Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-10-05

Visit our Treaty, Convention & International Organization Document Archive Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)

Compact version

Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)

Friday, 22 November 2024

News

Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
Announcements
World Press
News Archives

Web Sites

Hosted
Mirrored
Interesting Nodes

Documents

Special Topics
Treaties, Conventions
Constitutions
U.S. Agencies
Cyprus Problem
Other

Services

Personal NewsPaper
Greek Fonts
Tools
F.A.Q.

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-10-05

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[01] Two Soldiers Die in CrashExcessive speed and failure to wear a seat-belt are being blamed for both deaths.<o:p></o:p>At about 3pm on Sunday, 19-year-old Georgios Toumazou, from Lymbia in the Nicosia district, was driving from his home village to nearby Alambra when he lost control of his car. His car careered into a three-foot deep roadside ditch and then hit an electricity pole. Toumazou was killed instantly.<o:p></o:p>The National Guardsman had not been wearing a seat-belt, police said. They are asking anyone who might have seen the accident to contact their nearest police station.<o:p></o:p>At about 4am yesterday, Orthodoxos Limbouris, 19, from Mosfiloti, was killed in an accident on the outskirts of Psevdas, in the Larnaca district.<o:p></o:p>His passenger, fellow National Guardsman Stavros Shakos, 19, from Polemidia, Limassol, was seriously injured and is in a critical condition in Nicosia general hospital.<o:p></o:p>Police say Limbouris lost control of his vehicle as he entered Psevdas village and ended up in a streambed beside the road. The car overturned and was crushed, killing him instantly. The rescue crew had to cut Limbouris and the injured Shakos out of the wreckage.<o:p></o:p>Police said neither man appeared to have been wearing a seatbelt. <o:p></o:p>A police source said excessive speed may have been the cause of both accidents.<o:p></o:p>
[02] Britain denies Independence Day snub by Clay
[03] CTO unions start work to rule
[04] Optimism, what optimism?<o:p></o:p>
[05] CyBC shot down by friendly fire.
[06] Probe into police links with flesh trade.
[07] 'Cyprus Flag is being victomised.
[08] Greek warplanes in Nikifors exercise
[09] Police on guard as bourse reopens
[10] Move to reduce age of Cyprus fleet
[11] Winter tourism plan postponed

[01] Two Soldiers Die in CrashExcessive speed and failure to wear a seat- belt are being blamed for both deaths.<o:p></o:p>At about 3pm on Sunday, 19- year-old Georgios Toumazou, from Lymbia in the Nicosia district, was driving from his home village to nearby Alambra when he lost control of his car. His car careered into a three-foot deep roadside ditch and then hit an electricity pole. Toumazou was killed instantly.<o:p></o:p>The National Guardsman had not been wearing a seat-belt, police said. They are asking anyone who might have seen the accident to contact their nearest police station.<o:p></o:p>At about 4am yesterday, Orthodoxos Limbouris, 19, from Mosfiloti, was killed in an accident on the outskirts of Psevdas, in the Larnaca district.<o:p></o:p>His passenger, fellow National Guardsman Stavros Shakos, 19, from Polemidia, Limassol, was seriously injured and is in a critical condition in Nicosia general hospital.<o:p></o:p>Police say Limbouris lost control of his vehicle as he entered Psevdas village and ended up in a streambed beside the road. The car overturned and was crushed, killing him instantly. The rescue crew had to cut Limbouris and the injured Shakos out of the wreckage.<o:p></o:p>Police said neither man appeared to have been wearing a seatbelt. <o:p></o:p>A police source said excessive speed may have been the cause of both accidents.<o:p></o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[02] Britain denies Independence Day snub by Clay

By Anthony O. Miller<o:p> </o:p>

THE BRITISH High Commission yesterday denied that High Commissioner Edward Clay had snubbed the Republic by not attending last Friday�s Independence Day ceremonies.<o:p> </o:p>

High Commission Spokesman Jonathan Allen also said there was no tilt toward the Turkish or Turkish Cypriot side implied in the presence of Turkish Cypriots at a weekend party at the British base at Dhekelia.<o:p> </o:p>

But the controversy refused to die yesterday in political circles over the perceived snub in Clay's no-show at the annual military parade and at the reception hosted by President Glafcos Clerides later on Friday.<o:p> </o:p>

