Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-10-08

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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-10-08

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

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

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Friday, October 8, 1999

<h1 style="text-align:justify;line-height:12.0pt;mso-hyphenate: none">Moses says status quo unacceptable _ By a Staff Reporter<o:p> </o:p> U.S. PRESIDENT Bill Clinton's special Cyprus envoy Alfred Moses has said the status quo on the island is unacceptable.<o:p> </o:p> The American envoy was addressing Greek Americans in Washington on Wednesday. <o:p> </o:p> He told them that the US and Clinton personally were committed to work for a solution based on a bi-zonal bi-communal federation.<o:p> </o:p> Washington's aim was to achieve a resumption of the Cyprus talks based on UN resolutions, Moses said, adding that substantial efforts were being made for the resumption of talks without preconditions under UN auspices.<o:p> </o:p> Moses is due in Cyprus shortly to assess the climate for the resumption of talks which the Greek Cypriot side hoped would take place at the end of this month in New York.<o:p> </o:p> UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan was expected to decide whether to issue invitations to the two sides following a crucial meeting in Washington between Clinton and Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.<o:p> </o:p> But instead of the US persuading Ankara to soften its stance on the return to talks, as originally hoped, Ecevit succeeded in linking the resumption of talks to the possible declaration of Turkey's EU candidacy in December at the Helsinki summit.<o:p> </o:p> The upcoming Moses visit to the region, to assess the situation with a view to Annan reaching a final decision on invitations, is seen as Clinton's consolation prize to the bitterly disappointed Greek Cypriot side.<o:p> </o:p> According to unconfirmed reports, Moses is due in Athens on October 17, in Ankara on October 18 and in Nicosia either on October 19 or 20.<o:p> </o:p> However a US embassy source told the Cyprus Mail they have not yet been informed of any fixed date for the visit. "It's up to the White House to announce that," the source said.<o:p> </o:p> <o:p></o:p> A:hover {color: #800000; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold}

Friday, October 8, 1999

[01] New security plan for airports
[02] Bardot condemns 'revolting' dolphin permit
[03] Woman dies in childbirth
[04] Deficit budget approved for 2000
[05] Pupils treated after near collision
[06] Tyre-burning villages blamed for high cancer level
[07] New scheduled flights to UK by Air2000
[08] Europe links Turkish candidacy to Cyprus issue<o:p></o:p>
[09] 'Greece contributes over $ 1 billion to National Guard'
[10] Baroness Jeger presents her personal archive to Cyprus
[11] Markides tries to unravel new Louis mystery
[12] Loizidou rights resolution 'an important step'
[13] Former police chief challenged over corruption claims
[14] Traders take heart from slight market drop

[01] New security plan for airports

A NEW plan was approved yesterday to increase security and smooth immigration procedure at the island's airports.<o:p> </o:p>

The plan was jointly drawn up by the Ministries of Communications and Works and Justice, and was announced after a meeting between their respective Ministers, Averof Neophytou and Nicos Koshis.<o:p> </o:p>

It includes the reduction of the number of entrances at Larnaca and Paphos airports to allow stricter checks on those entering and leaving the buildings, Neophytou said.<o:p> </o:p>

He also said stricter measures would be applied to airport staff who would be assigned special passes to come and go.<o:p> </o:p>

Other infrastructural works would also be carried out to ensure the smooth running of airport services to passengers.<o:p> </o:p>

Iacovos Papadopoulos, the Director of Civil Aviation which comes under Neophytou's ministry, told the Cyprus Mail he could not comment in detail on the security measures.<o:p> </o:p>

"There are no real problems with security but there is always room for improvement," he said.<o:p> </o:p>

As far as improving services at the airports, Papadopoulos said there is a provision to hire more staff on the immigration side to ease problems as a result of the expected increased tourist flow.<o:p> </o:p>

"This problem is being solved already," he said. "This year was much better than last year."<o:p> </o:p>

Papadopoulos said, however, that the meeting had not discussed the apparently racist attitude of some immigration police to certain passengers passing through the airports.<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[02] Bardot condemns 'revolting' dolphin permit

