Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-04-09

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

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] Start of airport overhaul could be delayed into 2004

[02] British Olympic team signs deal for Cyprus training base

[03] Government rubbishes depleted uranium claims

[04] Government rubbishes Denktash Varosha threats

[05] Cypriot doctor claims he has the first clone

[06] Ministry probes welfare scam allegations

[07] House raises issue of police violence in wake of Russian woman's allegations

[08] Irish blackmail suspect released on bail pending trial

[01] Start of airport overhaul could be delayed into 2004

Public Works Department head Alecos Michaelides told the Cyprus Mail the government had begun evaluating the tenders for a strategic partner to invest in the Larnaca and Paphos airport BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) projects and run them for the next 25 years.

But Michaelides said a decision on who of the three bidders would undertake the project was not expected until May.

“We have already evaluated the technical part of the project,” he said.

“This means that each bidder has been rated on the file they presented containing the technical information of the project. When the financial part of the tenders are evaluated and rated, the results will be added and we will assign the project to the most successful bidder, and that would be the company that collects the most points on the technical and financial parts of the project.”

Michaelides said it was too soon to tell if delays in the procedure meant construction on the new airport - scheduled to begin this year - might be put off until 2004.

“If the results are announced in May and we start negotiating in June, this means that we will reach an agreement before the end of the year,” he said.

“Therefore, no one can tell for the time being whether we will sign a contract or construction will begin this year.”

1. The three finalists are: Alterra Consortium, which took part in the development of Singapore and Manchester airports and includes Cypriot companies Lanitis E.C. Estates, Amathus Navigation Co Ltd, Cybarco and Caramondani Bros. The Royal Bank of Scotland is also involved.

2. The Cyprus Airports Group, which was involved in the Vienna airport project and includes Cypriot partners George P. Zachariades construction.

3. Hermes Airports, which comprises investors from three international airport projects, including Irish group Aer Rianta. Cypriot participants include Charilaos Apostolides, CTC, Egis Projects and Iacovou Brothers. The bidders are expected to invest around £200 million into the projects.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[02] British Olympic team signs deal for Cyprus training base

The launch of the partnership on Monday night followed the visit to Cyprus last month of Olympic Performance Manager and Director of the Cyprus Training Camp Programme Richard Simmons and Chief Executive Simon Clegg.

The possibility of Team GB basing its athletes in Cyprus was first mooted last April following a visit to the island by British Sports Minister Richard Cabourn.

Speaking yesterday, a CTO officer said the deal would allow the organisation to promote Cyprus as the training base for British Olympic athletes leading up to the Olympics.

“What they (the BOA) have offered us is some rights… to exploit their presence here in Cyprus for promoting the island as an idyllic venue for sports tourism. We are going to use these rights to promote Cyprus within the UK.”

The deal will also permit the CTO to use the Team GB logo and slogans.

The source said that athletes from 13 Olympic sports would be training on the island initially.

“This number may grow. But at the moment these 13 teams will be training here until next year before the Olympics and Paralympics in Athens. And this deal lasts until the end of 2004.”

Asked what the deal was worth financially, the source said exact figures had yet to be revealed, but played down suggestions that the partnership would prove extremely lucrative for the CTO.

“In a few days, figures may be revealed but it's certainly not worth millions. It's a very logical sum.”

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, the Director of the Cyprus Olympic Association (COA) Nicos Kartacoullis expressed his pleasure at the conclusion of the deal.

“The President of the COA made the first contact with the BOA for collaboration and they signed a letter of intent last year.

“We then introduced this project for one year on a pilot basis - for the last 10 months we have had swimmers and people from the British Paralympic Association that came over to Cyprus to train,” he said.

Kartacoullis stressed that the COA would not be gaining financially from the partnership.

“We didn't ask for any money. The only thing we asked is that some of our technical delegates and top-level athletes preparing for the games be allowed to train with the British Athletes and this has been accepted.”

He added that technical delegates from local national federations would be meeting the respective heads of the relevant British federations on May 5.

