Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-07-08

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

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] Police launch manhunt after Fasouri murder

[02] Four square kilometres destroyed in Kivides blaze

[03] Singer calls off controversial Kyrenia concert

[04] Greek Cypriot parties accused of Strasbourg snub

[05] Greens call new demo against British antennae

[06] Controversial Apostolos Andreas repairs to go ahead

[07] Asylum system ‘stretched to the limit’

[08] Four held over attack on brothers

[09] ‘Vice rings running out of control’

[10] Giant cannabis plantation found in the woods

[11] Government to crack down on overspending in civil service

[12] Police play down Paphos crime spree fears

[01] Police launch manhunt after Fasouri murder

POLICE yesterday launched a manhunt for a 47-year-old man suspected of being involved in the murder of an estate minder in Fasouri, Limassol.

Sixty-three-year-old Savvas Vasilliou was found in a pool of blood by his wife Katerina on Sunday evening.

Police said the victim had been shot twice - in the chest and head.

He died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

Police yesterday named the prime suspect as Anikitos Panayi, alias Kafkaris, after Vasilliou’s wife told them she found him standing beside her husband’s body brandishing a shotgun.

Reports said the woman went to the Lanitis estate at around 7.30pm to meet her husband.

She often kept her husband company while he was on duty at the estate.

When she arrived at the estate, the suspect, whom she knew well, told her that the person who had killed her husband was in the small house they used when staying there.

She went into the house and managed to call the police before collapsing with a nervous breakdown.

The suspect vanished and remains at large since despite extensive police searches in the area.

Friends and relatives who arrived on the scene soon afterwards could not believe Vasilliou had been murdered, as he was a peaceful character who was friends with everyone.

The father of five had worked at the estate for the past 35 years and was due to retire soon.

According to reports, the motive behind the crime could have been robbery, as police could not find Vasilliou’s wallet and around £500 he carried on him.

Police described Kafkaris as around 1.70 metres tall with slim build and graying hair.

The suspect, who is considered dangerous, was convicted in 1991 for homicide and was sentenced to nine years in jail.

He was released in 1999.

The murder comes just 10 days after a 53-year-old Polemidia farmer was gunned down at point blank range as he left his farm.

A suspect is currently in custody in connection with the killing.

And on June 19, a taxi driver aged 63, was found dead in what looked like a robbery.

Michalis Zahariou had been stabbed in the neck and battered with a rock over the head.

Five days earlier, a man from Baghladesh, was stabbed to death. A 21-year- old compatriot has been charged with his murder.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[02] Four square kilometres destroyed in Kivides blaze

FIRE department officials yesterday battled throughout the night to put out a fire in the Limassol district, which was finally brought under control in the early hours of the morning. The blaze burned through four square kilometres outside Kivides village, including olive trees, carob trees, pine trees and wild shrub.

The fire broke out at around 2.30pm on Sunday and spread very rapidly because of the dense growth and strong winds in the area, said fire department spokesman Stelios Stylianou. Local fire fighters, British Bases officials, Wildlife and Forestry Department officials, local authorities, rapid reaction police (MMAD) and residents all worked together to put out the blaze, which threatened nearby homes.

Twenty-two fire engines and four helicopters were used in putting out the blaze. Stylianou said the fire broke out due to human negligence, most likely singing wild shrubs or from a lit cigarette.

At around 5am helicopters flew over the village and dropped water in the surrounding area in order to avoid another outbreak. The fire was finally brought under control at 6.40am yesterday, said Stylianou.

Fire fighters will remain in the area in order to ensure another fire doesn’t break out, he said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[03] Singer calls off controversial Kyrenia concert

A “PEACE and friendship” concert in the north by one of Greece’s best-known singers had to be cancelled on Saturday because of reaction by Greek Cypriots.

Singer Lefteris Pantazis had been due to sing at the Kyrenia Rocks Hotel, a property owned by a Greek Cypriot refugee, sparking controversy; the singer was accused of selling out national principles for personal gain.

Reportedly Pantazis called off the concert at the last moment, appearing on stage and apologising to his waiting audience.

“A problem has been created because of the show, so perhaps it is better not to worsen things,” he told fans.

There were conflicting reports as to the number of Greek Cypriots attending the concert; some say as many as 120, others only a few dozen.

