Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-10-31

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

Saturday, October 31, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Akel locks on to missile issue

[02] Hercus shuttle continues

[03] Israelis stress importance of links with Turkey

[04] Auditor-general submits report on 'corruption'

[05] Doctors to stage one-day strikeBy Athena Karsera

[06] Road to EU 'will not be smooth'

[07] The baby cheats: some couples wanting to adopt by-pass the system

[08] Pony will not be put down, say Bases

[09] Turkey's refusal to pay up is 'a challenge to Europe'

[10] Tourist killed in Paphos

[11] Boat people: Matsakis completes close study

[01] Akel locks on to missile issue

AKEL turned up the heat on the government yesterday, challenging it to come clean over when the much delayed S-300 missiles will arrive - if at all.

Party spokesman and deputy Nicos Katsourides described the government's handling of the missile deal as "pure theatre", and blamed its indecisiveness on the current impasse.

"We call on the government to state when the missiles are coming," Katsourides said.

The island's second largest party, languishing in opposition since its failed bid to get George Iacovou elected as president in February, has criticised the government for not consulting it over the missile deal.

And it has adopted the controversial S-300 missile issue as a stick with which to beat the government and make political capital from their non- arrival.

"Contracts were signed in January 1997 by the defence and finance ministers, and it came to the House one and half months later," said Katsourides.

"The same happened with the agreement to postpone their arrival: it was signed without consultation and this shows a lack of democracy."

But the signals emanating from Akel HQ are also confused; on the one hand the party is saying it did not officially approve the missile deal, and on the other it seemingly blames the government for buckling under international pressure to postpone their deployment.

In a move to put the government on the spot, Akel deputy Doros Christodoulides went public on Thursday over the cost of the missile deal and the $1 million a month the taxpayer will have to pay for their storage in Russia.

Christodoulides said the deal was worth $227 million but postponement beyond November 1 would incur the $1 million storage fee.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides would not be drawn on the missile row yesterday, but he dismissed the Akel deputies figures as "incorrect".

"This issue should be kept out of the public domain, and what was said was not correct," he said.

But this official denial did not placate Katsourides, who demanded that the government publish those terms of the missile contract with Russia which refer to storage and maintenance.

Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades yesterday echoed President Clerides earlier' reaction when he said that Akel had raised no protest when the House approved the funds for the S-300s.

"George Iacovou, backed by Akel, said he would bring the missiles before Clerides during the election (campaign)," Anastassiades said to prove his point.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[02] Hercus shuttle continues

No statements were made after the 40-minute meeting, but Dame Ann said she would have a further meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, probably on Monday.

She will also meet President Clerides again next Friday.

The shuttle talks have been going on for the past two weeks in secrecy.

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 settlement.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[03] Israelis stress importance of links with Turkey

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) in Tel Aviv, Professor Ephraim Inbar of the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University said his own personal pro-Turkish stance was justified when Turkey's regional power was taken into consideration, along with joint Israeli-Turkish interests and their common enmity of Syria.

Israel-Turkey ties go back a long way, he also noted, adding that in the United States, the Jewish and Turkish lobbies worked together in promoting the Turkish perspective.

Professor Shai Feldman, Director of the Jaffee Centre for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, told CNA Israel would shift its focus to the Mediterranean area with the subsiding of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"Cyprus has been an issue on the foreign policy agenda, but we see Cyprus in more of a bilateral relations context than in a wider context," he said.

He said that Cyprus was also under British influence to an extent, but added that the US was engaged in the island's affairs although it did "not see opportunity for dramatic success in Cyprus at present, whereas when the US dealt with Israel and Palestinians, they could score points".

Feldman added that he thought the US might intervene in the event of a crisis on the island, for example if the S-300 missiles were to arrive.

Professor Moshe Maoz of the Truman Institute of Peace Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem echoed Ephraim's comments about Israeli connections with Turkey, saying his country "has interests in co-operating with Turkey as it can help us iron out differences with other countries".

However, he also warned that the alliance should not be at the expense of those with Arab states, as it was here that Israel's priorities should lie.

Israel, he said, should "work for peace without relinquishing its ties with Turkey".

