Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-08-10

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

Friday, August 10, 2001

CONTENTS

[01] Army officer 'supplied explosives for string of bomb attacks'

[02] Moufflon poacher seized after forest chase

[03] Bahrain wants second businessman to stay under house arrest

[04] EAC technician electrocuted

[05] Man critical after crashing while fleeing for police

[06] Moody's downgrades BoC and Laiki

[07] Axon Olympic bid 'in trouble'

[08] Shock resignations throw civil service union into turmoil

[09] Talks expected to resume in early September

[01] Army officer 'supplied explosives for string of bomb attacks'

A NATIONAL Guard lieutenant colonel suspected of supplying explosives used in a string of bombings between 1998 and 2001 was yesterday remanded in custody for eight days by the Nicosia district court.

Savvas Sudjis, 47, was arrested in Larnaca earlier in the morning after he was named by a suspect held in connection with several bombings.

The 47-year-old infantry officer and Fanos Mahattou, 42, from Ayia Napa, are under investigation for three counts of illegal possession of explosives, two counts of attempted destruction of property using explosives, and conspiracy to commit felony.

Police investigator Andreas Iatropoulos, who heads a special task force looking into bombings and other serious crime, told the court that police had retrieved two explosive devices which had apparently failed to go off.

The first device was found in May this year outside a house in Ormidhia near Larnaca.

Iatropoulos said it failed to explode because the fuse was faulty.

The device was made with two half-pounds of TNT - one made in the United States and the other in Greece -- bound together with black tape and connected to an Austrian detonator along with the fuse.

The second device was found in June 1998 after it failed to explode outside a home in Meneou in Larnaca.

Iatropoulos said it was exactly the same as the Ormidhia bomb, only in this case both pieces of TNT were Greek.

The court heard that in 1999 police found similar devices in three separate cases - one in Paralimni and two in Limassol.

Iatropoulos said that, according to police bomb experts, all the devices found were made with the same material as is used by the National Guard.

The investigator added that DNA samples taken from Mahattou matched the DNA found on the bomb found in Paralmni.

Iatropoulos said that, in his testimony, Mahattou had allegedly admitted being involved in the cases under investigation.

In a second testimony on Wednesday, the suspect named Sudjis as the supplier of the explosives.

Mahattou allegedly told police that Sudjis had supplied him with six or seven hand grenades as well as the TNT.

The TNT and the grenades were handed over to another person awaiting trial with two other suspects in connection with destruction of property using explosives.

It is thought some of the explosives have already been used, but police are looking for the grenades and the rest of the TNT.

Moreover, the army officer could find himself in deeper trouble after police found a mini armoury in his home and office.

In searches carried out after his arrest, police allegedly found 16 bayonets, a reel of fuse, two smoke grenades, an air pistol, a small crossbow, an unregistered air gun, 10 ancient vessels, as well as a large quantity of military equipment.

Iatropoulos said Sudjis was under investigation concerning the theft of explosives, grenades and other military equipment from the National Guard.

The investigator requested the suspect's remand for eight days, arguing that if he were released he could destroy evidence and influence witnesses or try to escape abroad.

The suspect was remanded for eight days.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[02] Moufflon poacher seized after forest chase

According to Paphos police, game wardens patrolling in the Panayia area before dawn yesterday heard shots being fired within the Paphos forest game reserve. The wardens rushed to investigate and soon spotted a vehicle moving suspiciously within the reserve, police said.

The driver of the vehicle refused to stop when asked to by the wardens and a car chase ensued. The wardens finally caught their quarry near Anadiou village at 5 am, after a long chase along the rutted forest tracks.

A 30-year-old suspect was apprehended, while a younger man managed to run off, carrying a hunting rifle. Illegal game was found in the back of the 30- year-old's vehicle and he was taken to Paphos police station, police reported.

At the station, the suspect tried to attack television cameramen who appeared on the scene to film the moufflon-poaching story. The suspect had to be restrained by police.

