Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 00-05-09

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

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

CONTENTS

[01] Biopsy shows Clerides’ growth contained cancerous cells

[02] Man arrested after two killed in motorway crash

[03] Market stable as investors await Laiki announcements

[04] VAT vote set for Thursday, but new delay threatened

[05] You want sex in the sand? Just be discreet about it

[06] Prices slashed for Miss Universe finals

[07] Parties meet again at the Ledra Palace

[01] Biopsy shows Clerides’ growth contained cancerous cells

But doctors treating the 81-year-old president said the growth had been completely removed. "Complete cure is expected and there is no indication for any kind of further treatment."

"The biopsy on the polyp growth that was removed from the large intestine of the President showed that some parts (of the growth) contained cancerous cells," said a statement read outside the Evangelistria clinic where Clerides is being treated.

"The fact that the growth was situated in the intestine alone, that it was completely removed and that the glands and other organs were untouched make the prognosis excellent."

The doctors said Clerides required no further treatment and that his full recovery was expected.

In an earlier bulleting, doctors had said Clerides was recovering "superbly" from Friday's bowel operation and would be resuming his duties today, albeit from his clinic rest-bed.

However, it was confirmed yesterday that the 81-year-old President's operation would force a postponement of the next round of proximity settlement talks.

Clerides underwent surgery to remove the polyp growth at the Evangelistria clinic on Friday morning.

Dr Ayis Kasios said yesterday Clerides was no longer in intensive care and had "full clarity of mind."

Attorney-general Alecos Markides announced after an early morning meeting with Clerides at the Evangelistria that the President would be resuming his duties today after being given the "all clear" by his doctors.

Clerides is expected to remain at the private clinic for another week. Acting President Spyros Kyprianou was informed of the decision by telephone.

But Clerides' doctors also repeated they would not permit him to travel to New York.

"It is impossible he will be in a position to travel for a month yet, even if he is in such a position, we will not allow it," Dr Kasios said.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the third round of UN-led proximity settlement talks, set for May 23 in New York, would now, as widely expected, be postponed for "a few weeks".

Papapetrou insisted there was no talk of changing either the venue or the Greek Cypriot side's representative for the talks.

After the polyp was discovered last Tuesday, Clerides said he was sure he would recover in time to go to New York for indirect talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on May 23. But his optimism would appear to have been unfounded.

Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said a final decision on when Clerides would be ready to attend talks would be taken towards the end of the week.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 2000

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

[02] Man arrested after two killed in motorway crash

Panicos Papamarkou was arrested at his home in Palodhia on Sunday after fleeing the scene of the 11.30pm accident on the Nicosia to Limassol motorway, near Choirokitia.

Angelina Constantinou, 28, and her six-month-old daughter Margo died in the wreckage. Husband Andreas and six-year-old daughter Tonia were rushed to hospital in critical condition. The family were returning to their home in Limassol.

Police told the court that Papamarkou had caused the accident and had failed to stop to offer help to the wounded.

Instead, the court heard, he fled the scene and went to a friend's house at the village of Tochni where he switched cars before driving home.

An eyewitness said Papamarkou’s Mercedes had sped past her just moments before it rammed into the rear of policeman Andreas Constantinou's car.

"The Mercedes overtook me and vanished. I took the curve and saw an overturned car, but the Mercedes was gone," she said.

Constantinou’s car overturned repeatedly and ended up in a ditch on the left of the road.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

[03] Market stable as investors await Laiki announcements

EQUITIES ended a touch softer yesterday after failing to hold on to early gains in some speculative profit taking which hit the market, affecting tourism stocks mainly but also large caps like Bank of Cyprus.

The benchmark index drifted 0.34 per cent, or 1.88 points lower to a close of 555.01, cutting back on early gains of as much as two per cent in the opening minutes of trading.

There was a resistance level at 560 points, but there was also a strong support at around 550, keeping the market rangebound in the short-term.

"The market was broadly stable. This is a marginal drop but the turnover was quite impressive at £33.6 million," said stockbroker Costas Hadjigavriel.

Banking shares ended 0.2 per cent higher while Laiki accounted for about 10 per cent of the day's overall volume as the stock continued to move on speculation on what CEO Kikis Lazarides would announce at an annual meeting next week.

"All investors are waiting for important announcements from Laiki and some presents, perhaps a bonus issue," said Expresstock's Costas Shamtanis.

The bank has declined to speculate on what will be said at the meeting, but has confirmed that it will ask shareholders to approve a motion allowing the group to issue an additional 15 million shares with a par value of 50 cents each. At current market prices, that is an additional £210 million.

It has not been clarified how or where the additional equity will be channelled, fuelling talk that the bank could be preparing the giveaways.

Bank of Cyprus ended almost unchanged at £8.58, closing with a one cent gain after strong swings in the session, which saw the share as high as £8.75 at one point.

Market players reiterated rumours that surfaced late last week that the Bank was poised to announce when it would list its shares on the Athens Stock Exchange.

When that does happen, the performance of the Cyprus bourse will follow the same pattern in Athens because of BoC's influence on the local market.

