Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 02-06-14

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

Friday, June 14, 2002

CONTENTS

[01] Bases deny terrorism threat claims

[02] Greens slam Antenna plans

[03] Government pleased with Annan slant on recognition

[04] Shock results a mixed blessing for the bookies

[05] The one they left behind

[06] Doctors say drug suspect in no danger

[07] Two hurt in nightclub shooting

[08] UN extends UNFICYP mandate

[01] Bases deny terrorism threat claims

In a written statement in response to an article in yesterdays Times, which said the bases were considered a likely target, the SBA said the story had been produced without reference to the bases press office or the British Ministry of Defence.

According to the Times, the intelligence services were trying to discover whether a recent al Qaeda plot against British and American navy vessels passing through the Straits of Gibraltar had wider implications. "One source said it appeared at present to have been focused solely on British and American warships in the Strait of Gibraltar, but intelligence services were checking for potential attacks of a similar nature elsewhere. Cyprus is considered a likely target," the Times said.

"Muslim terrorists from Lebanon and the Middle East can enter the island with ease, and this possibility was being carefully monitored," sources told the newspaper.

The bases said that although they did not discuss intelligence issues as a matter of policy, they is "no reason to believe that the bases are any more at risk than they were post September 11 when all the British Military bases worldwide were ordered to review their security and a number of additional measures were implemented".

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[02] Greens slam Antenna plans

THE GREEN Party yesterday accused the British bases of resuming works on the installation of the Pluto antenna at Akrotiri without carrying out vital measures to ensure the wellbeing of local residents.

In a news conference yesterday, Green Party deputy George Perdikis said the latest British move was no surprise, and stressed reliable sources kept his party was well aware of the bases' every move.

Perdikis said the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) were resuming works without carrying out a medical and epidemiological study on the health effects of the antenna on Akrotiri residents.

The deputy also accused SBA authorities of not waiting until the Akrotiri Salt Lake came under the Ramsar Convention for the preservation of wetlands of national importance before beginning work.

The Green Party added the SBA had not completed a management plan that would ensure the protection of the ecosystem, or a study to establish the impact of the antenna on the ecosystem in accordance with UK and European Union legislation.

Perdikis slammed the government for agreeing to a study carried out by five independent experts from Malta, Canada, Portugal, Norway and South Africa and working for the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA).

The greens said the report was inconclusive because it did not consist of a complete study on the antenna's impact on the environment.

Perdikis said the IEMA report suggested that a further study be carried out to determine environmental effects.

George Perdikis also accused the SBA authorities of attempting to alter recommendations of the report.

"The so-called mitigation measures for the preservation of the environment that have been made public by the SBA - those of transferring flora and fauna, as well as improved lighting conditions for migrating birds - are not part of the suggestions made by the experts," Perdikis said.

"The report states that the suggestions made do not give the go-ahead for the installation of Pluto because the matter was not included in the terms given by the experts," he said.

Perdikis said the Green Party would fight with all its powers to overturn the decision to erect the antenna and called for the support of every social and political group on the island.

"We hope that parties and citizens do not copy the apathy of the Cyprus Government which has through its stance made British plans easier to be implemented," he added.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[03] Government pleased with Annan slant on recognition

THE GOVERNMENT said yesterday it was pleased with comments by UN Secretary- general Kofi Annan that the issue of recognition of the breakaway regime in the north was the main stumbling block to progress on the Cyprus problem.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told his daily press briefing that, as far as the Greek Cypriot side was concerned, recognition was out of the question.

He said the status of the Turkish Cypriots would be determined through the ongoing direct negotiations, which meant that the Turkish Cypriots would participate on an equal footing in the creation of a composite state, a federal state of Cyprus.

Papapetrou was commenting on a remark made by Annan in New York on Wednesday that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash wanted the recognition status clarified "as soon as possible".

Asked what he considered the biggest stumbling block to progress on the Cyprus issue, Annan said: "I think one of the main issues has been the question of recognition - recognition for the Turkish Cypriot state, which we believe is part of the discussions, and one would only know the outcome at the end of the discussion."

Annan said the UN had given the leaders some suggestion as to how to proceed and make progress without letting the issue be a stumbling block.

Papapetrou said the Secretary-general had taken a "correct" stand on the recognition issue. "I believe for the international community, this issue is out of the question," he said.

Asked to comment on Annan's statement that the question of recognition of the Turkish Cypriot 'state' was part of the discussions, Papapetrou said he believed the Secretary-general was referring to Denktash's complaints that the Turkish Cypriots had no status and no recognition from the world community.

