Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-10-29

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

Thursday, October 29, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Synod will defrock wayward priest today

[02] Matsakis appointed to examine refugees

[03] University suspends lecturer for sexual harassment

[04] Turkey fails to meet Euro court deadline for Loizidou

[05] EasyJet takes BA protest to Brussels

[06] Sunburn star back on set after Paphos bug

[07] Students parade for 'Ochi' day

[08] If we don't sell arms to Turkey, someone else will - Israel

[09] CyBC protests EuroNews map

[10] Authorities step in to pay power bill

[01] Synod will defrock wayward priest today

THE HOLY Synod will meet today to decide the future of two priests allegedly photographed leaving a Paphos brothel.

One of the two "will definitely be defrocked", Archbishop Chrysostomos said yesterday.

The photos, apparently taken several weeks ago and broadcast by Antenna television last week, have caused severe embarrassment to the Church, which is currently investigating Bishop Chrysanthos of Limassol on allegations of fraud.

After an ID parade at the Archbishopric in Nicosia on Monday, the two priests were recognised as coming from the Limassol area.

One of the priests is the former priest of Ayios Tychonas, Father Papayiannis; he left the Church when he apparently eloped with a Romanian stripper over three weeks ago, abandoning his wife and four children to live abroad. He is thought to have since changed his mind and returned to Cyprus.

"As you know, the priest of Ayios Tychonas left his family behind to run off with some Romanian woman," Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos told reporters on Monday night.

According to church sources, the Ayios Tychonas priest "defrocked himself" when he took his unscheduled leave; all the Holy Synod now has to do is make the defrocking official when it meets today.

However, the case against the second priest in the photograph, identified as being from the village of Handria, is less clear cut, although Church sources say Archbishop Chrysostomos has been "convinced of his innocence".

The Archbishop confirmed yesterday that the fate of the two priests would be decided today.

He said the Ayios Tychonas priest would be definitely defrocked.

"One will certainly be defrocked, and the second will be disciplined," Archbishop Chrysostomos told reporters.

And he added that other charges had mounted against the Ayios Tychonas priest.

One witness, who works in a cabaret, phoned Antenna earlier this week claiming that the priest had approached him asking if he could supply him with women.

The Handria priest is thought likely to face a lesser punishment.

He telephoned Sigma TV earlier this week - from his mobile phone - to protest his innocence and claim that he was only outside the alleged Paphos brothel by chance, after accompanying the Ayios Tychonas priest, who is his relative.

"He (the Ayios Tychonas priest) said 'let's go to Paphos', so I went along for the ride, and we found ourselves outside the building. He went into the building for a few minutes and then we left together," the Handria priest told Sigma.

Father Papayiannis is thought to have been visiting his Romanian girlfriend.

Police have questioned three men on suspicion of pimping and using the apartment building as a brothel, where Romanian artistes are accommodated by a nearby cabaret.

The Holy Synod may also today consider the next step in the case of Bishop Chrysanthos, and whether an ecclesiastical court of 13 bishops should be convened to try him for alleged breaches of Church law and possibly have him defrocked.

As there are only eight Orthodox bishops in Cyprus - one of whom is Chrysanthos himself - others from Greece, Egypt and the Holy Land would have be called upon before the court can convene.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[02] Matsakis appointed to examine refugees

DEPUTY Marios Matsakis, who is also a forensic pathologist, said yesterday he had been asked by Attorney-general Alecos Markides to examine all those boat people claiming to have been beaten up by rapid reaction (Mmad) police while in police custody last Friday.

Matsakis' commission is part of Markides' widening probe into allegations of police brutality by the Mmad force, following the airing of television footage showing them savagely beating, kicking and stomping the boat people during a riot in the Larnaca detention facility on October 23.

In a related development, a six-group coalition concerned with human rights called for a "show of solidarity" at 7pm today outside the Old Famagusta Police Authority in Larnaca, where the beatings took place.

And Akel party leader Demetris Christofias yesterday called for the resignations of Minister of Justice and Public Nicos Koshis and all other officials in any way responsible for the beatings at the Larnaca detention facility.

"I have been asked to examine them from a forensic point of view, and to examine the scene, the (Larnaca) prison. I'm still in the process of doing that," Matsakis told The Cyprus Mail.