"It is the biggest firm in Cyprus so naturally its performance in Athens will have an effect here," said Hadjigavriel.

The Athens bourse closed 1.32 per cent higher yesterday on stronger buying interest from local and foreign institutional investors.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange announced yesterday that the following companies have filed applications to float their shares

PHC Franchised Restaurants*, Pandora Investments, Pierides G. Electrical, Europrofit Capital Investment*, Alkioni Fish Farm, Palinex Trading, Constantinou Bros Hotels, Jumbo Investments, Multichoice (Cyprus), CAC Papantoniou, Telia Aqua Marine*, New Marathon Tours, Phil Andreou, Drake Investments, Atlantic Insurance, CLR Investments Fund, Dimco Electrical Supplies, Muskita Aluminium, Spidernet Services, Kronos Press Agency, Worldmax Investment, Renos Hadjioannou Farm, Harvest Capital Management, Andreas Coullapides Ltd., Golden Sun Leisure, Costas Michaelides Constructions, L. Atteshlis Shipping, Laiki Investments, Rolandos Enterprises, G&K Exclusive Fashions, Astra Self Drive Cars, Charilaos Apostolides & Co, Olypos Investments, Laser Investments, Crown Resorts, Lanitis Bros, Stademos Hotels, Brainstorm Enterprises, Anorthosis Investments, PSD Investments, Unigrowth Investments, Hawaii Hotels, Kanika Hotels, Empire Capital Investments, K. Kythreotis, Electromatic Constructions, Nepro Pearl Growmush, Modestou Sound and Vision, D&M Telemarketing, Frou-Frou Biscuits, Aqua Sol Hotels, ASG Ltd, A.L. Pro- Choice Financial Services, C.A. Papaellinas Emboriki, Marketrends Financial Services, United Plastics (Lordos), Eureka Ltd., SAFS Corporate Finance, Atlantica Leisure Group, Interfund Investments, Karkotis Manufacturing & Trading, Chris Joannou Ltd., A. Panayides Contracting, Georgios Stavrakis Estates, Lanitis Development, Royal Artemis Clinic, Perseas Investments, Andreas Petsas & Sons, A. Tsokkos Hotels, AAA Thriving Investments, Megabet, Stario Investments, Ellinas Finance, Aristo Developers, Petrolina Holdings, Nemesis Construction, Top Kinisis Travel, Christis Dairies, A. Zorbas & Sons, Xenos Travel, Karyes Investment, Stelmar Maritime Holdings, GAP Vassilopoulos, Transoccer Holdings, Pipis Farm, Plyntex, Total Properties, Display Art, Masouras Bros Shipping, Athos Diamond Centre and Centaur Financial Services.

Companies marked with an asterisk have received permission to publish their prospectus.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

[04] VAT vote set for Thursday, but new delay threatened

A DECISION on the government’s VAT package will go the wire at Thursday’s plenum after deputies at the House Finance Committee yesterday failed to reach consensus on the issue.

But a point of principle could again postpone the Plenum's vote on the VAT hike and accompanying tax relief plan if the Finance Ministry fails to give a prompt answer to a proposal by Diko's Tassos Papadopoulos to extend tax- free income by another £500 from the £6,000 proposed by the government. The threshold for tax-free income currently stands at £5,000 a year.

The government wants to raise VAT from eight to 10 per cent as part of a step-by-step alignment with EU rates of 15 per cent.

To soften the blow, it is putting forward a series of tax relief measures and adjustments of income tax brackets, which the opposition says are not generous enough.

Committee chairman Marcos Kyprianou of Diko said yesterday he thought the government would get a majority on Thursday to pass the draft and implement the VAT increase on June 1.

"The majority of deputies favoured the bill before Easter and the question now is whether the government will negotiate on the opposition’s tax relief demands to ensure a smoother passage for the bill," Kyprianou said.

Voting on the bill was delayed before Easter because the Committee failed to submit its report to the House on time.

Now there could be a new delay because the Committee is upset that the Finance Ministry has not replied to Papadopoulos' proposal.

Kyprianou said the ministry had been asked to send the Committee its reply, and warned that, if it failed to do so, the vote could again be delayed, "because it is unacceptable for the ministry to commit itself to do something for the House of Representatives and then to manoeuvre in this way."

Reports said yesterday the ministry would send its reply to the Committee soon.

Akel and the Social-democratic Movement will voice their proposals at the Plenum debate on Thursday. They did not do so yesterday because they were still waiting for the Finance Ministry to respond to their proposals, Kyprianou said.

As deputies discussed the issue, taxi drivers were protesting outside the House asking to be excluded from the increase in VAT.

The Pancyprian Organisation of Prolific Parents also used the opportunity to send a petition to the Finance Committee, asking for an extra two million pounds to be added to the tax relief measures.

The government says it will raise an extra £62 million a year from the increase in VAT, £47.2 million of which will be returned through tax relief.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

[05] You want sex in the sand? Just be discreet about it

COUPLES tempted to have sex on the beach this summer could land up in court facing indecent exposure charges.