Cyprus-Israel relations have taken a beating this year, after Israel and Turkey renewed their joint defence agreement, and after claims that Israel had allowed Turkey to carry out anti-S-300 exercises on Israeli territory.

Israeli President Ezer Weizman, who was in Ankara this week for Turkey's 75th anniversary celebrations, arrives in Cyprus on Monday for a three-day official visit.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[04] Auditor-general submits report on 'corruption'

AUDITOR-GENERAL Spyros Christou yesterday submitted to President Clerides his findings on corruption allegations levelled at Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides.

Attorney-general Alecos Markides will now have the task of studying the report to ascertain whether any criminal offence has taken place.

Based on the Attorney-general's ruling Clerides could approve the appointment of an independent prosecutor, sack Michaelides, or consider the matter closed.

Clerides said if the Auditor-general's report showed there was a case of political responsibility against Michaelides he alone would decide whether to sack him or not.

But he dismissed any idea that there would be a wholesale cabinet reshuffle.

"The conclusions of the Attorney-general only concern one person," said Clerides.

Markides' ruling will take a matter of days rather than weeks, he added.

Christou said afterwards that an additional investigation would start on Monday in collecting evidence on Michaelides' family payments since 1985.

He said this would cover both individual and business tax returns as a "matter of routine".

The month-long inquiry was launched after Disy Deputy Christos Pourgourides made allegations against the Interior Minister of 14 counts of bribery and corruption.

The allegations included the acquisition of property and luxury flats in exchange for favours to big business and issuing work permits for cash.

Although Christou's hefty 150-page report, compiled by 15 auditors, has been kept under a veil of secrecy, it is not thought to contain any conclusions or to apportion any blame.

The aim of the report was to collect facts and figures from various government departments and bank accounts to evaluate Michaelides' wealth and relevant tax returns.

Teams of investigators collected evidence from the Inland Revenue Department, the Land Registry Office, the Companies Registration Office and the Aliens and Immigration Department.

Investigators also visited Michaelides' Limassol home to estimate its value, because Pourgourides claimed it was worth more than £600,000 and had been built without the minister obtaining a loan.

Pourgourides alleges that Michaelides acquired millions of pounds since being appointed minister by Clerides in 1993 as a result of abusing his position.

Pourgourides, who is House Watchdog Committee chairman, and Michaelides will each receive a copy of the report, said Clerides.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[05] Doctors to stage one-day strikeBy Athena Karsera

The decision follows a demonstration outside the House of Representatives and a four-hour stoppage from 11 to 3 pm on Thursday.

Union of Government Doctors President Dr Stavros Stavrou told the Cyprus Mail the decision to stage a one-day strike was taken because the union believes there is no longer any room for discussion.

He says that the health sector is full of problems and the government has refused to discuss the difficulties state doctors have faced for years.

Dr Stavrou said patients would not be in danger during the strikes as teams of doctors will be selected to treat hospital patients, casualty and emergency cases.

If the strike action does go ahead as planned, no rural health centres will be in operation because their doctors will be joining the selected teams who will be working.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[06] Road to EU 'will not be smooth'

ITALY'S ambassador to Cyprus yesterday warned that the island could face problems further down the road in its European Union accession course.

Speaking after meeting President Glafcos Clerides, Francesco Bascone warned that although Italy was not planning to raise any obstacles in Cyprus' path, that did not mean the island's political situation would not cause problems.

It was, he said, "a general hope of Italy and the other members that progress is made on the Cyprus issue before we arrive at the final phase."

Otherwise, Bascone added, there would be "a difficult problem which we cannot ignore". But he said that Cyprus was "aware of this".

Commenting on reservations expressed by France about Cyprus joining the EU, and earlier reports of reservations on Italy's behalf, the ambassador said he was "not sure there was any problem with Italy". and that he only saw press reports that Italy was linked with France.

On Thursday, France withdrew its proposal to solidly connect the island's EU accession with a Cyprus solution after an initiative by Germany and a discussion of the issue by the 15 permanent representatives of the EU council.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said yesterday that the government was satisfied with the decision taken at the EU-Cyprus Intergovernmental Conference, and that the start of its second meeting, at negotiators level, "virtually signalled the start of the EU-Cyprus accession talks".

