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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-02-25
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
CONTENTS
[01] Britain offers bases land in case of peaceBy a Staff ReporterBRITAIN
has offered to cede almost half of the territory from its sovereign bases
on the island in a bid to facilitate a peace settlement, it was confirmed
yesterday.The bombshell news, which even took diplomats by surprise, was
confirmed by Britain's special envoy Lord David Hannay.According to the
proposal, Britain would give up 45 square miles, almost half of the SBA
territory, in the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem.Ninety per cent
of this territory would come under Greek Cypriot control, the rest would go
to the Turkish Cypriot community.British High Commission spokesman Stuart
Summers clarified to the Cyprus Mail that the offer was valid, provided the
agreement reached was approved by both sides in referenda. If either
community rejected the peace settlement, then the British offer was
void.Both Lord Hannay and the British Foreign Office said the offer was
incorporated into the new UN plan, expected to be submitted sometime in the
next few days.The two previous UN peace plans contained no reference to the
size of the SBA.Noting that this was a “very momentous week for Cyprus,”
Hannay avoided going into details of the British proposal.For his part,
Summers explained that the areas offered were mostly farm land and
residential, and would be ceded from both the Dhekelia and Akrotiri bases.
British sovereignty over the rest of the areas would not be affected.He
added that the offer would be implemented “simultaneously” with the rest of
the deal, if accepted by both sides.The areas offered would entail
considerable economic advantages for Greek Cypriots, said Summers.A British
Foreign Office spokesman said that “the reason for this offer is that it
became clear that territorial adjustments are an important issue. Britain
gave urgent consideration to what it could do to help in bridging the
remaining gap, to maximise the chance of a settlement.”President elect
Tassos Papadopoulos welcomed the idea as a contribution, but not a factor
that would seal a settlement."It's more than welcome. We've always said
that bases were a part of the price," he told reporters in Athens.The news
came as intense deliberations are under way in Athens, Ankara and Cyprus,
with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan set to visit the island
tomorrow.Britain currently retains 98 square miles, or three per cent, of
Cypriot territory. Approximately 3,500 British forces are stationed at
Dhekelia and Akrotiri, which is the largest RAF facility outside Britain
and served as a key supply post during the 1991 Gulf War.The status of the
British bases has been controversial ever since 1960, when Cyprus acquired
its independence from Britain. In recent years, several demos have been
held in protest at military exercises close to residential areas, with
environmentalists claiming pollution.Britain is one the island's three
guarantor powers with Greece and Turkey.
[02] Man held after Palestinian stabbed in Limassol brawlBy a Staff
ReporterA 24-YEAR-old Limassol man was yesterday remanded in custody for
eights days in connection with the attempted murder of a Palestinian man
outside a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday.Mohamed Soto, 21, was
yesterday in critical condition after he was stabbed in the throat during a
fray outside a Yermasoyia nightclub.Police told the court that the suspect,
along with three accomplices, assaulted three Palestinians with knives and
broken bottles.The three Palestinians had just come out of a club and were
walking to their car when they met the suspects who were also in a
car.Police said the Palestinians waved at the suspects whom they reportedly
knew, but, instead of waving back, got out of the car and attacked them.All
three Palestinians were wounded, with Soto sustaining the most serious
injury.He was rushed to a private clinic and his condition was still
critical yesterday.His two friends were treated and subsequently
discharged.The suspect said he did not know the Palestinians, who claim
they knew their attackers and blamed the incident on a misunderstanding.Nicolaides
was remanded in custody for eight days. His three suspected accomplices are
sought by police.
[03] Annan III: the key pointsBy a Staff ReporterREPORTS emerged yesterday
on the details of UN Plan 3, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan expected on
the island tomorrow for one last push for a settlement.Although the amended
plan has not been officially submitted, the reports were based on an
informal document presented by UN special envoy Alvaro de Soto.Overall, the
latest arrangements reduce the territory to come under Greek Cypriot
administration, although this is partly compensated by the cession of a
substantial part of the British bases, and by the return of villages around
Morphou and Famagusta, allowing the return of more refugees under Greek
Cypriot administration.According to the reports, the Karpas peninsula in
the north will remain under Turkish Cypriot administration; the area will
retain its status as agreed in Vienna III, and will therefore not be
subject to the UN' plan's arrangements regarding the return of refugees.
Under Plan 2, the Karpas would have come under Greek Cypriot
administration.The loss of Karpas is compensated by additional areas west
of Famagusta and around the Gulf of Morphou; in total, this will allow for
the return of 2,700 more refugees, while an additional 15 villages come
under Greek Cypriot administration.Close to 50 percent of the British Bases
will be ceded if the comprehensive settlement is approved by both sides in
separate referenda. Ninety per cent of this territory will come under Greek
Cypriot control, the rest under Turkish Cypriot administration.Twenty-one
per cent of refugees will have the right to return to homes remaining under
Turkish Cypriot administration; this figure is a significant drop from the
previous quota, which was 28 per cent. Moreover, a moratorium of six years
will apply for the return of refugees, up from four years in Plan 2.
