Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-06-17

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

Sunday, June 17, 2001

CONTENTS

[01] Kyprianou vows he will not give up

[02] CY to submit revised bid for Olympic

[03] Stakis 'serious' after stroke

[04] Body of old woman found

[05] Bound and gagged body washed ashore

[06] Student dies of heart failure

[07] Groom dies two days before his wedding

[01] Kyprianou vows he will not give up

FORMER House President Spyros Kyprianou vowed yesterday that he will do everything in his power to beat the cancer he was diagnosed with this week.

Kyprianou put on a brave face to address an emotional news conference he called at his Nicosia home to “thank people for their support”. The 68-year- old politician, also a former President of the Republic, has been diagnosed with malignant lung and pelvic cancer, for which he began radiotherapy treatment on Wednesday.

Doctors at the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre said the lung cancer had probably given rise to the bone cancer. Kyprianou will now begin a course of chemotherapy to combat the lung tumour this week, while continuing the treatment for the pelvic cancer.

His doctors have said they are confident they can “control” Kyprianou's illness, provided he responds well to treatment.

“I am fully aware of the severity of my condition, but I will not give up,” he told journalists. “This is a battle for life. I have fought other battles for my health before, but this is the most difficult.” Kyprianou was at times unable to hide his distress.

“I will do what I can to beat this disease. I will do as my doctors say because I trust them fully,” the former President said.

Kyprianou said he will attend the meeting of the National Council tomorrow because “I will never give up the struggle for the solution of the Cyprus Problem, not for as long as I live”.

“My family and the people of Cyprus give me so much strength,” he said. “I am grateful for that love.”

Kyprianou also said that life must go on as usual: “I will finish writing my memoirs and I will work on the Cyprus Problem.”

He said he would put forward some ideas on the Cyprus Problem next week.

After the news conference ended, many reporters expressed their best wishes and support for Kyprianou.

“I will fight this battle with faith and determination and with your love,” he replied. “Smile,” he told some reporters who were clearly upset.

Kyprianou said he does not plan to travel abroad for treatment as his doctors do not deem it necessary for the time being.

He will continue to be treated at home and through visits to the oncology centre.

When he stepped down as House of Representatives President earlier this year, Kyprianou drew the curtain on a 40-year political career that included a decade as President, between 1978 and 1988, and 12 years as Foreign minister before that.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[02] CY to submit revised bid for Olympic

CYPRUS Airways (CY) will submit a revised proposal to buy Olympic Airways tomorrow, in the next stage of its bid to buy 51 per cent of the flagging Greek carrier.

Olympic delayed making a final choice over a buyer in May, when three bids were deemed unsatisfactory.

Unconfirmed reports suggested that CY failed to pay the £1.8 million deposit to secure its bid. In addition, CY only offered to buy 51 per cent of Olympic, whereas the Greek government is eager to sell a majority shareholding of at least 60 per cent.

But still considered a frontrunner in the race to secure the Olympic deal, CY will submit its revised plans to the Greek carrier tomorrow.

On Friday, the CY consortium will present its plan to Credit Suisse First Boston, the investment bank handling the deal in London.

The airline's spokesman Tassos Angelis yesterday told the Sunday Mail that Olympic would then be faced with making a final decision about its future.

He said he had no idea when they would make the final announcement.

Dogged by labour disputes, industrial action and mismanagement, Olympic Airways has reported profits only once in the past 20 years.

The fleet is about to be scaled down by a third, after British Airways pulled the plug on initial plans to buy a 20 per cent stake last year.

The company has debts exceeding £100 million, and EU regulations forbid Athens from bailing it out any more.

CY chairman Haris Loizides wants 30 per cent of Olympic directly controlled by CY and its unidentified consortium partners.

Flight routes would be redefined and overseas offices merged. Loizides hopes a larger group would be able to negotiate better fuel prices.

CY is only interested in Olympic's airline division, not its catering and heavy maintenance sectors.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[03] Stakis 'serious' after stroke

CYPRIOT-born hotel tycoon Sir Reo Stakis is in hospital in Scotland recovering from a suspected stroke, after collapsing at his home.

The 88-year-old millionaire is being treated in Stirling Royal Infirmary where his condition is said to be “serious”.

Doctors are running tests to determine exactly how bad his health is. Friends and neighbours have been prevented from visiting him.

Stakis, the father of six and one of Britain's richest men, has an estimated fortune of £100 million.

He left Cyprus at the age 14 to sell lace from a motorbike in Glasgow. He graduated into buying up old-fashioned tearooms and transforming them into a string of modern restaurants with plenty of atmosphere and affordable food.

He went on to build up a global hotel business, which was sold to the Ladbroke Group PLC for a reported £1.3 billion in 1992.

He was knighted by the Queen in 1988 and lives in the grounds of Dunblane Hydro with his wife Annitsa.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[04] Body of old woman found

Police said yesterday that they broke into Nourte Ahmet's house on Friday after being informed by some of her neighbours that a rotten smell was coming from it.

Ahmet's body was found lying on her bed, and police believe she died at the beginning of last week. They have ruled out the possibility of foul play.

Ahmet lived on her own in Limassol and had never crossed to the occupied areas.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[05] Bound and gagged body washed ashore

POLICE are investigating a suspected murder case after they found the dead body of a man washed ashore in the Akamas peninsula.

The body had not been identified by yesterday afternoon.

The man, thought to be around 45 years old, was found with his hands tied and his mouth gagged at around 3pm by firefighters.

He was wearing only a white shirt and socks, police officer Sotiris Antoniades told the Sunday Mail.

“The body must have been in the water for a few days before being washed ashore,” he added.

“He did not have any hair either, and I think that is because he had been in the water for too long,” Antoniades said.

The Criminal Investigation Department yesterday did not rule out “the possibility of a criminal action” after carrying out a preliminary investigation.

The autopsy on the dead body was being carried out yesterday evening.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[06] Student dies of heart failure

Kosma, who had had a heart condition since he was six months old, fell unconscious while he was at a restaurant in Timi.

He was immediately taken to the Paphos Hospital where he died a few hours later at about midnight.

Kosma had undergone two heart operations.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[07] Groom dies two days before his wedding

Antonis Papageorgiou, a mechanic from Limnati village in Limassol began to feel unwell on Friday evening while preparing for his wedding ceremony.

At about 11pm he complained of sharp chest pains. His brother-in-law rushed him to Limassol Hospital, but Antonis lost consciousness in the car. He was pronounced dead when he arrived at casualty.

The precise cause of death is not yet known, but the autopsy will be carried out today. Antonis' father died from a heart attack at the age of 35. Police have ruled out foul play.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

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