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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 02-10-06Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cyprus-mail.com/>Sunday, October 6, 2002CONTENTS
[01] Papadopoulos 'no longer on US blacklist'THE UNITED STATES State Department Spokesman has confirmed that DIKO Chairman Tassos Papadopoulos was on the Treasury Department black list in the 1990s because of his financial transactions with Yugoslavia, but added that he did not think he was still on the list today.“Mr Papadopoulos, as you know, was on the Treasury Department's list, I think in connection with trading and financial transactions with Yugoslavia, ” Richard Boucher - a former US ambassador in Nicosia -- said in Washington. “I am not sure, but I do not think he is on that list any more,” Boucher added. Papadopoulos said he has known for some time that his name had been removed from the blacklist. “It's is not anything new. We are talking years, and it was not me who exaggerated the matter,” Papadopoulos said. He said others had turned the issue into a political matter and that he did not care to comment further. “Let them explain,” he said. Asked whether he has been invited to a reception at the US embassy next week, Papadopoulos declined to comment. The presidential candidate had not been invited to functions at the US embassy in the past, despite being the leader of a party and chairman of the House of Representatives European Affairs Committee. Papadopoulos is reported to have been invited to next week's reception. “Would I become a good person if the embassy invites me and we have good relations? Would I be the chosen one for those who say that because I don't have good relations with the American embassy I have to be a patriot and withdraw my candidacy?” Papadopoulos asked. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 [02] Bases fire-fighters sent home as UK strike loomsBy Alex MitaCYPRIOT firemen on the British bases will have to work longer hours following the departure of 13 RAF fire-fighters for the UK ahead of possible industrial action by civilian firemen over a pay dispute. Another 27 RAF personnel are expected to join them later in the month. Twenty thousand services fire-fighters will be on stand-by to take over if the UK strike goes ahead. A Sovereign Base Area spokesman told the Sunday Mail that 24 firemen had been sent to the island to make up for those sent home, which means that the nearly 100 Cypriot firemen employed by the SBA will have to work longer hours since there are no immediate plans to hire more staff. “Out of the 43 RAF firemen spread among five stations in Cyprus, 13 have gone back to the UK and 27 more are expected to leave around October 16,” he said. “To replace them, we have received 24 Defence Fire Service (civil servants) fire-fighters from the UK, and they are currently being trained for local conditions. “There is no plan to draft in additional locally employed civilians to cover this situation,” the spokesman said. He gave the assurance that the remaining firemen on the bases will still be able to assist the Cyprus Fire Department in the event of a major blaze. More than 55,000 fire-fighters in the UK will vote over the next few weeks on whether to stage their first national walkout in 25 years. The Fire Brigades Union in the UK is demanding a pay rise of almost 40 per cent, which would take annual pay for fully qualified fire-fighters to £30, 000. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 [03] Paraplegics blast lack of proper medical careTHE CYPRUS Paraplegics Organisation has expressed its frustration saying its members are not receiving proper medical care from the government.In a letter to Health Minister Frixos Savvides, the Association complained that the Paraplegic Ward at the Nicosia hospital has lacked a permanent medical rehabilitation team since it was first built in 1983. The organisation was also highly critical of the fact that an entire specialist medical team had been assigned to look after Archbishop Chrysostomos while paraplegics were forced to remain at home without proper medical care. “With all due respect to the Archbishop, we feel we are being unjustly treated,” the statement said. “If the government manages to override the usual bureaucratic excuses over financial and union issues in order to mobilise a whole medical team to look after one man, we wonder what kind of team are we are entitled to have.” The organisation stressed that its comments were not aimed at the Archbishop but at the whole system that doesn't treat its citizens equally. A spokesman for the organisation said yesterday they sent the letter on Friday and are hoping for an answer from Savvides this week. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 [04] SBA police probe shooting near Turkish postTHE British bases in Larnaca were yesterday investigating two separate incidents of shots being fired in the area of a guard post in a Turkish- controlled part of the buffer zone adjacent to the Dhekelia-Famagusta road.Larnaca Press news agency reported that a woman called the SBA police at around 9.55pm on Friday claiming she had heard a single shot being fired from a Turkish guard post. When the police arrived they reported hearing three more shots from the guard post. A second incident occurred at 11.20pm when British bases soldiers heard another shot from the Turkish-controlled area. A bases statement said the police had been able to confirm that shots were fired, but they were not prepared to comment further while the incident is being investigated. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 [05] 59 motorbikes seized in two weeksA POLICE campaign in September to reduce the number of fatal motorcycle accidents involving teenagers saw the seizure of 59 motorcycles and more than 600 offences reported in just two weeks.Among the offenders, 90 were driving without a licence and 166 were not wearing a helmet. Two offenders had modified their engines' capacities, while 87 motorcycles did not even have number plates. The recent spate of fatal accidents involving teenagers has prompted the government to table legislation that would allow police to confiscate motorcycles driven by unlicensed underage riders. The new bill is expected to go before before the plenum in the House soon. Last week traffic police chief Andreas Papas said action must be taken now to stop further lives from being lost. He said police wanted to confiscate any motorcycle over 100cc driven by a teenager and then auction it off."This would make parents think twice about giving the money to their children to buy another motorcycle," he said. According to Papas, many parents give in to their children's demands to buy them a motorcycle because all their friends have one, regardless of the fact that it is illegal and they do not have a licence.Police statistics show 33 people died in motorcycle accidents in 1999, 27 in 2000, 24 in 2001, and 16 so far this year. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 [06] Grenade attack on policeman's houseA GRENADE was thrown early yesterday morning at the house of a Rapid Response Unit (MMAD) officer in Nicosia, causing some damage to the main door and his two cars.Police said the 1.55 am attack also caused minor damage to a car belonging to one of his neighbours. Explosives experts said the attackers had used a fragmentation grenade. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 [07] Athens mayor to unveil statue of goddessATHENS Mayor Demitris Avraamopoulos will arrive in Cyprus today to attend the unveiling of statue of ancient Greek goddess Athena, donated to the Nicosia by the Athens municipality.During his two-day visit Avraamopoulos will also meet President Glafcos Clerides, House President Demetris Christofias and Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002 Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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