On a live radio show after the concert was called off, Pantazis said it had not been his intention to cause any trouble.

Government officials were quick to comment on the affair, which touches on the sensitive issue of the use of property owned by Greek Cypriots in the north.

Foreign Minister George Iacovou attributed the muddle to the fact that the singer’s agents (who were not Greeks) “misunderstood” the situation on the island following the partial lifting of restrictions on free movement. Iacovou also said the government was still opposed to overnight stays by Greek Cypriots in the occupied areas.

For his part, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said the affair was now considered “closed” since the concert had been called off. The spokesman went on to praise Pantazis for his “sensitivity” and his decision to cancel.

The spokesman said he was not aware whether any investigations were under way to determine the identities of the Greek Cypriots who had booked hotel rooms for the night.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[04] Greek Cypriot parties accused of Strasbourg snub

TURKISH Cypriot party leaders yesterday accused their Greek Cypriot counterparts of snubbing them by staying away from a meeting in Strasbourg with Council of Europe General Secretary Walter Schwimmer.

While seven Turkish Cypriot party leaders attended the meeting, the nine Greek Cypriot parties sent lower level representatives to attend the meeting, which was preceded by a joint tree planting ceremony. A cedar was planted using soil carried to Europe from both sides.

Turkish Cypriot National Unity Party leader and ‘Prime Minister’ Dervis Eroglou was the first to comment on the absence of the Greek Cypriot party leaders. He said that as a result of their absence he did not expect much to come out of the meeting.

Serdar Denktash, leader of the Democratic Party and ‘Deputy Prime Minister’ also criticised the Greek Cypriot parties for not sending their leaders.

In response, AKEL deputy Nicos Katsourides said that the Greek Cypriot party leaders had “special reasons” why they could not have gone to Strasbourg, but did not specify what they were. Katsourides added that the Greek Cypriot party leaders had attended the ongoing regular bicommunal meetings on the island.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides yesterday declined to comment when asked if the Greek Cypriot parties had deliberately ‘downgraded’ their representation in the Strasbourg.

Speaking after the meeting in Strasbourg, Katsourides said the Turkish Cypriot side, particularly Eroglu and Denktash, had raised unacceptable and ‘negative’ issues. “Unfortunately, some issues were put forward that do not leave much room for optimism,” he said, adding that what was particularly provocative was a suggestion from part of the Turkish Cypriot side that Cyprus’ accession to the EU in May next year be postponed pending a solution to the Cyprus problem.

“In a nutshell with what they said they have rejected the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations,” Katsourides said. He said Denktash junior had said: “Cyprus is too small to be dismembered but too big to be shared.” Eroglu, he said, had suggested the two sides could not live together and should exist side by side.

Eroglu told reporters he had submitted suggestions for changes to the Annan plan in a letter to the UN Secretary General and “we are expecting him at least to respond”.

“Lots of things have to be changed so that we can accept or at least discuss the Annan plan,” he added. “We have not rejected the Annan plan, we have suggestions for changes so if these changes we have submitted to the UN Secretary General are considered and put on table, then we will discuss it.”

Turkish Republican Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat expressed the belief that a solution to might be reached within the next months, saying the political climate would change after the elections in the north in December. The Turkish Cypriot side would then be ready to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem, he said.

Schwimmer said the window of opportunity for a solution to the Cyprus problem was still open, adding that it had been “opened wider” since the easing of movement began in April.

“There have been some very good steps already. Maybe we still need to consider what is necessary for the final solution. There was the Kofi Annan plan, which is still on the table, and there is the opening of the dividing line,” he said. “When I visited Cyprus at the beginning of this year I did not think it was possible so there are steps in the right direction.”

Speaking at the tree planting ceremony Schwimmer said: “This little tree has travelled from your island to be planted into the soil of Strasbourg, the city-symbol of the first post-war European reconciliation. We are planting it today, together, to set a sign for your commitment and for the commitment of Europe to the unity of Cyprus within Europe. It shall also set a sign that the hope of all Cypriots which has been raised with the opening of the gates of the Green Line, two months ago, will continue to live and be fulfilled.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[05] Greens call new demo against British antennae

A DEMONSTRATION outside the RAF base at Akrotiri will be held on Saturday, 12 July, to protest the continued operation of aerials believed to pose health hazards to local residents and the wildlife.