But police will not be patrolling every nook and cranny to expose romantic trysts, a senior officer told the Cyprus Mail.

"We patrol to prevent serious crime," said Famagusta District Police Director Charalambos Argyrou. "If someone is naked in a secluded area and no one sees or reports them, then there is no offence."

He said that although the law did prohibit indecent exposure, police handled such cases with flexibility and according to each situation.

He added the police did not patrol coastal resorts looking for people having sex or skinny-dipping, and only intervened if members of the public complained.

"There are no beach patrols looking out for these kinds of offences," he said.

Argyrou said several people had over the years gone to court for public nudity, but none for having sex in public.

Last week, Britain’s Times newspaper reported that a Spanish resort had decided to introduce a sex ‘happy hour' on its beaches.

Beach lights in Velez-Malaga are to be turned off between one and two in the morning to allow late night revellers to get intimate in the sand, the paper said.

The paper quoted resort officials as saying: "It has always been a tradition for young people to use the dark and the low tide for a quick roll in the sand."

He added that beach patrols at Torre del Mar and Caleta de Velez, both popular with British tourists, would be suspended during the hour.

More conservative resorts have night ‘sex patrols’ to keep their beaches free from amorous antics, the Times said.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

[06] Prices slashed for Miss Universe finals

CONCERNS have been voiced about attendance at future Miss Universe events after only half the tickets were sold for the Millennium Presentation Show at the Eleftheria Stadium in Nicosia on Sunday night.

"We aren’t sure exactly how many tickets we sold yet, but initial estimates put it at about 2,700", said Despo Lefkariti, director of DeLeMa, the public relations company responsible for ticket sales.

The stadium’s seating capacity was boosted by an extra 200 to 5,400 by set designers Gerry Hariton and Vicki Baral.

The Miss Universe organisation had been afraid the Eleftheria was too small in comparison with previous Miss Universe venues.

Ticket prices were slashed in the run-up to the preliminary pageant ticket prices in what was seen as a last-minute attempt to fill seats.

But, according to DeLeMa, the reductions came because of complaints from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism that original prices of between £30 and £70 pounds were too expensive for many members of the public.

DeLeMa introduced a special Student price of £5 and £15 for the "public". Prices for remaining tickets to the Dress Rehearsal at the Eleftheria on Friday at 9pm will now be dropped to £10 for students and soldiers, and £15 for the "public", down from an original range of £30-£75.

At the live telecast final at 4am on May 13 – members of the "public" buying tickets this week will pay just £25, while students and soldiers will be charged £15. Prices had earlier ranged between £50 and £100.

With the stadium half empty on Sunday night, further embarrassment was caused by the no-smoking rule, which saw the large number of smokers in the audience, taking every available opportunity to go outside and light up.

Desperate for a puff, smokers rushed to the exits in mass exodus at the musical interludes, provided by Cypriot stars Michalis Hadjiyiannis and Stella Georgiadou.

Controversy also marred the weekend in the Miss Universe camp, with complaints from China that the Taiwan delegation was illegitimate.

Although China did not send her own delegate, the Chinese embassy protested the presence of Miss Taiwan. Beijing does not recognise Taiwan, which it claims is part of China. Hence Miss Taiwan was renamed Miss Chinese Taipei.

The preliminary pageant show was co-hosted by Ronn Moss, star of The Bold and the Beautiful and by current Miss Universe, Mpule Kwelagobe.

It was the opportunity for the panel of judges to choose the 10 finalists who will compete for the Miss Universe 2000 title and the Golden Apple trophy designed by Mikimoto.

Miss Spain, Helen Lindes won the photogenic award, voted for by local and international media. She was presented with a cash prize of $1000 dollars and a Hoya crystal trophy.

In the national costume competition, first prize went to Miss Mexico, Leticia Murray. She also received a Hoya crystal trophy. Second runner up was Miss India Lara Dutta, and third runner up Miss Zimbabwe, Corrinne Crewe. They were awarded smaller Hoya crystal trophies.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

[07] Parties meet again at the Ledra Palace

The meeting was, as in the past, organised by the Slovak Embassy in Nicosia.

It was attended by representatives from Greek Cypriot parties Disy, Akel, Edek, Diko and the United Democrats and from the Democratic, Republican Turkish, Patriotic Unity and Communal Liberation parties from the north.

A joint communiqué issued after the morning meeting said the parties had agreed to come up with specific ideas on how to promote rapprochement before another meeting next month.

Akel leader Demetris Christofias said it had been agreed to make the meetings a monthly event.

He said the party representatives had covered the well-trodden ground of Cypriot problem issues – territory, security and demilitarisation - but had also moved on from this. "We focused our attention more on the issue of contact and trust between people from both communities," Christofias said.

The number of bicommunal meetings and events has been increasing noticeably in recent months, apparently reflecting an improvement in the political climate on the island.

On Sunday, hundreds of people attended a bicommunal "fair" organised by Akel and the Patriotic Unity party at Pergamos, on the dividing line in the Dhekelia base area.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

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