Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-10-22

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

Thursday, October 22, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus to 'take steps' over Turkish harassment

[02] Denktash proposes non-aggression pact

[03] Three choices for the missiles

[04] Showdown at Disy

[05] Bishops question Chrysanthos for nine hours

[06] Tourist escapes with fine for jet-ski death

[07] I did see Netanyahu, angry Vassiliou insists

[08] Second Turk jailed

[09] Drunk Russian flattens palm trees

[10] Police question shooting victim

[11] Euro training for budding politicians

[12] Bring the kids to UN day

[01] Cyprus to 'take steps' over Turkish harassment

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday said Turkey's buzzing of a Greek transport plane heading for Paphos was yet another provocation by Ankara.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said steps were being taken over the incident, which occurred some 70 kilometres off the island's West coast on Tuesday evening.

The incident occurred on the first day of the annual joint military exercises between Greece and Cyprus. Greece reported a total of 26 violations of its airspace by Turkish warplanes on Tuesday.

Some 10,000 Greek Cypriot troops and reservists are taking part in the six- day manoeuvres.

Reports said several Turkish F-16s came within 2,000 feet of the Greek C- 130 transport plane and tailed it for several minutes before flying off.

Cyprus military sources told Reuters yesterday that an incident had occurred.

"There was a harassment by the Turkish plane. It was off the coast and was not in Cyprus airspace or the Nicosia Flight Information Region," the source said.

Stylianides said the government was taking the necessary measures over what it deems the latest provocation by the Turkish side.

"Every year, an action is taken the same way by the Turks," he said. "It's a clear indication of Turkish provocativeness and we are continuing with the usual steps."

Stylianides said that despite the Turkish provocation, the Nikiforos exercises would continue as planned.

In Athens, Greek government spokesman Demetris Reppas protested the violations and accused Turkey of being a "regional troublemaker".

Turkey "constantly remains the regional troublemaker, which in a provocative and aggressive way disrupts its relations with the European Union and Greece," Reppas said.

Turkish officials deny that any violations took place. "Turkish Air Force jets have been conducting their routine flights in international airspace over the Aegean," said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Sermet Atacanli. "The Greeks claims are totally baseless."

Back in Nicosia, the Defence Ministry announced yesterday that five Greek navy vessels - a frigate, a destroyer, a submarine and two torpedo boats - would join the Nikiforos exercises and would be open to the public at the weekend; three will dock at Larnaca and two in Limassol.

Defence sources said that from today, the Greek air force would be taking part in the wargames over Cyprus.

The Defence Ministry announced that a major search and rescue exercise with the participation of the Greek jets would take place some 30 miles off Paphos tomorrow afternoon.

The announcement said that National Guard, police and marine police would take part in the four-hour sea and air exercise.

Tensions rose on the island earlier in the year when Greek military planes landed at the controversial Paphos air base.

The base, completed at the beginning of the year, was built within the framework of the joint defence pact signed between Greece and Cyprus in 1993.

The landing of the Greek fighter jets prompted Turkey to send its own planes and navy vessels to the north in a tit-for-tat manoeuvre.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[02] Denktash proposes non-aggression pact

TURKISH Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash yesterday proposed a non-aggression pact for "two Cyprus states" just before his first meeting with Unficyp Chief of Mission Dame Ann Hercus in the new round of shuttle talks.

Denktash, who is proposing confederation as a solution to the Cyprus problem, told Turkey's state run Anatolian news agency: "The two states could make an non-aggression agreement. This is the thing to do."

Criticising the Nikiforos military exercises, Denktash said: "They constantly prove with such acts that they don't want peace, they don't want a deal with us," he added.

Denktash made no comments after his meeting with Dame Ann in occupied Nicosia.

Dame Ann met President Clerides last Friday in the first meeting of the new shuttle diplomacy, which is being carried out in strict secrecy. She will meet Clerides again today.

UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan has 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.

The shuttle talks are aimed at kick-starting the stalled Cyprus negotiations, but the government wants some clarifications and says it will oppose any move by the Turkish Cypriot side to bring the issue of confederation to the negotiating table.

The international community is keen to bring the two sides back to talks in any way possible and to take the matter from there.

The National Council was yesterday briefed by the President on his contacts so far with Hercus.