Brigitte Bardot, the French movie sex-kitten turned animal protectress, has written to President Glafcos Clerides urging him not to allow the Ayia Napa Marine Park (ANMP) to import four more dolphins under a licence granted by the Council of Ministers.<o:p> </o:p>

In a copy of her letter provided to the Cyprus Mail, the former actress told Clerides she could not "believe that you could support such a revolting action" as allowing more dolphins into Cyprus "to keep the Ayia Napa Marine Park going".<o:p> </o:p>

(The Council's April 21 meeting's minutes show it declared it was "necessary" to give ANMP owner Kikis Constantinou permission to bring in four more dolphins "for reasons of paying off invested capital" in the dolphinarium.)<o:p> </o:p>

"You must know that captivity greatly reduces the life expectancy of these animals," Bardot wrote. "The proof is that four dolphins have already died in this so-called dolphinarium."<o:p> </o:p>

(All four Black Sea Bottlenose dolphins that ANMP imported in 1994 were dead by 1998. Marine-biologists who visited the place reported seeing the dolphins neglected, even beaten.)<o:p> </o:p>

"Our duty is, therefore, to protect these animals in their natural environment, and to denounce the dangers connected with (their) captivity," wrote the former film star.<o:p> </o:p>

Bardot noted that aquarium owners all over the world today "boast of seeing births in their pools" of dolphins, eliminating forever the need and the justification for "continuing to capture these animals".<o:p> </o:p>

The 1998 study The Dolphin Traders asserts that the Russian Academy of Science (RAS), the business that procured ANMP's four now-dead dolphins -- along with two sea lions -- originally claimed they were captive-bred, but later "admitted ... the dolphins were, in fact, caught from the Black Sea".<o:p> </o:p>

"To forever imprison an innocent, sensitive animal just to entertain a few visitors is intolerable," Bardot said, "and we must denounce it in large numbers."<o:p> </o:p>

"My dearest wish," added Bardot, who has devoted her retirement to protecting animal rights, "is to see these lucrative prisons -- real death-traps for wild animals -- disappear."<o:p> </o:p>

According to Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous, "the dolphinarium has shut down ... the dolphinarium is closed," and Constantinou "has not taken advantage of the decision� taken by the Cabinet in April 1999 (to let him import more dolphins).<o:p> </o:p>

While the Marine Park may indeed be shuttered now, it is not necessarily out of business. Constantinou told The Sunday Mail in July that the park was merely closed "for renovation", and that he did not know when it would reopen.<o:p> </o:p>

In granting the a permit to import more dolphins, the Cabinet violated the letter of two treaties and the spirit of a third that deal with protecting endangered species -- such as dolphins.<o:p> </o:p>

In addition to the four dolphins that died, one of the Ayia Napa Marine Park's two sea lions also died early last month. The surviving sea lion, which was recently discovered to be grossly undernourished, is now being fed daily under the supervision of government veterinarians.<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[03] Woman dies in childbirth

A 25-YEAR-OLD Pyla woman bled to death yesterday morning after giving birth by caesarian section at a Larnaca clinic. <o:p> </o:p>

The baby that Athena Frenariti gave birth to -- her second daughter -- survived, but doctors were unable to stop the mother's haemorrhaging. Police are investigating.<o:p> </o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[04] Deficit budget approved for 2000

By Martin Hellicar<o:p> </o:p>

THE Council of Ministers yesterday approved a �2.238 million state budget for 2000.<o:p> </o:p>

The budget provides for only �1.366 million pouring into state coffers, and is thus a �872 million deficit budget.<o:p> </o:p>

Projected spending is up by �301 million compared to the 1999 budget, but an official announcement stated this was solely because defence spending had been included in the budget.<o:p> </o:p>

The announcement, issued after yesterday afternoon's cabinet session, stated the regular, development, relief and defence budgets for 2000 had, for the first time ever, been unified.<o:p> </o:p>

The cabinet statement painted a rosy picture of the country's economic future. Growth is expected to reach 4.5 per cent this year and 4 per cent next. Inflation in the year 2000 was expected to be low, at around 1.7 per cent, while the unemployment rate would drop to 3.4 per cent.<o:p> </o:p>

