Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-09-19

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

September 19 1999

CONTENTS

[01] Denktash may have chip on his shoulder about Egeland

[02] Greek forces to take part in Nikiforos 99DEFENCE Minister Socrates Hasikos yesterday said that this year's Nikiforos military exercises will be of a higher standard than ever before.Speaking after a meeting in Athens with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Hasikos confirmed that Greek forces would once again be taking part in the five-day annual manoeuvres.The two ministers held a private meeting to discuss matters including the Joint Defence Pact between the two countries.Hasikos said the exercises would take place earlier this year, from October 2 to 7, in order not to interfere with talks on the Cyprus problem, which are anticipated before the end of the year.Tsohatzopoulos said that the exercises would involve all branches of the Greek armed forces.Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said the decision to bring the Nikiforos exercise forward was taken by President Glafcos Clerides and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens last Tuesday.The Nikiforos manoeuvres are usually carried out during late October or early November.

[03] Christofias back after transplant

[04] Tourist hurt in ‘bizarre accident’

[05] Police search for mystery hot wheelsBy Jean ChristouTHE MOST wanted car is Cyprus is not a Porsche, it's a white Daihatsu, according to police.Following a complaint by a Limassol car rental company, police are pulling out all the stops in their search for the mystery vehicle, which may have become unwittingly involved in a life of crime.But police believe the car is more victim than criminal and in its own way has not brought any luck to those who have taken it hostage.The tiny car's chequered history began on July 17 this year when it was rented out to an Egyptian man.He was arrested two days later for staying illegally in Cyprus.Police said he told them he had given the car to two Romanian friends of his.The two Romanians, according to police, had been implicated in a case of breaking and entering at Moni, and to escape justice they fled to the occupied areas, leaving the getaway Daihatsu behind in the free areas, but not free.Following investigations, police said they were informed by Unficyp that the Romanians had been seen crossing the buffer zone on foot.Police believe the unlucky car was then passed on to another two friends of the Romanians, believed to be Russians.They now fear the Daihatsu may be involuntarily continuing its journey into the underworld and want to put the brakes on any possibility of it being used again for nefarious purposes.Investigations are continuing in all towns to trace the £6,000 Daihatsu, they said. Its registration number is ZEYA420.

[06] Burglar tells police to mind their own business

[07] Soldiers suspected of supplying cannabisTHREE National Guardsmen were confined to barracks yesterday in Larnaca on suspicion of possessing and supplying cannabis to civilians.They are expected to face a military court tomorrow.Larnaca drug squad officers on Friday arrested a civilian outside their army base in Larnaca. They said the man told then he had just purchased two grammes of cannabis from a National Guardsman at the camp.Subsequent investigations uncovered another 15 grammes in a bag hidden in the quarters of a soldier. Two other soldiers are also under suspicion and all three have been confined to barracks, police said.

[08] Teenager confesses to robbing flower shopsFLOWER power won the day in Larnaca yesterday when a serial coin thief was remanded for robbing four outlets on a stolen motorbike.Police said Stavros Christofi, 17, from Chiakkilero village has confessed to robbing £200-£300 in coins from 11 flower shops in the Larnaca district between June and September this year. Only four of the 11 robberies were reported by the shop owners.Christofi was arrested by police on Friday night in a school yard at Aradippou.At court yesterday investigating officer Costas Papadopoulos said Christofi stole the coins and later exchanged them for notes at local banks with the help of accomplices.Papadopoulos said two ten pound notes were found in Christofi's shoes when he was arrested. He was also driving a stolen motorbike which Papadopoulos said Christofi admitted stealing on September 12 from Larnaca.The court granted the police request for an eight-day remand.

[09] Student ‘used stolen passport’

[01] Denktash may have chip on his shoulder about Egeland

According to a Reuters report from UN headquarters in New York, quoting sources in the organisation, the Turkish Cypriots have taken exception to a ban on their potatoes by Norway.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has made it clear in the past that he did not want any representative from an EU country because of the 1994 ban it imposed on imports from the north, and because of the bloc's decision to forge ahead with Cyprus's accession course.