Exceptions to this apply only to persons aged over 65, who may return to
their homes after a period of two years.The return of refugees will be
effected over a 21-year period from the moment of signing. This is broken
down into three sub-periods. In the first period (years 7-10), seven per
cent of refugees return; in years 10-14, 14 per cent; and in years 14-21,
21 per cent (the ceiling). Moreover, in any one village or community under
Turkish Cypriot administration, 20 per cent of returning Greek Cypriots
will be able to build a house, an improvement on the previous quota of 14
per cent. But in the entire territory controlled by the Turkish Cypriots,
10 per cent of returning Greek Cypriots will be able to build a house.All
these quotas, which are exemptions to the European acquis communautaire,
will, however, be abolished once Turkey becomes a full member of the
European Union.The number of settlers from mainland Turkey remaining will
range from 45,000 to 60,000, pending finalised arrangements.One of the most
controversial points in the negotiations has been the strength of military
contingents from Greece and Turkey; the average figure quoted now is 6,000
for each contingent. Army strength is to be reassessed in the year 2010,
while all troops will be removed from the island once Turkey accedes to the
EU.In the future, immigrants from Greece and Turkey cannot exceed five per
cent of the population in each constituent state.The new state will be
called “United Cyprus Republic,” based on a federal government. It will
comprise two “constituent states” (as opposed to “component states”). The
island's airspace, territorial waters and economic zone will belong to the
Republic.The new UN plan affirms that Cyprus will join EMU (Economic and
Monetary Union) and become part of the Schengen Treaty.Moving onto
government, the major change to the previous plan is that the Minister for
European Affairs will serve a full five-year term, meaning he will hold a
pivotal position in the Presidential Council.The three foreign judges
appointed to the Constitutional Court - seen as a dispute-resolving
apparatus - will cast a single vote each.The two ethnic communities will
conduct separate elections for the lower house of parliament and the
Senate. However, both may participate in municipal elections.Another
important point is that the referendum for a settlement will not include
the question of whether Cyprus should join the EU.
[04] Hooligans strike again, as weekend fixtures degenerate into violenceBy
George PsyllidesPOLICE yesterday launched an investigation into fresh
violence following two weekend football matches in Limassol and
Nicosia.Football violence has become a fixture of weekend games, with
growing fears of serious injury.Police on Saturday arrested three fans,
aged between 15 and 22, following street fights between supporters of
Apollon of Limassol and APOEL Nicosia.The three were charged and released
on Sunday.In one case, it was reported that an Apollon fan had been doused
with petrol by a group of APOEL supporters who tried to set him on
fire.Trouble had been brewing throughout the fixture with the usual verbal
exchanges between fans.Police said Apollon fans threw stones and pieces of
sinks from stadium lavatories, damaging four police vehicles. In the east
stand, APOEL supporters, waving a swastika banner, torched several plastic
seats.But the real trouble came after the end of the game, when APOEL
supporters, travelling on five buses, spilled onto the streets and started
pelting shops and cars with stones.Police intervened to stop the fights,
with an officer sustaining light injuries.Several people were also beaten
up by hooligans, reports said.The stones damaged at least four cars, while
a shop window was shattered.On Sunday, supporters of Nicosia's other team,
Omonia, sought to emulate their APOEL counterparts, with around 200
attacking one man who dared to wave an APOEL flag.Omonia were hosting
Famagusta team Ethnikos, in what police felt was a low-risk fixture, with a
parse presence at the GSP stadium.Everything was going well security-wise,
except that Omonia only drew the game, allowing archrivals APOEL to close
the gap between them to one point.Just a few moments before the final
whistle, an APOEL fan, sitting on the stand occupied by the few Ethnikos
faithful, decided to show his true colours, by waving a blue and yellow
flag APOEL flag.This did not go down well with the furious Omonia fans, who
in a blink crossed over and brutally assaulted the fan.A handful of police
officers and two or three Omonia fans tried to protect the APOEL
fan.Television cameras recorded the incident in which some 200 hooligans
took turns to punch and kick the trapped man.One was caught on camera
hitting him on the head with his umbrella, which smashed into pieces from
the force of the blows.Luckily, the man was rescued muffled the assault and
prevented the yobs from inflicting serious injuries.The chief of police
yesterday ordered an immediate investigation into the trouble and appointed
deputy chief Andreas Stephanou to head two groups of investigators tasked
with examining both cases.Hooliganism has become a frequent phenomenon,
with observers calling for stiffer measures to stem the trend.Last month, a
court sentenced a 28-year-old man to eight weeks in jail for common assault
during a Limassol basketball match.
[05] Injured Briton back in Manchester after Health Minster's
interventionBy Tania KhadderA BRITISH man who suffered severe brain
injuries after a moped accident in Cyprus was back home in Manchester
yesterday, continuing treatment at a local hospital after his repatriation
on Saturday.With no private insurance cover, Stefan Schelze had been stuck
in limbo on the island until outgoing Health Minister Frixos Savvides
intervened to cover the costs of his repatriation last weekend. Schelze's
niece, Helen McCarthy, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday he was doing well and
receiving the appropriate medical treatment. “When he got to the hospital,
a crew of nurses were ready for him, and they really took care of him,”
McCarthy said. “They cut his nails, washed him and even gave him a special
mattress that moves him around.” McCarthy said he was in a room on his own
where the television was always on, and where he received hospital radio
for noise stimulation. She added that Schelze was a celebrity at the
hospital because she had pinned up Cyprus Mail articles about him on his
walls.Schelze, who turns 43 next month, was in a moped accident in Paphos
on December 9, in which he suffered severe head injuries. He had been
working as a DJ at the Nature Café bar at the time of the accident. In the
coming weeks, he has a number of appointments ranging from one with a
physical therapist to one with a hairdresser. While doctors do not yet know
his long-term prognosis, McCarthy says he has brain damage that can never
be completely reversed. He is not, however, in a coma and is increasingly
responding to outside stimuli. “Yesterday he yawned and coughed for the
first time,” she said.