The flap was further fuelled by claims by MP Marios Matsakis that he had been denied access to the Dhekelia Garrison during the weekend party there. Matsakis was not available for comment.<o:p> </o:p>

"The government would not like to comment on this," Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said yesterday, but he added that the apparent Independence Day snub had been noticed by the government as well as by the public.<o:p> </o:p>

Papapetrou noted that the Queen had sent a congratulatory telegram to Clerides to mark Independence Day. Britain was the colonial power in Cyprus before independence in 1960.<o:p> </o:p>

As for hundreds of Turkish Cypriots at Dhekelia, Papapetrou would only say the government was "looking into it".<o:p> </o:p>

Allen said there was "absolutely no snub intended whatsoever, and hopefully none taken" in Clay's no-show. "This is quite simply long-standing leave plans arranged a long time ago."<o:p> </o:p>

"We informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with an official note on the ninth of September that the High Commissioner would be on leave (in early October) and Deputy High Commissioner John Buck would be attending" the parade and reception.<o:p> </o:p>

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised no objection at all. And today Government Spokesman Papapetrou raised no objection at all, so as far as we're concerned there is no problem," Allen said. "I have not come across any official indication that anyone is treating this as a snub."<o:p> </o:p>

Allen said Clay chose early October to take leave because "we hope that we're going to be very busy this autumn, either on or off the island" with talks on a Cyprus settlement that the international community is striving to convene.<o:p> </o:p>

House President Spyros Kyprianou said of Clay's no-show that: "I have the impression that the �British factor� to some extent has decided to take the lead to exercise some pressure" on the Republic. "This is how I interpret certain phenomena."<o:p> </o:p>

"It was not a chance happening that the British High Commissioner for the first time ever was on leave on the October 1 Independence Day," Kyprianou said.<o:p> </o:p>

Akel chief Demetris Christofias termed Britain�s attitude in Clay's no-show as "hostile and unacceptable". He said the government should demand an official pledge from Britain that it recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the island's sole legitimate government.<o:p> </o:p>

Edek leader Dr Vassos Lyssarides called Clay's no-show "unacceptable and condemnable. There is no excuse for it".<o:p> </o:p>

Meanwhile, SBA Spokesman Rob Need said the Dhekelia weekend affair "was a Cypriot evening hosted by the Turkish Security Force Police -- the Turkish Cypriots who work in Dhekelia in the Security Force Police."<o:p> </o:p>

"It's an annual event," he said, that has been held for some 25 years.<o:p> </o:p>

It was attended by 426 people from both sides, Need said -- 262 Turkish Cypriots and 124 Greek Cypriots, including wives and guests.<o:p> </o:p>

"The Security Force Police is the (SBA) guard service," Need said. "In Dhekelia there are 94 police -- 71 are Turkish Cypriots, 23 are Greek Cypriots. They provide the gate guards, dog patrols, patrols around the Sovereign Base Area. They check passes, they do the pass issuance and returns." <o:p> </o:p>

He said it was a cultural evening with food prepared by the men "while the wives looked on".<o:p> </o:p>

Need noted that the security police at the Episkopi Garrison hold a similar annual event.<o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[03] CTO unions start work to rule

EMPLOYEES of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation began a work to rule yesterday as their initial reaction to what they say was a breach of contract by management.<o:p> </o:p>

According to the unions Eykot and Oho-Sek, the CTO�s management has not yet implemented the existing collective agreement for the filling of vacant positions in the organisation. <o:p> </o:p>

The unions said that they have exhausted all procedures under the industrial relations code, and that stalemate has been reached.<o:p> </o:p>

They warn that there will be an escalation of measures from November 1 unless management complies with the existing collective agreement.<o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[04] Optimism, what optimism?<o:p></o:p>

THE GOVERNMENT sees no grounds for optimism in the Cyprus problem and is unhappy with the possible postponement of US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses's visit to the region.<o:p> </o:p>

Unlike Washington, Nicosia does not consider that anything positive came out of last week's meeting between US President Bill Clinton and Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in New York.<o:p> </o:p>

The US said concrete progress had been made by the two leaders, even though Ecevit came away from the meeting still insisting on recognition for the break-away �TRNC� as a pre-condition for the resumption of Cyprus settlement talks.<o:p> </o:p>

