Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-04-24

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

Thursday, April 24, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] 'It's unbelievable: I am sitting in Kyrenia having a drink'

[02] 'We're all Cypriots here'

[03] When 20 metres can mean a whole new world

[04] Matsakis to return to practice

[05] Greens furious over Curium work

[06] CY chair stays empty

[07] Union says health reforms mean patients will suffer

[08] Authorities to investigate petrol leak

[01] 'It's unbelievable: I am sitting in Kyrenia having a drink'

ANY FEARS we may have had about crossing to the north were dispelled immediately. People were waving at us. They were actually coming out of their shops and shouting “welcome” in broken Greek, calling out from the coffee-shops and from the roadside, clapping and cheering and urging us to join them for a drink.

They were people just like me after all.

It was like stepping into an opposite world, going back through time, with the pictures of Kyrenia and the Pendadactylos mountain range I knew so well from my school days coming alive for the first time.

For many Greek Cypriots yesterday, the desire to go to Kyrenia and sit at the harbour for lunch or a drink was much stronger than the urge not to present their passports at the Ledra Palace checkpoint.

There were so many of them, meeting old friends they had not seen for nearly 30 years. For a while it seemed that ordinary Cypriots had reunited the island by themselves.

“I'm so happy to be here, and to be able to sit with my Turkish Cypriot brother for a drink,” Theodoulos Pavlides told the Cyprus Mail. “It's ridiculous to know someone for 10 years abroad and not to be able to see them in our own country.

“It was a wonderful and overwhelming experience to come here. We were shocked at the way people were reacting when they saw us. They were just so happy to see us, both Turks and Turkish Cypriots. Everybody was telling me I was crazy to come, but they've changed their minds and now they all want to come.”

His friend Turu Yasharzan said he still couldn't believe he was sitting at Kyrenia harbour having a drink with his former fellow student.

“I studied together with Theodoulos in Slovakia, and we always said how we wanted to get together in Cyprus and have a drink,” he said.

“This is the first time I see him here and I am absolutely thrilled. I feel great. I'm planning to go over to the south tomorrow and visit Paphos and Larnaca.”

But underneath the smiles and the cheers some bitterness still showed when thoughts went back to how the island was separated through the invasion in 1974. And even though he sat looking past the boat masts in the harbour to the horizon with a smile on his face, George Georgiou could barely hold back the tears.

“I am so happy to be here. I thought I was going to be welcome here as a tourist, and I was welcomed as a brother,” he said.

“A lot of things have changed here, and what irritates me is the presence of the army -- and of course the feeling that some of these houses were once ours.

“As soon as we drove through [the checkpoint] in the car I just couldn't stop crying. Anyone who says he didn't cry is lying. It's unbelievable: I am sitting in Kyrenia having a drink.”

Few words were exchanged on the drive back to Nicosia as we tried to record even the slightest detail, just in case we couldn't return. But when we arrived at the Ledra Palace checkpoint and saw the masses of people on both sides still lining up to go across, smiling and looking for people who were waiting for them, we knew then that we would be going back again.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[02] 'We're all Cypriots here'

FIRST at the Turkish Cypriot checkpoint at 7.30am yesterday was Fikrit Ahmet Mavroupi, a Turkish Cypriot pensioner from Potamia. Carrying a plastic bag containing several packets of Cyprus coffee, she marched up and handed in her Greek Cypriot ID. They ignored her.

“I just want to go and see my sick grandchild,” she said, sitting down to wait and see what would happen next. People were crossing, but only those who had obtained permission previously. It was the first day of the Muslim feast of Bayram and Turkish Cypriots whose names were on the daily list, mainly for medical treatment, headed for the Greek Cypriot checkpoint. Maronites also continued to cross freely.

The first Greek Cypriots on the scene were driving instructor Iacovos Nikitaras and his wife Maria, both originally from Kyrenia but now living in Pallouriotissa. Nikitaras showed both his ID and passport to a Turkish Cypriot 'police officer' who shook his head and said: “Not today”.

Apparently the deal was off. The Turkish Cypriot side was not yet ready.

“They told me tomorrow or the day after,” Nikitaras said, adding that he would try again. “I have already waited 29 years,” the 48-year-old added.

Shortly afterwards a high-ranking and unsmiling Turkish Cypriot official appeared, and suddenly the deal was back on. By this time around 30 Greek Cypriots had arrived at the checkpoint, but they were in for a long wait. Nikitaras rejoined the queue. He was not bothered about having to show his passport.

