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

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

Sunday, March 2, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] New Ministers

[02] Denktash slams Annan plan as 'deceptive'

[03] US says it backs UN initiative

[04] Teens held after bus stoned

[05] Arson suspected in car fire

[06] Sick phone? It's not a virus...

[07] Clerides may have to sell his yacht

[01] New Ministers

Foreign Affairs: George Iacovou

Finance: Marcos Kyprianou

Minister: Andreas Christou

Labour: Iacovos Keravnos

Defence: Kyriacos Mavronicolas

Justice: Doros Theodorou

Education: Pefkios Georgiades

Commerce, Industry and Tourism: George Lilikas

Health: Constantia Akelidou

Communications and Works: Kyriacos Kazamias

Agriculture: Efthymios Efthymiou

Undersecretary to the President: Christodoulos Pashiardis

Government Spokesman: Kypros Chrysostomides

Presidential Commissioner: Polakis Sarris

Press Spokesman: Marios Karoyian

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2003

[02] Denktash slams Annan plan as 'deceptive'

TURKISH Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash dug in his heels yesterday over a proposal by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan to put his peace plan to a public referendum, calling the idea "deceptive and wrong".

Annan ended his trip to Cyprus on Friday, warning that UN efforts to end the island's decades-long stand-off could cease if both sides did not agree by March 10 to submit his plan to votes in each community.

"We cannot go to referendum under someone else's orders," Denktash was quoted as saying by Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK. "Asking for a 'yes' or 'no' on Annan's plan is very deceptive and wrong. Instead of offering results, it will fool people."

Denktash and President Tassos Papadopoulos have agreed to meet Annan again in The Hague on March 10 to tell him whether they will allow referendums on the UN blueprint without reaching a settlement in their own talks.

Denktash said Annan's proposal "camouflaged" population exchanges and territorial trade-offs with the promise of EU entry to politically and economically isolated Turkish Cypriots.

"There are many inadequacies in the plan," he said.

However, tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots demonstrated this week calling for Denktash to either sign the deal or step down. (R)

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2003

[03] US says it backs UN initiative

WASHINGTON has expressed its strong support for the latest UN initiative of inviting the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides to a meeting in The Hague to tell the Secretary-general whether they intend to put his peace proposal to separate and simultaneous referenda.

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher yesterday described Kofi Annan's revised proposal for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus as “just, viable and durable”, and warned against missing the present opportunity for a solution, saying such a chance may not come again.

“The US has long supported the dedicated efforts of UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan to find a solution to the long-standing division of Cyprus, a solution which, as demonstrations in northern Nicosia made clear, so many Cypriots fervently desire,” Boucher said in a written statement.

“For this reason, we are encouraged that the leaders of the two communities on the island have accepted the Secretary-general's invitation to meet with him in The Hague on March 10.”

Boucher said that putting the UN plan to referenda is the most democratic and constructive way to determine the future of the people of Cyprus.

“It is exceptionally important that the extraordinary work of the Secretary- general succeeds and that his comprehensive settlement plan be put to the people,” Boucher said. “Cypriots should have a chance to say 'yes' to their future together and in Europe. This is an opportunity which may not come again.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2003

[04] Teens held after bus stoned

POLICE arrested five teenagers from Limassol after an incident of hooliganism following a local handball match between Nea Salamina and Paphiakos on Friday night.

The incident took place at around 9.45pm on the Orphanides supermarket roundabout in Limassol when a bus carrying handball fans was stoned by teenagers hidden in bushes close by.

Police arrested two youths, both aged 17, in connection with the incident. Later that evening, three more teenagers aged between 14 and 16 were called in for questioning after being recognised by the driver of the bus.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2003

[05] Arson suspected in car fire

POLICE suspect a fire which broke out in a car in Salamiou village on Friday night may have been the result of an arson attack.

According to Paphos police, the fire, which began at 11.30pm in a Mitsubishi pick-up belonging to 73-year-old Christodoulos Antoniou, appears to have been deliberately started using petrol.

Police yesterday said that the vehicle was not insured and that there were no suspects so far. Evidence has been sent to the State Laboratory for forensic examination.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2003

[06] Sick phone? It's not a virus...

SOURCES at the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) yesterday played down reports that a text message virus was affecting mobile phones on the island.

According to Phileleftheros newspaper, the suspected virus was reported to police by a mother concerned that her son's mobile phone kept switching itself off when he received texts from certain school friends.

But a source at CYTA yesterday dismissed suggestions that a mobile phone virus was on the loose.

“This is all speculation. There is a possibility that certain mobile phones turn themselves off because they receive characters which cannot be read by some phone software. So the phone gets confused and shuts down.

“But it's not really a virus; this is the wrong word to use. Software specialists say the problem can easily be put right by upgrading phone software in phones affected. But in any case, when the phones turn themselves off you can just turn them on again.”

Meanwhile CYTA spokesman Paris Menelaou said the authority had not received any official complaints about the alleged virus and assured mobile phone users that SMS text messages were safe.

“As far as viruses are concerned mobile phones and messaging are safe.

“We have not received an official complaint about the virus. If we do receive one then of course we will investigate.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2003

[07] Clerides may have to sell his yacht

FORMER President Glafcos Clerides may be selling his beloved yacht the Katy II, following comments made in his farewell speech at the Presidential Palace on Friday.

After saying his last goodbyes to the staff at the palace, Clerides joked that he would have to sell his yacht now that he is no longer president.

“I can't possibly afford to keep (the yacht) with just my pension, especially as (the price of) fuel these days is murder.”

Asked yesterday if Clerides was really planning to sell the yacht, former government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told the Cyprus Mail: “Well, that's what he told me¼ but I've no idea how much he's going to sell it for.”

Named after Clerides' daughter, the Katy II served as a peaceful retreat for the former President when he found time away from his busy schedule. The yacht has also been the venue for several meetings between Clerides and foreign diplomats.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

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