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said yesterday the government disagreed with the US appraisal of the situation, adding that only the issuing of talks invitations by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan would constitute progress.<o:p> </o:p>

"We see nothing to make us optimistic that this will happen," Papapetrou told his daily press briefing.<o:p> </o:p>

Annan is widely expected to invite President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to face-to-face talks sometime this month. But, following Ecevit's New York visit, a UN spokesman admitted Annan was undecided about whether to try to convene talks or not.<o:p> </o:p>

Papapetrou also said the government had information that Moses's tour of Athens, Ankara and Nicosia would be postponed because of Ecevit's upcoming visit to Moscow.<o:p> </o:p>

The Moses trip was originally announced for sometime this week, but is not now expected until next week -- if it goes ahead at all.<o:p> </o:p>

Papapetrou reiterated that Clerides was willing to attend unconditional talks aimed at establishing a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in Cyprus. He also re- stated that there was no chance of Clerides ever accepting Denktash's demands for recognition of the �TRNC�.<o:p> </o:p>

Clerides yesterday briefed party leaders on his recent contacts in New York and developments in the wake of the Clinton-Ecevit meeting.<o:p> </o:p>

Diko leader and House President Spyros Kyprianou said there was no reason for optimism and that Clinton and Ecevit had not even given top priority to the Cyprus issue during their discussions.<o:p> </o:p>

"There has been no pressure put on Turkey by the US or anyone else. I infer this from information of my own -- not the President�s -- that the Cyprus problem concerned the Clinton-Ecevit meeting but briefly, and was not the first issue on their agenda," Kyprianou said.<o:p> </o:p>

Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades said the aim of Moses�s visit to Cyprus would be primarily to talk to Denktash, not Clerides. He said Disy was satisfied with the way Clerides was handling developments. Anastassiades disagreed with Kyprianou that there was no grounds for optimism, saying it was too early to draw such conclusions.<o:p> </o:p>

The leaders of opposition parties Akel and Edek, Demetris Christofias and Vassos Lyssarides, both expressed fears that the Turkish side might agree to talks solely in order to improve Turkey's chances of being considered for EU accession.<o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[05] CyBC shot down by friendly fire.

DID HE really say that?

Listeners had trouble believing what their ears were telling them on Sunday, as state broadcaster CyBC reported that the Paphos air base could host "a thousand" Greek fighter jets. <o:p> </o:p>

And the report appeared to come from the most impeccable of sources, visiting Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.<o:p> </o:p>

CyBC quoted him as saying during a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Socrates Hasikos that "a thousand" fighter jets could land at the Andreas Papandreou air base, which he and Hasikos had just visited. <o:p> </o:p>

Greece does not have 1,000 fighters and the still incomplete base has nowhere near the capacity for so many even if it did.<o:p> </o:p>

The explanation for the apparent slip is simple. What Tsohatzopoulos actually said was that filia (meaning "friendly" in Greek) fighter jets could land at the base. The word filia is but a slip of the tongue away from the Greek for a thousand: chilia. <o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[06] Probe into police links with flesh trade.

POLICE chief Andreas Angelides yesterday ordered an emergency probe into allegations that police officers were in cahoots with underworld gangs forcing foreign cabaret artistes into prostitution.<o:p> </o:p>

The investigation is also expected to include close relatives of top politicians, whose names have been linked to the sordid scam. <o:p> </o:p>

"The chief of police has ordered an urgent investigation concerning allegations and information that policemen have links with flesh-trading gangs, and are being paid to supply fake residence permits for foreign women in Cyprus," a police announcement said.<o:p> </o:p>

"I will not accept or tolerate disruption of the investigations in order to cover up anyone's possible responsibilities, including my brother's," the Disy leader stated in a letter sent to Angelides, which he released yesterday. Anastassiades called on police to pull out all the stops to ensure a speedy conclusion of the investigation.<o:p> </o:p>

Cyprus has acquired a sordid reputation for the import of female cabaret dancers who are then allegedly forced to work as prostitutes.<o:p> </o:p>

The Disy leader was at pains to insist that his brother, if proven guilty, would not get off because of his political connections. "There is absolutely no chance of my tolerating the protection of anyone," Anastassiades told reporters. <o:p> </o:p>