Meanwhile a source at the Imperial Beach Hotel in Paphos confirmed that British athletes had arrived on the island to train on April 2, before the partnership was officially launched.

British High Commission spokesman Stuart Summers said yesterday that the agreement would be mutually beneficial for both countries, noting that the deal might boost Cyprus' flagging tourist industry, which has been crippled by the Iraq war.

“I think the arrangement will benefit the BOA but also benefit Cyprus.

“Not only will this be the beginning of what will hopefully be a larger sports tourism market but it also demonstrates that Cyprus is a safe place to come to at the moment. If Olympic Athletes are coming here at this sort of time then why shouldn't other people?”

Speaking at the launch of the partnership in London, Chief Executive Simon Clegg said Cyprus would provide top quality training facilities in a safe and secure environment where British athletes would feel at home.

“Team GB could not seek a better launch pad in our bid for Olympic success in Athens.”

He added that the BOA was “extremely confident that Cyprus (would) become a major training base for years to come.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[03] Government rubbishes depleted uranium claims

The allegations were first made by a Limassol television station and reproduced in yesterday's Machi.

They were sparked by four explosions overheard in the Akrotiri area on Friday and a foul smell emanating from the town's sea area.

The British bases categorically denied the reports, adding the explosions were part of an exercise carried out by army engineers at the RAF Akrotiri firing range.

“The report is untrue, no bombs were dropped off Akrotiri,” bases spokesman Tony Brumwell said.

He said two US F-18 warplanes had landed at RAF Akrotiri on Friday due to engine problems, adding that both aircraft had already left the base after the necessary repairs were carried out.

Brumwell said it was possible for warplanes to land while carrying their ordnance.

“If they have to drop the bombs they do it miles away in the sea,” he said.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said the bases had notified the authorities of their intent to carry out controlled explosions in the area, though no other details had been given.

Concerning the foul smell, Chrysostomides said it came from an Iranian cargo ship anchored off the coast of Limassol.

The vessel, Iran Nour, which carried gas, was reportedly airing its cargo bay at the time when the smell was noticed in Limassol.

In any case, the two could not be connected as the smell was noticed on Thursday evening while the explosions were heard on Friday at around 1pm.

Chrysostomides said there was no suspicion of DU use on the island.

Defence Minister Koullis Mavronikolas said there was no information concerning the dumping of DU bombs in the Akrotiri sea area.

He suggested the reports had been exaggerated.

Justice Minister Doros Theodorou ruled out the possibility of DU ordnance being dumped in the sea.

“Sea life is hugely affected even if a stick of dynamite is dropped; imagine what would happen with these bombs, nothing would be left,” Theodorou said.

He added: “Such a thing has not been determined.”

He said the authorities were looking into the issue and suggested restraint until the investigation was complete.

Theodorou also advised against the thoughtless handling of certain issues, warning that DU bombs and tourism did not go together.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[04] Government rubbishes Denktash Varosha threats

Denktash was quoted in Kibris yesterday as saying he could rent some properties in the closed area of Varosha, a once-thriving Greek Cypriot tourism resort with a population of around 65,000.

“As the time passes these buildings suffer badly. I am dreaming of an operation to save Varosha,” Denktash said. He said that the hotels should be “leased” for 30-40 years and if the owners of the buildings were Greek Cypriots the “rents can be kept somewhere for them”.

The Turkish Cypriot leader last week put forward a serried of six confidence building measures, which included the return of Varosha to the Greek Cypriots. The measures were rejected by the Greek Cypriot side and given a lukewarm reception by the international community.

The Greek Cypriot side is working on its own set of measures to help the Turkish Cypriots, which the government says it will announce after signing the EU accession treaty in Athens next week. Denktash yesterday described the steps as “minority measures” and threatened those Turkish Cypriots who decided to benefit from them with expulsion: “The people, the assembly should take the measures. There are big traps here,” he said. I do not know whether or not there will be someone who will be deceived from this game. If there is someone I am sure that he will not be inside our people, he will surely be excluded.”

