Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-10-22

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

Friday, October 22, 1999

Moses fails to convince Denktash

US PRESIDENTIAL envoy Alfred Moses' failure to persuade Rauf Denktash to sit at direct talks without setting any preconditions, was the lead story in all yesterday's papers.

Some headlines focused on Denktash, who was described as "stubbornly unyielding" and "totally negative", while others highlighted the "No result" and "Moses' failure".

Phileleftheros

said that Denktash had "pulled the carpet from under the envoys' feet", with his insistence on recognition of the pseudo-state prior to the start of negotiations. Despite their failure, the US envoys -- Moses was accompanied by State Department Co-ordinator Thomas Weston and US ambassador Donald Bandler -- did not declare a deadlock.

On the contrary, they planned to return to the region in the next few weeks in the hope that they would secure Denktash's agreement to talks. They are hoping that President Clinton will be able to announce the start of talks during his visits to Greece and Turkey in mid November. Before their arrival, the envoys had said they hoped direct talks would start at the end of November.

Haravghi

said that prospects of breaking the Cyprus deadlock were grim after the "recital in intransigence", given by Denktash and Ankara. It said it was becoming clear that the "pompous declarations by the transatlantic allies of Turkey and Clinton's promise that pressure would be put on Ankara would turn into pressure on our side".

Irrespective of Wednesday's failure, the paper was convinced that the US envoys would step up their efforts and secure a resumption of talks in order to give an impression of movement that would help Turkey's drive to gain EU candidate status.

Politis

said the Cyprus government was demanding that the UN Secretary-general send the invitation to talks and if Denktash declined to attend, he should be blamed for the lack of progress. The Americans did not seem to agree with this, claiming that one last attempt should be made to get the Turkish side to talks.

The government could not hide its displeasure as it believed that the Turkish side was playing for time, with the complicity of the US. It wanted blame apportioned for the current deadlock.

Simerini

in its front page editorial described Denktash's demand for recognition as being tantamount to signing a settlement before talks began. However, the paper was certain that the US envoys' next visit would involve the applying of more pressure on the Cyprus government, adding: "The problem is that the Turks are asking for much more than what Cypriot public opinion is prepared to accept."

The paper took US partiality towards Turkey for granted. "A review of US policy and diplomacy on Cyprus is depressing. At one point, the Americans had used the term 'poor Turks' to underline their sympathy for the Turkish Cypriots," it said. US diplomats always excused their unwillingness to apply pressure by saying "Turkey is a very proud nation". The paper sarcastically concluded: "Obviously, in their opinion the Greek nation had a lower level of pride."

Alithia

expressed the view that the Cyprus government's "constructiveness and adaptability must be vindicated and rewarded by the international community and not the intransigence of Denktash who remains entrenched in positions that are contrary to international directives". It said:

"We want the implementation of that which the international community considers just and correct. Only then would the political will of the international community have productive substance; when it is expressed with practical pressure. The Turkish side does not seem to feel any pressure on its shoulders. It does not want progress."

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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