Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-07-26

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

Saturday, July 26, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] Hasikos denies being offensive to Akkelidou

[02] Turn off your mobile when filling up - it could start a fire

[03] Murder suspect’s remand renewed again

[04] Secret papers? Nothing to do with me, says Georgiades

[05] We’re wasters: Europe’s top rubbish providers

[06] Man killed in lorry cliff plunge

[07] Powell urges Gul to ‘work with Denktash’ on Cyprus

[08] Laws will not be changed to facilitate trade

[09] Why not exclude TC firms from VAT?

[10] Denktash Varosha move ‘inadmissible’, says UN

[11] Bi-communal group seeks to break the hold of nationalism

[12] Travel agents lobby for Middle East charter flights

[13] Plan to crack down on road offences by young drivers

[14] Tourism links with Libya to be revived

[01] Hasikos denies being offensive to Akkelidou

FORMER Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos told reporters yesterday that Health Minister Dina Akkelidou should stop whingeing and take proper responsibility for leaving important top secret government documents in open bin bags under the Ministry of Health’s staircase.

A reporter found the documents lying under the stairs, completely free for the taking just a few days ago, and many have criticised Akkelidou and even called for her resignation.

Akkelidou was very upset by Hasikos’ remarks likening her to a housewife, throwing things away without any regard to their importance or security.

She suggested that Hassikos should apologise to local women’s rights groups for his chauvinist statements.

But Hasikos is standing by what he said.

“Dina Akkelidou has an important political responsibility here, and with this whole bin bag incident, she just left these important papers out in the open. Now she’s deflecting that criticism and not owning up to what she’s done”, he said.

Clarifying his previous statement, Hasikos said: “I never called her a little housewife. I said she had acted like a housewife who wants to clean and throw things away without checking what they are.”

Akkelidou interpreted Hasikos’ comment as saying she made a mistake because she is a woman.

“There is no room for whingeing in politics,” Hasikos said. “And I certainly don’t accept her calling on the women’s rights movement to support her at this time. Politics doesn’t have anything at all to do with gender.”

He wondered how what he had said could be construed as derogatory and meriting a formal apology when he asked: “Can’t a good female minister also be a good housewife?”

Hasikos feels Akkelidou is attacking him only to deflect the criticism levelled at her this past week, but that the strategy will not be effective in the long run.

“We simply can’t use our sex to gain leniency,” he said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[02] Turn off your mobile when filling up - it could start a fire

THE PRESIDENT of the Petrol Dealers’ Association has called on petrol companies to launch a campaign warning people of the dangers of answering mobile phones at filling stations.

Pambinos Charalambous told the Cyprus Mail that although there had not been any reported incidents in Cyprus, it was “very dangerous” to use mobile phones near petrol pumps.

Many people do not realise that mobiles that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition. They should also not be used around lawn mowers, motorboats or other petrol- or gas-fuelled machinery. The Petroleum Equipment Institute is now attempting to make the public aware of the danger and has published information on its website (www.pei.org).

In Cyprus, all petrol stations carry signs warning against the use of mobile phones, along with the standard signs on the danger of smoking. Charalambous said the signs had been up for around two years, and were put there on the instructions of the petrol companies.

“There are people who pay attention to the signs but there are some people who don’t take any notice of them,” he said.

Charalambous said he had recently taken it on himself to try and inform the public about the dangers and had spoken at length on a radio station in Limassol.

“I think there should be an advertising campaign in the newspapers to make people aware of the dangers,” he said. “We need a campaign to educate people, because everywhere you look young people are using mobile phones every minute of the day.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[03] Murder suspect’s remand renewed again

THE Limassol District Court yesterday renewed for the second time the remand order of a suspect held in connection with the murder of a 63-year- old man.

Savvas Vassiliou was shot twice by a shotgun while he was on night-guard duty at the Lanitis estate in Phassouri.

Police arrested Anikitos Panayi, alias Kafkaris, 43, who was allegedly seen by the victim’s wife standing over his body holding a shotgun.

The court heard that traces of blood matching that of the victim had been lifted from the shotgun, which was allegedly found in Kafkaris’ hideout.

The suspect had fled the scene and was sought for four days before he was discovered in a carefully camouflaged hideout in the Asomatos forest.

Police said they found the victim’s DNA on the suspect’s shoes, and that parts of a weapon found at the scene are thought to belong to Kafakaris’ shotgun.

Police requested and secured renewal of the suspect’s remand order for six more days in order to complete their investigation.

It is expected that Kafkaris will be charged and referred to the criminal court when his remand order expires next week.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[04] Secret papers? Nothing to do with me, says Georgiades

EDUCATION Minister Pefkios Georgiades said yesterday he had nothing to do with the dumping of top secret documents, after another batch was found on Thursday, prompting a fresh police investigation.

Politis newspaper yesterday claimed the papers, which contained minutes of a cabinet meeting held in April, 2002, were handed to the editor by a man claiming he had found them in rubbish bags outside the ministry a few weeks ago.

But Georgiades was quick to deny having any knowledge about any classified documents from the previous administration, claiming that when he took over as minister, he found all his drawers empty.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Georgiades said former Education Minister Ouranios Ioannides had supervised the disposal of all confidential documents in his ministry before he left.

“When I took over as Minister, I found my office drawers empty,” he said.

