Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 00-04-13

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cyprus-mail.com/>

Thursday, April 13, 2000

CONTENTS

[01] Limassol the loser in water allocation

[02] ‘We wake up in the morning and wonder who’s going to die next’

[03] Refinery future in the balance

[04] ‘Cult brainwashed our children’

[05] Government defends contested Verheugen comments

[06] Health Minister pledges to probe new supply scandal

[07] Brokers seethe over bourse demands

[08] Give us time to adapt to EU, employers plead

[09] Explosive Denktash rally

[10] Shark caught off Limassol

[01] Limassol the loser in water allocation

LIMASSOL was the loser yesterday after the government announced the redistribution of scarce summer water reserves.

The coastal town -- whose Zakaki suburb residents blocked state plans for a desalination plant in their &gt;back yards= -- will be getting two per cent less of the available reserves and will thus face tougher water cuts. This two per cent will be piped to Nicosia instead.

The government promised to redistribute water supplies after Nicosia area mayors complained loudly that the capital was not getting its fair share. The new distribution is being done on the basis of the population of each town.

Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous detailed how summer supplies would be shared out following a marathon Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Nicosia will get 46.6 per cent of available water, compared to 44.6 per cent last year. Limassol will get 38 per cent of the water, compared to 40.1 per cent last summer. Larnaca will get the remaining 15.4 per cent of supplies, roughly the same as it did last summer, when it got 15.3 per cent. Paphos is self-sufficient in water.

Themistocleous did not reveal what the water cuts regime would be for each town, saying this would be up to the various Water Boards to decide.

The minister said efforts were continuing to import water from Greece and also to create mobile desalination plants to boost supplies for this summer. Both ideas have been looked at and rejected in past years.

"If we have additional water then the volumes supplied will improve," Themistocleous promised.

The government is digging deeper into already over-taxed groundwater supplies and trying to boost production from the one existing desalination plant, at Dhekelia, in an effort to get through this summer.

After five successive years of drought and the sixth driest year this century, reservoirs are currently only about 15 per cent full.

The minister again promised that the government's desalination programme would mean this is the last summer people will have to suffer water cuts. By December, he said, the island will be converting enough seawater to fresh to meet its needs.

The state's desalination programme has been hampered by strong opposition from local residents to plans to build desalination plants at Zakaki and Ayios Theodoros. The government gave in to the protests and decided to build a plant at Paralimni instead. It is also pushing ahead with building a unit in the Larnaca Salt Lake area despite opposition from the local council.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[02] ‘We wake up in the morning and wonder who’s going to die next’

THIRTEEN people who lived under the same electric power cable in the Polemidia suburb of Limassol died from Leukaemia in six years, the House Refugee Committee heard yesterday.

The revelation was made by Diko Deputy Zacharias Koullias, who tabled the issue of electromagnetic fields and cancer before the committee.

Koullias said one man living under the "killer line" had lost his wife, re-married and lost his second wife. Both died from leukaemia.

Across the road, another woman also died from leukaemia, he said.

Akel deputy Yiannakis Thoma accused the government and the Electricity Authority (EAC) of still installing lines and sub-stations in residential areas, despite evidence linking electromagnetic fields to cancer.

"In the 15th Polemidia Elementary School, two children died from leukaemia while two more are fighting for their lives," Thoma said.

"It is unacceptable for 13 human beings to die in a 400-500 square metre block," he added.

He also questioned the composition of a committee appointed by the Health Ministry to carry out an epidemiological study.

Health Minister Frixos Savvides last week announced the government was launching an epidemiological study for the Polemidia area.

"Most members of the committee have in the past maintained that overhead power cables are not a danger," he saidDoctor Andreas Georgiou, who represented the Health Ministry at the House, defended the ministry committee, saying that despite what some of its members had said in the past, they would look at the findings and provide an impartial ruling.

He added that opinions on the issue were divided and that there were studies that supported both sides.

Physicist Andreas Achillides agreed that the connection between cancer and electromagnetic fields had not been proved, but asserted there should have been safety regulations prohibiting building under power cables.

Achillides expressed his doubts on how effective the Health Ministry committee would be since, he said, it did not include experts from all relevant fields.

