Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-06-13

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

Wednesday, June 13, 2001

CONTENTS

[01] Efstathiou breaks away from KISOS

[02] Teachers will not disrupt exams

[03] Turkish Cypriot family comes over looking for better life

[04] DIKO and DISY choose parliamentary spokesmen

[05] 'Doctors must answer disciplinary case over boy's death' - Savvides

[06] Police to launch investigation into missing Limassol drugs

[07] Cyprus closes free movement chapter

[08] Government happy at UN stance

[09] Britain warns tourists about driving, currents and drugs

[10] Bulldozers move in to clear way for new municipality

[11] Ypsonas man arrested after shooting incident

[12] Tsiakourmas files appeal to European court

[01] Efstathiou breaks away from KISOS

FORMER KISOS heavyweight Efstathios Efstathiou yesterday announced the formation of a breakaway movement called the 'Union of Democratic Socialists'.

Efstathiou's move came hot on the heels of KISOS' decision on Sunday to hold an electoral conference next month to decide its new leader, political bureau and central committee.

The social-democratic party has been in crisis since it took a hammering at the parliamentary elections in May.

KISOS leader Vassos Lyssarides came under fire from all sides when he failed to step down after his party's dismal showing in the May 27 polls. The founder of KISOS eventually announced two days later that he would not seek re-election at the party's next electoral conference. His announcement was followed the next day by the resignation of the entire KISOS political bureau and of the central committee on Sunday.

KISOS, which won five seats as EDEK in the 1996 elections, secured only four in the new parliament. The party garnered just 6.5 per cent of the vote on May 27, 1.6 per cent down compared to 1996.

KISOS' poor showing has been blamed on its change of name from EDEK when it unsuccessfully attempted to merge with two smaller groupings last year, and Lyssarides' decision to go into government with rightist Glafcos Clerides after the 1998 presidential elections.

KISOS' July 22 electoral conference will signal the official end of 82-year- old Lyssarides' three-decade stint as party leader.

Although the decision to hold a conference as soon as next month was backed by the overwhelming majority of the central committee's members, some, including Efstathiou, on Monday voiced discomfort at the development.

Efstathiou, a prominent lawyer and a senior member of the old EDEK, charged that: "Moving on to an electoral conference so soon just to overthrow Lyssarides will produce devastating results. It will shrink the party further and lead it to complete isolation.

"Those methods are unacceptable and not in line with socialist philosophy."

But the icing on the cake came yesterday when Efstathiou announced the formation of the Union of Democratic Socialists

"My main difference with KISOS is that they don't follow European socialist practices. I want to form a party in which different political trends will be represented according to their strength. So we will be voting for trends instead of people. KISOS is too personalised," Efstathiou told the Cyprus Mail.

Asked whether he would try to attract members of KISOS and so split the party in two, he replied negatively.

"The movement is open to anyone who is open-minded enough to join a truly socialist party - whether he is a Marxist or a right-winger," Efstathiou said.

The former KISOS member admitted that he had urged the party's supporters to vote for Clerides in the second round of the Presidential elections in 1998.

"I think you can apply socialism in a right-wing government if given the chance," Efstathiou said.

But KISOS leadership contender Takis Hadjidemetriou yesterday described Efstathiou's move to form a party as "insignificant."

"It is his right to set up his own party, I have no problem with that. But I am sure he will fail to attract our members because the line he follows is a bit rightist. On top of that, he never really fought for socialism. Where was he when we fought against the fascist coup in 1974 losing so many lives?" Hadjidemetriou asked.

"I am sure his friends and clients will back his movement," he added.

Hadjidemetriou has criticised EDEK's decision in 1998 to join a coalition government with DISY, even for a short period of time, and stressed that KISOS should have greater respect for socialist principles.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[02] Teachers will not disrupt exams

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday reassured parents that school exams would take place without any threats of a teachers' strike.