But the announcement also warned that the public deficit remained high and there was almost no room for more cuts in public spending. The only solution, the cabinet stated, was to increase indirect taxation such as VAT.<o:p> </o:p>

"Without further reinforcement of public income, the public deficit is predicted to reach �357 million in the year 2000, or 6.9 per cent of GDP, from �275 million, or 5.6 per cent of GDP in 1999," the statement read. <o:p> </o:p>

The government has long been trying to get opposition parties to give the nod to tax hikes. <o:p> </o:p>

To be approved, the state spending plans for 2000 must now run the gauntlet of a House of Representatives in which the government does not enjoy a majority. <o:p> </o:p>

</o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[05] Pupils treated after near collision

FIFTY secondary school students were treated in hospital yesterday for knocks they suffered when their school bus was involved in a near collision.<o:p> </o:p>

The bus was taking 62 students to Trachoni gymnasium when a car pulled out in front of it, forcing the bus driver to jam on the brakes. His passengers, many of whom were standing at the time, fell over each other and crashed into seats and windows.<o:p> </o:p>

Fifty of the students were given first aid at Limassol hospital. Four of them were diagnosed as concussed and kept in for observation.<o:p> </o:p>

Akrotiri base police are investigating the incident.<o:p> </o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[06] Tyre-burning villages blamed for high cancer level

Tyre-burning villagers blamed for high cancer level<o:p> </o:p>

By Martin Hellicar<o:p> </o:p>

HIGH CANCER levels in a Nicosia District village have more to do with tyre-burning natives than a local foundry that residents are pointing the finger at, Labour Minister Andreas Moushioutas claimed yesterday.<o:p> </o:p>

Moushioutas said his ministry did not question the findings of a epidemiologist's report commissioned by Ergates villagers. But, the minister added, the study did not prove the foundry was to blame.<o:p> </o:p>

Epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis found alarmingly high levels of lung, brain, kidney and pancreas cancers and breathing problems in the village. He linked this to a local foundry which, as the House Environment Committee heard on Tuesday, was emitting heavy metals at six times the levels permitted in the EU.<o:p> </o:p>

Moushioutas said there were other factories in the area, implying the foundry was not the only possible polluter. He added that locals were guilty of burning tyres and other wastes near the village by night, polluting the atmosphere.<o:p> </o:p>

Moushioutas said the ministry had asked for the help of the village authority to track down the tyre-burning culprits.<o:p> </o:p>

The ministry has already stated that the Marios and Eleni metal works is not violating emissions limits set down in law.<o:p> </o:p>

Ergates residents insist the metal works is poisoning their environment with lead and cadmium, and that it is to blame for the high levels of cancers and breathing problems in their locality.<o:p> </o:p>

The villagers claim the government is not doing enough to protect their health. The environment committee wants the foundry closed down until it can limit heavy metal emissions.<o:p> </o:p>

The Green party yesterday called on the cabinet to intervene and close down the metal works immediately.<o:p> </o:p>

</o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[07] New scheduled flights to UK by Air2000

AIR2000 yesterday announced it will start scheduled flights from Larnaca to Newcastle in the UK from November 3.<o:p> </o:p>

For the winter season, services will operate weekly from Larnaca to Newcastle via Manchester throughout November, from December 22 to January 5, and also for the month of April.<o:p> </o:p>

As of May 2000, the flights will be increased to weekly non-stop flights from both Larnaca and Paphos for the summer season.<o:p> </o:p>

During the winter season an Airbus A320 will depart Newcastle at 08.20, arriving in Larnaca at 16.50 local time. The return service will depart Larnaca at 17.50 local time and arrive in Newcastle at 22.45.<o:p> </o:p>

Best known as First Choice's in-house charter airline, Air2000 has more scheduled routes from Cyprus to the UK than any other airline.<o:p> </o:p>

According to the airline, a range of prices will be available for adults, children, students, military personnel and senior citizens. Adult return prices start from �276 excluding taxes.<o:p> </o:p>

"We know Cyprus is a popular destination not only with holidaymakers but also with property owners and those with relatives in the military services based there," said Air2000's managing director, Ken Smith. <o:p> </o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[08] Europe links Turkish candidacy to Cyprus issue<o:p></o:p>