Although Norway is not a member of the EU, the Turkish Cypriots say Norwegians are not acceptable either because of the potato ban.

The ban was imposed after numerous representations by the Cyprus government to Norway, but the decision is currently being contested in court by a Norwegian importer.

Egeland was widely tipped to replace Dame Ann Hercus who leaves the island at the end of this month. She is returning to New Zealand for personal reasons.

The Norwegian diplomat, an official of the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo, helped to broker the Oslo accords between the Israelis and Palestinians.

He has also helped, through the Institute, to bring Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen together for meetings to build confidence.

It was expected that Egeland's appointment would be announced at any time, but on Thursday President Glafcos Clerides said on his arrival in New York that Hercus would be replaced on a temporary basis by Chilean diplomat James Holger.

Clerides, in the US to attend the UN General Assembly, gave no hint that Holger had been appointed on an interim basis because of any objections to Egeland by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Holger served as UN special representative to Cyprus for more than ten years and more recently as Chile's ambassador to Moscow.

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September 19 1999

[02] Greek forces to take part in Nikiforos 99DEFENCE Minister Socrates Hasikos yesterday said that this year's Nikiforos military exercises will be of a higher standard than ever before.Speaking after a meeting in Athens with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Hasikos confirmed that Greek forces would once again be taking part in the five-day annual manoeuvres.The two ministers held a private meeting to discuss matters including the Joint Defence Pact between the two countries.Hasikos said the exercises would take place earlier this year, from October 2 to 7, in order not to interfere with talks on the Cyprus problem, which are anticipated before the end of the year.Tsohatzopoulos said that the exercises would involve all branches of the Greek armed forces.Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said the decision to bring the Nikiforos exercise forward was taken by President Glafcos Clerides and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens last Tuesday.The Nikiforos manoeuvres are usually carried out during late October or early November.

September 19 1999

[03] Christofias back after transplant

AKEL leader Demetris Christofias yesterday returned to Cyprus 24 hours later than planned after the aircraft on which he had been due to travel developed a fault.

The communist party leader had a kidney transplant at London's St. Mary's hospital early last month.

"I have been looking forward to standing on this land for some time," Christofias, 52, said on arrival at Larnaca Airport.

He said that he had kept abreast of the island's political developments and was especially pleased to have returned feeling stronger at what he called "such a critical time" for the island.

Christofias expressed caution over the anticipated bi-communal negotiations, saying that both Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash were well known for their intransigence and last-minute decisions to back out.

He added, however, that he would be happy to accompany President Glafcos Clerides to the talks as part of the National Council if it was deemed necessary.

Christofias said that he would be back to regular duties in mid-October as his doctor has said he can spend only up to two hours a day at his office over the next few weeks.

He underwent open heart surgery at St Mary's in March in preparation for last month’s transplant, which was deemed necessary after Christofias suffered kidney damage during treatment for bronchial pneumonia in Cyprus last winter.

He received the kidney from his sister Despina.

Local transplant experts insisted the operation could have been carried out just as well here, but Akel defended the decision to have the operation carried out in London, with tax-payers footing the bill, because of Christofias' medical history.

The Medical Council also gave its seal of approval to the transplant being carried out overseas.

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September 19 1999

[04] Tourist hurt in ‘bizarre accident’

According to a police bulletin, 25-year-old Lasse Pakarinen has been hospitalised for wrist and back injuries after falling while climbing out of a bathroom window in Ayios Dhometios in the early hours of yesterday.

Pakarinen told police that he had been locked in the bathroom by a man after going to his house for coffee at approximately 3am.

He said that he then managed to climb down a number of floors before losing his balance and falling to the ground.

