land forces needed thorough planning.

Alithia concentrated on the diplomatic efforts being made to stop the fighting. The main stumbling block of the four-hour talks in Oslo between US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, was the stationing of a multinational peace force in Kosovo. Albright wanted Nato troops to form the core for the peace force, but Ivanov insisted that Belgrade's agreement was needed.

Haravghi believed that the decision of the US and Nato to intensify the bombing, "with the aim of the complete destruction and submission of Yugoslavia", would lead to the spread of the war and the destabilisation of the Balkans.

In another front page report, the paper castigated President Clerides for his refusal to stop and talk to the sacked workers who were on strike outside the Lordos-owned hotels in Larnaca. Strikers had tried to stop the presidential limousine, which was on its way to Xylotymbou village, but Clerides' convoy failed to slow down.

Alithia reported that the Greek Chemical Industries had called an annual general meeting on May 12 for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998. It was the first AGM since the announcement of the government's intention to sell off the company's assets to recoup a small part of the 40 million pounds owed to it.

Phileleftheros criticised the terms of the agreement under which the state buys water from the Dhekelia desalination plant. It cited a letter from the Auditor-general, which said that the government had doubled the daily quantity of water it was taking from the plant - from 20,000 cubic metres to 40,000 cubic metres - but was paying the same unit price, which was unheard of.

Machi reported that the collapse of efforts to establish a social democratic party had caused divisions within the socialist party Edek, as ordinary members blamed the changing stance of the leadership for the failure. Already the United Democrats and the Movement for Political Modernisation were unlikely to attend the next round of talks on April 24. New Horizons had said it would not attend if Diko did not join the new grouping; and Edek did want Diko, the paper said.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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