Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-02-08

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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-02-08

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Saturday, February 8, 2003

[01] Trade-offs in talks on Monday?
[02] Terror warning for US nationals
[03] Markides pledges public sector overhaul
[04] Tassos is 'running scared'
[05] Nightclubs call for extra hour's opening
[06] Doctors aim to track rise of diabetes in Cyprus
[07] Greens warn: we'll sue if you damage rocks
[08] Trio of polls show Papadopoulos well ahead
[09] Pregnant woman saved from deportation
[10] Call for school surveillance with vandalism on the rise

[01] Trade-offs in talks on Monday?

By Alex Mita

THE Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides are expected to attempt some kind of trade-off at their next meeting on Monday over issues in the UN Secretary- general's plan for a settlement that each side wants to amend, sources close to the talks said yesterday.

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash met for one hour yesterday in the presence of UN Special Envoy Alvaro de Soto. According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Denktash did not present any new documents.

But reliable sources were quoted by CNA as saying the two leaders left yesterday's meeting with the intention of trying to engage in trade-offs on Monday over points they wished to amend in the UN plan.

The UN has urged the two sides to try and reach an agreement on a comprehensive settlement by the end of February.

Speaking after the meeting, President Clerides said he had information for a solution to the Cyprus problem in 2003 that did not involve the face-to- face talks, but refused to reveal what it was.

"If this information is revealed or leaked, it would help Turkey," he said.

Clerides said the importance of the information had led to the decision not to summon the National Council for fear that it would be leaked to the media.

"There has not been a National Council meeting so far from which information has not been leaked to the media," he said.

Meanwhile reports yesterday suggested the UN might submit a third revised plan to the two leaders on February 25, leaving both sides with just 72 hours to reach a settlement.

But independent candidate Alecos Markides, who is a member of Clerides' talks team, said a third plan would be worse than the previous one as it would contain concessions to Denktash, adding it would not be presented for negotiations but that both sides would be told "take it or leave it".

"This is why President Clerides and the Greek government did not encourage the UN to follow that path," Markides said.

Earlier this week, Denktash claimed Clerides had mentioned that the aim of the Greek Cypriot side was the termination of the effectiveness of Turkey's guarantee on Cyprus and the expulsion of all Turkish settlers.

Denktash added that if no solution was reached by February 28, then the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' would go its own way.

Ankara, however, has shown a positive stance towards an invitation by the UN to Greece and Turkey to meet in New York to discuss security and military issues concerning Cyprus ahead of the deadline to reach a settlement. According to the Anatolia News Agency, Turkey is expected to give a positive response to the UN shortly. Greece has already accepted the invitation.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said a positive response from Turkey on an agreement on security matters would send the appropriate signals to the Turkish Cypriot leader regarding a settlement.

"The call by the Secretary-general to Greece and Turkey to discuss security matters in the context of a settlement is a serious development," Cassoulides said.

"It would signal Turkey's readiness to deal with the Cyprus problem and the UN plan, and this would send the appropriate messages to Denktash that it was his turn to face up to his responsibilities.

[02] Terror warning for US nationals

By Tania Khadder

AMERICAN citizens in Cyprus should be on alert for terrorist attacks, the American Embassy in Nicosia warned yesterday. The warning is part of a worldwide notice by the US State Department that cautions its citizens about an ongoing threat of terrorism at home and abroad.

The report reminds Americans that their interests are at heightened risk of terrorist attacks, including by groups with links to al Qaeda, and may include suicide operations, assassinations or kidnappings. In addition to conventional weapons, chemical and biological agents must be considered a growing threat, the warning says.

With increased security within the United States, American interests abroad may be at risk. Also, because official US facilities have tightened security, 'softer' targets may be more vulnerable to terrorists and their sympathisers, the report said.

Americans are warned to take particular caution in places where Americans or other foreigners are known to congregate or visit, such as clubs, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events. If possible, they are warned to avoid such places, or switch to other locations where Americans in large numbers do not generally congregate.

The report strongly cautions Americans against attending any type of political demonstrations.

For more information about emergency preparedness, including advice on important documentation, visit the State Department web site at: http://travel.state.gov

[03] Markides pledges public sector overhaul

By George Psyllides

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Alecos Markides has pledged to overhaul the public sector in an effort to transform it into an efficient and reliable service focusing on public interest and the citizens.