Denktash's own confidence-building measures were widely seen as a face- saving operation after he brought down 18 months of intensive UN negotiations in The Hague last month. UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan pointed the finger squarely at Denktash in his report, which will be placed before the Security Council tomorrow.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides yesterday described Denktash's proposal to open Varosha as a threat and said the government would make representations to the UN. The status quo in Famagusta is governed by a special 1984 UN resolution prohibiting any settlement of the area. “We all know that the closed town of Famagusta (Varosha) is under Turkish army, therefore it is UNFICYP's responsibility,” he said.

“Despite the fact that he has said the town will open up for companies to develop the hotels and the rents from hotels belonging to Greek Cypriots will be set aside, it doesn't change anything from the fact that it is a threat to use the fenced part of Famagusta, contrary to any previous Security Council decision.”

Famagusta has always been considered a bargaining chip in any Cyprus negotiations but it is unlikely that Denktash would be able to act to save the town from ruin. Experts discussing the rebuilding of the town in the event of a solution put forward a conservative estimate of £1 billion to restore the abandoned city, a figure the ailing Turkish Cypriot economy could not sustain.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[05] Cypriot doctor claims he has the first clone

Panayiotis Zavos told the Sunday Times that the embryo, which has been made for an American couple, is being kept frozen while awaiting tests. It will be considered for implantation in the mother only if scientists are certain it has no abnormalities and is capable of growing into a healthy baby, he said.

Zavos, who runs a clinic in Kentucky, said he would rather see a cautious implementation of cloned embryos than an irresponsible one and was critical and sceptical when a UFO sect claimed it had already produced several cloned babies.

“We are willing to risk a low pregnancy rate, but a more safe pregnancy rate,” Zavos told the Sunday Times. “We want to make sure the embryo is healthy and has passed all its physicals before we transfer it.”

The paper said Zavos's attempt had the backing of the veteran embryologist Robert Edwards, whose work lead to birth creation of Louise Brown, the world's first IVF baby, born in 1978. Edwards, 77, who is the editor of Reproductive BioMedicine Online, confirmed his web-based journal has agreed to publish Zavos' work.

It will explain how the nuclei of nine human donor eggs were replaced with the nuclei of ovarian tissue cells from an American woman. This led to one of the cloned cells developing to a cluster of eight to 10 cells, at which point it was frozen, the Sunday Times said.

Last December Dr. Brigitte Boisselier, director of Clonaid and a 'bishop' of the Raelian sect, which believes humans are clones of aliens, claimed to have won the cloning race by announcing that a baby 'Eve' had been born at an undisclosed location. Zavos told the Cyprus Mail at the time that he was sceptical and said the Raelians should produce verifiable proof.

Zavos himself came under scrutiny in the Sunday Times article. Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell, co-creators of the late Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, questioned whether Zavos had achieved anything worthwhile.

“It is absolutely ridiculous to attempt this in humans anyway because of the terrible problems with the offspring,” Campbell told the paper.

Zavos visited Cyprus in March 2001 and unofficially asked the government to allow him to use Cyprus for his cloning experiments. The request was denied.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[06] Ministry probes welfare scam allegations

Labour Minister Iacovos Keravnos has ordered a full investigation into reports that a Welfare Department employee, who is currently abroad, has been fraudulently extracting money from people on welfare benefits.

Police spokesman Demetris Demetriou told the Cyprus Mail that they were working in close co-operation with the Welfare Department to solve the case involving a female employee who allegedly defrauded welfare recipients, mainly foreign, out of their benefits by signing and cashing in their cheques.

Police arrested one Pakistani in connection with the case on March 27. He was remanded in custody for eight days and remanded again for another eight days on April 5.

The man allegedly conspired with the employee to defraud welfare recipients by acting as the go-between between the employee and the recipients. They did not make public the fraudulent action against them because they feared a complete benefit cut off or even deportation.

Police confirmed that the woman went to Greece with her Greek husband last Saturday and that normal procedures were being taken to complete investigations.