“My desire to go to Kyrenia is far greater than my aversion to showing my passport,” he said.

“The politicians are saying this is a step backwards, not forwards, and they are trying to discourage people from going,” said Paschalis Nicolaou, 51. “I'm not trying to make politics. As a Cypriot I believe this country is for everyone to visit where they want.”

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriots were gathering in droves on the other side, and by 9.30am Hassan Pala, 48, an artist, was on his way. Delightedly waving his passport and ID card, he headed for the government-controlled areas.

“I'm the first to go to the Greek side,” said the Turkish Cypriot, who was born in Paphos. “I'm going everywhere to visit my country. I'm going to my village. I feel very great. This is my first time.”The first Greek Cypriot to cross was Christos Michael at 11am, four hours after Iacovos Nikitaras handed in his passport. Michael rushed off to see Varosha without waiting to talk to reporters. As he waved his white 'visa' slip, Michael was greeted with loud applause from the long queue of Turkish Cypriots waiting to check in at the Turkish Cypriot side.

Nikitaras jumped into his van, after paying £3 for a day's motor insurance, and took three journalists along with him. “I am very happy,” he told the Cyprus Mail.

By this time the atmosphere was one of cautious festivity. Mingling together, it was hard to distinguish Greek from Turkish Cypriots as they chatted in Greek or English, swapping names and places.

“We are all Cypriots here,” said one Greek Cypriot to a Turkish Cypriot who heartily agreed. Many Greek Cypriots were picked up by Turkish Cypriot friends and vice versa on the other side of the Green Line.

At 'UN Nick' coffee shop at the Ledra Palace, they sat together, all saying how good it was. One Turkish Cypriot took off for the town centre on his bicycle and was waved off by a Greek Cypriot wishing him a happy sightseeing tour.

There were references throughout the day, especially among the foreign media, to the Berlin Wall. But only time will tell.

Keeping a head count

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[03] When 20 metres can mean a whole new world

FOR THE Muezzinler and Pasha families, McDonalds, Marks and Spencer, and Eleftheria Square were at the top of the list of places to see yesterday afternoon. After waiting in line for three hours at the Greek Cypriot checkpoint, they couldn't wait to see a part of Cyprus that for the last 30 years had been just out of reach. But exploring the free area quickly became much more about first encounters with Greek Cypriots than Big Macs.

Yesterday's move by the Turkish Cypriot leadership to open up the Green Line checkpoints took both Greek and Turkish Cypriots by surprise. No one was sure how exactly it would work out, but over a thousand Turkish Cypriots and around 560 Greek Cypriots queued up to make their way into the unknown.

Zuhre Pasha and her husband Salim came with their two daughters to the free areas yesterday for the first time ever. Zuhre's brother in law, Mustafa Muezzinler, and his son and daughter also joined them. For Mustafa, this was his first time visiting this side of the island since the invasion. He hopes that soon he will have a chance to visit Meneou, the village where he was born and raised.

On a walk down Ledra Street, Mustafa found himself chatting in Greek about his old village with a small group of shopkeepers who had called him over with a wave and a smile. In fact, almost everywhere the family went they were greeted with “hello”, “welcome” and “enjoy your day”. In this particular instance, the Greek Cypriot shopkeepers were asking with an eager curiosity how their neighbours from the north found this part of the island. A Turkish-speaking Armenian shopkeeper quickly joined the conversation. They discussed the Cyprus problem, talked about their old villages and at one point, the shopkeepers even asked to see Turkish Cypriot money. Soon enough, they were laughing, taking photos together and promising to send them via email.

The family knew that they were about to see a Cyprus very different from their own. Before even making their way through the checkpoint, they were telling the Cyprus Mail how the occupied north “hadn't changed since the seventies.”

But after browsing through shops, they were shocked by the prices and had originally thought their side would be more expensive.

At a visit to Woolworths, they marvelled at how many choices there were for breakfast cereal and candies.

“The market isn't like this on our side, there is so much variety here,” Mustafa's daughter Aysel said. “There are also lot of tourists and restaurants everywhere.”

“It's Cyprus, you smell it, you see the sun shining and it's the same place but it's like discovering it in a whole new way,” added her brother Dogan, a 19-year old student at East Mediterranean University.