An EAC representative claimed the authority conformed with all regulations and international standards, adding its electric power installations emit one tenth of the maximum allowed standard.

He said regulations specified that a person should not be exposed to more than 100 micro Tesla a day, while EAC magnetic fields did not exceed seven micro Tesla.

The representative also cited a study carried out in the UK and published in The Lancet medical journal: "This study provides no evidence that exposure to magnetic fields associated with the electricity supply in the UK increases risks for childhood leukaemia, cancers of the central nervous system, or any other childhood cancer," The LancetsaidBut this was promptly refuted by Yiannis Kouis, a member of the Polemidia residents' Initiative Committee, who said the study had been carried out on the basis of an average 0.2 micro Tesla exposure. EAC fields emit an average of 7 micro Tesla.

Kouis claimed refugees were being pressured by the Town Planning Department to sign for plots of land located directly under power lines.

And he accused the EAC of dragging its feet to avoid the huge costs of relocating its power lines.

"If they break into a cold sweat about the costs, we have cold sweats about our lives," Kouis said.

"We do not want to be used as human guinea pigs for testing if there is a connection between leukaemia and electromagnetic fields," he added.

A representative of the Polemidia residents urged all responsible to do something about the situation.

"We wake up in the morning and wonder who’s going to die next," she said.

"We got our land years ago when nobody knew about the issue," she said.

"Why does the government continue to give land which lies under the power cables?"The committee will resume its discussion next Wednesday when the Town Planning Department will be called to answer allegations that people are being pressured to accept land exposed to electromagnetic fields, and why cables are passing over land earmarked for building.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[03] Refinery future in the balance

Commerce and Industry Minister Nicos Rolandis said the cabinet had appointed a ministerial committee to decide on the future of the refinery within two months.

The Minister said two options would be considered by the refinery committee he would chair: the first is to upgrade the facilities so that they meet EU standards; the second to close down the refinery altogether.

If the committee decides the refinery should be upgraded then it will stay at its current location, east of Larnaca town, for another decade.

If the decision is to import refined petroleum products rather than crude then the refinery will be closed, and soon.

The quality of fuels produced by the Larnaca refinery is not high enough to meet EU standards. Locally produced diesel is a particular ‘culprit’, having a much higher sulphur content than is permitted in the EU.

Upgrading the refinery to conform with EU standards would be a highly costly undertaking.

Rolandis said the committee would take environmental, economic and employment consideration into account when making its decision.

Refinery workers have already protested against suggestions the facility might be closed down.

The other ministers on the refinery committee are Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou, Finance Minister Takis Klerides and Communications Minister Averoff Neophytou.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[04] ‘Cult brainwashed our children’

A DANGEROUS religious cult has brainwashed at least 70 young people in Nicosia and more in Limassol, a man who ‘lost’ his daughter to the Disciples of Christ claimed yesterday.

Andreas Fylachtou, speaking on behalf of parents whose children had fallen victim to the cult, told a news conference in Nicosia that members were handing over 10 per cent of their salaries to the Disciples of Christ.

The news conference was organised by the Pancyprian Union of Parents, whose goal is to protect young people from falling victims to such cults.

Fylachtou said with tears in his eyes that he had found out almost two years ago that his 27-year-old daughter was part of what he claimed was a devious, money-orientated cult that hid its identity behind offshore companies operating on the island.

Fylachtou read out a note on behalf of the parents, which said: "Our children were normal until they lost control of their selves and their personalities. They look as if they are there but not really ‘there’. They suddenly decided to give up their studies. They rejected our religion and deal with nothing else than the organisation and its frequent meetings. If they miss one meeting they receive dozens of phone calls from their chief. They hold the Bible acting as if they are hypnotised and try to draw more people into the cult in gyms, colleges and other learning institutes. They give 10 per cent of their salary to the cult.

"Distraught parents said there was no law against such cults in Cyprus and pleaded with reporters to lobby for such a law.

Fylachtou said he had managed to infiltrate a cult meeting two weeks ago, and had found out that a policeman was involved in the cult's organisation.