An independent environmental study last year found that the antennae had a negative impact on the surrounding salt lake ecosystem; and a health study - - one of many -- currently being carried out by a foreign university will measure possible threats to health from electromagnetic emissions.

The demo is being organised by the Green Party, and will be joined by pro- environment youth groups from Cyprus and Spain.

“We’re hoping for a large turnout,” Green party chairman and MP George Perdikis told the Cyprus Mail.

“This is a chance to bring some heat on the issue, because absolutely no progress has been made.”

The bases’ commitment last year to “relocate” the salt lake’s flora and fauna to a safer area was a sham, added Perdikis.

“We will be demanding that all antennae, not just the new giant one, be taken down.”

Demos protesting the operation of the antennae are traditionally held in the summer time, sometimes turning violent; two years ago, bloody riots broke out as protesters breached the British base’s perimeter and clashed with police.

The Greens will also be organising a mission to London later this month, in a bid to enlist the help of their UK counterparts and ornithologists groups there. And Perdikis reiterated that his party was still considering a recourse to the European Court of Human Rights.

“But first we need to whip up support for our cause and get people mobilised,” Perdikis said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[06] Controversial Apostolos Andreas repairs to go ahead

BISHOP Neophytos of Morphou said yesterday the Holy Synod was standing by its decision to go ahead with controversial renovations to the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in the occupied Karpass peninsula.

Part of the plan for renovation of the monastery involves the demolition of a number of upper rooms attached to the building, which were not originally part of the structure, but have been deemed unsafe by the project managers.

While the majority of the Holy Synod supports the removing of the additional rooms, a faction of the Church, including Bishop Neophytos, is opposed.

Speaking after yesterday’s Synod meeting, he said it was not “just a matter of a few rooms” but an entire two-storied with important architectural “and particularly important, the memory of our occupied land”.

“If this memory is removed from a monument, it is not monument any more,” he said. “We should respect also the monument and the memory and the enclaved.” He also said the renovations should only go ahead with the support of the people of the Kaprass.

Asked if he was alone within the Synod in opposing the demolition, Neophytos said: “No”.

Two months ago, architects overseeing the renovation said they feared losing the $1 million allocated by the UN for its repair, following a row with the Church-backed committee monitoring the project.

The restoration is being carried out in tandem with work on the Hala Sultan Tekke, a shrine holy to Turkish Cypriots, near Larnaca’s Salt Lake.

Around $5 million in total has been allocated for the dual projects, which is being provided by the US and the work is being carried out by UNOPS, the United Nations Office for Project Services. Around $1 million of the total has been allocated for the monastery and chapel.

Apostolos Andreas was built on the spot where the Apostle Andrew is said to have come ashore on his way to Greece in the 1st century AD. For the past 30 years it has fallen foul of neglect and the elements. The monastery itself dates from the 19th century and the chapel from the 14th century.

The first phase of the project, which involved surrounding buildings, was completed last year. Professor Giorgio Croci, the Italian engineer who is famed for preventing the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over, has taken on the project, and it was he who deemed the additions unsafe.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[07] Asylum system ‘stretched to the limit’

THE island’s EU Harmonisation Co-ordinator Takis Hadjidemetriou warned yesterday the large number of people seeking asylum in Cyprus was becoming “a big problem”.

“There are a great number of asylum seekers here in Cyprus and it’s an issue which must be examined as soon as possible - things cannot remain as they are at the moment,” he said.

His comments follow an incident last month involving nine Kurdish asylum seekers who found themselves living in a Nicosia park after they were evicted from a guest house because the Welfare Office failed to pay their accommodation bill.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, Hadjidemetriou said that more than 1,000 people had come to Cyprus and applied for asylum, but that delays in processing applications had led to “problems”.

“About 1,000 people have applied for asylum and their applications must be examined as soon as possible. As an EU member state, Cyprus is obliged to examine all applications in a short period of time - and there is a delay at the moment.”

He added that delays in processing applications were leading to unnecessary expenses for the government. “As long as applications remain unexamined, it costs the Republic a lot of money. We have to accelerate the whole procedure, and with regard to this issue, there are some thoughts that additional personnel must be recruited.”

