Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-03-08

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

Sunday, March 8, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Talks to resume 'in weeks'

[02] Government water policy 'no dam good'

[03] Most students are too fat

[04] Woman killed by van

[05] Two remanded as drugs suspects

[06] Student visit to Kokkines

[07] Campaign to halt conversion of monastery

[08] Women praised for their peace efforts

[09] Alki hang on to score suprise win

[01] Talks to resume 'in weeks'

SETTLEMENT talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides will resume "in a matter of weeks", President Glafcos Clerides has said.

In an interview with the Athens News Agency released yesterday, the president said the United Nations would call the two sides to monthly talks in Geneva.

Clerides said the agenda for the talks had not been made known yet. He said the UN initiative would be backed by all the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the US and Britain in particular.

The UN has made no official statement about the talks resuming, but international diplomatic activity concerning Cyprus is hotting up.

US State Department Special Co-ordinator Thomas Miller arrives on the island today for a round of talks relating to the American initiative for a Cyprus solution. Britain's special envoy to Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, has also been here and the UN's peace talks negotiator, Diego Cordovez, is expected later this month.

The peace talks were abandoned last summer when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash walked out on negotiations in Glion, Switzerland, warning that he would only return if the European Union reversed its decision to begin accession talks with the government.

Denktash has hardened his stance further since then. In a letter sent to Clerides on Thursday he stated that talks could only resume on the basis of two separate states in Cyprus.

The government plans to lodge protests about Denktash's letter with UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, the UN Security Council and the EU. The protests will be made by both Clerides and Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides, it was announced yesterday.

Denktash's offending message was returned to him without reply on Friday because it was written on paper bearing the 'official' heading of the unrecognised occupation regime.

Today, President Clerides goes to Athens for talks with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis. The talks are expected to focus on the EU accession talks, set to begin at the end of this month, the Common Defence Dogma military pact between Greece and Cyprus, and the S-300 missile deal.

In his interview with the Athens News Agency, Clerides repeated that only tangible progress towards a settlement or a deal for demilitarisation of the island would lead the government to cancel the order for the Russian ground-to-air missiles.

The order has been opposed by both Britain and the US, and Turkey has threatened to attack the missiles if they are deployed. The S-300s are due for delivery in the summer.

After Athens, Clerides will travel to London to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.

Their talks are expected to focus on Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus's accession talks. The EU has made it clear it wants to see Turkish Cypriots included. The government has agreed on the principal of Turkish Cypriot participation, but insists that a formula be found that does not imply recognition of any second state in Cyprus.

[02] Government water policy 'no dam good'

GREENS have laid the blame for the island's desperate water situation squarely at the feet of the government.

The Ecologists and Environmentalists Party yesterday challenged the government to halt water-hungry golf developments instead of imposing more cuts on domestic consumers.

The Water Development Department announced last week that drastic new cuts would be necessary to ensure we did not run out of water completely by the end of the year.

But the environmentalists claimed studies carried out in the US and Greece had shown water cuts were not an effective way of conserving meagre resources. "The tactic of water cuts is insufficient and potentially dangerous to the health of consumers," a party statement read.

It would be far more effective to reduce leakage from water mains and recycle sewage water, the greens suggested.

But it is for golf course developments that the environmentalists reserved their strongest attacks.

Agricultural production is being hard hit by severe cuts in irrigation while plans for more golf courses go ahead unabated, they complained.

"During this most serious water crisis the building and planning of golf courses is still being encouraged by the government," they stated.

"The government ought to restrict these developments to support its water conservation measures," the greens stated.

Reports by both the UN and Greenpeace note that Cyprus is a country where water resource considerations ought to restrict development, the statement said.

"The bad management of water resources is indisputable," they said, adding that a recent World Bank study on water resource use on the island supports their assessment.

What is needed, the greens concluded, is a new national management policy for water resources.

Dams across the island are only about 10 per cent full and there is no sign of an end to the drought. Last month was the driest February since 1989, with only 24 per cent of average rainfall recorded.

[03] Most students are too fat

A SENIOR health officer yesterday described the majority of 4,000 students examined under a government health scheme as overweight and unfit.

Dr Michalis Tornaritis, who heads the annual 'Health of the Child' screening programme, said that of the 4,000 students he has examined so far, most are overweight and do not take enough exercise.

He attributed the result to an unhealthy diet and warned of the dangers of early development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

"The food they eat is of low-nutritional value and high in fat because we have replaced the traditional Mediterranean diet with fast food," Tornaritis said.

The programme comes under the auspices of the Health and Education ministries and is aimed at the 11,000 elementary school sixth-form students nationwide.

The Popular Bank-funded scheme comprises four medical teams, each with a paediatrician, dietician, sports-instructor and nurse.

Each sixth-form student undergoes physical tests and gives blood-samples for screening, Tornaritis said.

The results are entered in individual files and later given to parents during health seminars, with advice on necessary changes to the children's diet at home.

[04] Woman killed by van

The accident happened in Psevdas village in the Larnaca district on Friday at 5pm when pedestrian Daphne Lambrou from Psevdas was knocked down by a reversing van, driven by Panayiotis Christodoulou, 24, from nearby Ayia Anna.

Lambrou suffered serious leg injuries and heavy bleeding and was rushed to Larnaca general hospital where she died two hours later.

[05] Two remanded as drugs suspects

Twenty-nine-year-old Pavlos Andreas Pavlou was arrested on Friday after two youths told police he had supplied them with cannabis out of his Ayia Napa flat, Famagusta District Court heard.