Markides' spokesman for public sector issues yesterday briefed reporters on his programme for the civil service.

Iosif Iosif said Markides has decided to hold a series of news briefings on his programme because the political dialogue during the election campaign was "poor and absent".

Iosif said they had chosen to start with the civil service because relations between state and citizens were a big issue and there was a clear need for an overhaul of the public sector.

The numerous problems not only cause hardship to people visiting government departments, but also prevent public officials from doing their jobs properly, Iosif said.

He said Markides was pledging to promote on-line administration, enabling faster processing of applications, tax forms and the like.

Iosif said he recognised that not all citizens had access or were able to use computers, but if the system was used by those who did, then government departments would be decongested, allowing a prompt response to all those without on-line access.

Government forms should become simple and easy to understand, departments must introduce hotlines and feedback must be sought from citizens about their satisfaction with services, Iosif said.

Markides has therefore pledged to increase public sector efficiency and raise the authority and reliability of its officials.

One of the main problems with the civil service is its size, this year costing the state around �859 million a year - 33.6 per cent of the state budget.

Iosif said Markides would promote measures to cut spending for the operation and maintenance of the civil service and try and stem new appointments.

Iosif said all those currently on temporary contracts should be made permanent and from then on the practice of hiring temps should stop and the matter be settled once and for all.

The spokesman said there should be drastic cuts in the number of departments and services so that only the necessary ones would remain, as well as scrapping overlapping authorities to achieve a more efficient and faster operation.

Markides promised to secure meritocracy in appointments and advance objectivity across the sector so only the most suitable would be promoted.

Iosif said the Public Administration Academy should be upgraded to assure the continuous development of human resources through compulsory retraining, and education.

[04] Tassos is 'running scared'

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Alecos Markides yesterday accused DIKO chief Tassos Papadopoulos of running scared after he cancelled a scheduled radio duel between the two candidates.

In a written statement yesterday, Markides accused Papadopoulos of hiding after he "once again" cancelled a scheduled radio discussion.

"Once more, Mr Papadopoulos chose the safety of monologues.

"Once more, he chose the dialogue of the deaf; once more, he deprived the citizens of Cyprus the opportunity to follow a dialogue between candidates, " the statement said.

"What is Mr Papadopoulos afraid of?"

Markides urged Papadopoulos to stop hiding and take part in a debate in respect of the citizens' need for proper information.

Earlier on, Markides invited Papadopoulos to a debate concerning what each of them did about the stock market (CSE).

"In how many companies was he a legal adviser? In which company, which was involved in a very serious criminal investigation, was he a member of the board and resigned (after I appointed a criminal investigator)," Markides said.

The independent candidate also took a shot at Green party deputy George Perdikis, whose party backs Papadopoulos in the elections.

Concerning the two surveys that found him trailing Papadopoulos and President Glafcos Clerides by a substantial percentage, Markides said the polls would be proven false as the 1993, 1998, and 2001 polls had.

"All this is a joke in Cyprus," he said.

Markides said he was saddened by the fact that polls, which are an instrument of objective behaviour, were being used as election ploys by some candidates.

[05] Nightclubs call for extra hour's opening

By Alexia Saoulli

NIGHTCLUB owners yesterday called for closing hours to be extended by a further hour, despite protests by angry parents, who have long been trying to reduce them.

The Federation of Owners of Recreation Centres (OSIKA) - which represents pub, restaurant and nightclub owners - called for clubs to be allowed to stay open till 4am during the winter months (October-February) and 4.30am in the summer (March-September).

Two weeks ago, Interior Minister Andreas Panayiotou extended nightclubs' closing hours by half and hour to 2.30am on weekdays and 3.30am at weekends. He said this was only a transition phase until the end of March, by when a special committee would investigate amending the current law. Nightclubs currently do not have uniform closing times, because district officers are allowed to grant them extensions. This is particularly true in tourist hotspots like Ayia Napa and Limassol and cause for unrest and rivalry between city and coastal clubs.

Neophytos Thrasivoulou, the chairman of OSIKA - which operates under the umbrella the Employers and Industrialists union (OEV) - said recreational establishments were the backbone of the island's economy and responsible for a huge portion of national income. "These businesses need to be protected and secured."