Following its two-hour meeting yesterday, the National Council announced it had deferred its decision on a possible recourse to the UN Security Council on the Cyprus issue.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said further discussion was needed on the issue and that a decision will be made on November 4.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[03] Three choices for the missiles

THE GREEK Cypriot side has three choices when it comes to the deployment of the S-300 missiles, according to the head of the Cyprus Centre for Strategic Studies, Aristos Aristotelous.

Speaking at yesterday's launch of his latest book, The S-300 Crisis: Dead- ends and Choices, Aristotelous laid out his 'three choices' and the conclusions he had reached on the issue.

The government's order of the controversial Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles has sparked an international crisis, with Turkey threatening military action to prevent their deployment and the international community urging Nicosia to cancel the order. The government has already delayed scheduled deployment on several occasions since the summer.

Aristotelous' first choice is for the arrival of the missiles to be put off ad infinitum.

But Aristotelous said such procrastination would not make the problem go away and a solution would eventually have to be found; moreover, it would strain relations between Cyprus and Greece.

However, such a tactic would have the advantage of reducing the immediate threat of Turkish military intervention, Aristotelous said. It would also reflect favourably on the Greek Cypriot in international relations.

The second choice is for the order simply to be cancelled.

Aristotelous says this would only occur after "partial governmental consent" or "powerful American and other pressures, in exchange for superficial benefits".

This would be a "national defeat" for Cyprus and Greece, says Aristotelous. Disputes would be created within the government and this decision would also, he said, give the message that Cyprus bends to Turkey's requests. The military agreement between Cyprus and Greece would be shown up as "empty words". And this in turn, according to Aristotelous, would encourage Turkey to manufacture similar crises.

This choice would, however, effectively end the crisis and ease the threat of Turkish military intervention. International attention would return to the Cyprus Problem and not remain focused on the missiles issue.

The third choice is the delivery and deployment of the missiles.

This decision would not be welcomed by the USA and its allies. It may lead to Turkish military intervention, though Aristotelous believes this is not necessarily Ankara's first priority. The most probable scenario would be for Turkey to strengthen its military presence on the island. There may also be threats if specific Turkish demands on the missiles are not met.

This would, however, provide grounds for negotiation besides allowing Cyprus to exercise its right to defend itself in the way it judges best.

Aristotelous also underlined the important role Russia has in the international arena and recommends that Cyprus should use this strength in solving its own problems.

He said that the S-300 crisis displayed all the characteristics of an international crisis, and accused the former US State Department special envoy to Cyprus, Carey Cavanaugh, of creating tension and encouraging Turkey to react in the way it has.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[04] Showdown at Disy

DISY has been gripped by vicious in-fighting as it tries to gag its deputies from exposing alleged scandals in public life.

No sooner had Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades reined in party deputy Christos Pourgourides after his bribery and corruption allegations against Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides, than another of his deputies claimed semi-government organisations were brimming with corruption.

Disy deputy Demetris Syllouris has caused the wrath of his party boss by blowing the whistle on semi-government organisations and claiming he has a "drawer full" of allegations to back his case.

Anastassiades has summoned Syllouris for a head-to-head meeting tomorrow morning, suggesting his deputy is making unsubstantiated allegations and is guilty of complicity.

Meanwhile, party spin doctor Prodromos Prodromou and fellow deputy Antonis Karras have closed ranks in a damage limitation exercise.

Karras has made a swipe at Syllouris and Pourgourides, saying their only motivation is to harm Anastassiades' standing in the party.

Prodromou spoke in less hostile terms yesterday, but made it clear that the party would not tolerate loose cannons like Syllouris.

"I don't think the appropriate way is to talk about drawers. Many deputies could talk about allegations or information they've heard, and threaten to go public," Prodromou said yesterday.

"What would happen if three, five or ten deputies behaved in the same manner?"

Prodromou said going public with unverified allegations would only harm the government's efforts to clamp down on corruption, not help it.

But an unrepentant Syllouris said yesterday he had acted within party guidelines and was only making public what other politicians already knew.

"Do you think I have in my possession more evidence than all the ministers put together, or the President or Mr Anastassiades. If I am guilty of complicity, what are they?"

The government is preparing a bill that would give it the power to sack semi-government boards and introduce stricter tender procedures.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[05] Bishops question Chrysanthos for nine hours

The committee made no statements after the marathon nine-hour meeting, which began at 9.30am.