Education Minister Ouranios Ioannides told the National Confederation of Parents of Schoolchildren that he trusted the teachers would not carry out their strike threat.

"I assure you that the exams will proceed as usual. The how and the why is another story, which is only for the Ministry to know," said Ioannides.

The President of the Confederation, Elias Demetriou, expressed his satisfaction at the assurances from Ioannides that exams would carry on without disruption and with the way he had handled the matter.

President of teachers' union OELMEK Andreas Stavrou said yesterday the teachers' had never intended to disturb the exams. When asked why the unions had not told the Ministry this was the case, Stavrou pointed out that he had not been able to exclude any measures when there was no agreement between the unions as to what measures to take.

However, teachers are still not satisfied with the government's plan to lower entry-level salaries.

Ioannides said yesterday a letter would be sent to the unions explaining that the matter of the entry-level salaries would be discussed and that nothing had yet been decided.

A briefing was held by the unions yesterday at the Teachers Corporate Bank building, followed by a meeting with DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades and then a meeting with the Ministry of Education.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[03] Turkish Cypriot family comes over looking for better life

A FAMILY of six Turkish Cypriots spent last night at a hotel in Larnaca, as the latest group to travel from the north in a bid to repatriate in Larnaca.

They were spotted outside the BP petrol station in Xylotymbou during a routine SBA police patrol at about 2am on Tuesday morning.

They told officers they had crossed into the south through a single barbed- wire fence and wanted to resettle in the south.

The mother and father, their three daughters aged 17, 10 and 8 and 22-year- old son-in-law were handed over to Cyprus police on the Dhekelia to Larnaca road at 'The Edge'.

Larnaca police confirmed that they were indeed Turkish Cypriots before putting them up in a hotel until permanent accommodation can be found.

The crippling economic conditions in the north are thought to have contributed to the arrival of 135 Turkish Cypriot gypsies in the south this spring, also eager to settle into better circumstances.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[04] DIKO and DISY choose parliamentary spokesmen

AFTER two three-hour meetings yesterday, opposition right-wing party DIKO chose their vice-chairman Nicos Cleanthous as their new parliamentary spokesman.

Governing right-wingers DISY finally decided last night after a marathon debate to opt for Demetris Syllouris over Prodromos Prodromou. Syllouris was reported yto have won the honour by a narrow margin.

For DIKO, Cleanthous got the nod ahead of Marcos Kyprianou, the son of former party chief Spyros Kyprianou. Marcos Kyprianou will stay on as chairman of the House Finance Committee, one of four committee chairmanships handed to DIKO.

DISY, who secured 19 seats in the May 27 elections, are to chair six committees. DIKO won nine seats in the polls.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[05] 'Doctors must answer disciplinary case over boy's death' - Savvides

A PROBE into the operating theatre death of a 14-year-old boy in late April has found there is a disciplinary case for the doctors involved to answer, Health Minister Frixos Savvides said yesterday.

Savvides also said he would be meeting today with Attorney-general Alecos Markides to examine whether there was a criminal case for Nicosia general hospital surgeons to answer. The Minister said nothing more.

The death of Yeri teenager George Hadjidemetris was investigated after his distraught parents complained hospital doctors had been cursory in their treatment of the minor leg injury that led to the boy's death.

Tissue tests carried out in London showed the boy had died of a shock to the lungs brought on by an infection.

An autopsy found that doctors had failed to remove a small piece of cloth from George's trousers from his wound, caused by a bit of rusty metal. Private pathologist Marios Matsakis, who represented the boy's family at the post mortem, has said hospital doctors were negligent.

The hospital surgeons have insisted they did everything by the book and could not explain why the 14-year-old died.

The Hadjidemetris family tragedy began in late April when George was taken to hospital with a cut. The cut was cleaned and stitched, but, four days later, the teenager was taken back to the Nicosia hospital with a fever and pain in the stitched wound.

He underwent surgery the same day to clean out the wound and was kept in hospital and put on antibiotics. Three days later, with the boy's condition deteriorating, surgeons operated again.