On his part, speaking after meeting Clerides to discuss the start of substantive talks, Greek ambassador Kyriakos Rodosakis said Cyprus could "now start its negotiations for EU accession unimpeded".

Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, Cyprus' Chief Negotiator, former president George Vassiliou, said that substantial accession talks have now begun. He also called on member states to help in any way they can to ensure progress on the Cyprus problem.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[07] The baby cheats: some couples wanting to adopt by-pass the system

CYPRIOT couples considered unsuitable to adopt children from abroad are cheating the system, the Welfare Department said yesterday.

Welfare official Anita Konis said yesterday there have been a number of cases of Cypriot couples flouting procedure and bringing in children from Romania illegally.

Konis said the couples then create conditions where the courts are forced to grant adoptions even in cases where the Welfare Department has specifically stated that the family environment is unsuitable.

"After bringing the child in as a guest a de facto situation is created," Konis said.

She said these couples keep the children for months before making an application for adoption, by which time the children are settled in Cyprus and the courts eventually have no option but to allow them to be adopted.

"The situation is created even though the Department's report may say that the couple is unsuitable," Konis said. She said the Department is only an advisory body to the courts and its advice is not legally binding.

She said that in the end it is up to the courts: "They take into account all the factors, including how long the child has already been in Cyprus."

The normal procedure involves couples applying to the Welfare Department to adopt a Romanian child. The Department then compiles a report on the couple with the recommendation, which is sent to Romania.

Authorities there then send the history and medical reports on the child to Cyprus and the papers are signed.

The process takes around six months, Konis said.

In the case of couples who try to cheat the system and already have the child in Cyprus, the procedure is speeded up, Konis said. "When the child is in Cyprus we consider it a more urgent case."

Cypriots have been turning to Romania for children to adopt since 1990. The two countries signed an agreement in 1994 providing for post-adoption checks in the first two years and a report back to the country of origin.

In 1990 27 Romanian children were adopted by Cypriots and in 1991, 79. The figure was 171 in 1992, 80 in 1993, and 69 in 1994; in 1995 it was 63, in 1996 it reached 77, and in 1997 it climbed again to 85.

Around 100 couples a year apply to adopt a child.

Konis said there are very few opportunities to adopt Cypriot children so Cypriot couples are turning more and more to Greece and Eastern European countries such as Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[08] Pony will not be put down, say Bases

AUTHORITIES are not putting down the pony involved in the death last Saturday of a three-year-old Nicosia girl during UN Open Day festivities in the Buffer Zone, British Bases spokesman Rob Need said yesterday.

Need said an equine veterinary surgeon had examined the animal last Sunday, one day after it fatally trampled Vergina Nicolaides during at the Ledra Palace Hotel. The activities had been held to mark 50 years of UN peacekeeping worldwide.

The pony belonged to the Dhekelia Saddle Club, which Need said is a private group of military and civilian Sovereign Bases Areas personnel and British expatriates, not an official SBA activity.

"As far as we are concerned, the pony is not being destroyed. It is being used in horse trials today," in fact, Need said.

He said Unficyp police had called in a Cypriot equine vet to examine the pony, and the vet had worked up the animal's complete medical and riding history last Sunday.

SBA spokesman Capt. Jon Brown said the results of the vet's examination had been transferred to Unficyp in Nicosia, and the Bases therefore could not say what its conclusions were.

Unficyp had no comment on the report, as former spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski has left Cyprus for other duties and his replacement is not yet on station.

Vergina was pronounced brain-dead on Monday from her injuries and buried the next day. Her kidneys were donated to two people in Cyprus, and her liver to a recipient in London.

Her death generated expressions of sympathy and praise from UN Chief of Mission Dame Ann Hercus, and from President Glafcos Clerides and his government, for the courage and generosity of the child's parents in the donation of her organs to others.

Pony rides were one of several free recreational activities especially aimed at children attending the UN festivities.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[09] Turkey's refusal to pay up is 'a challenge to Europe'

LAWYER Achilleas Demetriades says Turkey's refusal to honour a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in favour of his client, Titina Loizidou, shows Turkey is unfit to remain in the Council of Europe, and not ready to join the European Union.