By Jean Christou<o:p> </o:p>

THE EUROPEAN Parliament has urged Turkey to contribute actively to finding a political solution to the Cyprus issue through accepting and implementing relevant UN resolutions, independently of EU accession negotiations.<o:p> </o:p>

In a resolution passed in Strasbourg, the Parliament said that Turkey's membership of the EU would be an important contribution to the future development of the EU and to peace and security in Europe.<o:p> </o:p>

But the resolution emphasises that Turkish efforts to meet the political and economic criteria for membership should be considered as important first steps "and that Turkey is still far away" from meeting the criteria.<o:p> </o:p>

The resolution was adopted by 251 votes in favour and 187 against with 84 abstentions.<o:p> </o:p>

The Parliament rejected an amendment proposed by the Liberal group that the process of changes in Turkey would be greatly facilitated by a clear prospect of accession.<o:p> </o:p>

"The democratic deficits in Turkey have still not been eliminated, and there remains a need for lasting reform, notably with regard to the rule of law and respect for human and minority rights," the resolution said.<o:p> </o:p>

Turkey is hopeful of being declared a candidate of the bloc at the EU summit in Helsinki in December. Ankara hinted to Washington that it would be prepared to allow a return to direct talks on the Cyprus issue if there was a favourable outcome from Helsinki.<o:p> </o:p>

This was a turnaround in the accepted idea that if Turkey showed goodwill on Cyprus first, the EU might consider its candidacy.<o:p> </o:p>

During discussions the European Popular Party said Ankara's demand to be afforded candidacy status is untimely because it does not fulfil the criteria to allow membership talks to begin.<o:p> </o:p>

The EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, said Turkey does not meet all the political criteria at present, but the EU should help Turkey to move in a steady and irreversible manner towards accession.<o:p> </o:p>

He said he would recommend that the European Council recognise Turkey as a candidate at the Helsinki summit.<o:p> </o:p>

The President of the Christian Democrats, Hans-Gert Poettering said he recognises Turkey's right to claim candidate status but warned it was too early to move in that direction.<o:p> </o:p>

Wednesday's resolution acknowledges the need for the EU itself to develop immediately suitable mechanisms to encourage Turkey to promote increasingly close relations between the EU and Turkey.<o:p> </o:p>

In Nicosia, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the resolution is significant because it sets out exactly what Turkey must do to secure its EU candidacy.<o:p> </o:p>

Commenting on statements earlier yesterday by the island's EU chief negotiator George Vassiliou that no date has been set for Cyprus' accession, Papapetrou said the government would prefer that a date be fixed.<o:p> </o:p>

"We want 2003 to be defined as our accession date," he said.<o:p> </o:p>

Following a meeting with President Clerides yesterday morning, Vassiliou said no full membership date has been set for Cyprus.<o:p> </o:p>

He said the problem arose because of differences between EU member countries. Meanwhile Vassiliou leaves for Estonia today to meet his counterparts from the other five candidate countries.<o:p> </o:p>

</o:p>

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Friday, October 8, 1999

[09] 'Greece contributes over $ 1 billion to National Guard'

By Martin Hellicar<o:p> </o:p>

GREECE'S contribution to the National Guard is worth more than $1 billion, President Glafcos Clerides revealed yesterday.<o:p> </o:p>

The President's surprise statement came on the day National Guard forces paraded through Paphos and Larnaca to mark the end of the five-day Nikiforos military exercise. <o:p> </o:p>

"Cypriot Hellenism feels a great debt of gratitude towards Greece for the substantial material help she has given towards the upgrading of the National Guard, which, though the public don't know it, exceeds a billion US dollars," Clerides stated during a visit to the Greek Navy frigate Limnos, moored at Larnaca port.<o:p> </o:p>

Clerides did not say what these "materials" were or make clear over what time period the Greek contribution had been made.<o:p> </o:p>

Greece has sought to demonstrate its support for Cyprus by sending Greek air force jets and transport planes to participate in the Nikiforos war games and by mooring Greek Navy ships at submarines at the island's ports during the exercise.<o:p> </o:p>