He said he had been asked to examine "each and every one of the detainees who allege that they were ill-treated. So I have examined 35 so far" at the Larnaca facility and in the Central Prison, to which Markides on Tuesday ordered some of the boat people in Larnaca to be removed.

"I anticipate I will examine more than 40," including those now held at the Kofinou police station and "other police stations" housing them, he said.

"Hopefully, I will finish the examinations by tonight... And then, in the next few days, I will give my report to the Attorney-general," he said. "I cannot disclose my findings, because they have to be given to the Attorney- general," he added.

The human rights coalition yesterday condemned "the brutality exhibited by the Police special forces" against the boat people, and urged an end to their "illegal detention" and a revamping of the Republic's laws to preclude future such detentions.

The six groups - the Immigrants Support Action Group, Amnesty International Cyprus, Edon Youth, Nedik Youth, Eden Youth, and Ergatiki Democratia (Worker's Democracy) - also praised the Attorney-general's appointment of five civilian investigators to look into charges of police brutality against the boat people.

The rally was called in a meeting of the six groups "about the unacceptable treatment" of the illegal immigrants, who were among 113 boat people rescued in June, sick and starving in a trawler off the Cyprus coast.

A number of the original 113 have already been deported. On hearing late last Friday that more of the 48 being held in Larnaca - most of them black Africans - would be deported the next day, the detainees rioted, burning their bedclothes in protest.

They were flushed from their cells by tear-gas and set upon by members of Mmad, who beat and kicked them after forcing them to lie face-down in the Larnaca detention facility's courtyard.

Television footage of the beatings was aired extensively on Tuesday night on EuroNews, which is carried throughout Europe. The footage was also made available to domestic US news agencies.

Government officials had expressed shock at the violence of the beatings, as well as concern lest its broadcast outside Cyprus tarnish the island's reputation abroad. The government is especially sensitive to such matters, as the island moves along in the EU accession process.

The human rights coalition said "Friday's disturbance was to be expected," as the boat people had been confined to small quarters under severe limitations to their freedom of movement "for more then four months."

It argued that no court has ordered "their detention according to our Constitution." Even if one had, that detention order "would have expired long ago." Therefore, the group said, "their detention is illegal."

"The absence of a government policy on the handling of... migrants... allows for the racist and illegitimate conduct of the Immigration Department, Police and other authorities," the coalition declared.

To correct this, it called for "enactment of legislation... in accordance with the conventions ratified by the Republic of Cyprus in relation to migrants... (and) for political asylum."

The lack of a Cyprus law granting asylum to people fleeing tyranny at home is sure to be explored if the island is to ever join the European Union, where asylum is routine.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[03] University suspends lecturer for sexual harassment

The decision was taken by the University Senate on Tuesday night, following a detailed three-month in-house investigation.

But the decision falls short of student demands that the lecturer be sacked for his misconduct.

As the senate decision stands, the lecturer will not be allowed to teach again until September 2000 and will receive a wage cut of 50 per cent during that time, leaked reports said yesterday.

The accused lecturer had dismissed the harassment allegations as part of a smear campaign, but the senate's decision against him was unanimous.

After the university's special investigation committee heard evidence from several female students, it concluded that the lecturer's behaviour constituted a type of sexual harassment.

Female students had accused the lecturer of making lewd comments and groping their breasts during one-to-one tutorials.

The lecturer still claims his innocence and denies any wrongdoing.

The senate believes that the punishment fits the crime and sends a stern message to academic staff that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[04] Turkey fails to meet Euro court deadline for Loizidou

Thalia Petridou, the government's permanent representative in Strasbourg, told CyBC yesterday that Turkey had failed to pay the £320,000 in compensation following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favour of Loizidou.

"It seems that Turkey is not prepared to pay the compensation now or in the immediate future," ambassador Petridou told CyBC from Strasbourg.

She said Turkey had no legal excuse for avoiding the punishment: "There is no more room for Turkey to manoeuvre."

Turkey has tried to divert attention by adopting a European Commission on Human Rights decision, which it says is contrary to the court's.

Yesterday was the last day for Ankara to comply with the court decision obliging Turkey to pay the money for denying refugee Loizidou access to her Kyrenia home and property.