[06] Homeless dogs face ultimatum to find new shelterBy Stefanos EvripidouA
SMALL dog shelter built to house 10 animals in Limassol's Polemidhia suburb
has been swamped by 45 dogs needing care and shelter, with the municipality,
backed by residents, warning that if the dogs are not relocated within a
month, they will be forced to put them down.Polemidhia mayor Georgios
Georgiou said the municipality had set up the dog shelter to deal with its
needs, but now dogs were coming from all over Limassol, cramping living
quarters in the makeshift shelter and causing local residents to complain
about the smell and disturbance. The shelter started with eight to 10
homeless dogs but now looks after 45. Extensions were made to house the
dogs, while voluntary organisations are helping to feed and care for them.
“We showed good will and willingness to co-operate with voluntary
organisations but now the shelter has got out of hand. The dogs will have
to leave by the end of March or face lethal injection,” said Georgiou.“You
can imagine what an orchestra 45 dogs make for the neighbours, and the
smell they create. Not to mention the huge expenses they demand from the
municipality,” he added.The mayor suggested that a new, permanent shelter
be built to cater for stray dogs from all Limassol municipalities. “It is
our legal right to put the dogs down after a period of time. They will have
to leave soon,” warned Georgiou.One volunteer from the Society for the
Protection of Animals in the Limassol district said the municipality was
neglecting its responsibilities at the dog home. “Nobody comes to the
shelter to clean or give the dogs food and water, we do all that. We feed
them, clean them and take them to the vet when they need it. But municipal
employees still bring stray dogs here,” said Andri Demetriadou.“We have to
cause a ruckus just for them to bring a sack of food here once a week,” she
said, adding “The shelter smells because the waste bags don't get collected
on time.” Regarding complaints about the noise, Demetriadou said, “They
only bark when we go to see them because they are happy. Once they've eaten
and we leave, they quieten down.”The deadline for the unwanted dogs runs
out at the end of March. The Society refuses to pass the dogs on to other
shelters because those shelters use lethal injection if the dogs don't find
a home after a while. “Our Society is against euthanasia. We won't kill our
dogs. We work with our hearts,” said Demetriadou. She highlighted recent
legislation which stipulates that dogs must be held in care for 15 days
before lethal injection may be administered. “The new dog shelter that
opened last week in the Limassol municipality is operating on a seven-day
euthanasia policy which is illegal.”However, the future is not all grim for
the copious pack of canines. The volunteers will be meeting with the
District Officer on March 5 to discuss acquiring a plot of land next to the
Polemidhia dam for a new shelter. “We already have volunteers who will help
us fence the land. In fact, we have a lot of help on hand to set up the new
shelter, we just need the green light to go ahead,” said Demetriadou.
[07] Please keep us out of the danger zoneBy Jean ChristouCYPRUS is engaged
in talks with Lloyds of London in an attempt to persuade the prestigious
insurance company not to place the island in a 'danger zone' if the US-led
war on Iraq goes ahead.Outgoing Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis told the
Cyprus Mail that Lloyds had not yet reached a decision, which if negative
would have a disastrous effect on all flights in and out of the island.UK-
based charter firms are already cutting back on capacity to Cyprus, and a
negative report by Lloyds would deal a fatal blow to air transport in and
out of the island.During the Gulf War in 1991, when Cyprus was placed in
the danger zone, it cost each aircraft an additional $80,000 in insurance
costs to land at Larnaca and Paphos airports, wiping out all but a few
scheduled services.Rolandis held talks with Lloyds in London earlier this
month and was told that everything would depend on developments.Although
there was no danger to tourists during the 1991 conflict and the British
bases had minimal involvement, this time the British government has already
dragged the island into its war rhetoric, stating specifically that Iraq is
in possession of missiles capable of striking the bases.“It's impossible
for Lloyds to make a final decision because it depends on developments,”
Rolandis said, adding however that his visit had opened the channels of
communication with the company so that developments could be
analysed.Rolandis said there was still a possibility that Cyprus could be
categorised as a danger zone. “There is no doubt about it,” he said, adding
that he wanted to make sure Lloyds didn't act “superficially”, like it did
last time.He said Lloyds would act if certain countries issued travel
advisories naming Cyprus as being in danger. “If there are none, normally
Lloyds will not act, but if there is travel advice to avoid Cyprus, then
this will ring a bell at Lloyds and it will move further on and put Cyprus
in the war zone,” he said.Rolandis said Lloyds had been a “bit rash” last
time, but added that the government was dealing with different people this
time so he didn't press the issue.“We mentioned it and they took note of
that,” he said. “What they promised is that they would be very cautious
before they took any steps.”UK-based Greek Cypriot tour operator Noel
Josephides said his Sunvil offices were currently “like a morgue”.“It's
just getting worse by the day,” he said. “We've begun to get one or two
cancellations. We're telling them there is no risk but they are saying 'Why
should I got to a place where at the last minute I might have to change my
plans?'”Josephides said the UK market was currently down for Cyprus between
30 and 50 per cent, after being up 45 per cent in December.“It's the
indecision that's the problem and the timing. Last time, they were fighting
now. They are unlikely to start before the middle of March and God knows
what problems will be created,” he said.He said Cyprus was badly affected
because every time British people turned on the news, the island seems to
be mentioned or the British fleet was shown anchored off the
island.Josephides predicted Lloyds could well put Cyprus in the danger zone
again. “At the moment, people (tour operators) here are in a state of
panic. We are not selling and a lot of capacity is gong to be cut. If
Lloyds come and officially put Cyprus on the high risk zone then that's it,
” he said.