According to Politis, the employee did not return to work when she was supposed to and no one from the department has been able to get in contact with her.

The paper also alleges that she arranged for her brother to receive benefits without reason. Allegations also claim that she rented rooms for asylum seekers and arranged for her mother to be paid by the department as a carer for people with needs but that the mother neglected her duties.

The Welfare Department released a statement yesterday expressing its regret at the isolated incident but said everything was being done to investigate the case fully.

The Public Sector Union PASYDY condemned the employee involved in the alleged scam and asked that she be made an example of if the charges are proved in court. It also commended the department for the difficult task of caring for the 25,000 under its wing.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[07] House raises issue of police violence in wake of Russian woman's allegations

THE House Human Rights Committee will urgently be discussing police behaviour towards foreigners in the wake of reports of the alleged abuse of a Russian woman, its chairman Sophocles Phyttis said yesterday.

“The Human Rights Committee is sensitive on these issues; as a people and as a parliament we want human rights, not only of Cypriots, but foreign visitors and anyone working here to be secured,” Phyttis said.

He added: “Cypriots are a hospitable people and the phenomenon of state authorities violating human rights should disappear.”

The issue was tabled for discussion by DISY deputy Nicos Tornaritis following reports that a Russian woman had been beaten up by police officers.

“We have been informed that foreign governments have protested,” Tornaritis said.

“The ombudswoman has publicly stated that the Ukrainian ombudswoman has protested that Ukrainian citizens visiting Cyprus experienced humiliating behaviour from the police,” Tornaritis said.

He added that the Russian embassy had described the latest incident as very serious, which “unfortunately gave out a very negative international image for Cyprus and Cypriot hospitality”.

AKEL deputy Eleni Mavrou said such behaviour left the state exposed, adding that mentalities needed much more time to change.

“We often see such behaviour tolerated because they concern foreigners, migrants, and some people who in our minds are second class humans,” Mavrou said.

She warned that Cyprus could not go on with this way of thinking and behaving, adding that the world was changing and societies were becoming increasingly multicultural, and had to be characterised by tolerance.

Phyttis said the committee would have a 'lively' role in the House, for the good of the people and the protection of human rights.

During yesterday's session, the committee examined the pending issues among which the violations of the human rights of local and foreign women “used to provide sexual services” -- with consent or not -- and the need to create a support mechanism to help their reintegration in society.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

[08] Irish blackmail suspect released on bail pending trial

Christopher Ryan, 33, was arrested in March with alleged accomplice Johan Gustav Allehrt, 29, from Sweden, for allegedly threatening to kidnap and kill the children of 29-year-old British expat Bobby Ghary Ajay unless he paid them £1.5 million.

Police superintendent Michalis Fellas said the pair had appeared before a Larnaca court, where they formally charged and released on a £5,000 bail last Friday.

“He was released on bail, and on condition he handed in his passport,” Fellas said.

“He also has to report to a local police station every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, together with his co-suspect.”

Fellas said Ryan did not pay bail, but that another party had signed a guarantee that he would not be leaving the island.

Ryan's last known address was in London and his parents now live in New Zealand.

Ghary Ajay told Larnaca police CID that the suspects had threatened to have his two adolescent children kidnapped by Russians, cut into little pieces and mailed to him in plastic bags.

According to CID investigator Costas Pevdiodis, Ghary Ajay had claimed that, on March 7, the suspects had led him to their flat and told him they were acting on behalf of a British millionaire who owns a chain of offshore companies in the UK. Ghary Ajay claimed the suspects had demanded he return £1.5 million from a £3 million loan he had allegedly received from the millionaire for investments in 1999.

In his statement, Ghary Ajay claimed the suspects had stolen his £52,000 car, jewels and various valuables, his and his wife's passports, and a number of credit cards. He claimed the suspects had also stolen two portable computers from his office and asked him to mortgage his property in the UK in order to pay his debt.

Police told the court the suspects had admitted to blackmailing Ghary Ajay, claiming they were acting on behalf of the millionnaire. Ryan's trial has been set for Monday, July 7.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

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