He is expected to appear in court today, while police were yesterday searching for his suspected accomplice.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[03] Bahrain wants second businessman to stay under house arrest

However, Bahraini police now want Polemidiotis to remain under house arrest in the Gulf state for a further seven days so the businessman can help them with their inquiries into the swindle, Clerides said. The lawyer said the Bahraini Appeals Court was expected to rule on the extension of detention by Sunday, and the lawyer said he was hopeful his client would be allowed to go home.

Papayiannis has been released and is expected to fly back to Cyprus on Saturday.

The two men were placed under house arrest on July 25, while on a business trip to the Gulf state.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[04] EAC technician electrocuted

The accident happened around 11am yesterday as Georgiades was trying to connect the supply from the top of an electricity pole.

An announcement from the EAC said it was so far unknown what had caused the accident. The EAC expressed its sorrow for the technician's death, which it said stunned the Authority's employees.

EAC spokesman Tassos Roussos said Georgiades was an authorised person for connection operations. He said such jobs were carried out on a daily basis.

State pathologist Eleni Antoniou said Georgiades death had probably been instantaneous.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[05] Man critical after crashing while fleeing for police

Neophytou, a lorry driver from Tremithousa outside Paphos, was in a serious condition in Paphos hospital yesterday, having suffered multiple fractures after being thrown from his bike.

According to a police announcement, a police patrol spotted a helmet-less Neophytou riding along Neophytos Nicolaides Avenue at around 11pm on Wednesday. The patrol chased the youth after he failed to stop when officers signalled for him to do so.

The chase lasted till Georgios Aktouri Street, where Neophytou lost control of his bike, which overturned on an unsurfaced section of road.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[06] Moody's downgrades BoC and Laiki

Moody's said that in the case of BoC and Laiki, rapid loan growth and a deteriorating operating environment had compounded already weak asset quality within the banks.

It noted that positive benefits from overseas diversification were not sufficient to offset concerns stemming from their local operations. In addition, Moody's cited enhanced market risks from local equity asset volatility as a factor that had diminished both banks' intrinsic financial strength.

On Hellenic Bank, Moody's said that although the bank had recently experienced rapid loan growth. Hellenic also significantly strengthened capital resources during the same period. Moody's cited considerably less aggressive growth plans in Greece relative to the other Cypriot banks combined with the capital increase as reasons for maintaining the current FSR.

Moody's currently rates the banks on long/short-term deposit rating and financial strength ratings. Bank of Cyprus and Laiki are both ranked A2 negative outlook /Prime-2, C-, while Hellenic is ranked A2 negative outlook/Prime-2, D+.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[07] Axon Olympic bid 'in trouble'

THE GREEK government's negotiations with Axon Airlines, frontrunner in the bid for ailing national carrier Olympic Airways (OA), have run into trouble, newspapers in Greece reported yesterday.

Cyprus Airways (CY), which is second in line for talks if the Axon bid collapses, was initially told that they would hear from the Greek government around August 20.

However, reports earlier this week said the date for the completion of talks with Axon had been extended into the autumn because the two sides had not yet reached the substance of the negotiations.

Now, according to Greek newspaper Ta Nea, the talks with Axon have run into stumbling blocks relating to the size of the OA fleet, the restructuring of flight schedules, labour contracts, landing fees and other charges at the new international airport at Spata, as well as the ability of Axon to fund the cost of the acquisition.

In another twist, Ta Nea said that Integrated Airline Solutions (IAS), the third short-listed bidder, had asked the EU to intervene in its bid for OA.

IAS is reportedly alleging that the Greek government's advisers for the deal, Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), failed to take into account 22 significant elements in its bid, resulting in the joint venture being marked lower than Axon and CY.

CSFB placed Axon first with 17 points and CY second with 14 points, based on bid offer, business plan and other criteria. The third of the four bidders, Australian venture capital firm Integrated Airline Solutions had received nine points. CY scored lower on the financial offer but higher than the other bidders for its business plan.