[08] Peace activists to welcome AnnanBy a Staff ReporterMORE than 100 peace
activists are to greet Kofi Annan tomorrow afternoon in front of the Hilton
Hotel where he will be staying on his arrival in Cyprus.Members of the pro-
solution group 'Platform for Solution -- Reunification Now' are aiming to
urge Cypriot leaders to accept the UN peace plan by Friday's UN deadline.
“They must accept the UN plan before EU accession; we have prepared a
resolution which we will submit to Kofi Annan,” Stelios Georgiou, a member
of the group, told the Cyprus Mail. The group hopes to draw local and
international media attention by gathering outside the hotel.'Solution -
Reunification- is a group of Greek Cypriots working to encourage a solution
to the Cyprus problem. They are appealing to the leaderships of both sides,
and see recent efforts to reunite the island as an important opportunity
not to be missed. “This is a very good chance unlike the last, and it may
be decades before another chance comes along,” Georgiou added. The group is,
however, concerned at the lack of enthusiasm for a solution on the part of
the Greek Cypriot community. “One of the reasons why our platform was
created was that we didn't want it to appear that only Turkish Cypriots
support a solution. “If Greek Cypriots believe the time for a solution has
come, then it's time for them to get up from their couches and say so,”
Georgiou said. Members of the group say efforts for a solution were
sidetracked during the recent election campaign. The demonstration will
come one day before Turkish Cypriots are scheduled to rally for a solution
in occupied Nicosia. 'Solution - Reunification' has been in contact with
the Turkish Cypriot movement, and is planning is planning a series of
events in co-operation with Greek and Turkish Cypriot groups. Annan will be
in Cyprus this week in a last-ditch effort order to seal a deal by the
February 28 deadline.
[09] Snow blankets CyprusBy Stefanos EvripidouSNOW, snow and more snow
covered the mountains, layered the hills and sprayed the plains all over
Cyprus yesterday. Rain, heavy snowfall and wave after wave of snowflakes
fell on the island throughout the day, from the highest peak to the lower
regions, reaching the heart of the capital to the joy of children
everywhere.Many schools in the higher regions and middle grounds were
closed for the day while roads throughout the country were closed to cars
without four-wheel drive or snow chains. The Pedoulas-Prodromos and
Kakopetria roads were closed to all traffic as was the Skarinou-Lefkara
road, which was covered with up to 10 centimetres of snow.Snowfall painted
a white sheet across villages and mountains, allowing 60 centimetres of
snow to build up on Mount Olympus and 50 centimetres on Troodos Square. The
freak weather caused no major damage.According to Water Department
officials, the dams have had the biggest inflow of water for February in
the last decade, with some of the smaller dams even overflowing. To date,
the 17 dams have enjoyed an input of 36 million cubic metres in the last
month, compared to 19 million last February. The storage capacity of the
dams is at 57 per cent compared to last year's 49.6 per cent, reaching a
total of 156 million cubic metres.However, February's heavy rainfall is
only making up for a poor start to the rainy season, where dams experienced
a poor showing in January with 10 million cubic metres inflow compared to
last year's 56 million. Rainfall for February has reached 162 per cent of
average rainfall for that month, with 132 millimetres of rain just
yesterday. Rainfall for the winter season, October to February has already
reached 103 per cent of average rainfall for that period.Yesterday's lowest
temperatures were minus four degrees in the mountains, while the
temperature dropped to two degrees inland and five on the coast.Clouds,
rain, scattered snowfalls and frost will continue in the mountainous
regions, middle regions and lower plains today. Meteorological Services
director Kyriacos Theophilou said regions over 250 metres above sea level
were likely to see more snow. An improvement in the weather is expected
around evening, with lowest temperatures reaching minus one in the
mountains, seven degrees inland and nine on the coast. Theophilou predicted
the weather would get gradually better until Friday, when he expects mainly
fine weather and an increase in temperatures.
[10] Cabinet holds farewell meetingBy a Staff ReporterTHE outgoing cabinet
yesterday held its last meeting under the presidency of Glafcos Clerides,
who wrapped up the session with a farewell lunch to his ministers.Before
the meeting, ministers expressed their gratitude to Clerides for the esteem
and trust he showed them during their term.Health Minister Frixos Savvides
said he had mixed feelings, adding everything had a beginning and an
end.“The people will evaluate each member of the Council of Ministers in
the area they worked,” Savvides said.He thanked the media for their co-
operation, noting that he was now returning to his job as an accountant,
and his family.Communications Minister Averoff Neophytou suggested more
could have been done concerning traffic and public transport.He said he
felt good because he had done did his best, though the people had decided
they wanted change.The longest serving minister, Andreas Moushiouttas, said
he felt the cabinet was a family that was going to be scattered.Moushiouttas,
who served as Labour Minister for 10 years - across both of Clerides' terms
- said his conscience was clear because he had done his duty to the full.He
thanked Clerides for entrusting him the ministry for 10 years, adding that
the outgoing President was a man who fully understood his associates'
views. Clerides' term ends on February 28, the day the new president,
Tassos Papadopoulos is inaugurated.Papadopoulos is expected to announce his
new cabinet on March 1.