The issue was particularly important since an attack on Iraq seemed imminent and would send the local tourism industry nose-diving, he added. Instead of implementing stricter controls on nightlife, we should be promoting its marketability, he said.

It was not only tourists who contributed to the nightlife industry, it was locals as well, said Thrasivoulou.

"We are a culture that is used to having a good time and going out late at night. It's not so easy to just change the way things have always been. There was a time it was suggested we should open clubs earlier, at around 10pm, so that they could close earlier. But this would never work since people go out to eat at around that time. They then want to go for a drink after that, followed by a club later on," he said.

Culture or not, the Parents' Association said it was completely opposed to any such extension and went so far as to suggest closing all pubs and clubs at 1.30am - at the moment pubs close at 2am during the week and at 3am at the weekend, times OSIKA are satisfied with.

"Parents blame nightclubs for leading their children astray and I tell you this is not the case," said one OSIKA member.

"In fact, youngsters are probably safer inside a club at that time in the morning than they are wandering around in the streets or going to shady apartments where illegal goings-on are taking place. Our members are licensed businesses and not cabarets or clubs that allow drug use," he said.

OSIKA is made up of 1,500 legitimate members from all over Cyprus, Thrasivoulou added.

If clubbing ended at 2am or 3am, it encouraged something of a "mass exodus" at closing time, which studies had proved were dangerous, as well as forcing increased alcohol consumption into a shorter time, he said.

"When clubs close at 4am, a lot of people have already gone home because they're tired. If they shut much earlier, however, everyone stays until the end and then large crowds often get into drunken fights. Early closing times will encourage binge drinking in the last hour, which will lead to a lot of drunks on the streets when they leave the establishment," Thrasivoulou pointed out.

Nonetheless, OSIKA supported and encouraged the closure of clubs that violated the law and allowed minors into their establishments.

"Any nightclub found to allow children under 17 should be closed down by police and we will strike them off our member-list," another OSIKA member told the Cyprus Mail. "But youngsters never seem to be caught at nightclubs. Instead of police waiting till 3.35am to check up on a nightclub when it's after closing time, why don't they enter an establishment and ask for everyone's ID at 12.20am? Are they more interested in collecting the �300 fine or in the welfare of today's youth?"

In the past, the parents' association has threatened to take to the streets if nightclubs closing hours were extended. "If they take to the streets, wait till you see what we do," said OSIKA.

[06] Doctors aim to track rise of diabetes in Cyprus

By Sofia Kannas

THE FIRST epidemiological study to ascertain the incidence of diabetes in Cyprus is under way, aiming to test over a thousand people in the next two years.

The study, which is to be funded by the Research Promotion Foundation, is led by Dr. Doros Loizou, a specialist in internal medicine and diabetes.

"The study will cover the whole of Cyprus and will involve 1,200 people between the ages of 20 and 80, who will be tested over two years," Loizou said.

"The participants will be chosen at random from electoral registers and we will ensure we have people from both town and countryside.

"We will ask people to participate and if they agree we will arrange an appointment at a clinic, doctor's surgery or at their local municipality.

"We will take a blood sample and the take another one after they are given glucose to stimulate the pancreas and look at the differences."

Participants in the study will be questioned about their diet, lifestyle and medical history.

"We are looking out for high blood pressure, obesity and the effects of smoking. For every diabetic in the world we know of there is one we don't know of. On average, one twelfth of people over the age of 40 have high blood pressure and don't know it, while 15 per cent of those with high cholesterol don't know they do. In effect, participants will receive a thorough medical examination free of charge.

"We will reveal the findings of our study at various intervals and do a thorough statistical analysis at the end of the two years," he added.

Asked about the importance of the study, Loizou said it was crucial to enhance knowledge of diabetes because it was an illnesses on the increase, and one of the most expensive to treat.

"In the United States, five per cent of people suffer from diabetes, and 50 per cent of the annual health budget is spent on treating it.

"Because it's so expensive to treat it's important to know about it and try and prevent it.

"Diabetes is becoming increasingly common. In 1985 there were 60-70 million sufferers worldwide; in 2001 there were 130 million, and it is estimated that by 2025 there will be more than 300 million sufferers."

"Our findings will be compared with those from other countries. We are co- operating with diabetologists in Greece, for example."

The study is also important for Cyprus.

"We have no accurate study of diabetes here to date. A study was made by the Health Ministry in 1991, but it was incomplete as it only centered on Nicosia and didn't follow the WHO guidelines. So a more comprehensive study is needed.