At any given time of day, there were about 100 Turkish Cypriots waiting in line to cross the Greek Cypriot checkpoint. Dozens of police were present along with some members of the riot squad. By the end of the afternoon, police had to set up extra processing booths to keep up with the overwhelming number of Turkish Cypriots waiting to cross. Save for a few minor squabbles over the long wait, things were surprisingly peaceful and spirits were high throughout the day.

For this particular family, crossing into the free areas marked a monumental day that they hoped was the sign of more understanding between the two communities in the future. When they walked past Americanos College, Zuhle's youngest daughter Sevil pointed up at it in excitement. “I hope some day you will be able to come and study at one of these schools,” Zuhre told her.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[04] Matsakis to return to practice

PATHOLOGIST and DIKO deputy Marios Matsakis said yesterday he planned to resume his work after the Supreme Court last week annulled a decision by the Cyprus Medical Association (CMA) to take his medical licence away.

The outspoken deputy had his licence suspended last December after the Association's Disciplinary Board found him guilty of breeching two out of four articles of the Medical Code of Practise.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday Matsakis said he would now be resuming his career as a pathologist.

“I plan to continue to practise what I studied for many years and offer my services to my fellow human beings.

“The decision of the High Court is so clear it doesn't need too much comment,” he added.

Matsakis said he was considering suing the Board for the charges brought against him and for the five month period he spent without a licence.

“I will be claiming damages for all the damage that was done to me - in terms of damage to my reputation and loss of earnings.”

He also expressed the hope that the CMA would abandon efforts to re-try him.

“They are considering re-trying me, according to comments they made to the media but I hope that sanity and common sense prevails. I hope my case sets a precedent for changing the way of dealing with matters of ethics, and dealing with medical matters in general,” he said.

He added that the CMA should instead concentrate on improving medical services to the public.

“They should try and learn lessons from this and improve the image of the doctors, of the Medical Association and the provision of medical services in Cyprus and not have a personal vendetta against me.”

Matsakis appeared before Board on December 13 last year, to face accusations that he made insulting and offensive comments after carrying out autopsies and that he accused other doctors of medical negligence.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[05] Greens furious over Curium work

THE GREEN Party yesterday slammed the government for failing to honour an election promise to stop the construction of a café and parking facilities at ancient Curium.

In January, parliament unanimously voted to freeze this year's budget that would have seen the construction of a car park, a large canteen, and site museum amid accusations by environmental and heritage groups that the works would destroy the archaeological site.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday Greens deputy Roxani Coudounari said the party was outraged at reports that parliament was now going to accept the proposal to continue work at the site.

Coudounari said President Tassos Papadopoulos visited the site with members of the Green Party during his presidential campaign and pledged to put an end to the building work, saying that no work should be done until the plans were re-examined.

“The brutal truth is that when we went prior to the elections and took Mr Papadopoulos around (the site) he said that work should not be continued. They stopped for a few days but then they carried on,” she said.

“We are pressuring Mr Papadopoulos to honour (his) pre-electoral position -- it's a question of honouring his commitment to saving an international heritage site.”

She also expressed her dismay that Communications Minister Kikis Kazamias had done nothing to stop the resumption of the construction work.

“It's not good enough that in our own country we don't have the political will to stop these things happening.”

But the Head of the Antiquities Department, Sophoclis Hadjisavvas said yesterday that plans to build the car park could not be abandoned.

“We cannot cancel the car park; it's the only place to have one. Otherwise no one would come to the site, they would have to park too far away.”

“If the government and parliament do want to freeze the budget again then of course the plans will be cancelled, and we have no other option,” he added.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[06] CY chair stays empty

THE CABINET failed again to appoint a chairman for Cyprus Airways (CY) yesterday, further highlighting the disagreement between government partners DIKO and AKEL over who would fill the position.

The position has been vacant for over two weeks since the resignation of Harris Loizides who had been appointed by the previous government.

The government played down warnings that the company could not operate without a chairman, especially during this period.

Being a shareholder company, the board is operating as usual under the Vice chairman Achilleas Kyprianou, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday.

“The final appointment will depend on the cabinet's decision concerning how many CY board members there will be,” the spokesman added.

But reports claim the delay in appointing a new chairman stems from the disagreement between DIKO and AKEL who each want their own man in the position.