Greek fighter jets yesterday engaged in mock dogfights with Turkish Air Force jets off Cyprus. Nicosia has protested to the UN over Turkish violations of the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR) during Nikiforos.<o:p> </o:p>

Four Greek F-16s flew over yesterday's "victory" parade by ground units which took part in Nikiforos.<o:p> </o:p>

Clerides rejected suggestions that the Greek F-16s had not landed at the Paphos air base because of behind-the-scenes pressure from Turkey and other countries. He argued that their flying visit was a planned exercise to prove the Greek air force could defend the island even should the Paphos base be put out of action.<o:p> </o:p>

Clerides and visiting Greek deputy defence Minister Demetris Apostolakis again expressed their complete satisfaction with the National Guard's battle readiness.<o:p> </o:p>

Ever since his embarrassing December climb down over the deployment of the S-300 ground-to-air missiles, Clerides has been at pains to demonstrate that Cyprus is not a sitting duck for Turkish war planes. <o:p> </o:p>

During last week's traditional October 1 military parade, short-range TOR-M1 anti-aircraft missiles were put on show for the first time. The Russian-made missiles were given to Cyprus by Greece in exchange for the long-range S-300s being re-directed to Crete in the face of Turkish threats and mounting international pressure. <o:p> </o:p>

Clerides won re-election in February 1998 largely on the back of a promise to bring the S-300s to Cyprus.<o:p> </o:p>

Friday, October 8, 1999

[10] Baroness Jeger presents her personal archive to Cyprus

By Jean Christou<o:p> </o:p>

A PERSONAL archive of papers and letters concerning Cyprus was presented to the government yesterday by an 84-year old British Baroness, formerly a Member of the House of Lords.<o:p> </o:p>

Baroness Lena Jeger's papers containing almost half a century of clippings from Hansard, the British parliament record, newspaper articles, and part of her own personal mail were handed over to Foreign Minster Yiannakis Cassoulides.<o:p> </o:p>

Speaking at a special ceremony at the Foreign Ministry, Cassoulides described the Baroness as "the doyen of our many friends in the British parliament who have been working for so many years to put Cyprus' views across to the British government and the British public at large".<o:p> </o:p>

"Your noble gesture reflects your deep sentiments for Cyprus and its people, and at the same time, it manifests the work you have done in their favour, sometimes despite all odds, over the past five decades," Cassoulides said.<o:p> </o:p>

He said the government greatky appreciated the Baroness� gesture in placing her papers in the National Archive for the benefit of future generations and researchers dealing with Cyprus and its people.<o:p> </o:p>

"We all know that throughout your political career you have been a courageous supporter of Cyprus and the aspirations of its people, even at times when it was not popular nor easy," Cassoulides told the Baroness. "You have always been ready to criticise even your own government's position, believing that the people of Cyprus had the inalienable right to freely decide their own future destiny."<o:p> </o:p>

Baroness Jeger said that in Britain her name has always been associated with Cyprus, "a place where I found much love".<o:p> </o:p>

She said that in her view the most important part of her archive is the letters she received from ordinary Cypriots during the 1950s when Cyprus was struggling for independence from Britain.<o:p> </o:p>

Although she said little about the 1974 invasion, she referred to it as a "difficult time" for the island.<o:p> </o:p>

British High Commissioner Edward Clay also attended yesterday's ceremony.<o:p> </o:p>

Friday, October 8, 1999

[11] Markides tries to unravel new Louis mystery

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

ALREADY at the heart of a criminal investigation into graft allegations, the Louis Group yesterday found itself embroiled in a mystery over a VAT payment that Attorney-general Alecos Markides says he is now trying to unravel.<o:p> </o:p>

Louis' latest trouble began on Saturday when the Greek- language daily Politis reported on its front page that the group had been exempted by a Cabinet decree from paying into the treasury's coffers the sum of �324,000 in Value Added Tax (VAT) incurred between 1992 and 1996.<o:p> </o:p>

It was only on Wednesday, four days after the Politis report was published, that it became public knowledge that Louis had actually paid the money.<o:p> </o:p>