"The Health Ministry is also very interested in using the findings, especially with the proposed introduction of the National Health Service."

Loizou said he expected the findings to show an increase in the incidence of diabetes in Cyprus.

"I suspect the number of cases is on the up, due to our increasingly 'western' lifestyle. We are abandoning the traditional Mediterranean diet and also engaging in less exercise."

The study is expected to cost between �70,000 and 75,000.

[07] Greens warn: we'll sue if you damage rocks

By Alex Mita

GREEN Party Deputy George Perdikis yesterday warned his party would sue the government if the Ministry of Works carried out any works harming the Hassanpoulia rocks in Paphos.

The Greens staged a demonstration at the rocks on Wednesday claiming works to improve the Paphos-Platres road would destroy the rocks as well as flora and fauna that depend on them for survival.

At a news conference yesterday, Perdikis said the rocks were a protected area according to the Town Planning Authority, adding new archaeological evidence had surfaced stressing the need to preserve the site.

"The evidence we have collected for the protection of the rocks will enable us to convince officials at the Ministry of Works to stop the works in that area," Perdikis said.

Perdikis said Minister Averoff Neophytou had apologised for his remarks in a television interview in which he said that since the Greens supported presidential candidate Tassos Papadopoulos, they should wait until he was elected to save the rocks.

"Mr Neophytou resorted to verbal abuse and unfounded accusations for which he later apologised to me in person," Perdikis said.

"We feel we were vindicated not only because of the support we had from local residents but from the fact that public opinion made the minister realise his error and call us for negotiations."

[08] Trio of polls show Papadopoulos well ahead

By George Psyllides

DIKO chief and opposition presidential candidate Tassos Papadopoulos last night led President Glafcos Clerides by 12 points, according to an opinion poll released by Mega television.

It was the latest of three polls released in the past two days giving Papadopoulos a clear lead over all his opponents.

The two other polls were released on Wednesday night by CyBC and Sigma television channels.

According to Mega's survey, carried out by RAI Consultants between January 30 and February 5, in the first round of voting, Papadopoulos would come on top with 45.9 per cent compared to Clerides' 33.9 per cent.

Independent candidate Alecos Markides manages to chalk up 8.2 per cent of the vote and New Horizons leader Nicos Koutsou 1.8 per cent.

Around 10 per cent were either undecided or would not vote for any of the candidates, Mega said.

In the second round, the difference between the two main candidates was smaller but Papadopoulos still enjoyed a comfortable lead over Clerides - 48.6 per cent to 40.3 per cent.

The survey, however, recorded a slightly higher percentage of undecided voters - 5.2 per cent compared to the first round's 3.5 per cent.

The poll used a sample of 800 people who were asked to vote using a ballot box, Mega said.

A second poll, aired by CyBC on Wednesday, showed similar results.

Papadopoulos secured 43.9 per cent of the vote in the first round, 31.5 per cent went to Clerides, 9.2 per cent for Markides, and 2.9 per cent for Koutsou.

Around 10 per cent were either undecided or refused to reply.

The poll was carried out by CYMAR Market Reasearch between January 23-30 involving a sample of 1,200 people.

Papadopoulos gained an extra 2.4 per cent support, while Clerides clinched a further 1.1 per cent compared to an earlier poll between January 14-19.

Markides dropped 4.8 per cent and Koutsou moved up one per cent.

For the second round of the elections, 40 per cent of voters opted for Papadopoulos, 39 per cent for Clerides and 13 per cent were undecided.

In a head-to-head second round battle with Markides, Papadopoulos received 48 per cent of the vote with Markides trailing with 36 per cent.

Sixteen per cent were undecided or refused to answer.

Asked to predict who would win the elections, 51 per cent went for Papadopoulos, 25 per cent said Clerides, four per cent Markides, and 20 per cent did not know or would not answer.

In the second poll released on Wednesday, by Sigma television, Papadopoulos received 43.8 per cent in the first round, Clerides 33.6 per cent, Markides 12.2 per cent, and Koutsou three per cent.

Undecided voters accounted for 6.4 per cent while 1.1 per cent did not vote for any of the candidates, Sigma said.