George did not survive the second operation.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[06] Police to launch investigation into missing Limassol drugs

POLICE are to launch a criminal investigation following a government probe into allegations of missing drugs, forged prescriptions and misleading information at Limassol General Hospital.

The report has backed up claims that a private pharmacy supplied drugs siphoned off from hospital stocks.

Demetris Aspros, head of the Limassol General's pharmacy, was suspended following the results of this enquiry, personally requested by Health Minister Frixos Savvides.

He was accused of writing prescriptions issued by the private pharmacy run by his daughter, which supplied hospital employees.

The report also substantiates claims that Aspros falsified documents relating to the hours worked by a colleague.

He was accused of certifying that a co-worker put in 38 hours, when in actual fact the colleague had only worked 35 hours.

It is the second case in two years that questions the professionalism and adequate level of control in drug administration by state services.

Kidney drugs disappeared from Nicosia General Hospital in 1999.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[07] Cyprus closes free movement chapter

CYPRUS yesterday closed the chapter on the Free Movement of People, without the transition period forced on eastern-bloc states at a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.

The deal will allow Cypriot nationals to move freely across the European Union as soon as soon as the island becomes a full member of the EU.

The government has now provisionally closed 22 out of 29 chapters relating to the adoption of the acquis communautaire.

Current EU President Sweden congratulated Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides on the country's progress in the harmonisation process.

Cassoulides discussed Cyprus's EU accession with the German Minister of State responsible for European Affairs, Christoph Zopel, and briefed him about the current stalemate in the UN proximity talks.

Malta has also concluded the chapter on Free Movement without a transition period.

The chapter was closed at the seventh conference between the European Union and Cyprus.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[08] Government happy at UN stance

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday expressed its satisfaction at a statement by the UN Security Council reiterating its support for the Secretary-general's efforts for a settlement on the island.

"The government is satisfied with the statement, as it is in the right direction," Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said, adding that the UN had made it abundantly clear the Turkish side's stance in the Cyprus peace effort ran contrary to the will of the international community.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash refused to continue UN proximity talks last year until his regime was granted recognition.

After a briefing from UN Special Envoy for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, council members "welcomed and supported" Secretary-general Kofi Annan's intention to continue with the process he initiated in November 1999.

This month's Security Council president, Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh, said council members were urging all those involved to engage with Annan constructively and effectively in the process.

They also reaffirmed earlier UN resolutions on Cyprus, particularly one approved in June 1999, which stated that a settlement "must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty, international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded and compromising two politically equal communities".

Chowdhury said the Security Council was expected to adopt a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN force in Cyprus for a further six months before it expires on Friday.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[09] Britain warns tourists about driving, currents and drugs

BRITAIN has issued its first ever travel advisory for Cyprus, but not because the island has suddenly become a dangerous place to visit.

"We have never had a need to have a travel advisory for Cyprus, but there are new orders from the Foreign Office that there must be an advisory for everywhere," British High Commission spokesman Jonathan Allen said yesterday.

The advisory begins by stating that most visits to Cyprus are "trouble- free", but also contains warnings about car bombs, local driving and dangerous seas.

"Crimes against tourists are rare," the Foreign Office states in its advice to British visitors to Cyprus.

Under the heading "Terrorism", the advisory proceeds to warn of the high frequency of car bomb attacks in Limassol and Nicosia: "Although the perpetrators have not been identified, these activities are restricted for the most part to in-fighting amongst the criminal fraternity."

Driving standards in Cyprus are described as "poor", and visitors are warned to always wear helmets and seatbelts.

"Be aware of strong seas and undertows. Always heed warning signs and swim only from approved beaches," the advisory adds.

UK visitors are also warned that Cyprus has a "strict zero tolerance policy towards drugs". A number of British tourists are arrested for drug possession every summer, mostly in the Ayia Napa area.