[01] Britain offers bases land in case of peaceBy a Staff ReporterBRITAIN
has offered to cede almost half of the territory from its sovereign bases
on the island in a bid to facilitate a peace settlement, it was confirmed
yesterday.The bombshell news, which even took diplomats by surprise, was
confirmed by Britain's special envoy Lord David Hannay.According to the
proposal, Britain would give up 45 square miles, almost half of the SBA
territory, in the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem.Ninety per cent
of this territory would come under Greek Cypriot control, the rest would go
to the Turkish Cypriot community.British High Commission spokesman Stuart
Summers clarified to the Cyprus Mail that the offer was valid, provided
the agreement reached was approved by both sides in referenda. If either
community rejected the peace settlement, then the British offer was
void.Both Lord Hannay and the British Foreign Office said the offer was
incorporated into the new UN plan, expected to be submitted sometime in the
next few days.The two previous UN peace plans contained no reference to the
size of the SBA.Noting that this was a “very momentous week for Cyprus,”
Hannay avoided going into details of the British proposal.For his part,
Summers explained that the areas offered were mostly farm land and
residential, and would be ceded from both the Dhekelia and Akrotiri bases.
British sovereignty over the rest of the areas would not be affected.He
added that the offer would be implemented “simultaneously” with the rest of
the deal, if accepted by both sides.The areas offered would entail
considerable economic advantages for Greek Cypriots, said Summers.A British
Foreign Office spokesman said that “the reason for this offer is that it
became clear that territorial adjustments are an important issue. Britain
gave urgent consideration to what it could do to help in bridging the
remaining gap, to maximise the chance of a settlement.”President elect
Tassos Papadopoulos welcomed the idea as a contribution, but not a factor
that would seal a settlement."It's more than welcome. We've always said
that bases were a part of the price," he told reporters in Athens.The news
came as intense deliberations are under way in Athens, Ankara and Cyprus,
with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan set to visit the island
tomorrow.Britain currently retains 98 square miles, or three per cent, of
Cypriot territory. Approximately 3,500 British forces are stationed at
Dhekelia and Akrotiri, which is the largest RAF facility outside Britain
and served as a key supply post during the 1991 Gulf War.The status of the
British bases has been controversial ever since 1960, when Cyprus acquired
its independence from Britain. In recent years, several demos have been
held in protest at military exercises close to residential areas, with
environmentalists claiming pollution.Britain is one the island's three
guarantor powers with Greece and Turkey.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[02] Man held after Palestinian stabbed in Limassol brawlBy a Staff
ReporterA 24-YEAR-old Limassol man was yesterday remanded in custody for
eights days in connection with the attempted murder of a Palestinian man
outside a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday.Mohamed Soto, 21, was
yesterday in critical condition after he was stabbed in the throat during a
fray outside a Yermasoyia nightclub.Police told the court that the suspect,
along with three accomplices, assaulted three Palestinians with knives and
broken bottles.The three Palestinians had just come out of a club and were
walking to their car when they met the suspects who were also in a
car.Police said the Palestinians waved at the suspects whom they reportedly
knew, but, instead of waving back, got out of the car and attacked them.All
three Palestinians were wounded, with Soto sustaining the most serious
injury.He was rushed to a private clinic and his condition was still
critical yesterday.His two friends were treated and subsequently
discharged.The suspect said he did not know the Palestinians, who claim
they knew their attackers and blamed the incident on a misunderstanding.Nicolaides
was remanded in custody for eight days. His three suspected accomplices are
sought by police.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[03] Annan III: the key pointsBy a Staff ReporterREPORTS emerged yesterday
on the details of UN Plan 3, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan expected on
the island tomorrow for one last push for a settlement.Although the amended
plan has not been officially submitted, the reports were based on an
informal document presented by UN special envoy Alvaro de Soto.Overall, the
latest arrangements reduce the territory to come under Greek Cypriot
administration, although this is partly compensated by the cession of a
substantial part of the British bases, and by the return of villages around
Morphou and Famagusta, allowing the return of more refugees under Greek
Cypriot administration.According to the reports, the Karpas peninsula in
the north will remain under Turkish Cypriot administration; the area will
retain its status as agreed in Vienna III, and will therefore not be
subject to the UN' plan's arrangements regarding the return of refugees.
Under Plan 2, the Karpas would have come under Greek Cypriot
administration.The loss of Karpas is compensated by additional areas west
of Famagusta and around the Gulf of Morphou; in total, this will allow for
the return of 2,700 more refugees, while an additional 15 villages come
under Greek Cypriot administration.Close to 50 percent of the British Bases
will be ceded if the comprehensive settlement is approved by both sides in
separate referenda. Ninety per cent of this territory will come under Greek
Cypriot control, the rest under Turkish Cypriot administration.Twenty-one
per cent of refugees will have the right to return to homes remaining under
Turkish Cypriot administration; this figure is a significant drop from the
previous quota, which was 28 per cent. Moreover, a moratorium of six years
will apply for the return of refugees, up from four years in Plan 2.
