Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 00-06-13

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

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

CONTENTS

[01] Paphos parishioners call for ouster of their ‘businessman Bishop’

[02] Makarios hospital to introduce live operating theatre link-up

[03] Market down a fraction, amid action in investments and small caps

[04] Optimistic Holger bids farewell

[05] Neutering plan to cut down on stray cat population

[06] Finance committee backs reintroduction of CTO levy

[07] Leventis foundation to fund university research

[08] ‘Total unity’ takes Lyssarides unopposed to Kisos leadership

[01] Paphos parishioners call for ouster of their ‘businessman Bishop’

A GROUP of Paphos parishioners yesterday called for the removal of their Bishop, claiming he cared more for Church business ventures than his spiritual duties.

The initiative group, led by Dr. Andreas Demetriou, said Bishop Chrysostomos should be removed because he could show no evidence of spiritual work.

Instead, said Demetriou, speaking at a news conference yesterday, the Bishop only cared about business and was continually at odds with social groups, such as ecologists.

Unlike the Bishop of Paphos, Demetriou maintained that Athanassios, Bishop of Limassol, has done a lot for his flock.

"He brought people of all ages to Church, while Chrysostomos has done nothing, only business," he said.

Demetriou stressed that the group was not pro Athanassios, but an independent body, set up to oust the Paphos Bishop legally and democratically.

The group believes that it is Chrysostomos along with Arsinoe Bishop George who are behind the latest scandal to rock the Church.

The Holy Synod is currently looking into allegations that Limassol Bishop Athanassios had a homosexual affair 18 years ago with a Greek monk –- now a hairdresser -- at Mount Athos.

The allegations are vigorously denied by Athanassios, who says they are part of a plot to destroy him.

The claims were lodged shortly after Athanassios told the Holy Synod that a Limassol Archimandrite allegedly fathered two illegitimate children in an affair with a young woman.

Speculation is rife that the Archimandrite in question, Andreas Constandinides, asked the now 33-year-old hairdresser to write a 22-page, sexually explicit letter to the Holy Synod, describing his alleged affair with Athanassios.

Sources close to Athanassios said on Friday it was the Paphos Bishop who had instigated the entire affair.

The motivation behind the new scandal is thought to be the succession of Archbishop Chrysostomos.

The Archbishop has repeatedly expressed support for Athanassios, labelling the hairdresser as an unreliable witness.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 2000

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[02] Makarios hospital to introduce live operating theatre link-up

FOR the first time ever, doctors in Cyprus will be able to consult colleagues around the world through televised digital conferencing.

The Makarios III hospital in Nicosia will be the first on the island to benefit from the new technology -- £12,000 worth of donated equipment including a TV monitor, a camera and digital connection to other hospitals with a similar set-up.

Not only will Cypriot health professionals be able to tap the knowledge of the most prominent experts in the world when tackling particularly difficult cases, they will be able to exchange videos of exploratory surgery, scans and other graphic representations of patient history with greater ease than ever before.

The Aspis Pronia Insurance Company donated the equipment to the Makarios hospital as part of an effort to create a TeleMedicine network throughout Greece.

At a news conference yesterday, Cypriot and British specialists provided a first hand demonstration of the system's capabilities by connecting live to panels of experts in the United Kingdom, Athens and at the Makarios Hospital.

Although all the cases discussed in the demonstration dealt with paediatric cardiology, the new conference technology is intended for all types of cases.

Frixos Savvides and Alecos Papadopoulos, Ministers of Health of Cyprus and Greece respectively, were on hand to bless the arrival of the new technology. They both asserted that additional opinions were invaluable in the field of medicine.

Sir Magdi Yacoub, the world famous London-based cardiologist, was the guest speaker at the press conference. He hailed the new service as a breakthrough at a time when the general public and the insurance world were demanding more of health care professionals than ever before.

"People have higher expectations and are living longer... and the medical establishment has been put under pressure to meet these demands," he said.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[03] Market down a fraction, amid action in investments and small caps

THE BOURSE inched marginally down again yesterday on higher than normal volumes largely absorbed by investment and smaller cap shares.

Posting a turnover of £56 million, some 42 per cent of trading was focused on stocks in investment, and 20 per cent on periphery shares in the "other" sector.

Banking titles took a nine per cent slice of the action. The sector's importance has gradually diminished in recent sessions from intraday speculation that has gripped many investors finding it easier to delve in and out of smaller sized stocks.

The all-share index dropped marginally by 0.34 per cent to a close of 525.32 points. The index meandered between a dip of 524 and a high of 526.90 in the opening minutes.

High transaction levels underscored that interest in the market was still strong, said Severis and Athienitis broker Katia Constantinidou.

"There is definitely a good deal of intraday shifting of funds but that is how the bourse works. Liquidity is recycled. New money coming into the market does not mean additional euphoria," she said.

Dodoni Investment remained the most heavily traded with 7.5 million shares changing hands as it rose six cents to a last trade of 37.4 while nil-paid rights of Toxotis lurched 49 cents to a last trade of £3.60 on 3.4 million shares.