The police announcement stated that Angelides "would not allow the name of the whole police force to be blackened by the possible misdemeanours of an isolated minority."<o:p> </o:p>

Angelides vowed that any officers found guilty of involvement in the alleged scam would face the full penalty under law.<o:p> </o:p>

Akel deputy Kikis Yiangou issued a statement saying the police investigation proved what he had claimed all along: that officers were �in bed� with cabaret owners and routinely turned a blind eye to the abuse of dancers at their clubs.<o:p> </o:p>

�It will be ascertained that senior officers satisfy their sexual appetites in specially appointed rooms at entertainment clubs, with artistes," the opposition party deputy claimed.<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[07] 'Cyprus Flag is being victomised.

By Jean Christou

SENIOR officials at Maritime Cyprus yesterday fended off criticism from delegates over the Cyprus fleet's detention rate, claiming the flag is being victimised.

So strongly does Cyprus feel on the issue that is has conveyed its aggrieved feelings to the European Commission and is currently in the process of substantiating its claims.

Following an address to delegates at the opening of yesterday's working session by EU chief negotiator George Vassiliou, Cypriot officials were quizzed over the Cyprus flag's high rate of detentions compared to member states of the European Union.

According to the Paris memorandum on safety, Cyprus has a 20 per cent detention rate compared to seven per cent for EU member states. The island has only managed to reduce this figure by one per cent in the past two years, according to the European delegate who pointed it out.

"When a flag is being targeted, you cannot draw inferences on the whole fleet on the basis of the results," said Serghios Serghiou, Director of the Cyprus Merchant Shipping Department. He said that a few years ago ships were being detained for very serious deficiencies. "But in recent cases, and especially this year, they have been detained for very minor deficiencies, in many cases for insignificant deficiencies and in many other cases for no reason at all," Serghiou said.

Vassiliou admitted that Cyprus had one of the highest rates of detention. �But at long last we have succeeded in conveying the message, and you can't have a flag to be proud of unless you are sure the rate of detention becomes comparable with that of the EU," he said. "The beginning is always more difficult than what comes after."

He said that in this respect Cyprus has taken the steps to appoint more inspectors and to reduce the age of the fleet. �As time goes by we will see a significant improvement in the rate of detention until we reach the same average with EU countries or even better," Vassiliou said.

In his address earlier, Vassiliou said Cypriot-flagged ships were being targeted "for nothing" simply because attention was being focused on the flag. He said that over the last two years there has been significant progress in everything related to shipping. "It's not enough any more to rely on promises," he said.

Vassiliou said the EU has contributed towards the change of attitude in the civil service in Cyprus which was beginning to have an effect on Cypriots and the way they think and behave. "There is a very specific commitment to the EU," Vassiliou said.

He said the difference between the past and the present was that in the past it was up to the president to push things forward but now it's the EU checking whether the correct steps are being taken. "We have made progress because we want to convince our EU friends that what we promise, we deliver, " Vassiliou said referring again to the promise to recruit more new inspectors and computerise the shipping department, actions which, he said, are beginning to become a reality.

"The Cyprus shipping industry is not something that just happened. We are proud to have one of the largest and best fleets. The message of quality not quantity is beginning to filter down to officials," he said.

Cyprus has not met any serious difficulties on the road to accession, according to Vassiliou, "and certainly not in terms of the maritime industry". He assured delegates that Cyprus' accession course would not take the government's attention away from the importance of the shipping industry and that everything is being done to ensure the sector's interests.

"Under these circumstances we have no doubts... the future of Cyprus as a shipping centre is assured. When Cyprus joins the EU, Europe will be by far the biggest shipping power in the world," Vassiliou said.

"I can assure you that the future of the shipping industry in Cyprus is assured, not only because it�s important for Cyprus and you but also the way things are developing is important for the EU as well."