"The essence of Annan's remarks is that the Turkish Cypriots can gain a status only through a solution and this solution and the outcome of the talks will determine this status," the spokesman added. "This status will be the status of a community which will participate equally in the creation of a composite state, a federal state."

Direct talks between the two leaders began on January 16. Annan said that during the past few weeks, following his visit to the island to boost the ailing process, the two leaders had made good progress on one of the core issues. "And I hope they will move ahead and make similar progress on the other core issues," he said.

Clerides and Denktash have been discussing the question of security. The other three core issues are governance, territory and property.

The UN had hoped an agreement could be reached by the end of June. Annan said he still believed it was possible. He said Clerides thought it was possible but that Denktash "felt he needed a little bit more time".

US Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus at the State Department Thomas Weston was on the island yesterday for a meeting with Clerides in Nicosia.

Papapetrou said that Weston, who has already visited Ankara and Athens, appeared optimistic that the current process could lead to a negotiated settlement.

"The President and Weston reviewed developments in the peace effort and exchanged views on how the process could move forward and become more productive," Papapetrou said after the meeting.

"The President reiterated his wish and determination to work for an agreement on Cyprus and said he was not at the negotiation table for tactical reasons with a view to serving other political objectives, but to settle the problem," Papapetrou said.

Weston appeared to be generally optimistic that there was a chance to see this process lead to a settlement, he added. "However, this assessment is based more on an evaluation of the situation rather than concrete moves. We have no specific facts, decisions or moves to justify this view."

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[04] Shock results a mixed blessing for the bookies

CYPRIOT gamblers who rejoiced after World Cup co-favourites France were dumped out of the World Cup by Denmark have been left reeling by the equally shocking departure of Argentina who failed to beat Sweden.

Argentina were heavily back by Cypriots betting on the World Cup before the competition began, but the unexpectedly early elimination of both teams have brought the biggest cheers from bookmakers on the island, who have described the event as "the most open World Cup in years."

However, bookmakers were still complaining that the early kick-off times for matches and the string of unusual results had lead to a drop in the amount of money they had expected to take by this stage of the tournament.

Most bookmakers were reluctant to be specific on the amounts that Cypriots had been betting on the World Cup, but most admitted that interest was subdued. "Since Argentina were knocked out, the most popular bet is no longer for the outright winner," said Philip Tsiouritis from the Glory chain of betting shops. "People are favouring spread betting where it doesn't matter who wins, for instance number of goals or red and yellow cards," he added.

He also said there has been interest in bets for the fastest red card and choosing the continent from which the eventual winner would come as a result of the unusual results involving the normally dominant teams.

Yesterday morning, bookmakers had installed Brazil as the new favourites for the tournament offering odds of 7-2 followed by Italy, Spain and England with odds of between 5-1 and 13-2.

However, the list of high profile casualties has lead to a slow down. "We are expecting more bets on the outright winner after the last 16 are known, " said Tsiouritis. Bets on who would emerge as top scorer have seen Germany's Miroslav Klose top the table of favourites at 7-2 followed by Italy's Christian Vieri and Brazil's Ronaldo. Tsiouritis confirmed that the little known German was being offered at odds of over 50-1 before the start of the tournament.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[05] The one they left behind

NEARLY a month after 12 of the 13 Palestinians left Cyprus for European destinations following the 39-day siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, there is still no sign that Abdullah Daoud - the man who was left behind - is anywhere nearer knowing where his future lies.

At the time Foreign Minister, Yiannakis Cassoulides, suggested his stay in Cyprus would be for just a few weeks and that one of the countries that had already received exiles or an anther EU state would step forward and take him in. Until now there is no news about a volunteer.

Daoud was chief of Palestinian security in Bethlehem. Israel describes him as a terrorist, wanted for allegedly helping to organise attacks, for alleged involvement in arms and explosives production and provision of shelter to members. This led to speculation that he was considered the most dangerous member of the group, the man no European country wanted on its soil and therefore the one they left behind. However, the decision as to who remained was made within the group, a Palestinian source said yesterday, and Daoud volunteered to stay.

Initially accommodated with the rest of the group at the Flamingo Hotel in Larnaca, Daoud is believed to be staying in a house in the Nicosia area although his exact location is being kept secret. Asked what was happening to Daoud, the Palestinian Embassy said yesterday: "Due to forces beyond our control we are not at liberty to give information about the whereabouts or well being of the remaining Palestinian. Nor are we allowed to facilitate giving an interview."

