Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-10-15

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

Thursday, October 15, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] 'I did make mistakes,' Bishop concedes

[02] 15 points against the bishop

[03] Shuttle talks start tomorrow

[04] Michaelides accused over Turkish Cypriot properties

[05] Kythrea outrage over UN bungle

[06] Selling Cyprus in Israel

[07] Last East German premier in Cyprus

[01] 'I did make mistakes,' Bishop concedes

LIMASSOL Bishop Chrysanthos, facing possible expulsion from the Church, conceded yesterday he had made grave mistakes in his financial dealings, but said he was ultimately the victim of people out to exploit him.

"Certainly there is a huge responsibility on those who supposedly wanted to help, but in the end exposed the Metropolitan," Chrysanthos told a CyBC radio interview yesterday.

Although Chrysanthos implied that he was the victim of a well organised scam to extract money from the Church, he admitted that his trust had been misplaced.

"Surely mistakes were made and mistakes were made by me because I trusted these people too much, people who said they were experts and could secure a profit for the Metropolitan (diocese)."

The comments follow Tuesday's decision by the Holy Synod to appoint a three- member investigation team made up of fellow bishops to decide on Chrysanthos' guilt, both ethically and legally.

The team will be made up of the bishops of Kitium, Kyrenia and Morphou.

It is understood to be only the second time in the Church's history that such a committee has been appointed under article 25 of its constitutional charter.

The committee can suggest a range of punishments and has the power to recommend that Chrysanthos be defrocked and referred to an ecclesiastical court for such a purpose.

Article 25 was activated by the Holy Synod after studying a report drawn up by its special investigation committee, which outlined 15 points on which Chrysanthos faced censure for possible breaches of Church law.

Among the reported breaches of financial irregularities, the bishop was taken to task by the committee for not informing the Holy Synod of his transactions and failing to give the inquiry full co-operation.

Faced with the serious allegations, Chrysanthos put his hands up yesterday, admitting that he should have kept Archbishop Chrysostomos informed of his various financial deals.

"This was a serious omission... but I didn't want to inform him (the Archbishop) continually on something that was going to be realised."

Chrysanthos' timely public admissions could be explained by the fact that the three-member committee could send him before a Church court based on his moral behaviour alone.

However, the bishop denied that he had failed to co-operate with the special investigation committee and says he has not been told the terms of reference of the newly-appointed body.

Thursday, October 15, 1998

[02] 15 points against the bishop

1. Chrysanthos failed to submit documents and give evidence to the committee when requested.

2. The bishop co-operated with individuals and foreign companies of a dubious nature.

3. It was discovered that the bishop had foreign bank accounts without permission from the Central Bank, as required by law.

4. Transactions were made with the knowledge and instruction from the Limassol bishop, but these were not registered in the Metropolitan's official accounts.

5. Contracts and financial obligations were made without Chrysanthos informing or acquiring permission from the Holy Synod or other relevant Church bodies.

6. Chrysanthos owned immovable property abroad but failed to gain approval from or inform the Holy Synod about it.

7. The bishop became a shareholder in a foreign company before asking the Holy Synod's approval.

8. He used Limassol Metropolitan official papers and the official seal for his own personal business, which made the Church legally responsible for any deals he made.

9. Chrysanthos acted as a mediator to secure loans and promote investment programmes of dubious credibility. As a result, investors were deceived and legal proceedings are pending against him.

10. Contradictory statements were given to the committee, the media and the Holy Synod.

11. He was unwilling to reveal or verify certain facts, allegations or evidence, which would have assisted the committee.

12. Chrysanthos and his colleagues frequently travelled abroad: mostly these trips had nothing to do with Church business or with his duties.

13. He received and transferred large amounts of cash which could have been a product of money laundering.

14. The bishop secured bank guarantees for large sums using unfounded pledges.

15. Money was made available from a bank account which was not registered anywhere, thus leaving open the possibility that this money could have been used for purposes against the donor's wishes.

Chrysanthos' lawyers have responded to the 15 points, denying the allegations, dismissing them or questioning any proof of wrongdoing.

Thursday, October 15, 1998

[03] Shuttle talks start tomorrow

SHUTTLE talks aimed at kickstarting the stalled Cyprus negotiations will begin tomorrow.

UN chief of mission Dame Ann Hercus has fixed a meeting with President Clerides for tomorrow morning, but Unficyp spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski warned yesterday that the entire process would take place in a shroud of secrecy.

"The shuttle talks will take place in absolute confidentiality as far as the Secretary-general's representative on the island is concerned," Rokoszewski said.

"She does not intend to comment on any aspect of this matter."

The international community is hell bent on bringing the two sides to the negotiating table in any way possible, but the Cyprus government fears that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will push his plan for a confederation once he gets back to the negotiating table.

The government has said it would be seeking some clarifications at the first meetings.

Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides yesterday repeated the government's stance that under no circumstances was the idea of a confederation acceptable for discussion.

"Confederation or division are clearly not within the mandate of the Secretary-general's good offices mission," he said. "Cyprus wants a bizonal bicommunal federation."

Cassoulides was responding to statements made in London by the UN Secretary- general's special envoy for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the European-Atlantic Group on Monday, Cordovez described Denktash's confederation proposal as "substantive".

In his speech, Cordovez said some commentators and analysts "have been saying for some time that Cyprus is heading slowly towards partition.