Asked whether the EU had noted Cyprus’ difficulties in dealing with asylum seekers, Hadjidemetriou said an EU Peer Review Delegation had visited the island last week to discuss the matter, adding, “but the problem is well known to us anyway.”

He said practical assistance from other EU countries could be sought in an effort to improve the situation.

“There are possibilities for co-operation with other European governments and NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations). But this hasn’t materialised yet. We won’t ask for financial assistance but we need technical support and advice.”

The Co-ordinator added that a special committee would be examining the situation in the near future. An independent reviewing body to review rejected applications for asylum will also be in operation.

No one at the Interior Ministry was available for comment yesterday.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[08] Four held over attack on brothers

POLICE yesterday arrested four men on suspicion of injuring, assaulting, causing actual bodily harm, and threatening assault against two Limassol brothers on Sunday, as well as entering their property illegally.

According to the evidence under investigation, at around 5.30pm on Sunday, the four men from Limassol allegedly illegally entered the home of Michael Michael, 27, on the Ayios Ioannis’ housing estate. They proceeded to attack both Michael and his 26-year-old brother, Christos, with a knife and shovel, causing them actual bodily harm. The argument was apparently over financial differences they had. The foursome then fled the scene, said police.

A short while later, another two men illegally entered Michael’s property and threatened both brothers as well as their father, who was there at the time.

Michael and Christos were taken to Limassol hospital for various fractures and abrasions on their body. They were administered first aid and released, police said.

The four men are expected to appear before a court today. Meanwhile police have issued arrest warrants for the other two men allegedly involved in the incident.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[09] ‘Vice rings running out of control’

HUMAN trafficking in Cyprus is running rampant, as criminal rings have an almost free hand in sexually exploiting young women from former Eastern bloc countries.

According to a report published in Athens in the Vima Sunday supplement Vimagazino, Cyprus is fast turning into a top destination for artistes seeking easy money or a better life. And the criminal rings controlling the cabaret scene apparently have so much muscle that the definition of “entertainment” has long since blurred.

For example, Vimagazino’s piece said it was now commonplace for nightclubs to offer customers sex on the site; the average price was estimated at £50. The article quoted a conversation between a journalist and a waiter in a cabaret, where the latter essentially informed his customer he could cut to the chase and have sex with an artiste of his liking. The dialogue was an illustration of how such practices have become the norm.

Alternatively, customers wishing to engage in sexual intercourse have the option of “hiring” out a girl for the night, but the price tag is considerably higher, as much as £170. But given Cypriots’ high standard of living and good salaries, business is booming for the cabaret owners and pimps, the report said.

In fact, the industry has expanded to such an extent that competition between prospective artistes is stiff, and cabaret owners pay special attention to the “quality” of the girls, typically from Russia, the Ukraine and Central Europe. In turn, this has meant that Cyprus has become the first choice for budding artistes, who often have no idea of what their job entails.

The report also quoted a seasoned artiste agent as saying that the girls stay in building blocs under heavy guard, for two reasons: first, to prevent any escapes and second to avert any abductions by jealous rivals.

So blatant is the exploitation of young women that cabaret owners often loan them out to other entertainment establishments for other duties when that time of the month comes and the girls cannot have sex.

According to Vimagazino, the gangland has grown so powerful that the police Vice Squad can do little to mitigate this abuse.

The report followed comments last week by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil Robles that the extent of human trafficking in Cyprus was “striking”. During his brief visit to the island, Robles said the number of artistes was excessive, compared to the size and population of the country. The commissioner urged the government to take legal measures to protect victims of trafficking.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[10] Giant cannabis plantation found in the woods

LIMASSOL police yesterday uprooted the second biggest cannabis plantation ever found on the island, with 1,185 plants of various sizes.

Two suspects were remanded in custody for eight days on suspicion of cultivation, possession and trafficking of drugs as well as conspiracy to commit felony.

Marios Kyprianou, 36, and 34-year-old Yiannakis Demetriou were caught red- handed while tending to their plants in a steep forested area between the villages of Arkounta and Dierona.

Drug squad officers, who had been tipped off about the cannabis ‘forest’ on Thursday, placed the area under surveillance on Sunday evening.

The two suspects arrived on the scene at around 10pm and started watering the plants, which measured from 20 centimetres to 1.50 metres tall.