Ankara, in an unprecedented rebuff to the Court, let lapse an October 28 deadline for paying Loizidou £320,000 in damages for denying her access to her home in the Turkish-occupied north.

Turkey's refusal to pay not only could cost Ankara its seat in the Council of Europe (CoE), but is also "a slap in the face" to Loizidou and "the whole system of Human Rights protection built by the Council of Europe", Demetriades said.

"It's a challenge to the system, and I think other members of the system should take a firm stand on it and take a position that will make Turkey accept judgments of the Court," he said.

He suggested the CoE's 40 member states should explore "to what extent can monetary awards of the European Court of Justice be executed in member countries against assets" of a member in default of a Court judgment.

The question, he noted, has never been asked in the Court's 48-year history, because "no state has refused, or in fact avoided, paying a monetary award".

"The Court has clearly said that Turkey, by virtue of the military forces that it has in the area under its control in Northern Cyprus, exercises effective control," Demetriades said.

"Therefore it has responsibility for what is going on over there in terms of human rights, and this responsibility is not absolved by the creation of a subordinate local administration, the 'TRNC'."

"The judgment is there. The question is: does Turkey accept the judgment? If the answer is 'no', then they should seriously consider their position in the Council of Europe, and Europe in general," Demetriades said.

"If Turkey does not choose to be part of the Council of Europe, then the repercussions are greater, because they, by implication, confirm their non- compliance to human rights. And, therefore, they have no place in the EU either."

Demetriades said Turkey will not immediately be ejected from the CoE, but would be subject instead to "a gradual pressure" by the Council's Committee of Ministers, which supervises the execution of the Court's judgments.

"They would prepare a resolution calling upon Turkey to comply with the judgment. If they (the Turks) fail to do that, then there is a mechanism whereby they (the ministers) will start to take action in order to expel them (Turkey) from the Council of Europe," he explained.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[10] Tourist killed in Paphos

Gerhard Dietrich, 62, was attempting to cross Poseidon Street on Thursday evening when he was hit by a motorbike ridden by Nicos Panayiotou, 22. Both men were taken to Paphos General Hospital, where Dietrich was pronounced dead.

Panayiotou was seriously injured in the accident. He was not wearing a crash helmet. Paphos police are investigating.

Saturday, October 31, 1998

[11] Boat people: Matsakis completes close study

HOUSE Deputy Marios Matsakis said yesterday he was fine-tuning his report to Attorney General Alecos Markides on his forensic examination of 41 boat people who were beaten on October 23 by rapid-reaction (Mmad) anti- terrorist police.

Matsakis, a forensic pathologist, declined to state what his findings pointed to, noting that Markides commissioned it and had sole authority to publish it.

Markides has already received Matsakis' tape-recorded notes and is having the tape transcribed for use in his investigation into allegations of police brutality towards the boat people in quelling a cell-block riot.

Matsakis said he took 279 photographs and made 50 diagrams in seven locations in which the boat people were held. One was the Larnaca detention facility in whose courtyard the beatings took place, another the Central Prison in Nicosia.

He said he also "took specimens" from some of the 41 boat people he examined, and inspected at least six detention rooms.

Television footage clearly shows dozens of Mmad force officers clubbing and kicking the boat people, after forcing them to lie face-down in the Larnaca detention facility's courtyard.

Top government officials, including Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides and Markides, have expressed concern that broadcast of the TV footage might hurt the island's reputation. The TV footage has been aired abroad.

The riot broke out when some of the illegal immigrants, most of them Africans, burned their bedclothes in protest on learning some were to have been deported last Saturday. After they refused to leave their cells, they were flushed out with tear-gas, herded into the courtyard and beaten.

At least six of the 48 boat people have returned to Nigeria - four by deportation, two "voluntarily" since the incident, police said this week.

Markides has appointed six investigators to look into the beatings, which sparked calls for those responsible for ordering the actions to resign their posts. At least one Mmad officer has said his orders allowed maximum force, short of killing.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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