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[08] Greek warplanes in Nikifors exercise

Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos, who watched the exercise, later stressed the excellent co-operation between the military commands of Greece and Cyprus.<o:p> </o:p>

Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who ended a four-day visit to Cyprus on Sunday, told a news conference that the island�s defence capability is of a very high standard. <o:p> </o:p>

He and Hasikos had visited the Andreas Papandreou air base at Paphos, where work to complete phase two of the base is continuing. The Greek minister described it as an excellent military airport ready to accommodate aircraft taking part in annual manoeuvres.<o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[09] Police on guard as bourse reopens

By Hamza Hendawi<o:p> </o:p>

WITH MANY investors shut out and policemen assigned to protect brokers on the floor, the Cyprus Stock Exchange reopened for business yesterday after a four-week closure, keeping alive hopes for a spectacular 1999 with a modest drop of 1.27 per cent.<o:p> </o:p>

The dip in the exchange's all-share index defied wide expectations that the market was heading for a plunge on reopening. It slipped 5.3 points to close at 414.95 on a relatively low turnover of �6.8 million. <o:p> </o:p>

The bourse's four-week closure was forced by a mountain of unprocessed paperwork resulting from the boom months of the summer when thousands of first-time investors descended on the market and an automated trading system introduced in May sent volume through the roof.<o:p> </o:p>

The prospect of parallel listing on the Athens Stock Exchange by some Cyprus-based banks and companies, together with consistently good results by blue-chip companies, further contributed to gains of more than 360 per cent on the year.<o:p> </o:p>

Many investors were unable to trade yesterday because they had no deeds for their shares, a fact which has given rise to fears over the safety of brokers from investors angered by the delays in receiving share certificates. <o:p> </o:p>

Armed policemen were posted outside the bourse's building in central Nicosia yesterday, while several plainclothes policemen were seen moving around the floor. There was also a higher than usual number of security guards on the floor.<o:p> </o:p>

"We have had a lot of threats. We have officially asked for police protection," stockbrokers association chairman Louis Klappas said yesterday.<o:p> </o:p>

The one-hour trading session, however, ended without an incident. "We did well today considering that we closed for four weeks," said exchange Chairman Dinos Papadopoulos after the end of the session. "The index remained steady and the investors kept their cool," he told reporters on the trading floor.<o:p> </o:p>

Asked whether the stock market is likely to be closed again over the backlog problem, Papadopoulos replied: "We shall do our best that this does not happen again."<o:p> </o:p>

The four-week closure was the third since July, something that has undermined the reputation of the market among local investors and, according to Commerce Minister Nicos Rolandis, has driven foreign investors away. <o:p> </o:p>

The first of the three closures lasted two days in late July and was followed by a one-week shutdown in August. <o:p> </o:p>

Papadopoulos said the problems arising from the administrative chaos has affected thousands of investors, but predicted that the problem would be ironed out in a week or two. Three of the 21 brokerages accredited with the Cyprus Stock Exchange were not allowed to trade yesterday, banished from the floor by the bourse for failing to meet deadlines on clearing transactions or providing proof that problem deals were being sorted out.<o:p> </o:p>

Yesterday's session was restricted to investors with share certificates in their possession. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, who did not were kept out -- victims of the administrative chaos that has engulfed the market since July.<o:p> </o:p>

It was their absence that kept volume down to �6.8 million, a modest sum when a little more than a month ago -- August 30 to be precise -- volume hit a record �117.48 million. <o:p> </o:p>

New trading rules for investors to pay upfront and present their share certificates before any transaction were likely to trim turnovers and liquidity in coming sessions, according to traders.<o:p> </o:p>

Only 700 transactions took place yesterday, according to Papadopoulos, down from an average of up to 4,000 during the market's heyday in August and July.<o:p> </o:p>

Traders, meanwhile, were generally pleased with how things went. <o:p> </o:p>

"Today's performance reflected the confidence in the market," said Yiannos Andronikou of Suphire Stockbrokers Ltd, who light- heartedly admitted to being a little rusty in trading after a whole month away from the floor. "I was expecting things to be much worse." <o:p> </o:p>

Harris Savvides of Laiki Investments shared Andronikou's assessment of yesterday's trade, but said he expected prices to continue going down as part of a "not-too-severe" correction movement.<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[10] Move to reduce age of Cyprus fleet

A NEW government measure to improve the image of the Cyprus flag by reducing the age of its fleet was announced at Sunday's opening of Maritime Cyprus.<o:p> </o:p>

Cyprus is desperately trying to shake off its tarnished image as a �flag of convenience� and has taken a number of significant measures over the past two years to improve the fleet.<o:p> </o:p>