Visitors are further advised not to attempt to cross to the government- controlled areas if they arrive in the north. "The British government does not recognise the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'," the Foreign Office states.

The only previous advisory on Cyprus issued by the Foreign Office was put out in relation to concerns over the millennium computer bug in December 1999. The millennium bug advice came under fire from the government for its mention of the occupation regime.

High Commission spokesman Allen yesterday insisted a travel advisory was not a political statement: "The travel advice has to be genuine advice for tourists, there is no room for politics, it must be a factual briefing."

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[10] Bulldozers move in to clear way for new municipality

BULLDOZERS began demolishing buildings near the open market in old Nicosia yesterday, ready for a new Town Hall and underground car park, set to cost the government £3.7 million.

Private property is being levelled to re-build Nicosia Municipality on the spot it occupied 70 years ago before it was transferred to Eleftheria Square.

The move, expected to take three to five years, will make the square's name, Palaiou Dimarcheiou ('Old Municipality') out-of-date.

Owners have been compensated with alternative premises elsewhere or cash windfalls, so that the new complex is not limited to land already owned by the Council.

Bulldozers will begin a second-wave of demolition work once the municipality secures other properties.

A Greek Cypriot-English couple won the architectural competition, held to choose the design of the Town Hall and its underground car park.

Construction companies will soon be invited to make tender applications to forge ahead with the work.

Tender applications to build the 400-car underground car park will be invited in September.

Private businesses will be asked to finance the construction work and operate the enterprise for a fixed number of years, after which time ownership will be transferred to the Municipality.

A number of companies have already expressed an interest in the investment opportunity.

The new Town Hall will accommodate all municipal administration and is expected to become a seminar and conference centre, social and cultural venue.

The covered market will continue to operate in the square, despite the building work going on around it.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[11] Ypsonas man arrested after shooting incident

A LIMASSOL man was yesterday arrested in connection with shots fired with a military-issue firearm in the Ypsonas area.

Petros Petrou, alias Gagri, was detained after terrified residents of the area called police at around 7.10am and complained about bursts of gunfire coming from near the area's quarry.

A large police force was immediately scrambled to the area.

In an open space at the quarry, they found a large number of spent cartridges from a firearm.

Police moved against Petrou after a description of the perpetrator's vehicle given by the residents seemed to match the suspect's car.

Police searched the man's home and allegedly found that around 100 bullets were missing from the ammunition given to reservists along with a G3 automatic rifle by the National Guard.

A number of pistol bullets were also found at the suspect's house.

During questioning, Petrou allegedly admitted to firing the shots with his army-issue rifle, but refused to give the reasons or name possible accomplices.

Police are convinced there were more people with Petrou when the shots were fired.

Over 80 spent cartridges found at the scene were sent to the police lab for ballistic tests.

The suspect will appear in court today.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[12] Tsiakourmas files appeal to European court

CONTRACTOR Panicos Tsiakourmas has filed an appeal against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for his illegal arrest and imprisonment by the occupying regime in the north, it was announced yesterday.

The family's lawyer Kypros Chrysostomides announced the decision to appeal to the ECHR, adding that the points on which the appeal was based would be announced when the procedure allowed.

Tsiakourmas, 39, was abducted from Sovereign Base Area (SBA) territory near the Turksh Cypriot village of Pergamos last December.

His seizure came in apparent retaliation for the arrest by Cyprus police of Turkish Cypriot drug smuggler Omer Tecogul from the mixed village of Pyla.

Tecogul was in March jailed for 10 years for heroin trafficking.

Tsiakourmas, a diabetic, was held for four months during which he was charged with possessing 1.1 kilos of cannabis.

In April, he was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail, but was released on time already served.

During the trial, SBA police presented some 120 statements and 90 photographs backing their claim that Tsiakourmas had been abducted.

Evidence was also given by the British, which established that no trace of drugs had been found in Tsiakourmas' car, which had been found abandoned with the driver's door open and the engine running.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

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