The scene was repeated for the second round, with Papadopoulos emerging ahead of Clerides, with 45.4 per cent compared to 42.5 per cent. A projection based on the percentage of undecided found Papadopoulos victorious with 51.7 per cent to Clerides' 48.7 per cent.

Voting is compulsory in Cyprus.

With Papadopolos facing off against Markides, the opposition alliance candidate again prevails, though with just 3.5 per cent - 44.7 per cent to Markides' 41.2 per cent.

The survey was carried out by the Cyprus College research team between January 29 and February 3, involving 1,206 people who cast their votes in a ballot.

[09] Pregnant woman saved from deportation

By Tania Khadder

A PREGNANT woman from the Philippines was rescued from deportation just minutes before the plane she had boarded was due to take off yesterday afternoon.

The woman, who is eight months pregnant by a Cypriot man, was already aboard the plane to leave Cyprus from Larnaca Airport when the Immigrant Support Group managed to convince the Immigration Department to allow her to stay until the birth of her baby, provided she renew her visa on Monday.

"They insisted on sending her back to her country," Josie Christodoulou, an advisor from the Immigrant Support Group, told the Cyprus Mail disapprovingly. "I mean, this is a pregnant woman of eight months."

According to Christodoulou, the woman had already faced possible deportation in November, making this the second time the support group had fought for her cause and won.

In addition to being pregnant, the woman has suffered ongoing health complications throughout her struggle with Immigration. "The thing is that in November, she was bleeding, she had problems with her pregnancy, and last night she was bleeding again and she was vomiting," Christodoulou said.

The woman's family in the Philippines are not willing have her home, the Immigrant Support Group said.

The woman came to the island to work as a house worker; in 2001, she had a problem with her employer and she was left unemployed.

"She says the employer abused her physically, which happens often with immigrant workers," Christodoulou said. "They come to us and we tell them the legal procedure, but they are afraid to complain."

In this particular case, however, the woman was willing to pursue the case and arranged to meet her employer at the labour office. She showed up for the meeting, but her employer did not, Christodoulou said.

"But from that day in 2001, the authorities believed the appointment had actually taken place and that they were both there," Christodoulou said. "The decision was for the employee to leave the country; from that day on, she was illegal but she didn't know anything about the decision."

By last November, the woman was four months pregnant but no longer involved with the baby's father. Around that time, an anonymous source tipped off immigration that the woman was illegal, and she was arrested pending deportation.

Christodoulou said their intervention had prevented the deportation at the time, but she was arrested again, because she failed to renew her visa after the first reprieve.

"She didn't, but the thing is, we had written so many letters asking the government what she was supposed to do next and we didn't get any answer, and then just yesterday they explained to us that she didn't renew her visa.

"It is common for immigration to send people home without saying anything to anyone," Christodoulou said.

"People in Cyprus need to be more sensitive to people from other countries, not be so narrow-minded," she added, minutes before leaving to pick the woman up from the airport.

The Immigration Department was not available for comment yesterday.

[10] Call for school surveillance with vandalism on the rise

THE EDUCATION Ministry yesterday called for the installation of surveillance systems to crack down on the rising number of cases of school vandalism.

On Wednesday, strangers broke into a Nicosia primary school and set fire to a children's book display. great number of books were destroyed in the blaze and police had to be called in to investigate, the Ministry said.

The particular school, Engomi 'A' primary school, has frequently been vandalised in the past, and the Ministry has suggested surveillance cameras in the school's inner courtyard.

The Education Ministry also suggested the Cabinet appoint a special committee responsible for examining vandal prevention measures in schools, in light of the recent increase in delinquency.

Extensive damage was also caused to the Lanitio Lyceum 'A' in Limassol, after arsonists set fire to a school storage room yesterday, police said.

Because the storage room was closed off, the fire caused an explosion. Police said the culprits were most likely students, who might have been injured by shards of broken glass from the blast.

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-02-08

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Saturday, February 8, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] Trade-offs in talks on Monday?

[02] Terror warning for US nationals

[03] Markides pledges public sector overhaul

[04] Tassos is 'running scared'

[05] Nightclubs call for extra hour's opening

[06] Doctors aim to track rise of diabetes in Cyprus

[07] Greens warn: we'll sue if you damage rocks

[08] Trio of polls show Papadopoulos well ahead

[09] Pregnant woman saved from deportation

[10] Call for school surveillance with vandalism on the rise

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article