"I have my sources. I met an American man and some others who came over from abroad to spread the religion. The cult paid them to study at the University of Cyprus. I informed the police and the minister of Justice, Nicos Koshis," said Fylachtou.

The parents’ unions said the Disciples of Christ were known internationally as a highly dangerous cult, and based their beliefs on readings of the New Testament.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[05] Government defends contested Verheugen comments

The controversy was sparked by comments by European enlargement commissioner Guenther Verheugen, who was asked by reporters in Luxembourg on Tuesday how was it possible for one candidate country to have its occupation army in another.

Verheugen replied that the fact there was an occupation army in a candidate country did not preclude that country from joining the EU.

His comment was interpreted in Cyprus as suggesting the EU did not mind that Turkey was occupying Cyprus.

But Cyprus' EU negotiator George Vassiliou and Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou both said yesterday that the comment had been misinterpreted.

Vassiliou said the commissioner’s reply was merely repeating the clear EU's position that the occupation would not block the island's accession in the event that a political solution was not reached.

Verheugen said as much when he visited the island last month.

"Weren't we the ones celebrating because Mr Verheugen and the EU said a solution was not a precondition for accession," Vassiliou said.

"If we suppose there is no solution by then... and given the fact that Mr Verheugen supports the position we wanted him to support, why on earth are we now complaining? I’ve got to wonder what we want sometimes. We want at all costs to dig our own graves.

"Speaking after yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said: "What the government has understood from these statements, but also through contacts with Mr Verheugen and other EU officials, is that what was meant by his statement was that the presence of the occupation army in Cyprus is not an obstacle to Cyprus' entry to the EU.

"Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades said Verheugen's comment was "unfortunate", but added it did not diverge from the EU's position and urged the media to take care in their interpretation of such comments.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[06] Health Minister pledges to probe new supply scandal

AN APPARENT lack of communication between sectors of the Health Ministry seems to have led to a year long delay in the arrival machines urgently needed by thalassaemia sufferers.

Health Minister Frixos Savvides yesterday said he had not been aware of the apparent extent of the problem, which was highlighted in yesterday’s Politis.

Savvides said he had been under the impression that the required ‘Baxter’ infusers were already on their way to the island.

The allegations come only a week after Savvides admitted personal rivalries among ministry staff had delayed the import of vital reagents for Aids tests.

The minister yesterday said he had no knowledge of a letter sent last June 29 by Nicosia's general hospital's cardiology department head Dr Costas Zambartas to the Pharmaceutical Services, requesting the purchase of the thalassaemia machinery.

"You have to understand how many thousands of letters from both in and outside the (Health) Service, the Ministry receives every day. Somebody has to inform you about them. If they do not inform you about them then there is a problem."

Politisreprinted the letter, which said, "Please may the thalassaemia patients with heart failure problems be supplied with Baxter infusers."

Zambartas said in the letter it was "very important" for these patients to undergo the treatment provided by the infusers.

Savvides yesterday told the CyBC he should have been informed about the letter and about the entire issue in general.

"You must understand that I acted with the idea that the machines would be arriving very soon. I had a meeting with the thalassaemia patients and asked them to tell me which cases were especially urgent in requiring these machines. You should know that these machines are very expensive and that it is impossible to bring to this new technology to everyone."

"I acted in the spirit that there was not a problem with the order and that the machines would be arriving soon," he added.

The minister said an investigation would be carried out and the truth uncovered.

"We will definitely look at this and see where the problem is, as with many cases that come to public attention from time to time."

Politis said the decision to order the Baxter infusers, which remove excess iron from thalassaemia sufferers' blood, had been taken about a year ago following a tender process. It alleged the delay had been caused someone who stood to gain from the machines not arriving.

The paper claimed two people had died as an indirect result of the delay.

It said the machines the new infusers were supposed to replace were so unpleasant that some patients had preferred to go without treatment, with two of them allegedly dying from heart related problems as a resulted.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[07] Brokers seethe over bourse demands

CONTROVERSY simmered yesterday between brokers and the stock exchange authorities over the latter's demands on settlement transactions.

Brokers have been seething all week after circulars issued on Monday called their attention to purported discrepancies in settlement transactions and warned that penalties would be much tougher in future.