Any decision on action against Ankara has been postponed until December 18, when a European ministerial committee will meet to examine the situation.

Ankara claims it has no responsibility for what goes on in the occupied areas and says the court should address its complaints to the Denktash regime.

"Come December 18, Council of European ministers can step up pressure on Turkey to comply and we will have a clearer picture by then," said Petridou.

Although Turkey disputes the "landmark" ruling for Cyprus, there is no precedent of a member state failing to comply with a Court decision.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[05] EasyJet takes BA protest to Brussels

THEY were orange and angry, but peaceful, EasyJet press chief James Rothnie said yesterday of the 149 employees of the no-frills airline who protested outside the European Commission in Brussels against British Airways alleged "cheap tricks."

They flew from London to Brussels in a special EasyJet airliner, on whose fuselage were painted the words: "Stop BA, Stop 'Go'." The airborne message made the jetliner "the world's largest envelope for delivering a complaint, " the airline said.

As the employees - clad in bright orange jump-suits - staged their Tuesday vigil, EasyJet's Cypriot chairman Stelios Hadjioannou carried his own protest in to the Commissioners, who asked him to follow it with a formal written complaint today, Rothnie said.

At issue was BA's ultra-low £15 fare to fly between London and Edinburgh on its own no-frills airline, 'Go'.

EasyJet claims this fare - as it alleges of BA's other cut-price flights - is not so much aimed at the travelling public, as at undercutting EasyJet and driving it to ground. Then, goes EasyJet's argument, BA will simply raise all its fares.

"Bob Ayling, the chief executive of BA, launched 'Go' only after he failed to buy EasyJet," Hadjioannou's Internet web-site declares.

The complaint to be filed today is just one of EasyJet's legal actions against its giant competitor. An EasyJet lawsuit is pending in Britain's High Court alleging that BA wrongfully abused its dominant industry position to secretly subsidise 'Go' from its own deep pockets. BA has denied the charge.

This alleged "cross-subsidisation" of 'Go' by BA represents unfair competition with EasyJet, says Hadjioannou, who says that, by contrast, he has to go to the bank for market-rate financing, with all attendant costs and risks.

Those costs and risks were such as to have sparked British media reports earlier this month - denied by Hadjioannou - that

EasyJet was for sale, having fallen prey to its competitors' imitation of its own cut-rate tactics.

Instead, Rothnie said Hadjioannou was open to considering outside minority investment, via the stock market, private equity or aircraft-related bonds. "But at no stage has he considered a majority sale or a total sale of the airline," Rothnie said, adding: "The airline is not for sale."

Meanwhile, Rothnie said EasyJet planned to begin direct Larnaca-London flights in May 1999, after taking delivery of a jetliner specifically earmarked for this route.

No Cyprus-Athens flights will be possible aboard EasyJet until EU membership pressures force the Republic to allow competition on this route to the national flag carrier, Cyprus Airways.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[06] Sunburn star back on set after Paphos bug

According to a report in The Sun newspaper, the actress collapsed on Saturday while filming and was rushed to hospital, where doctors were yesterday still trying to find out what was wrong with her.

But Collins' PR people in London refuted the story, saying she had been admitted to hospital in Paphos, suffering from a virus, and had spent two days there, but that she was now back on her feet and ready to return to the set.

Sunburn, which follows the fortunes of a group of tour reps working in the popular coastal resort, began filming on September 20. Also starring are Rebecca Callard and veteran TV favourite George Layton of Doctor in the House fame. Filming on Sunburn is set to end in December.

A show insider said yesterday that Collins was fine.

Collins formerly played scheming Cindy Beale on the popular London-set soap EastEnders. Her character was recently written out when she died in childbirth while awaiting trial for conspiracy to murder her husband Ian.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[07] Students parade for 'Ochi' day

The anniversary marks Greece's 1940 refusal to allow Mussolini's forces to occupy strategic points in Greece.

High school, university and college students joined war veterans to parade in all towns across Cyprus. Clerides was joined in Nicosia by Archbishop Chrysostomos, Acting House President Nicos Anastassiades and Greek Ambassador Kyriacos Rodousakis. In Larnaca, the salute was taken by Health Minister Christos Solomis, while in Limassol the duty fell to Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides, and in Paphos to Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou.

