Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-08-07

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

Tuesday, August 7, 2001

CONTENTS

[01] Oil deal with Syria by end of year?

[02] Dutch tourist critical after jet-ski accident

[03] Donors insist they are '101 per cent Greek'

[04] Afxentiou retirement set to spark reshuffle

[05] Single mums jailed for ecstasy

[06] Poor turnout for Akrotiri concert

[07] Aznar to visit

[08] Illegal billboards must come down - Neophytou

[09] Top of the country

[10] Turkish flag project 'aimed at boosting solar energy'

[01] Oil deal with Syria by end of year?

CYPRUS and Syria said yesterday they hoped to reach agreement by the end of the year on the joint exploration of possible offshore oil and gas reserves.

Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis told reporters in Nicosia that the two countries would work together for the rest of the year to determine their continental shelves and delimit their economic zones

Rolandis was speaking after a meeting with Syrian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dr. Mohamad Maher Jamal, who is on a three-day official visit to the island.

"We had an exchange of views on the delimitation of the exclusive economic

zone and the continental shelf, which in Syria will be handled by the Foreign

Minister and in Cyprus by a ministerial committee, appointed by the Cabinet, "

Rolandis said after the meeting.

"We hope to resolve this question by the end of the year, on the basis of the principles of international law and have an agreement in place."

Rolandis said that although Syria had not signed the international Law of the Sea Convention of 1982, it was willing to use the Convention's basic provisions to conclude a bilateral agreement with Nicosia.

"I must say that the response we had from Syria was rather positive. My colleague told me he would try to conclude a deal by the end of the year, which will determine the sea area between Syria and Cyprus that belongs to each country," Rolandis said.

The minister added that Jamal had put forward a proposal to supply Cyprus with natural gas, a project which would involve the construction of a pipeline at an estimated cost of $200-250 million.

Rolandis said that technical experts would have to look into the possibility, but added Cyprus had other options available in terms of gas supplies.

Earlier yesterday, Jamal met President Glafcos Clerides, but no statements were made after the meeting. The Syrian Minister leaves the island today.

Cyprus is also expected to enter dialogue on possible joint oil and gas projects with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[02] Dutch tourist critical after jet-ski accident

The accident took place when the teenager tried to turn around and collided with his father, who was following behind him.

The father was seriously injured on his side and rushed to Paphos General Hospital where he underwent an operation and had his spleen removed.

The Dutch tourist was yesterday still in a serious condition and remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Paphos Hospital.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[03] Donors insist they are '101 per cent Greek'

THERE were further assurances on behalf of the now-famous mystery computer donors yesterday, but little to suggest any movement on the gridlocked offer of 160,000 PCs for local schools.

With the government having repeatedly stated it could not accept the £400 million offer unless the anonymous donors revealed themselves, expectations were high when the benefactors' representatives called a news conference in Nicosia yesterday morning.

The invite sent to newspapers only promised "further information" about the donors, but many thought the veil of secrecy shrouding the three-week-old offer was about to be lifted, and the benefactors named.

But, in the event, the news conference turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, offering nothing more substantial than assurances that the donors were "101 per cent Greek" and their super-generous offer "genuine".

The mystery offer has been the subject for much negative press speculation since it was made public last month, with a number of reports suggesting there could be hidden motives behind the donation.

Local computer suppliers have been lobbying Education Minister Ouranios Ioannides to turn down the unprecedented offer, saying the donation would ruin the local computer business.

One of the businessmen representing the mystery donors, George Michaelides, yesterday made another attempt to silence the doubters.

"We can publicise, and this is very important, that they are of 101 per cent Greek descent. Therefore, there is not an issue of connections with foreign interests," he said at the news conference. "We reassure once again that it is a genuine donation, the sole motive - the sole aim - of which is to make Cyprus a technological centre, to put Cyprus on top of the technological list," the spokesman added.

He repeated that the identity of the donors could not be revealed for unspecified reasons of "national and social security".

The representative listed a number of firms and organisations he said would be involved in implementing the £400 million computers for schools plan. These included Greece's Metsovio polytechnic, the Cypronetwork group, Unified Management Technology Limited and Tech Euro-Consultsants Limited. In a bid to pacify local computer suppliers he promised the donors would work with local companies to implement their grandiose plan.

But none of this "new information" from the donors is likely to make the government consider the offer. Education Minister Ioannides has already rejected a compromise proposal from the donors, whereby just he and President Clerides would be made privy to the names of the mystery benefactors.

"Without openness, nothing can go ahead," the minister said after the offer was tabled late last week.

Ioannides said that only by talking face-to-face with the donors could the government satisfy itself that they were capable of coming through on the unprecedented offer to provide a computer for every nursery, primary and secondary school and the Cyprus University.

The donors' representatives have said that if the government does not want the free computers for schools, then they will be given to students and teachers directly, for use at home.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[04] Afxentiou retirement set to spark reshuffle

THE PRESIDENT denies it, but the 'word' is that a minor Cabinet reshuffle is on the cards, prompted by the upcoming change of guard at the Central Bank.

Central Bank governor Afxentis Afxentiou is due to retire from his post in March next year, but is widely expected to accept what would be a lucrative early retirement package well before them.

Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou is apparently keen to succeed Afxentiou at the Central Bank, and President Clerides is expected to grant him his wish.

As Simerini newspaper reported yesterday, Christodoulou is one of Clerides' most trusted Ministers and must be considered a firm favourite for what is seen as one of the most powerful posts on the island.