If the talks with Axon fail, CSFB will open negotiations with the Cyprus Airways consortium, which includes such heavyweights as Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, Italy's Alitalia and Greek American tycoon John Catsimatidis, chairman of the New York-based Red Apple Group.

CY wants 51 per cent of Olympic for 50-70 million euros (£30-£40 million) and plans to keep 5,500 staff. Axon also wants to buy 51 per cent, picking up most of its assets for 90-110 million euros. In addition, its proposal includes paying an extra 130 million euros to the state for the transfer of assets to New Olympic. It plans to keep more than 4,000 staff.

Both airlines want the Greek government to put up its share of funding for the remaining 49 per cent of Olympic. Banned by European Union law from pouring more cash into the debt-ridden airline, the Greek government is selling 51 to 65 per cent of the airline to ensure its survival.

The committee carrying out the negotiations includes CSFB officials, the general managers of the Greek Ministries of Transport and National Economy and a representative of the state's Legal Advisers.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[08] Shock resignations throw civil service union into turmoil

CIVIL servant's union PASYDY was thrown into turmoil yesterday, with over half of the general council taking the holiday absence of their chairman as an opportunity to resign en masse.

The reasons for the shock resignations at the powerful union - which will force a fresh electoral conference within 30 days - were unclear yesterday, but the PASYDY leader, General Secretary Glafcos Hadjipetrou, spoke of a 'desire for renewal'.

The 54 resignations seemed to uncover a rift between Hadjipetrou and the chairman of the union's general council, Antonis Antoniou.

Antoniou, speaking from Greece where he was holidaying yesterday, said he believed Hadjipetrou supported the 54 resigning council members and spoke of a "war" against the chairman within the union.

Hadjipetrou did not align himself for or against the quitting councillors yesterday, but he was certainly not disparaging of their action in his comments.

Antoniou and the rest of the general council were elected less than four months ago.

The PASYDY General Secretary said the 54 general council members had signed a joint statement resigning from the union body. He said no reason had been given for the sudden departures.

"There is a provision in our constitution which stipulates that when over half of the members resign simultaneously and in writing, this leads to the general council resigning and no reason has to be given," Hadjipetrou said. "Following this, according to the constitution, the executive council remains while a new general council is elected at an emergency electoral council called within 30 days."

Hadjipetrou suggested the 54 wanted to usher in a change. "They just considered that at this stage it is necessary to have new elections to sort out the serious problems public sector workers face, this is clear," he said.

"There are many problems being left hanging, and perhaps colleagues considered it necessary to resort to an electoral council to renew the mandate with new faces," he added, casting aspersions at the leadership of the current council.

Chairman Antoniou said he had not been informed of the intentions of his councillors. Antoniou did not hide his disappointment at the course of action chosen by the 54, and pointed the finger at Hadjipetrou: "My information is that Glafcos is in the group too, though I cannot confirm this because his signature is not on the document," he told CyBC radio.

The chairman said he had been "under attack" from within the union from the moment he was elected. But he vowed to seek re-election at the new union electoral conference: "I do not give up, I will fight again."

Antoniou said the resignations were a "disruptive" move at a time when the union was dealing with many important civil service issues, such as wage demands currently being reviewed by a ministerial committee.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[09] Talks expected to resume in early September

The UN-led proximity talks came to a halt last November when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash declared them a waste of time. Denktash has been demanding that his breakaway state in the north be recognised before any talks could continue.

The Turkish Cypriot leader will meet UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan in Salzburg in Austria on August 28. Annan's special representative for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto is slated to visit the island on August 29 for at least three days of contacts.

Reports have been rife that Denktash will seek a new basis for the resumption of the talks, but the Greek Cypriot side is insisting they pick up where they left off last November.

"Mr Denktash should give answers to the previous non-papers, according to the procedure agreed," a government source told CNA. "The Greek Cypriot side has given answers and it expects that the new process will start from the point Rauf Denktash withdrew."

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

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