Markides, addressing a hurriedly convened news conference on Wednesday afternoon, said he had made a surprise visit to the Finance Ministry's VAT department earlier in the day after obtaining a search order issued by a court. On checking the department's computer records, he found out that Louis paid the �324,000 it owed the government in 1997.<o:p> </o:p>

He said he was puzzled that no Louis executive or VAT official had come out after Politis' Saturday report to set the record straight. <o:p> </o:p>

In a statement issued last night, Markides said he had asked the Auditor- general's office to investigate whether that payment had actually been made in 1997, as the computer records show. The probe, he added, would cover all Louis companies and establish the exact amount that any of them may have benefited from by the Cabinet's September 1996 decision.<o:p> </o:p>

He said his own office was looking into whether the Cabinet's directive on Louis' VAT payments was legal. Even if it proves to be legal, the statement said, Markides' office would look into whether it was legal for the directive to forgive VAT payments retrospectively.<o:p> </o:p>

The head of Customs and VAT, Andis Tryphonides, said yesterday he did not order an in-house investigation into the matter lest he be accused of attempting to tamper with evidence or engineer a cover-up. <o:p> </o:p>

Tryphonides is one of several top civil servants who had obtained private placement shares in Louis Cruise Lines, a company of the Louis Group which was listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange in August. The officials� acquisition of the shares is the subject of a police corruption probe ordered by Markides last month.<o:p> </o:p>

"I would rather be criticised for not launching an investigation earlier than be accused of trying to tamper with evidence," said Tryphonides.<o:p> </o:p>

Government Spokesman Michaelis Papapetrou, meanwhile, told reporters yesterday that it had been established from the VAT computer records that the Louis payment was made in 1997 and not recently as suggested by the media.<o:p> </o:p>

"The payment was made a long time ago and we are not going to chase ghosts now," the spokesman declared. An official probe into why government officials had no response sooner to the Politis story would also be launched, he added.<o:p> </o:p>

The Louis group has yet to comment on the latest controversy. It has also not commented on another Politis report published on Wednesday claiming that a team of Louis technicians dismantled a Dairy Queen outlet at Larnaca Airport's arrivals hall during the small hours of Saturday-Sunday night. The space was sub-let to the fast food chain by Louis in violation of its contract with the Communications Ministry, whose mandate covers airports.<o:p> </o:p>

The Group's first brush with controversy came in the first week of August when it was revealed that two top executives from Louis Cruise Lines, including its managing director, dumped tens of thousands of shares and warrants on the very first day the titles made their debut. Their action undermined market confidence in the titles, pushing the price sharply down from a high of �3.50. Louis defended the action of the two men, saying the company had prior notice of their intentions.<o:p> </o:p>

Last month, Markides ordered a criminal police investigation into whether top civil servants had received Louis Cruise Lines shares through private placement in return for favourable treatment of official business with the company, one of the world's largest cruise operators and a key part of the island's lucrative tourism industry.<o:p> </o:p>

In addition to Central Bank Governor Afxentis Afxentiou, those known to have received shares in the private placement include the ruling Disy party and the opposition Diko party, former Communications Minister Leontios Ierodiaconou and his permanent secretary Vassos Pyrgos, Akel deputy Takis Hadjigeorgiou, head of the Central Bank's Research Department Takis Kanaris, Finance Ministry's Planning Bureau's Chairman Panicos Pouros, Commerce Ministry Director Michael Erotokritos and House of Representative Director Costakis Christoforou. <o:p> </o:p>

Those among the recipients who chose to speak publicly about their acquisition of Louis shares maintained that they had not broken any laws. Louis, for its part, said it had not approached any government official with an offer of shares and that it had no need for preferential treatment.<o:p> </o:p>

Papapetrou, the government spokesman, said a Cabinet meeting today will discuss the amendment of certain laws on corruption to ban civil servants from obtaining shares in private placements.<o:p> </o:p>

The acquisition of private placement shares traded on the Cyprus Stock Exchange has brought to the forefront of public life a debate on how cosy government officials and politicians should be with big business, and drawn even more attention to a bourse whose gains have exceeded 400 per cent since the start of the year.<o:p> </o:p>