Earlier in the day, Archbishop Chrysostomos officiated at a church service at St John's Cathedral in Nicosia, after which he called for unity in order to restore human rights on the island.

Describing the anniversary as "reminiscent" of today's struggles to secure freedom, the Archbishop said pondering on October 28 "makes us realise our problem and the need to be united to face the dangers" still ahead.

Chrysostomos also repeated that he was against a federal solution for Cyprus, as this would lead to an influx of Turkish settlers.

He said nobody would be able to prevent this, as "they will be under Turkish control".

"United, we should all pursue the restoration of the human rights of Greek and Turkish Cypriots and the withdrawal of all Turkish troops and settlers, " Chrysostomos concluded.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[08] If we don't sell arms to Turkey, someone else will - Israel

But speaking to Cypriot journalists, Yael Dayan said that if Israel didn't sell arms to Turkey, "others will".

She acknowledged that Israel ranked fifth in the world in military hardware sales.

The joint defence agreement did not have too much value, "in terms of strengthening the military power of the two countries," she said, but added that "it may prove unwise in the long term."

Dayan, the daughter of Moshe Dayan, said this would especially be the case when it came to peace negotiations with Syria.

Israel, she added, wanted to see a settlement in Cyprus, but did not want to take sides in a conflict between two countries that it considers friendly.

Meanwhile, other Israeli sources told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the significance of Israel's agreement with Turkey had been "greatly exaggerated", and echoed Dayan's statements that if Israel did not supply Turkey with arms, others would.

"It is not fair to single out Israel as a power helping Turkey," the source said.

"We define our ties with Turkey as normal relations between normal countries," the source said, but added that Israel probably would not sell arms to Cyprus.

Referring to the Russian S-300 missile system ordered by Cyprus, the source said Israel was not worried, as these would not tip the broader balance of power.

Israel supports a Cyprus solution along the lines of UN resolutions, the source went on, but such a solution "cannot come from twisting Turkey's arm."

And the source also called for the EU to be more generous to Turkey in order to give it an incentive to move on Cyprus, suggesting that it be placed in a second group of countries for accession in return for a partial withdrawal of troops from Cyprus.

But the source stressed that though Israel may deal with Turkey, cabinet members were officially reminded every year not to have any dealings with the Denktash regime. When Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash went to Israel earlier in the year, he was unable to secure any meetings with government officials, though "not for want of trying."

Relations between Cyprus and Israel have become strained on several occasions over the past year, which has seen Turkey and Israel renew their joint defence initiative, as well as claims that Israel allowed Turkey to carry out anti S-300 exercises on its territory.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[09] CyBC protests EuroNews map

In the letter, CyBC General Manager Pavlos Soteriades said that "as one of the founder members and shareholders of EuroNews", CyBC assured the broadcaster that Cyprus consisted of just one internationally recognised state.

He also asked that the station, which is broadcast locally on CyBC's second channel, and occasionally on Greek channel Et1, rectify the situation immediately.

CyBC said they had received assurances from EuroNews that the map, used in the Meteo slot, which gives weather forecasts for the whole of Europe, would be replaced immediately.

Thursday, October 29, 1998

[10] Authorities step in to pay power bill

Turkish Cypriot papers on Tuesday reported that strong public reaction and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's intervention had led authorities to cancel a planned schedule of power cuts.

But yesterday the papers reported that electricity employees' union chief Kubilay Ozkirac had revealed a list of people stealing electricity by tampering with their electricity meters.

Among those named were 'deputies', election candidates, a 'mayor', a political party leader, a banker, businessmen, doctors, teachers and journalists.

Ozkirac said these people had incurred billions in losses to the 'state'.

On Monday, the Turkish Cypriot authorities cancelled their schedule of power cuts and revoked an earlier decision to peg prices to the US dollar.

The 'Cabinet' stepped in to order the issue of a letter of credit for the purchase of fuel oil for power plants.

Turkish Cypriot newspapers last week reported on looming power cuts and a probable loss of all electricity by the end of the month.

The crisis was sparked by cashflow problems at the electricity authority in the occupied areas, which could no longer afford the fuel it needed to generate power. The Vakiflar Bank had refused a letter of credit to buy more because of failure to settle earlier debts.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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