The three bishops investigating Chrysanthos - Bishop Neophytos of Morphou, Bishop Chrysostomos of Kition and Bishop Pavlos of Kyreneia - were appointed earlier this month to decide on Chrysanthos' guilt; they will judge him both strictly under Church law and ethically. The bishops have the power to recommend Chrysanthos' expulsion from the Church.

Chrysanthos has been implicated in fraud allegations involving millions of pounds in Cyprus and overseas. A Church special investigation committee defined 15 points against the bishop in its report.

Accusations raised in that report included Chrysanthos having foreign bank accounts without the required Central Bank permission; he is also accused of having made financial transactions without informing or obtaining permission from the Holy Synod, of owning property overseas and of becoming a shareholder in a foreign company - all without the Church's permission.

According to the report, Chrysanthos used the official papers and seal of the Limassol Bishopric for his personal business, thus making the Church legally responsible for any deals he made.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[06] Tourist escapes with fine for jet-ski death

A DUTCHMAN was yesterday fined £800 by a Larnaca court after pleading guilty to driving a jet-ski recklessly, causing the death of English tourist Karen White.

Alfred Post, 28, from Bolsward in Holland, escaped a maximum two-year jail term after the court accepted the defence argument that his actions were more an error of judgment than an indication of negligent disregard.

"The tragic results are a fact, but the events do not suggest a case of negligent disregard. On the contrary, it's a case of miscalculation and a momentary lapse of judgment; therefore the court imposes a financial penalty only," said judge Tefkros Economou.

Karen White, 32, from the Bitterne suburb of Southampton, died instantly when Post's jet-ski crashed into the one driven by her husband Greg, 25; she was riding pillion at the time.

Karen White's fatal injuries included a broken spine, a collapsed lung and a ruptured spleen.

The tragic accident - the island's first jet-ski fatality - happened off the coast of Ayia Napa on October 6. The accused and the victim's husband escaped the crash unhurt.

The prosecution said that Post smashed into the English couple's jet-ski while it was stationary.

"Greg White stopped his jet-ski to wipe water from his eyes; when he looked up, he saw the accused driving towards him from a distance of 35 metres," said state prosecutor Mimis Avraamides.

He added: "the victim's husband tried to manoeuvre his jet-ski to avoid a collision, but at that moment the accused's jet-ski hit them and the three were knocked into the water."

Before passing judgment, Economou launched a scathing attack on the uncontrolled use of jet-skis, which he said were putting tourists' lives at risk.

"The authorities should review this situation and take all the necessary steps to prevent these craft from causing accidents," Economou said.

"These machines are dangerous, but despite this fact the situation is left unchecked, putting lives at risk, creating a loud noise and polluting the environment so that a few a businessmen can make a huge profit."

A bill tightening current legislation is before the House of Representatives. It aims to restrict the use and type of jet-ski, and ensure that special permits are issued before they can be driven or rented.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[07] I did see Netanyahu, angry Vassiliou insists

EU NEGOTIATOR George Vassiliou is no stranger to the heady world of international politics, but questions raised over his recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have outraged the former President.

The United Democrats leader yesterday hit back at what he described as "malicious" reports casting doubt on the fact that he had officially met the Israeli Prime Minister as planned.

Vassiliou was in Israel last week as part of a business summit and was pencilled in to meet Netanyahu early on Wednesday to pass on a message from President Clerides.

But the Israeli Prime Minister had to change his schedule to allow for an unforeseen trip to Jordan the same day, on the eve of crucial Middle East peace talks in the United States.

According to reports yesterday, members of the business delegation have cast doubts on whether the planned official meeting between Netanyahu and Vassiliou ever took place.

They suggested Vassiliou had only met Netanyahu socially with other members of the delegation for a few minutes, and that this had been conveyed to the Presidential Palace.

An angry Vassiliou yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the reports were "malicious rumours".

"A person like me would never make an announcement that he had a meeting without having one," Vassiliou said. "I'm fed up with people spreading malicious rumours about me."

He said the first appointment he had with Netanyahu had been cancelled. "Peace has to come ahead of everything," he said. "But when he came back from Jordan, although he had cancelled 10 to 15 appointments, he made sure I was one of two that he did not cancel."