Exceptions to this apply only to persons aged over 65, who may return to
their homes after a period of two years.The return of refugees will be
effected over a 21-year period from the moment of signing. This is broken
down into three sub-periods. In the first period (years 7-10), seven per
cent of refugees return; in years 10-14, 14 per cent; and in years 14-21,
21 per cent (the ceiling). Moreover, in any one village or community under
Turkish Cypriot administration, 20 per cent of returning Greek Cypriots
will be able to build a house, an improvement on the previous quota of 14
per cent. But in the entire territory controlled by the Turkish Cypriots,
10 per cent of returning Greek Cypriots will be able to build a house.All
these quotas, which are exemptions to the European acquis communautaire,
will, however, be abolished once Turkey becomes a full member of the
European Union.The number of settlers from mainland Turkey remaining will
range from 45,000 to 60,000, pending finalised arrangements.One of the most
controversial points in the negotiations has been the strength of military
contingents from Greece and Turkey; the average figure quoted now is 6,000
for each contingent. Army strength is to be reassessed in the year 2010,
while all troops will be removed from the island once Turkey accedes to the
EU.In the future, immigrants from Greece and Turkey cannot exceed five per
cent of the population in each constituent state.The new state will be
called “United Cyprus Republic,” based on a federal government. It will
comprise two “constituent states” (as opposed to “component states”). The
island's airspace, territorial waters and economic zone will belong to the
Republic.The new UN plan affirms that Cyprus will join EMU (Economic and
Monetary Union) and become part of the Schengen Treaty.Moving onto
government, the major change to the previous plan is that the Minister for
European Affairs will serve a full five-year term, meaning he will hold a
pivotal position in the Presidential Council.The three foreign judges
appointed to the Constitutional Court - seen as a dispute-resolving
apparatus - will cast a single vote each.The two ethnic communities will
conduct separate elections for the lower house of parliament and the
Senate. However, both may participate in municipal elections.Another
important point is that the referendum for a settlement will not include
the question of whether Cyprus should join the EU.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[04] Hooligans strike again, as weekend fixtures degenerate into violenceBy
George PsyllidesPOLICE yesterday launched an investigation into fresh
violence following two weekend football matches in Limassol and
Nicosia.Football violence has become a fixture of weekend games, with
growing fears of serious injury.Police on Saturday arrested three fans,
aged between 15 and 22, following street fights between supporters of
Apollon of Limassol and APOEL Nicosia.The three were charged and released
on Sunday.In one case, it was reported that an Apollon fan had been doused
with petrol by a group of APOEL supporters who tried to set him on
fire.Trouble had been brewing throughout the fixture with the usual verbal
exchanges between fans.Police said Apollon fans threw stones and pieces of
sinks from stadium lavatories, damaging four police vehicles. In the east
stand, APOEL supporters, waving a swastika banner, torched several plastic
seats.But the real trouble came after the end of the game, when APOEL
supporters, travelling on five buses, spilled onto the streets and started
pelting shops and cars with stones.Police intervened to stop the fights,
with an officer sustaining light injuries.Several people were also beaten
up by hooligans, reports said.The stones damaged at least four cars, while
a shop window was shattered.On Sunday, supporters of Nicosia's other team,
Omonia, sought to emulate their APOEL counterparts, with around 200
attacking one man who dared to wave an APOEL flag.Omonia were hosting
Famagusta team Ethnikos, in what police felt was a low-risk fixture, with a
parse presence at the GSP stadium.Everything was going well security-wise,
except that Omonia only drew the game, allowing archrivals APOEL to close
the gap between them to one point.Just a few moments before the final
whistle, an APOEL fan, sitting on the stand occupied by the few Ethnikos
faithful, decided to show his true colours, by waving a blue and yellow
flag APOEL flag.This did not go down well with the furious Omonia fans, who
in a blink crossed over and brutally assaulted the fan.A handful of police
officers and two or three Omonia fans tried to protect the APOEL
fan.Television cameras recorded the incident in which some 200 hooligans
took turns to punch and kick the trapped man.One was caught on camera
hitting him on the head with his umbrella, which smashed into pieces from
the force of the blows.Luckily, the man was rescued muffled the assault and
prevented the yobs from inflicting serious injuries.The chief of police
yesterday ordered an immediate investigation into the trouble and appointed
deputy chief Andreas Stephanou to head two groups of investigators tasked
with examining both cases.Hooliganism has become a frequent phenomenon,
with observers calling for stiffer measures to stem the trend.Last month, a
court sentenced a 28-year-old man to eight weeks in jail for common assault
during a Limassol basketball match.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[05] Injured Briton back in Manchester after Health Minster's
interventionBy Tania KhadderA BRITISH man who suffered severe brain
injuries after a moped accident in Cyprus was back home in Manchester
yesterday, continuing treatment at a local hospital after his repatriation
on Saturday.With no private insurance cover, Stefan Schelze had been stuck
in limbo on the island until outgoing Health Minister Frixos Savvides
intervened to cover the costs of his repatriation last weekend. Schelze's
niece, Helen McCarthy, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday he was doing well
and receiving the appropriate medical treatment. “When he got to the
hospital, a crew of nurses were ready for him, and they really took care of
him,” McCarthy said. “They cut his nails, washed him and even gave him a
special mattress that moves him around.” McCarthy said he was in a room on
his own where the television was always on, and where he received hospital
radio for noise stimulation. She added that Schelze was a celebrity at the
hospital because she had pinned up Cyprus Mail articles about him on his
walls.Schelze, who turns 43 next month, was in a moped accident in Paphos
on December 9, in which he suffered severe head injuries. He had been
working as a DJ at the Nature Café bar at the time of the accident. In the
coming weeks, he has a number of appointments ranging from one with a
physical therapist to one with a hairdresser. While doctors do not yet know
his long-term prognosis, McCarthy says he has brain damage that can never
be completely reversed. He is not, however, in a coma and is increasingly
responding to outside stimuli. “Yesterday he yawned and coughed for the
first time,” she said.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[06] Homeless dogs face ultimatum to find new shelterBy Stefanos EvripidouA
SMALL dog shelter built to house 10 animals in Limassol's Polemidhia suburb
has been swamped by 45 dogs needing care and shelter, with the municipality,
backed by residents, warning that if the dogs are not relocated within a
month, they will be forced to put them down.Polemidhia mayor Georgios
Georgiou said the municipality had set up the dog shelter to deal with its
needs, but now dogs were coming from all over Limassol, cramping living
quarters in the makeshift shelter and causing local residents to complain
about the smell and disturbance. The shelter started with eight to 10
homeless dogs but now looks after 45. Extensions were made to house the
dogs, while voluntary organisations are helping to feed and care for them.