They were ambushed by the officers, one of whom was injured during the arrest.

Drug squad chief Michalakis Papageorghiou said the plantation was the second biggest ever discovered on the island.

The biggest one was found in 1985, again in the Limassol district.

With first light, officers uprooted the plants and seized fertiliser, the watering system and other equipment as evidence.

Police said the two had allegedly admitted to cultivating the plants in order to sell the drugs and solve their financial problems.

The two are being treated as suspected dealers, and police were yesterday searching for any potential collaborators or buyers.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[11] Government to crack down on overspending in civil service

THE President is cracking down on overspending in government departments, and new rules could force officials to pay for extra spending out of their own pockets or even face prosecution, reports said yesterday.

Politis said yesterday the Ministry of Finance had issued a circular to all government departments pointing out that unjustified deviations from the approved budgets would no longer go unquestioned, and that the public officials involved could be asked to pay up or face criminal prosecution under article 105, which provides for jail sentences.

According to the circular, President Tassos Papadopoulos gave clear and strict instructions for the enforcement of the budget law in order to avoid overspending, as well as assigning responsibility and recovering the expenses from those who illegally authorised or ordered them.

One regular deviation concerns overtime pay.

The budget usually provides for a set number of hours, but department heads often authorise double the amount, which results in the need for a supplementary budget to be approved by the House.

A second example is the purchase of services or materials without a specific provision in the budget.

This again throws the state off its programme and forces it to spend more than the approved funds, Politis said.

The circular stressed that in 2002 there had been a large number of overspends. Many had been unavoidable - pay rises, VAT increase, etc - but there were many that were completely unjustified and needed to be covered at the last moment.

The Finance Ministry circular noted that such practices tended to legalise unacceptable, illegal and unconstitutional procedures.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

[12] Police play down Paphos crime spree fears

POLICE yesterday denied reports that crime in the Paphos area was soaring.

“Crime here is normal -- on a par with the rest of Cyprus,” Spyros Koniotis, Divisional Commander of Paphos Police said yesterday. “We have a few more burglaries now because it’s summer time, that’s all.”

His comments follow reports in Monday’s Phileleftheros alleging dramatic increases in crime in the coastal town in the first six months of 2003. The daily said 451 burglaries had been recorded so far this year, whereas just 47 were recorded for the whole of 2002.”

“We (may) have an increase in crimes, but it’s not a dangerous increase,” Koniotis insisted.

Police spokesman Demetris Demetriou said the press report did not represent the true picture regarding crime, explaining that until 2003, not all crimes had been recorded by police for statistical purposes.

“We can’t compare last year’s statistics with this year’s,” he said. “It appears (from the figures) that some offences have gone up since last year, such as burglaries and offences against property. But the reason for this is that we didn’t record all offences for statistical purposes last year. Of course, all crimes were investigated, but some were not recorded for statistics.”

He added that this year, all crimes were being recorded following a change of policy.

“On his appointment, new Chief of Police Tassos Panayiotou gave instructions that all crimes should be recorded for statistical purposes.”

Demetriou admitted the number of burglaries and thefts had risen: “Especially in Paphos we have an increase in burglaries and thefts,” he said. But he stressed the problem could be overcome if residents took simple precautions.

“When people leave their house, they should make sure all doors are locked and perhaps leave on a light at night for security.

“We have also seen thefts from cars - people leave belongings inside cars on display, and they should remove them from view.”

But some Paphos residents are unhappy at the situation.

“There’s definitely been an increase in crime,” said one woman.

“It’s unfortunate,” said another woman, whose Paphos apartment was burgled recently. “If you look through a brochure on Cyprus, you see ‘low crime’ advertised. Yes, there is low crime but you still have to take precautions like anywhere else.”

Since her apartment was burgled she has invested in a security camera and the communal entrance doors to her apartment block are now kept locked at all times.

“We did feel safe but obviously times change. We’ve noticed a change in the last year or so, especially,” she said. “The Tombs of the Kings’ area is especially bad - there is a lack of security, a lack of supervision, a lack of police patrols and the police are unwilling to publish true crime figures.”

She added that she and her family were leaving Paphos as a result.

“We’re moving to Nicosia where apartment blocks seem to have security and where we’re not alone in a complex where only holidaymakers come to stay.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

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