Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-12-09

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

Sunday, December 9, 2001

CONTENTS

[01] 'The whole bastion could collapse'

[02] Zampelas' model for Nicosia 'out of touch'

[03] EU learning aid given to schools

[04] Lord Hannay on two-day visit

[05] Drugs suspect remanded

[01] 'The whole bastion could collapse'

THE ROCCAS Bastion opposite the Paphos Gate in Nicosia might collapse if a section of it which came down on Friday is not repaired soon, Sophocles Hadjisavvas of the Antiquities Department warned yesterday.

Part of the Venetian Wall at the bastion collapsed on Friday because of heavy rain but no one was hurt.

The damaged section cannot currently be repaired as it is on the boundary between the UN Buffer Zone and occupied Nicosia. The Turkish Cypriot regime will not allow Greek Cypriots to cross to the other side to repair it.Hadjisavvas told the Sunday Mailthat UNFICYP was responsible for repairing the damage, and said it could take up to a month to restore the section.

Restoration work on the Wall began in 1996 with the participation of the United Nations Office for Public Services."This is a serious case and has to be dealt with soon somehow before the whole bastion collapses. With the current bad weather the chances of that happening are increased," Hadjisavvas said.

He said people could get hurt if that happened: "The area beneath the bastion is not accessible, but there is a nearby road which is quite busy."

Hadjisavvas said UNFICYP would be responsible if the whole bastion came down.

He said the Force had already been contacted by the Antiquities Department.

"We told them they have to do something about it, maybe use the general Wall maintenance process to fix the damage."

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[02] Zampelas' model for Nicosia 'out of touch'

A WEEK ahead of the local municipal elections the two Nicosia candidates, Michalakis Zampelas and Kypros Chrysostomides, are squaring up for what is expected to be a real neck and neck battle.

Zampelas pledged yesterday that if elected as the capital's Mayor next Sunday he would reorganise the Municipality's operation by applying modern management techniques. Chrysostomides immediately responded by claiming that his rival was "completely cut off from society".

Zampelas, former managing partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, called a news conference yesterday to present his idea of a "modern model of municipality management".

Two months ago he announced his independent candidature to contest the local elections and later on secured the support of the ruling DISY party.

An apolitical entrepreneur, Zampelas insists that his campaign proposal, based on his experience as a manager and businessman, is much better than that of Chrysostomides who is backed by AKEL, DIKO and KISOS. Zampelas describes the local authorities as "an organisation offering services".

He said yesterday he knew how to run the Nicosia Municipality in a way that would ensure effectiveness, flexibility and the best possible use of human resources. To increase the Municipality's productivity and improve its effectiveness Zampelas said he would apply 'project management techniques' if elected to the post.

"One thing to do is to establish quality control mechanisms which will identify any weaknesses that need to be dealt with," he said.

"To increase productivity you need to make use of employees' ideas, acknowledge their contribution, and maintain a pleasant working environment."

Zampelas also said that the Nicosia Municipality should organise an open discussion every three months to give residents the chance to air their views to their local authorities' representatives.

"A local services bureau, a special telephone line and a Website should also be set up to enable residents to convey their messages and complaints to the Municipality," he added.

But talking to the Sunday Mailyesterday, Chrysostomides charged that his opponent was completely "out of touch with political realities" -- and that, he said, would prevent him from fulfilling his duties as a Mayor.

"Zampelas is completely cut off from society and fails to understand today's realities. He is living in the Middle Ages," Chrysostomides claimed.

"A Mayor needs to co-operate with Municipal Councillors who represent different political parties. The way he slams parties Zampelas will never get along with the Councillors and will never manage to realise a single project."

Chrysostomides noted that he was an independent candidate himself, but also " one very much involved in politics". He used to be a DIKO politician before founding the centrist Epalxi movement.

Chrysostomides dismissed the argument that local authorities could be run as a business.

"The Municipality needs the people's contribution to make Nicosia a better place," he countered.

"At the start of the 21 stcentury and at the doorstep of Europe Nicosia needs a substantial facelift to face the challenges ahead of it," Chrysostomides said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[03] EU learning aid given to schools

The CD-Rom was presented to teachers at a ceremony, also attended by EU commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, at the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia.

The CD is designed to give students facts and information on existing member states and candidate countries, data on the European Union's policies, information on learning a foreign language, and details on studying or working abroad.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[04] Lord Hannay on two-day visit

During his stay, Lord Hannay will hold talks with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who have agreed to face- to-face talks starting in mid January.

Clerides and Denktash had their first meeting in five years last Tuesday in Nicosia, after which the UN Secretary-general's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, announced direct talks for mid-January in Cyprus with no preconditions and all issues on the table. The agreement to resume direct talks also provides for negotiations until a comprehensive settlement is achieved.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[05] Drugs suspect remanded

He was arrested at Larnaca Airport on Friday night when police became suspicious and took him to Larnaca Hospital where ten packages, believed to contain narcotic substances, were discovered when he was x-rayed.

He appeared in Larnaca District Court yesterday and was remanded to prevent him from fleeing the country until the packages have been recovered.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

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