“We showed good will and willingness to co-operate with voluntary
organisations but now the shelter has got out of hand. The dogs will have
to leave by the end of March or face lethal injection,” said Georgiou.“You
can imagine what an orchestra 45 dogs make for the neighbours, and the
smell they create. Not to mention the huge expenses they demand from the
municipality,” he added.The mayor suggested that a new, permanent shelter
be built to cater for stray dogs from all Limassol municipalities. “It is
our legal right to put the dogs down after a period of time. They will have
to leave soon,” warned Georgiou.One volunteer from the Society for the
Protection of Animals in the Limassol district said the municipality was
neglecting its responsibilities at the dog home. “Nobody comes to the
shelter to clean or give the dogs food and water, we do all that. We feed
them, clean them and take them to the vet when they need it. But municipal
employees still bring stray dogs here,” said Andri Demetriadou.“We have to
cause a ruckus just for them to bring a sack of food here once a week,” she
said, adding “The shelter smells because the waste bags don't get collected
on time.” Regarding complaints about the noise, Demetriadou said, “They
only bark when we go to see them because they are happy. Once they've eaten
and we leave, they quieten down.”The deadline for the unwanted dogs runs
out at the end of March. The Society refuses to pass the dogs on to other
shelters because those shelters use lethal injection if the dogs don't find
a home after a while. “Our Society is against euthanasia. We won't kill our
dogs. We work with our hearts,” said Demetriadou. She highlighted recent
legislation which stipulates that dogs must be held in care for 15 days
before lethal injection may be administered. “The new dog shelter that
opened last week in the Limassol municipality is operating on a seven-day
euthanasia policy which is illegal.”However, the future is not all grim for
the copious pack of canines. The volunteers will be meeting with the
District Officer on March 5 to discuss acquiring a plot of land next to the
Polemidhia dam for a new shelter. “We already have volunteers who will help
us fence the land. In fact, we have a lot of help on hand to set up the new
shelter, we just need the green light to go ahead,” said Demetriadou.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[07] Please keep us out of the danger zoneBy Jean ChristouCYPRUS is engaged
in talks with Lloyds of London in an attempt to persuade the prestigious
insurance company not to place the island in a 'danger zone' if the US-led
war on Iraq goes ahead.Outgoing Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis told the
Cyprus Mail that Lloyds had not yet reached a decision, which if negative would have a disastrous effect on all flights in and out of the island.UK-based charter firms are already cutting back on capacity to Cyprus, and a negative report by Lloyds would deal a fatal blow to air transport in and out of the island.During the Gulf War in 1991, when Cyprus was placed in the danger zone, it cost each aircraft an additional $80,000 in insurance costs to land at Larnaca and Paphos airports, wiping out all but a few scheduled services.Rolandis held talks with Lloyds in London earlier this month and was told that everything would depend on developments.Although there was no danger to tourists during the 1991 conflict and the British bases had minimal involvement, this time the British government has already dragged the island into its war rhetoric, stating specifically that Iraq is in possession of missiles capable of striking the bases.“It's impossible for Lloyds to make a final decision because it depends on developments,” Rolandis said, adding however that his visit had opened the channels of communication with the company so that developments could be analysed.Rolandis said there was still a possibility that Cyprus could be categorised as a danger zone. “There is no doubt about it,” he said, adding that he wanted to make sure Lloyds didn't act “superficially”, like it did last time.He said Lloyds would act if certain countries issued travel advisories naming Cyprus as being in danger. “If there are none, normally Lloyds will not act, but if there is travel advice to avoid Cyprus, then this will ring a bell at Lloyds and it will move further on and put Cyprus in the war zone,” he said.Rolandis said Lloyds had been a “bit rash” last time, but added that the government was dealing with different people this time so he didn't press the issue.“We mentioned it and they took note of that,” he said. “What they promised is that they would be very cautious before they took any steps.”UK-based Greek Cypriot tour operator Noel Josephides said his Sunvil offices were currently “like a morgue”.“It's just getting worse by the day,” he said. “We've begun to get one or two cancellations. We're telling them there is no risk but they are saying 'Why should I got to a place where at the last minute I might have to change my plans?'”Josephides said the UK market was currently down for Cyprus between 30 and 50 per cent, after being up 45 per cent in December.“It's the indecision that's the problem and the timing. Last time, they were fighting now. They are unlikely to start before the middle of March and God knows what problems will be created,” he said.He said Cyprus was badly affected because every time British people turned on the news, the island seems to be mentioned or the British fleet was shown anchored off the island.Josephides predicted Lloyds could well put Cyprus in the danger zone again. “At the moment, people (tour operators) here are in a state of panic. We are not selling and a lot of capacity is gong to be cut. If Lloyds come and officially put Cyprus on the high risk zone then that's it,” he said.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[08] Peace activists to welcome AnnanBy a Staff ReporterMORE than 100 peace
activists are to greet Kofi Annan tomorrow afternoon in front of the Hilton
Hotel where he will be staying on his arrival in Cyprus.Members of the pro-
solution group 'Platform for Solution -- Reunification Now' are aiming to
urge Cypriot leaders to accept the UN peace plan by Friday's UN deadline.