Ordinary Toxotis shares jumped 32 per cent, or £1.60 to a last trade of £4.78, and with 300,000 shares changing hands.

All three shares have been moving strongly in recent sessions. Europrofit, which CLR have expressed an interest in buying, climbed seven cents to a last trade of £4.37.

Europrofit's board were scheduled to meet last night to discuss the proposal from CLR, which wants a 51 per cent stake and is willing to pay £1.41 per share.

Of 114 titles traded, 68 rose, three were steady and 42 dropped. There were 11,725 transactions.

Meanwhile, food industry Laiko Kafekopteio said yesterday they had approval from shareholders to float the company on the bourse.

"We have been authorised by our shareholders to initiate its flotation... we will look at the matter with more attention in the next two months," chairman Andreas Papacostas said.

He added that no decisions had been taken on the issued share capital which would be floated.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[04] Optimistic Holger bids farewell

Speaking after a farewell meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Holger, who is leaving Cyprus today, said he was sad to leave the island and stressed he would definitely be here "not if but when an agreement will be signed."

"The people of Cyprus deserve a better future, not a situation of uncertainty," Holger said.

He added: "efforts are on the way to solve your problem, the problem of all Cypriots."

Holger asserted the third round of proximity talks scheduled for July 5 in Geneva would be important because substantive discussions were expected to begin.

Yesterday, the UN representative visited House President Spyros Kyprianou, as well as Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders.

Holger's successor, Zbigniew Wolosowicz, from Poland, is due to arrive on the island on Thursday.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[05] Neutering plan to cut down on stray cat population

With the long-term goal of reducing the number of strays in Cyprus, the International Foundation for Animal Welfare, (IFAW) together with local authorities, yesterday launched a cat-neutering programme to last until Saturday, June 24.

The programme aims to round up the largest possible number of strays, neuter them and treat them for basic parasites.

The organisers hope subsequently to get some of these animals adopted as pets by suitable families.

The veterinary authorities are counting on community co-operation to give out food to strays and collect them, with the help of vets.

Vets will then take the cats to the Ormidhia Veterinary Centre outside Larnaca for sterilisation and treatment.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Yermasoyia in the Limassol district is attempting to tidy up by pushing for a pooper-scooper law, which if successful, would be the first of its kind in Cyprus.

The municipality has been concerned about dog litter for about two years and has drawn up regulations, due to appear before the house, which would require dog walkers to carry the appropriate doggy maintenance tools.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[06] Finance committee backs reintroduction of CTO levy

Left wing Akel deputies, George Lillikas and Avraam Antoniou presented the dual plan. The draft bill has to be passed by the House Plenum on Thursday before it can come into effect.

If passed, the House Committee’s Chairman Markos Kyprianou expects the new arrangements to come into effect by July 1.

The Committee report stressed the importance of implementing the two measures, especially after the recent abolition of public funds paid to the CTO.

The three per cent levy on tourist services was abolished in 1991 and replaced by annual state budget allocations.

For the last three years, however, leftist Akel and centre Diko have wanted the three per cent levy re-introduced. The government, meanwhile, saw no need to continue direct subsidies given the spectacular annual growth of the tourism industry. The subsidies were originally introduced to offset the effects of the Gulf War.

Akel initiated the re-introduction of the tax as part of its package of relief measures intended to counteract last month’s VAT hike from eight to 10 per cent.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[07] Leventis foundation to fund university research

The charitable foundation yesterday announced a plan to promote high-level research in areas approved by a special committee of academics.

Projects seeking Leventis Foundation funding must "further basic research and Cyprus' standing in international science".

"Ideally, it should be cutting-edge research capable of putting Cyprus in the lead in each field," a press release stated.

Two or three research projects are to be funded by the foundation this year and between five and six projects every year thereafter. Around £15,000 will be made available for each project annually.

Funding may be sought by Cyprus University staff only, though post-graduate students or academics from other institutions can support their research.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

Tuesday, June 11, 2000

[08] ‘Total unity’ takes Lyssarides unopposed to Kisos leadership

The formation of the Socio-Democratic party a few months ago was marred by leadership squabbles, but Lyssarides' promise to step down after the 2001 parliamentary elections seems to have restored unity.

The 80-year-old party leader said he would "always be present" and actively involved in the party even after he stepped down as leader.

The veteran leader predicted Kisos - an amalgam of Socialist Edek and two smaller groups - would exceed all expectations in the February 2001 parliamentary elections.

Lyssarides, who will again be running for parliament in 2001, said Kisos would succeed because it had "complete proposals".

Kisos currently holds five seats in the 56-member House of Representatives, seats won by Lyssarides' Edek in the 1996 elections.

Lyssarides dismissed suggestions that the election of Marinos Sizopoulos as one of two Kisos vice-presidents represented a "defeat" for him.

He said he was equally fond of all Sunday's four candidates for the vice- president posts, describing them all as "my men".

Koullis Mavronicolas will join Sizopoulos as vice-president. Hopefuls Pantis Papaloizou and Sophoclis Sophocleous failed to get the nod.

Former Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou was proclaimed deputy party leader unchallenged.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail

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