Markides has said that civil servants who had obtained Louis shares in this method may have been in breach of political and social ethics, and pointed out that not breaking the law does not necessarily negate wrongdoing.<o:p> </o:p>

Such a delicate notion may have provided the basis of a memo recently issued to employees of a leading bank on the island. The memo banned employees of the bank's credit and corporate departments from acquiring shares in the stock market for themselves or their next of kin for fear of conflict of interest or insider trading.<o:p> </o:p>

</o:p>

Friday, October 8, 1999

[12] Loizidou rights resolution 'an important step'

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

THE GOVERNMENT said yesterday it is satisfied with the resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted, urging Turkey to comply with a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Titina Loizidou case, concerning the violation of human rights of Greek Cypriots.<o:p> </o:p>

"This decision is one more important step in the direction of the execution of the court's judgment, and it has an obvious significance regarding efforts to settle the Cyprus problem and shift Turkish intransigent positions," Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said.<o:p> </o:p>

The resolution, which was adopted on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority, strongly urges Turkey to review its position and to pay the compensation awarded in the case, so as to ensure that Turkey meets its obligations under the convention. The European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkey last year to pay around �500,000 to Loizidou as compensation for depriving her of her right to enjoy her property in Kyrenia, which has been occupied by Turkey since its invasion in 1974.<o:p> </o:p>

Turkey has so far refused to pay Loizidou, despite several deadlines and extensions, claiming it is not liable for the occupation of the north of Cyprus.<o:p> </o:p>

The European court also ruled that Loizidou should be allowed access to her property in the Kyrenia district, and added that it holds Turkey accountable for what happens in the areas of the Republic it has occupied since 1974.<o:p> </o:p>

Loizidou's lawyer, Achilleas Demetriades, told the Cyprus Mail that "the Council of Ministers, carrying out its duties under the convention, has rightly called upon Turkey to review its position to date and to pay the award made against it, thus ensuring that the obligations that Turkey undertook by being a member of the Council of Europe are observed".<o:p> </o:p>

"If Turkey does not comply, the credibility of the court -- as well as the whole system of protection of human rights -- is at stake," Demetriades added.<o:p> </o:p>

The resolution came at a time when Turkey is trying to gain candidate status in its effort to join the European Union which insists that its member states respect human rights.<o:p> </o:p>

Friday, October 8, 1999

[13] Former police chief challenged over corruption claims

DISY DEPUTY Rikos Erotokritou yesterday challenged former deputy police chief Costas Papacostas to back up his claims of police corruption with hard facts.<o:p> </o:p>

Papacostas, a deputy with opposition party Akel, yesterday repeated his allegations that a network of crooked officers was stealing police exam papers and selling them to candidates for up to �200 a time.<o:p> </o:p>

Erotokritou, whose party is in government, said Papacostas should make an official complaint and name the members of the force involved in the alleged scam. <o:p> </o:p>

Papacostas claims the exam papers are leaked in an effort to ensure that only candidates from certain parties get into the force. He said he only went public with his information -- at Wednesday's House ad hoc crime committee -- because a relevant letter he had sent to Justice Minister Nikos Koshis had been leaked. The deputy has called for an independent investigation into his corruption claims. <o:p> </o:p>

The former deputy police chief yesterday also fanned the flames of the other corruption scandal currently rocking the force.<o:p> </o:p>

Three top officers have been detailed to investigate allegations that policemen and relatives of top politicians are abetting underworld prostitution rackets.<o:p> </o:p>

The brother of Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades, Pambos, has been linked to scams involving foreign workers. <o:p> </o:p>

Papacostas said Pambos Anastassiades, while serving as a special policeman, took part in police patrols without authorisation from above. The Akel deputy added that Pambos Anastassiades routinely promised to arrange promotions for officers.<o:p> </o:p>

The House ad-hoc crime committee has asked police to check up on reports that Pambos Anastassiades, who has worked as a labour agent specialising in foreign workers, was once a special policeman with a licence to carry a gun. <o:p> </o:p>

Nicos Anastassiades has made it clear that he wants a thorough investigation of the prostitution scam allegations, and he insists that no- one, not even his brother, will be let off if found guilty.<o:p> </o:p>