"In fact several analyses affirm that partition has already taken place. Other commentators have seen Mr Denktash's latest proposal as confirmation that at least the Turkish Cypriot side has decided to formalise such a political and legal situation. I do not agree," Cordovez said.

"It is much less important to argue about the name of a particular constitutional system as it is jointly to define what it means. It is something that must be considered across a negotiating table."

"All kinds of ideas can then be exchanged and all sorts of proposals can be advanced. That is part of any negotiating process," Cordovez said.

According to Turkish Cypriot press reports yesterday, Cordovez said the resumption of negotiations was more important than trying to find terminologies.

Speaking at the same seminar, Britain's special representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay said partition would not be in the interest of either Greece or Turkey, nor of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

It has been reported that the initiative being started by Dame Ann to bring the two sides together is a Anglo-American plan and that she will put some proposals for confidence building on the negotiating table, such as a reduction of troops along the dividing line.

UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan on September 30 mandated Dame Ann to develop a process for on-island contacts with the goal of reducing tensions and promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement.

Thursday, October 15, 1998

[04] Michaelides accused over Turkish Cypriot properties

Akel deputy Kikis Yiangou made the allegations during yesterday's meeting of the House Refugee Committee, which was discussing a possible review of the law on the government's handling of Turkish Cypriot property.

"Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the amount of land given to non-entitled individuals and I do not hesitate in personally accusing the Interior Minister of abuse of power and violating existing laws," Yiangou said after the committee meeting.

The deputy said he had a bulging file of cases in Larnaca, where cheap-rent Turkish Cypriot land and property was allegedly given to a high-rankling official in a semi-government organisation, to a senior police officer and a businessman.

Yiangou said all were assisted in obtaining property, even though they did not meet the necessary criteria.

Refugees are usually given priority when applying for rent subsidised Turkish Cypriot property or businesses, but now Yiangou wants to see non- refugees barred altogether from the scheme in order to weed out the profiteers.

Michaelides will not welcome these latest accusations as he is already at the centre of bribery and corruption allegations currently being probed by Auditor-general Spyros Christou.

Thursday, October 15, 1998

[05] Kythrea outrage over UN bungle

Sources told the Cyprus Mail that what had happened was as a result of a bungle by the UN.

"Instructions in relation to these protestors did not filter down," the source said.

When the refugees got to the Mia Milia checkpoint to hand in their petition, the UN soldier on duty met their representatives at the edge of the buffer zone.

In previous years, they had been allowed inside to hand the petition, destined for the UN Secretary-general, to a senior Unficyp officer.

However, according to the protestors, the soldier on duty refused to let them into the buffer zone and handed them the phone number of Unficyp spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski.

Outraged protesters then decided not to hand the petition in after all.

Rokoszewski confirmed what had happened: "I believe the fact of the receipt of the petition directed to the Secretary-general of the UN remains more important than the exact place where is was handed over, despite the symbolism."

Thursday, October 15, 1998

[06] Selling Cyprus in Israel

Besides the simple pleasures of the island's fine hotels, wines and foods, Rolandis reminded the business leaders that Cyprus, besides sun, sea and sand, is renowned for "the sincere friendliness and traditional hospitality of its people, who make each visitor feel as an honoured guest."

The venue was the Prime Minister's Jubilee Business Summit, sponsored by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and marking Israel's 50 years of statehood.

Israeli tourists are already coming to Cyprus in increasing numbers. This year's figures reflect a four-fold increase in tourists from the Jewish state, Rolandis said in August, adding that he expected some 80-90,000 more winter visitors from Israel.

Since independence from Britain, Rolandis told the business meeting, tourism has become a pillar of the island's economy. Its more than 2 million tourists per year account for about 20 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.

"Despite the terrible loss and destruction brought about by the Turkish invasion of 1974," he said, "Cyprus has managed to re-establish itself on the tourist map," attracting some 843 million Cyprus pounds annually in foreign exchange earnings.

Among its "diverse beauties and attractions," Rolandis noted that the island boasts the remains of some 9,000 years of civilization among the ruins that pepper this "crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa."

These, he said, included the footprints of the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Frankish Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and the British. Additionally, "the Apostles of Christ walked on this land..." literally, he added.

To meet the competition, the island is upgrading its already excellent tourism product with new sports facilities, golf courses, casinos and marinas, he said, implicitly inviting the captains of industry to experience the charms of Cyprus.

Rolandis and Vassilis Rologis, chairman of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, headed the island's delegation to the summit, to which they were invited by Netanyahu.

The Republic in turn, has invited Rolandis' Israeli counterpart to the island in November, the same month in which a Cyprus visit is expected by Israeli President Ezer Weizman. It will be the first visit ever to Cyprus by a president of Israel.

Thursday, October 15, 1998

[07] Last East German premier in Cyprus

Modrow, who is the honourary chairman of the Party of Democratic Socialism, called on President Glafcos Clerides and House President Spyros Kyprianou before meeting with other political leaders on the island.

A guest of the communist party, Akel, Modrow said his own party, now represented in the German parliament, would press the new government of Chancellor-elect Gerhardt Schroeder to demand the unconditional implementation of UN resolutions on Cyprus.

He added that a Cyprus settlement should not be a condition of the Republic's eventual EU membership.

"No obstacles should come up in this procedure, such as the settlement of the Cyprus problem before Cyprus' accession," he said. "We cannot accept this."

He said he and Clerides discussed the status of the Cyprus problem and the latest initiatives towards its settlement under UN resolutions.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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