AKEL leader Demetris Christofias insists on appointing Andreas Papacostas as chairman. DIKO feels too many appointments have already been given to AKEL members and such an important position should be kept for the party.

DIKO favours the current Vice chairman to fill the position but that could spark heavy criticism, as he is the brother of Finance Minister Markos Kyprianou, whom he would have to report to on the company's operation.

During yesterday's meeting, the cabinet appointed Akis Cleanthous as the new stock exchange chairman and Andreas Moleskis as cabinet secretary.

Phileleftheros editor-in-chief Anthos Lycavgis was appointed communications adviser to the Cyprus embassy in Athens, a move that raised some eyebrows in relation to the criteria of the appointment.

Chrysostomides said Lycavgis had many years of experience in journalism and had a knowledge of media operations issues in Athens, with access to the Greek mass media.

Asked whether President Tassos Papadopoulos had chosen Lycavgis from a number of candidates, Chrysostomides said that as far as he knew there were no other candidates.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[07] Union says health reforms mean patients will suffer

PATIENTS WILL suffer if the government does not hire more doctors soon, government doctors' union (PASYKI) president, Dr Stavros Stavrou warned yesterday.

Although the public health services had long been overworked and understaffed, he said, the situation worsened when the House decided to increase the gross annual income criteria that allows access to free medical treatment.

Stavrou said this increase had seen 20 per cent more people seeking free medical care.

He said though number of patients had increased, the number of doctors had not. Stavrou added government doctors were being forced to spend even less time with each patient and both parties suffer.

“Doctors are overloaded with patients and there is a reduction in services. If you have to see 50 patients in the hours the outpatient clinics are open, that's an average of four minutes per patient. You cannot practise medicine in that amount of time and it is dangerous to even try,” he said.

At present there are 369 permanent doctors employed in the civil service. An added 130 are temporary members of staff used to cover permanent medical needs, he said. “These temporary doctors should be made full time employees and we need to hire at least an additional 50 doctors to cover our needs,” said Stavrou.

House Health Committee chairman Antonis Karas also called on the Health Ministry to rectify the current situation. In a statement made yesterday he said: “According to the facts the government doctors' reaction is more than excusable. Taking into account the patients welfare, I completely agree with PASYKI's position. Moreover, I ask that the Health Ministry takes the necessary steps so that Cypriot citizens, particularly the financially weaker ones, are given speedy and quality service in our public health services.”

Nevertheless the Ministry's position was that it was still top early to tell what effects the change in gross annual income criteria would have on the public health system.

Health Ministry adviser Panayiotis Yiallouros said it is still too early to tell by how much of an increase there has been (in doctors' workload).

“We'll have to wait at least six months before the full effect becomes evident.”

This, he added, was because people are applying for their hospital medical cards slowly and most tend to wait until they become sick before they apply.

No one at the Ministry was available for comment on if and when it intended to hire more doctors.

In February the House voted to raise the income criteria for those allowed free medical treatment in public hospitals. Among the reforms were raising the income limit from £6,000 to £9,000 for people without dependents and from £10,000 to £18,000 for two-member families.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003

[08] Authorities to investigate petrol leak

LIMASSOL authorities yesterday ordered an investigation into a huge fuel leak that has seeped into a neighbourhood's underground waters, sparking fears among residents over the possibility of an explosion.

Limassol Mayor Demetris Kontides said the investigation would be carried out by experts under the supervision of the district administration and the municipality.

It is suspected that the fuel came from a nearby petrol station and was discovered after a resident of Serifos street in Zakaki noticed petrol mixed with water coming out of his borehole.

Authorities do not know the extent of the problem though the petrol station owner estimated that over £150,000 worth of fuel had found its way in the water table.

Deputy district officer Yiannakis Monoyios said the petrol company, which provides the fuel did not assume responsibility for the pollution but has offered to carry out investigations to ascertain whether there were leaks in the tanks or pipes.

But on Tuesday, the petrol station owner said the leak, which has already been fixed, was located at the joints of a pipe.

Director of Petrolina, Kikis Lefkaritis, said yesterday that last year the petrol owner had reported an unexplained loss of substantial quantities of petrol. He said the problem was immediately rectified and the company had felt no need to inform authorities.

Monoyios said the results of the investigation, expected to be completed in a few days, would determine what measures will be taken.

For the time being the fire service has sealed all boreholes in the area and has urged residents to be extra careful.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

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