On February 26, the suspect sold a number of people a total of 26 grammes of hashish for £240, investigating officer Constantinos Bambou told the court.

Pavlou was remanded for six days on suspicion of possession, supply and use of cannabis.

Emily Mary Rose Daly, from Isleworth, was arrested at Larnaca airport yesterday morning after checking-in for her return flight to London. Larnaca District Court heard that four grammes of hashish were found in a cigarette packet. She told police she had bought the drugs off an unknown man in an Ayia Napa bar, the court heard.

Daly, 23, was remanded for four days on suspicion of possessing and using cannabis.

[06] Student visit to Kokkines

Setting off at around 10am, the 122 students crossed through Kato Pyrhos to visit the Turkish-held Kokkines village in the Paphos district.

They travelled in five buses, accompanied by police patrols and units from the UN peacekeeping force, and returned the same way at around 2pm.

Unficyp Chief Humanitarian Officer Tisi Banja described the visit as "a smooth operation".

He said the students had applied via the UN for permission to cross territory of the republic, and this had been granted with no problems.

[07] Campaign to halt conversion of monastery

In a letter sent to international parliamentary institutions and national parliaments yesterday, Kyprianou states that the St. Magar monastery is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage for Armenians worldwide. Recent reports in the Turkish Cypriot press suggest the monastery is to be converted to a 50-bed hotel.

Kyprianou said the conversion is part of a strategy to eradicate every sign of non-Turkish culture from the occupied areas.

"The Turkish plans must be considered as part of their long-standing policy of ethnic cleansing, aiming at strengthening the partition of the island, which is their main objective," he said.

[08] Women praised for their peace efforts

CYPRIOTS will mark International Women's Day today with events organised by different municipalities and women's organisations, celebrating the contribution of women to all aspects of public life.

Political parties were already gearing up for the occasion yesterday, praising Greek and Turkish Cypriot women and those from the Maronite, Armenian and Latin minorities for their continued efforts towards peace on the island.

The women of Cyprus, they intoned, did not merely face a struggle for complete equality of rights, but also for the liberation of the occupied areas and security for future generations.

The challenge of EU accession was also touched on in the context of needing to harmonise with European laws against discrimination based on gender.

This was taken up by the World Trade Unions' Organisation (WTUO), which circulated a statement to all Cypriot newspapers yesterday, calling for an end to the exploitation of working women.

Marking the political voice of Cypriot women, the Pogo women's movement said yesterday that gatherings headed by leaders of political parties would take place in all districts over the next three days.

Of the cultural offerings to mark the day, a photography exhibition by Antigone Solomonidou-Drousiotou called 'Woman of Cyprus' will be on until March 16, organised by the Ayia Napa municipality.

An all-women modern dance group performing the piece 'Autobiography of a Woman' has also been organised by the municipality.

[09] Alki hang on to score suprise win

ALKI yesterday lifted themselves out of the relegation zone by ending high- flying Ethnikos Achna's unbeaten 14-match run with a shock 1-0 home victory.

In Dherynia, local side Anagennisis eased their relegation worries thanks to a last-minute goal that gave them a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Evagoras.

Paralimni scored their sixth away win of the season and climbed to seventh place in the table, defeating Apoel 3-2 in Nicosia. Finally, after a spirited second-half performance, Apop subdued Aek 2-1 in a game which will be remembered for the missed chances.

In Larnaca, Alki rode their luck to take three very valuable points. They went in front in the 18th minute thanks to a well-taken goal by Kondolefteros who rounded the keeper before slotting the ball home, and spent the rest of the game defending their lead.

Ethnikos laid siege to the Alki goal, but a combination of profligate finishing, some inspired goalkeeping by Andreou and a bit of bad luck prevented them getting an equaliser. This was only the third defeat of the season for the Achna club.

Anagennisis put last weekend's humiliating 10-1 drubbing by Omonia behind them yesterday, as they lifted themselves one place in the table to 12th, on 13 points, as Evagoras slipped to second from bottom on 11.

Substitute Kostas Elia scored the all-important goal at the second attempt, a minute from time. His first header was parried by keeper Giorgoullis but Elia was able to head the loose ball into the net. It was only Anagennisis's third victory of the season.

The last time Paralimni lost a league game was on December 20 when they last visited Nicosia and went down 2-0 to Omonia. Yesterday, they deserved the three points and if their finishing was better the margin would have been wider.

All goals were scored in the first half, Bizic heading Paralimni in front after five minutes. Ioannou equalised after 18, but in-form Georgian Oudzmadzuridze restored Paralimni's lead in the 25th minute. Sixty seconds later Ioannou again levelled.

The winner was scored by Economou in the 33rd minute, his shot taking a deflection off Charalambous and flying over Apoel keeper Marangos.

The Paphos game came alive immediately after the restart, the first half having finished goalless. An Alexandrou penalty gave Aek the lead, but Apop levelled soon after through Stephanou.

Jovanovic scored the home side's winner from the penalty spot to take his tally for the season to 12. Apop played most of the second half with 10 men after Tryphonos was sent off, but held on for victory.

Today, second-placed Omonia travel to Salamina, who will be without six first-choice players. Four are suspended and two foreigners, Kovacevic and Michic, are injured.

In the other game, Apollonas, who will be without seven regulars, travel to Nicosia to play bottom club Ethnikos Ashias.

Leaders Anorthosis were away to Ael last night.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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