Vassiliou said in fact he had met the Israeli Prime Minister at 7pm on the Wednesday. "We met in his office for half an hour, just the two of us and we exchanged views on a number of issues. These were good and useful discussions," Vassiliou said.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[08] Second Turk jailed

Yuce is the second Turk to be jailed on such charges by the Larnaca district court in as many days.

Passing sentence, Judge Tefkros Oikonomou said: "It is a usual phenomenon that Turkish defectors submit application to stay in the free areas, to work and for a better future. This, however, is not an issue that concerns the Courts, but the executive authorities. Thus the accused will have to appeal to those authorities after having completed his sentence."

Yuce, who was arrested in Athienou on Monday night, pleaded guilty to entering Cyprus through the occupied port of Kyrenia earlier this year. The court took into consideration Yuce's apology, stating that he had been working and living under miserable conditions, in Turkey as well as in the occupied areas.

Yuce said on his arrest that he wanted to stay and work in Cyprus in search of a better life.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[09] Drunk Russian flattens palm trees

Traffic police said the driver, Oleg Achikhive, had been driving dangerously and had failed an Alcotest when breathalysed in Larnaca yesterday morning.

He and a fellow Russian passenger received first aid and were released from hospital.

Larnaca traffic police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[10] Police question shooting victim

Police confirmed they had interviewed Xiourouppas yesterday, but refused to reveal further details.

Xiourouppas, who was shot last Friday, remains in intensive care at Larnaca General Hospital, but has recovered sufficiently to speak to police.

Speaking after yesterday's meeting, CID head Nathaniel Papageorgiou told reporters: "I have spoken to him, but I can't tell you anything."

His assistant, Charalambos Argirou, and the assistant-head of Larnaca CID, Andreas Krokos, accompanied Papageorgiou on the visit, which began just before noon.

Diko councillor Xiourouppas was shot three times by a masked gunman in Larnaca at 7.50 pm in the parking area of his block of flats. The assailant fired at Xiourouppas as he was getting out of his car. Xiourouppas then managed to run 20 metres into a nearby corridor before collapsing and being shot a second time at close range.

Xiourouppas was hit in the head and neck and had to undergo emergency surgery.

Police say between six and eight shots were fired. Two of these hit a taxi waiting for an unnamed woman in the block of flats.

Xiourouppas' son, George, 28, is currently in custody in Limassol, suspected of involvement in a plot to murder two underworld figures.

Xiourouppas senior has a criminal record: he was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for his part in the attempted murder of Charalambos Boutzouris after he took a fire-arm into a cabaret, but was later given a presidential pardon. His son received a three-month sentence in connection with the same incident.

Andreas Xiourouppas remains under 24-hour armed police guard at the hospital.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[11] Euro training for budding politicians

The scheme - taking place between December 14 and 19 - is open to 20 "politically involved" young people from Cyprus; politically involved covers political activity in a party, a non-governmental organisation or as a journalist. The participants in the programme will be trained better to present and communicate democratic values and to act as multipliers with respect to these values in society.

Eligible candidates must be between 18 and 30, and must be Cypriot citizens. Candidates are required to produce a curriculum vitae and to answer in English five questions, in not more than two pages. Fluency in English is a must. Those interested should contact Loli Kythreotou at the Fulbright Commission at 02-449757. The deadline for the submission of necessary documents is October 30 1998.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

[12] Bring the kids to UN day

Horse-back riding (also under supervision), and mini-golf are also among the "specially organised areas of activities for the children" during this year's festivities, Dame Ann said.

A fairground, complete with a "bouncy castle," as well as a stall where the youngsters can safely try their skills, and free mechanised rides are sure to delight and occupy them.

Older children - between 17 and 70 - will enjoy the multinational music, dancing, Tai Kwan Do demonstrations, photographic and other displays, and videos, Dame Ann assures.

Food and drink, featuring the national delicacies of the distant homelands of UN peacekeepers, will share the spotlight with games and sports, including caber-tossing (up-ending a pole the size of a small phone pole, single-handed) and tug o'war.

A helicopter, a fire engine and other exhibits are sure to thrill "children of all ages," Dame Ann added.

The theme of this year's UN Open House is "The Multinational Face of the United Nations."

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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