Initially welcomed by the Cypriot government as "guests and free citizens", the shroud of silence that surrounds Daoud serves to highlight the level of security risk surrounding him. According to the Palestinian source, it reflects the desire of the international community for the media coverage surrounding the 13 to subside before a more permanent agreement can be reached regarding their future.

"Daoud's decision to stay behind, alone, was made because a number of the group were young and it was felt that they were better kept together, and that an older group member, with experience of being in exile should remain, " the source said.

Daoud has been in exile once before, between 1992 and 1995 in Tunis.

The source said that exile had come when Daoud had been a student at the an- Najah university in Nablus and was expelled, along with another five students, following protests against the Israeli closure of universities in Palestine.

"As a solution to the problem and to save the university and the hundreds of students who were besieged by the Israeli army, university officials agreed to expel some of students and send them into exile. Just as they have done now with the Bethlehem 13," said the source.

Daoud denies being a terrorist. "I am just a normal person performing my duties as a man belonging to the Palestinian security department," Daoud said in an interview with Reuters last month.

He received US training in intelligence work in 1996: "My main duty is to protect the peace process and protect and defend our Palestinian people from Israeli attacks. If the demand for freedom and independence is considered a dangerous thing, that means all our Palestinian people are dangerous," he said.

Daoud left behind a wife and two children, a boy and a girl, in the West bank. He is understood to be in daily contact with his family, but no information was given on whether they had been permitted to visit him in Cyprus.

"We love life. We will carry the Palestinian dream with us. I hope we will be ambassadors to project the correct image of the Palestinian people, wherever we go," said Daoud. It appears his ambassadorial dreams may have to wait until the shroud of silence is removed, or at least until he is located in another country.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[06] Doctors say drug suspect in no danger

DOCTORS at Larnaca General Hospital said yesterday that Lebanese national Yiousef Siqaf, 45, detained by Larnaca police on suspicion of trafficking drugs was in "good condition and in no immediate danger," denying reports that one of the suspected cocaine packages in his stomach had burst and that he was fighting for his life.

On Wednesday, the Cyprus News Agency reported that Yiousef was fighting for his life after a container allegedly containing 10 grams of cocaine opened in his stomach. An intravenous dose of 1.2 grams is considered lethal. However, a doctor at the hospital said yesterday that tests had been carried out and there was no evidence Siqaf was in any danger.

Antonakis confirmed that standard practice was to wait for patients to excrete ingested containers and that there were no plans to operate to remove them. However, he added, "should he be in any danger we would considering operating to remove the containers."

Police at Larnaca airport arrested Siqaf on June 10 on suspicion of carrying drugs. He was on his way to Beirut from Curacao in the Dutch Antilles via Amsterdam and Larnaca allegedly carrying 60 pellets in his stomach containing a total of 600 grams of cocaine. He initially secreted 12 pellets and later on another six.

On Tuesday, Judge Nicos Yiapannas agreed to the suspect being remanded in custody for eight days while police completed their investigations. The judge heard the suspect claim he was carrying the containers for people from Latin America and that he was to have been paid $5,000 on arrival in Beirut.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[07] Two hurt in nightclub shooting

Ioannis Kouyialis, 43, and Andreas Polycarpou, 34, were coming out of the Elysée cabaret on Evagorou Street at 3am yesterday, when an unknown assailant fired six to seven shots using a pistol.

One bullet hit each man in the pelvis, police said. They were rushed to the General Hospital and kept in for observation.

Polycarpou, an Akaki village resident, is a special policeman and works at Zygi's weighing station. He also works as a taxi driver. Kouyialis is co- owner of the Elysée.

Police said the attempted murder was most likely directed at Kouyialis, since the assailant was waiting outside the cabaret entrance and fired the shots as soon as he saw Kouyialis, and even chased him down the street before fleeing.

The attacker has been described as slender and was not wearing a mask. Police had yesterday still not made any arrests and were still investigating.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[08] UN extends UNFICYP mandate

The vote came as a June 30 deadline loomed for substantial progress in slow- moving UN-sponsored talks on a settlement between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The Security Council resolution authorising the UNFICYP extension made no reference to the talks. UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan visited Cyprus last month to press both parties to try harder to resolve their differences. He said after the visit that he was convinced the leaders could resolve the decades-old dispute by the end of June if they tried.

But Denktash said the deadline might have to be moved to December, and Cyprus this week accused Turkey of building up troops on the Turkish part of the island, although a Turkish military source denied the allegation.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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