“They must accept the UN plan before EU accession; we have prepared a
resolution which we will submit to Kofi Annan,” Stelios Georgiou, a member
of the group, told the Cyprus Mail. The group hopes to draw local and
international media attention by gathering outside the hotel.'Solution -
Reunification- is a group of Greek Cypriots working to encourage a solution
to the Cyprus problem. They are appealing to the leaderships of both sides,
and see recent efforts to reunite the island as an important opportunity
not to be missed. “This is a very good chance unlike the last, and it may
be decades before another chance comes along,” Georgiou added. The group is,
however, concerned at the lack of enthusiasm for a solution on the part of
the Greek Cypriot community. “One of the reasons why our platform was
created was that we didn't want it to appear that only Turkish Cypriots
support a solution. “If Greek Cypriots believe the time for a solution has
come, then it's time for them to get up from their couches and say so,”
Georgiou said. Members of the group say efforts for a solution were
sidetracked during the recent election campaign. The demonstration will
come one day before Turkish Cypriots are scheduled to rally for a solution
in occupied Nicosia. 'Solution - Reunification' has been in contact with
the Turkish Cypriot movement, and is planning is planning a series of
events in co-operation with Greek and Turkish Cypriot groups. Annan will be
in Cyprus this week in a last-ditch effort order to seal a deal by the
February 28 deadline.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[09] Snow blankets CyprusBy Stefanos EvripidouSNOW, snow and more snow
covered the mountains, layered the hills and sprayed the plains all over
Cyprus yesterday. Rain, heavy snowfall and wave after wave of snowflakes
fell on the island throughout the day, from the highest peak to the lower
regions, reaching the heart of the capital to the joy of children
everywhere.Many schools in the higher regions and middle grounds were
closed for the day while roads throughout the country were closed to cars
without four-wheel drive or snow chains. The Pedoulas-Prodromos and
Kakopetria roads were closed to all traffic as was the Skarinou-Lefkara
road, which was covered with up to 10 centimetres of snow.Snowfall painted
a white sheet across villages and mountains, allowing 60 centimetres of
snow to build up on Mount Olympus and 50 centimetres on Troodos Square. The
freak weather caused no major damage.According to Water Department
officials, the dams have had the biggest inflow of water for February in
the last decade, with some of the smaller dams even overflowing. To date,
the 17 dams have enjoyed an input of 36 million cubic metres in the last
month, compared to 19 million last February. The storage capacity of the
dams is at 57 per cent compared to last year's 49.6 per cent, reaching a
total of 156 million cubic metres.However, February's heavy rainfall is
only making up for a poor start to the rainy season, where dams experienced
a poor showing in January with 10 million cubic metres inflow compared to
last year's 56 million. Rainfall for February has reached 162 per cent of
average rainfall for that month, with 132 millimetres of rain just
yesterday. Rainfall for the winter season, October to February has already
reached 103 per cent of average rainfall for that period.Yesterday's lowest
temperatures were minus four degrees in the mountains, while the
temperature dropped to two degrees inland and five on the coast.Clouds,
rain, scattered snowfalls and frost will continue in the mountainous
regions, middle regions and lower plains today. Meteorological Services
director Kyriacos Theophilou said regions over 250 metres above sea level
were likely to see more snow. An improvement in the weather is expected
around evening, with lowest temperatures reaching minus one in the
mountains, seven degrees inland and nine on the coast. Theophilou predicted
the weather would get gradually better until Friday, when he expects mainly
fine weather and an increase in temperatures.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
[10] Cabinet holds farewell meetingBy a Staff ReporterTHE outgoing cabinet
yesterday held its last meeting under the presidency of Glafcos Clerides,
who wrapped up the session with a farewell lunch to his ministers.Before
the meeting, ministers expressed their gratitude to Clerides for the esteem
and trust he showed them during their term.Health Minister Frixos Savvides
said he had mixed feelings, adding everything had a beginning and an
end.“The people will evaluate each member of the Council of Ministers in
the area they worked,” Savvides said.He thanked the media for their co-
operation, noting that he was now returning to his job as an accountant,
and his family.Communications Minister Averoff Neophytou suggested more
could have been done concerning traffic and public transport.He said he
felt good because he had done did his best, though the people had decided
they wanted change.The longest serving minister, Andreas Moushiouttas, said
he felt the cabinet was a family that was going to be scattered.Moushiouttas,
who served as Labour Minister for 10 years - across both of Clerides' terms
- said his conscience was clear because he had done his duty to the full.He
thanked Clerides for entrusting him the ministry for 10 years, adding that
the outgoing President was a man who fully understood his associates'
views. Clerides' term ends on February 28, the day the new president,
Tassos Papadopoulos is inaugurated.Papadopoulos is expected to announce his
new cabinet on March 1.
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003
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