These include deleting substandard ships from the registry, appointing inspectors, imposing fines on shipowners whose vessels are deficient, and strengthening the Department of Merchant Shipping.<o:p> </o:p>

The latest measure, which was announced by Communications and Works Minister Averof Neophytou, reduces the ceiling on the age of ships which can be registered under the Cyprus flag from 17 to 15 years from January 1.<o:p> </o:p>

"We have decided to allocate all our resources on safety, pollution prevention and adequate manning standards rather than on growth for the next two years," Neophytou told some 1,000 delegates at the opening of the conference.<o:p> </o:p>

He said that despite the progress of technology the element of human error remains responsible for about 80 per cent of accidents.<o:p> </o:p>

"We believe that efforts should be focused on fatigue, health, anxiety and working conditions of the seafarers and their contribution to making mistakes. Improving these factors could reduce accidents caused by human error."<o:p> </o:p>

In his address to delegates the Ministry's permanent secretary, Vassos Pyrgos, focused on the detention of Cyprus- flagged ships, a recurring issue throughout the conference to date.<o:p> </o:p>

He said that in a desperate attempt to reinstate quality in shipping governments took over the responsibility for shipping from the market players by means of rules and regulations to distinguish between the good ships and the bad.<o:p> </o:p>

"The system failed, to a considerable extent, to convince that this effort of distinguishing the �angels� from the �devils� provided the so badly needed... transparency, objectivity and consistency," Pyrgos said.<o:p> </o:p>

"Both detentions bear exactly the same gravity in the computation of statistics," Pyrgos said. "Unfortunately the statistics compiled in this way are the only criteria available in the industry for measuring the performance of flag states. Their infrastructure and the level of responsibility with which they charge their obligations are by and large ignored."<o:p> </o:p>

A study released by Bureau Veritas reveals that only one per cent of the ships detained were obliged to have their operation suspended to enable the carrying out of repairs, according to Pyrgos, who also said that a government alone should not be held responsible for the safety of its shipping.<o:p> </o:p>

�Market players are partners in the situation," he added, and they should start to protect their own interests. Incentives to operate well above minimum international standards could be used to this end, he said.<o:p> </o:p>

Referring to the Cyprus fleet, Pyrgos said the biggest growth occurred at a time then the maritime administration did not have the capability to exercise control over its fleet and became a victim of its own success as regards its current image.<o:p> </o:p>

"Is it a coincidence that once Cyprus became able to play by the rules this growth has suddenly been halted?" he said.<o:p> </o:p>

"Nevertheless this administration will not deviate from its present policy and is determined to steadily follow the long voyage of excellence, regardless of the anticipated short-term negative consequences affecting the size of its fleet."<o:p> </o:p>

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[11] Winter tourism plan postponed

By George Psyllides<o:p> </o:p>

THE ministerial committee on tourism met yesterday to discuss a proposed plan for the development of winter tourism.<o:p> </o:p>

Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis had told The Sunday Mail that he hoped the plan would be approved so that it could be sent to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible.<o:p> </o:p>

But despite the urgency, Rolandis told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the committee had not yet reached an agreement. Instead it was decided to meet again before the end of the month, after his return from a visit to Japan.<o:p> </o:p>

The main aim of the plan is to provide incentives to the tourism industry to promote alternative programmes such as agrotourism and �environmentally friendly� holidays.<o:p> </o:p>

Major strides have already been taken concerning cultural programmes and local festivals, and two golf courses are already in operation, while football training areas and theme parks are already under way.<o:p> </o:p>

Cyprus can accommodate 250,000 tourists per month, although figures for the five winter months fall far short of this target.<o:p> </o:p>

The plan aims to fill existing beds between the months of November and March.<o:p> </o:p>

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-10-05

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Saturday, October 5, 1999

CONTENTS

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[02] Britain denies Independence Day snub by Clay

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[03] CTO unions start work to rule

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[04] Optimism, what optimism?<o:p></o:p>

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[05] CyBC shot down by friendly fire.

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[06] Probe into police links with flesh trade.

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[07] 'Cyprus Flag is being victomised.

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[08] Greek warplanes in Nikifors exercise

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[09] Police on guard as bourse reopens

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[10] Move to reduce age of Cyprus fleet

Saturday, October 5, 1999

[11] Winter tourism plan postponed

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article