"The fines go to the extreme. We do consider the principle of fines logical in cases where guidelines are not met, but I think that we should have been consulted. I think it is absurd for a wrong number punched into a terminal to cost you £150," said trader Costas Shamtanis of Expresstock.

He told Mega Television that the bourse was in a poor position to make such demands when it could not even provide enough space for people working there or for the installation of an adequate amount of computer terminals.

Brokers are literally squashed into their booths during the 90-minute trading sessions.

The board of the stockbrokers' association is expected to meet this morning to assess the situation.

On Tuesday, the CSE said it did not have the luxury to be flexible on its demands that proper settlement procedures be met.

It said that that flexibility last year landed the bourse in trouble when thousands of problem transactions got logjammed in the system, forcing the bourse to shut on several occasions to clear up the backlog.

It got a swift rebuke yesterday from stockbroker association chairman Christodoulos Ellinas, who said the outgoing CSE board had merely indulged in a bout of self-congratulation without shouldering any of the responsibility for the chaos last year.

"This council failed to introduce dematerialisation. Passing the buck to brokers just won't do," he told reporters.

He said the problems began when the bourse introduced a half-baked trading solution last year by implementing automated trading but leaving the settlement side of things manual.

However, Ellinas said that the sour climate between stockbrokers and the CSE authorities should not affect investors and their dealings on the exchange.

Brokers were not the only ones with gripes against the bourse. "From the day we were thrown down here this room has not even been cleaned," one investor said of the converted shop on Grivas Dhigenis avenue where investors have been moved to to watch stock exchange transactions from screens suspended from the ceiling.

The all-share index ended marginally lower by 0.1 per cent yesterday on a traded volume of £26 million, some £11 million less than Tuesday when 2.4 per cent was knocked off the benchmark.

The broader market was mixed, with banking and tourism stocks ending slightly firmer and levelling off a 1.77 per cent drop in investment stocks, the laggard on the market yesterday.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[08] Give us time to adapt to EU, employers plead

THE EMPLOYERS and Industrialists Federation (OEV) wants EU harmonised legislation implemented as close as possible to accession to give businesses time to adapt.

At a news conference yesterday to mark the publication of its annual report for 1999, OEV Chairman Antonis Pierides said that while employers firmly supported Cyprus' accession, the harmonisation process had to be evenly balanced.

"The Federation believes that harmonisation should wherever possible be carried out without resorting to new legislation," the OEV report said. "And any new legislation must be put into operation as close to accession day as possible so as to give enterprises time to adapt."

Efforts must also be made to secure pre-accession aid from the EU, the report adds.

Efforts to ensure Cyprus meets its target of EU membership on January 1, 2003, were backed up by OEV's Service on EU issues, which focused on keeping members informed about the legal and institutional changes that must be introduced by that date.

Reporting on 1999, OEV said the economy had grown by 4.5 per cent in real terms, which it said compared favourably with the 2.1 per cent average growth registered by EU countries and the 3 per cent registered by the world economy.

The agricultural sector rose 7.5 per cent, but its contribution to GDP slipped from 4.2 per cent to 4 per cent.

Manufacturing edged up 0.2 per cent compared to 1.1 per cent n 1998 and its share of GDP shrank further from 11.4 per cent to 10.9 per cent.

OEV said the construction sector had had another bad year, registering a one per cent drop.

A fall in trade led to a slowdown in the wholesale and retail trade where growth fell from 5.4 per cent in 1998 to 0.4 in 1999.

On the up was the financial sector. Fuelled by activity on the stock market, the sector rose by 26 per cent compared to 7.7 per cent in 1998.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

[09] Explosive Denktash rally

The rally was being held ahead of Saturday's &gt;presidential= elections in the occupied areas in which Denktash is widely expected to be re-elected as Turkish Cypriot leader.

[10] Shark caught off Limassol

Manias told Ant1 last night that it was not unusual to see sharks occasionally when laying nets, but this year there have been Aa lot of sharks and dogfish@.

The shark is the second to have been caught in nets recently: a smaller pregnant female was captured on March 16, again off Limassol.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 2000

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