It is alleged that officers are involved in issuing fake permits for foreign cabaret artistes and are in cahoots with underworld gangs forcing the cabaret dancers into prostitution.<o:p> </o:p>

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou yesterday admitted there had always been a �rotten� element in the police force. He said Koshis was determined to root out such �bad apples�.<o:p> </o:p>

Friday, October 8, 1999

[14] Traders take heart from slight market drop

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

A ROUND OF profit-taking after two days of sharp gains pushed prices off their highs yesterday, but only after the Cyprus Stock Exchange's all-share index touched a record high in mid-session.<o:p> </o:p>

The small drop -- 0.54 per cent -- led many traders to take heart from the market's apparent resilience to liquidating pressures. <o:p> </o:p>

"We are not looking at a crash any more," said Koullis Panayiotou of CLR, a leading Nicosia-based brokerage. He was referring to widespread fears that prices would take a beating when the market reopened on Monday after a month-long closure. <o:p> </o:p>

"There is a great deal of selling but many are buying on the first sign of a drop," Panayiotou said.<o:p> </o:p>

The index closed at 485.30 after it hit an all-time high of 504.18 points in mid-session. It later retreated under selling pressure. At �23.90 million, volume yesterday recorded the fourth consecutive increase, climbing from a lowly �6.86 million on Monday. <o:p> </o:p>

The growth in volume, while supporting the new levels achieved by a combined increase of about 17 per cent on Tuesday and Wednesday, suggests that more investors are returning to the market as brokerages steadily reduce a backlog of unprocessed deals, giving pundits their share certificates thus enabling them to trade.<o:p> </o:p>

"Those who had been locked out are returning to sell so they can repay debts, but the market is absorbing nicely," said Neophytos Neophytou of AAA United Stockbrokers. "Today's losses were expected after two days of big gains."<o:p> </o:p>

While repeating a warning that it was still early days to judge the market's direction, Neophytou said he expected the market to receive a fresh shot in the arm when the Bank of Cyprus announces specific dates for its rights issue in Greece as part of its plans to acquire a parallel listing on the much larger Athens Stock Exchange.<o:p> </o:p>

The Bank of Cyprus Group holds an extraordinary shareholders' meeting next week to vote on the rights issue, expected to account for 10 per cent of the bank's share capital. The bank is not expected to begin trading in Athens before next year.<o:p> </o:p>

On the shorter term, however, the Cyprus market was expected to retreat slightly in coming days as more investors, acquiring their share certificates after weeks of delay, pull out of the market.<o:p> </o:p>

Yesterday's slight drop in prices affected only the blue chips of the banks and trading companies. The market's five other sectors finished in positive territory, with investment companies the largest winner with an increase of 8.41 per cent in their sector's sub-index.<o:p> </o:p>

The Bank of Cyprus, the market's backbone, was down by 15 cents to close at �10.82, while the Popular Bank shed 44.50 cents to close at �11.60.<o:p> </o:p>

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

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-10-08

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

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

Friday, October 8, 1999

Friday, October 8, 1999

CONTENTS

[01] New security plan for airports

Friday, October 8, 1999

[02] Bardot condemns 'revolting' dolphin permit

Friday, October 8, 1999

[03] Woman dies in childbirth

Friday, October 8, 1999

[04] Deficit budget approved for 2000

Friday, October 8, 1999

[05] Pupils treated after near collision

Friday, October 8, 1999

[06] Tyre-burning villages blamed for high cancer level

Friday, October 8, 1999

[07] New scheduled flights to UK by Air2000

Friday, October 8, 1999

[08] Europe links Turkish candidacy to Cyprus issue<o:p></o:p>

Friday, October 8, 1999

[09] 'Greece contributes over $ 1 billion to National Guard'

Friday, October 8, 1999

[10] Baroness Jeger presents her personal archive to Cyprus

Friday, October 8, 1999

[11] Markides tries to unravel new Louis mystery

Friday, October 8, 1999

[12] Loizidou rights resolution 'an important step'

Friday, October 8, 1999

[13] Former police chief challenged over corruption claims

Friday, October 8, 1999

[14] Traders take heart from slight market drop

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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