Pakarinen, a UN soldier serving in Lebanon, was taken to Nicosia general hospital by ambulance and is reported to be out of danger, although he has been kept in for treatment.

Ayios Dhometios police are continuing their investigations.

"It all seems to be part of a misunderstanding," a police source told The Sunday Mail.

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September 19 1999

[05] Police search for mystery hot wheelsBy Jean ChristouTHE MOST wanted car is Cyprus is not a Porsche, it's a white Daihatsu, according to police.Following a complaint by a Limassol car rental company, police are pulling out all the stops in their search for the mystery vehicle, which may have become unwittingly involved in a life of crime.But police believe the car is more victim than criminal and in its own way has not brought any luck to those who have taken it hostage.The tiny car's chequered history began on July 17 this year when it was rented out to an Egyptian man.He was arrested two days later for staying illegally in Cyprus.Police said he told them he had given the car to two Romanian friends of his.The two Romanians, according to police, had been implicated in a case of breaking and entering at Moni, and to escape justice they fled to the occupied areas, leaving the getaway Daihatsu behind in the free areas, but not free.Following investigations, police said they were informed by Unficyp that the Romanians had been seen crossing the buffer zone on foot.Police believe the unlucky car was then passed on to another two friends of the Romanians, believed to be Russians.They now fear the Daihatsu may be involuntarily continuing its journey into the underworld and want to put the brakes on any possibility of it being used again for nefarious purposes.Investigations are continuing in all towns to trace the £6,000 Daihatsu, they said. Its registration number is ZEYA420.

September 19 1999

[06] Burglar tells police to mind their own business

Panayiotis Gregoriou, 20, from Livadhia village was remanded for six days by the Larnaca court after being caught red-handed trying to break the lock on a supermarket door in the early hours of yesterday.

The court heard that the shop's alarm woke owner Simos Kousappas at around 3.30am and he called the police.

When they arrived Gregoriou was still there, pliers in hand, and told them that he had not actually managed to break in, just attempted it.

He told them to mind their own business, the court heard.

Gregoriou was arrested and has admitted to four more break-ins in Ayia Napa and Ayia Anna.

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September 19 1999

[07] Soldiers suspected of supplying cannabisTHREE National Guardsmen were confined to barracks yesterday in Larnaca on suspicion of possessing and supplying cannabis to civilians.They are expected to face a military court tomorrow.Larnaca drug squad officers on Friday arrested a civilian outside their army base in Larnaca. They said the man told then he had just purchased two grammes of cannabis from a National Guardsman at the camp.Subsequent investigations uncovered another 15 grammes in a bag hidden in the quarters of a soldier. Two other soldiers are also under suspicion and all three have been confined to barracks, police said.

September 19 1999

[08] Teenager confesses to robbing flower shopsFLOWER power won the day in Larnaca yesterday when a serial coin thief was remanded for robbing four outlets on a stolen motorbike.Police said Stavros Christofi, 17, from Chiakkilero village has confessed to robbing £200-£300 in coins from 11 flower shops in the Larnaca district between June and September this year. Only four of the 11 robberies were reported by the shop owners.Christofi was arrested by police on Friday night in a school yard at Aradippou.At court yesterday investigating officer Costas Papadopoulos said Christofi stole the coins and later exchanged them for notes at local banks with the help of accomplices.Papadopoulos said two ten pound notes were found in Christofi's shoes when he was arrested. He was also driving a stolen motorbike which Papadopoulos said Christofi admitted stealing on September 12 from Larnaca.The court granted the police request for an eight-day remand.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

September 19 1999

[09] Student ‘used stolen passport’

Mohammed Akbar, 23, was returned to the island when Hungarian customs officials realised that he looked nothing like the photograph in the passport he was carrying.

Requesting Akbar's six-day remand, the investigating officer told Larnaca district court that the student's permit to remain on the island had expired in May.

The officer said that Akbar had stolen the passport from a fellow Pakistani student and used it to leave the island.

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