The speculation is that Averoff Neophytou, who is forging a strong reputation for his work as Communications Minister, would then be moved sideways and upwards to the Interior Ministry. The post of Communications Minister would then be taken up by Health Minister Frixos Savvides, another strong player in the Clerides government, Simerini suggested.

Replacing Savvides at the Health Ministry would be a more complicated matter, but the head of the Medical Association, Andreas Vassiliou, is apparently a strong candidate for the post. Vassiliou is affiliated to socialist opposition party KISOS, which would make him an unpopular choice with governing DISY, but the fact that he is a doctor is seen as making up for this.

DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades has long been pushing Clerides to reshuffle his Cabinet ahead of the 2003 Presidential elections, and this pressure might yet force broader ministerial changes.

President Clerides yesterday dismissed the reshuffle speculation. "No minister has asked to be moved and I have taken no decisions over the issue, " he said.

Clerides was asked if he had someone in mind to replace Afxentiou at the Central Bank. "Because the contract of the Central Bank director does not expire for nine months yet, I have not looked at the issue of appointing a new director," he replied.

Christodoulou declined to comment on the rumours he was about to be moved to the Central Bank. "I have nothing in mind concerning my transfer or any other development," he told reporters, adding that such decisions rested with Clerides alone.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[05] Single mums jailed for ecstasy

Twenty-two-year-old Kizia Conquest was jailed for four months on a lesser charge of possessing 20 pills.

Both women are unemployed single parents from London.

They were arrested in late July while trying to sell 20 Ecstasy tablets.

A subsequent search of the pair's flat yielded 150 additional pills, 25 grams of hashish and 11 grams of cannabis, which Saunders said belonged to her.

More than 50 British tourists have been arrested on drug related charges in Ayia Napa this year.

Police said more than 700 tablets have been seized, compared to 130 for the whole of last year.

Britons Lee Mortimer, 22, and 25-year-old Paul Hartley, were jailed for three years last week for possession and trafficking of Ecstasy.

They were the heaviest sentences imposed on British tourists for such an offence.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[06] Poor turnout for Akrotiri concert

The bases feared the concert, organised to protest against a new antenna the British army wants to put up next to the Akrotiri salt lake, might spark fresh anti-bases rioting. On July 3, dozens of British bases police were injured and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage caused by demonstrators at Episkopi and Akrotiri. The government, local residents and environmentalists fear the antenna, due to go up in 2003, will spread cancer and damage the salt lake habitat. Britain denies this.

Green party deputy George Perdikis admitted the low turnout for Saturday's concert at the Akrotiri football stadium was a disappointment. He blamed the bases for the small crowd, saying many Cypriots had been put off by the area being put off limits for bases personnel, fearing there might be trouble. Perdikis also said the concert had given a clear message that there were plenty of Cypriots ready and willing to react to the controversial antenna plans.

After an agreement between Nicosia and London, a Cypriot team last week completed emissions tests from existing British masts at the Akrotiri salt lake. The readings from the existing antennae will be used to assess the impact of the new aerial.

The Communications Ministry expert in charge of the Akrotiri tests, Andronikos Kakouras, yesterday said the Cypriot team's findings would be ready in two weeks' time.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[07] Aznar to visit

Spain takes over the six-monthly rotating European Union presidency in January next year.

During the brief visit, Aznar is due to have a working meeting with President Glafcos Clerides to discuss bilateral issues.

Cyprus and Spain are also working to have an agreement concluded on investment, which is likely to be signed during Aznar's visit.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[08] Illegal billboards must come down - Neophytou

Bilboards have become an increasing eyesore on the island's roads as thousands have been planted, mostly with local authority authorisation.

But as it emerged during the meeting yesterday, many billboards are put up without any permission.

Neophytou told the Cyprus Mail that all unlicensed billboards would be removed immediately.

The minister insisted there were a lot out there without any licence.

"There are many which are totally illegal," Neophytou said.

The fate of the billboards erected on the sides of motorways will stay put for the time being because of the lack of legislation regulating signs situated on private property.

Neophytou said this would be sorted once the law - expected to be submitted before the House in October - was passed.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[09] Top of the country

"He came first in his department and first in Cyprus. I am very proud of my son. He studied very hard," his mother, Irene, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.

Charalambous graduated from the Kykkos A Lyceum with full marks of 20 out of 20 and took home 11 awards from school.

"I think the results speak for themselves as to whether he is a good student," said his father Costas.

A total of 7,664 pupils sat the entrance exams, but only 6,176 places are available at higher education institutes in Greece and Cyprus this year, so there will be some disappointments.

Full results are posed on the Education Ministry's website at www.moec.gov.cy

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[10] Turkish flag project 'aimed at boosting solar energy'

PLANS to light up the giant Turkish flag on the Pentadactylos mountainside at night are aimed at promoting solar energy as an alternative source of electricity generation in the energy-strapped north, sources from the north said yesterday.

A Turkish Cypriot journalist told the Cyprus Mail that the project, which is still in its preliminary stages, was an attempt to promote an alternative electricity source that might end continuous power cuts in the occupied areas.

"There is a recurring electricity problem, so production is an issue and what they're trying to do with this project is to bolster support for promoting solar energy," he said.

He added a private company was likely fund the project, which is expected to cost in the region of £990,000 sterling. The repainting of the flag two years ago was funded by a Turkish mobile phone service provider.

"A private company would use the project as a tax write off," the journalist said.

The project entails lining the flag's perimeter, star and crescent with compact fluorescent bulbs, which have the same power as the 100-watt home bulbs.

The Turkish and Turkish Cypriot flags would flash alternatively during the night, as the light sources change their colour.

The energy would be supplied by solar panels and wind turbines and stored in huge batteries.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

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