“This was also clarified by Mr Ioannides, who said publicly that he had given specific orders for the proper disposal of any documents containing information on cabinet meetings held by the previous administration.”

Georgiades said the new government had issued instructions on the proper disposal of top secret documents, and insisted he had not given instructions for the disposal of any documents since he took over.

“I would like to stress that I have never given instructions for the disposal of any documents from our ministry, and neither has the Permanent Secretary,” Georgiades said.

“I am waiting with great interest for the results of the investigation.”

However, Georgiades refused to comment on whether he knew that secret documents existed in his ministry.

“All will be revealed in the investigation,” he said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[05] We’re wasters: Europe’s top rubbish providers

CYPRIOTS produce 50 per cent more rubbish per person than the average European, throwing away nearly 750 kilos each year compared with 500 kilos per person in most member states.

Figures for 2001 showed that Cypriots produced 749 kilos of rubbish per capita while the average European produces between 500 and 550 kilos a year.

The Statistics Department said that figures for 2002 have not been released yet and that the figures of 2001 were being reevaluated.

Records which began in 1996 show an annual increase in the amount of waste being produced in Cyprus, which could result in some difficulty in complying with the standards of the European Union.

According to the rules, acceding countries to the EU should average between 300 and 350 kilos a year. In Greece the average is around 400 kilos per person, the statistics show.

The main type of rubbish in Cyprus is organic, followed by paper and paper pulp. Large amounts of plastic, weaving materials and by-products as well as glass and metal also end up in dumps.

As for recycling in Cyprus, in 2001 for every 1,000 tons of rubbish only 48 kilos ended up being recycled. Metal was the most recycled material. Since 2001 efforts have been made to increase the amount of rubbish being recycled in order to comply with EU regulations, the Department said.

Many of the items being thrown away could have been recycled. Organic materials such as leftovers, peels or products that have gone off could be turned into fertiliser, the Department said. Soft drink cans and glass bottles could also be recycled, as could the paper from magazines and newspapers.

However there is no mechanism in place in Cyprus to facilitate recycling since consumers and industry would need separate bins for different items and the means to collect and distribute to the relevant recycling plant.

EU directives will change various aspects of waste disposal. For example, one of the regulations will mean that it will be illegal for the authorities to process hazardous waste with normal household rubbish.

EU member states must prohibit the uncontrolled discarding, discharge and disposal of waste. They must promote the prevention, recycling and conversion of wastes with a view to their reuse.

Cyprus has been given transitional arrangements to apply the EU acquis on packaging and packaging waste by December 31, 2005. For urban waste and water treatment the acquis must be applied by 2012.

“To complete preparations for membership (on May 1, 2004), Cyprus’ efforts need to focus on air quality, pollution, chemicals, genetically modified organisms and of landfill waste,” the EU Commission has said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[06] Man killed in lorry cliff plunge

A 50-year-old man was killed in a road accident yesterday in the Limassol area -- the fourteenth person to die on the island’s roads this month.

According to police, at 5.10am Lambros Lambrou from Louvara village was driving along the three bridges area of the Limassol-Louvaras road when his lorry went over a cliff into a 10-metre-deep ravine.

Preliminary investigations suggest the front left tyre of the lorry may have blown out, causing Lambrou to lose control of the vehicle.

Lambrou was thrown from the lorry in the fall and flung against a rock. He died instantly.

Police said a total of 60 people have died in road accidents on the island so far this year, making an average of eight road deaths a month.

There have been 14 road deaths in 25 days so far this month -- an average of almost one death every 48 hours.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[07] Powell urges Gul to ‘work with Denktash’ on Cyprus

U.S. SECRETARY of State Colin Powell has urged Turkish Foreign Minster Abdullah Gul to work closely with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to see that Cyprus negotiations are resumed.

Speaking after a meeting between the two men in Washington, Powell said they had “reviewed the state of play of the discussions”.

“We discussed the need not to lose the opportunity that is before us,” he said. “And I commented favourably on the proposal that has been left on the table by the Secretary-general, and encouraged my Turkish friend to work with Mr (Rauf) Denktash, and we would work with both sides to see if we can get some movement quickly,” Powell added.

“We see a lot of things happening on the ground as the people themselves are now moving back and forth. We want to convert that into a substantive agreement in the political world and come up with a comprehensive settlement,” Powell said, adding that he knew his Turkish counterpart had that same goal.

“We're working hard. But there were no new initiatives,” the Secretary of State concluded.The US, Britain and the European Union want negotiations between the two sides to resume as soon as possible in order that a united Cyprus can join the EU next May.

Denktash has rejected the settlement plan drawn up by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, but he and President Tassos Papadopoulos are still expected to meet Annan in New York in September.

Meanwhile the EU announced yesterday that the Secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, will be raising the Cyprus issue with Annan during the 5th UN-Regional Organisations High-Level Meeting in the US from July 29-31.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[08] Laws will not be changed to facilitate trade

THE government said yesterday it was not willing to change the country’s laws in order to facilitate trading with the Turkish Cypriots.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said trading should be carried out in accordance with the Republic’s laws and regulations.

His comments came after it emerged that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has gone back on its initial decision to issue certificates of origin for any Turkish Cypriot products crossing into the government- controlled areas.

“In light of the fact that trade should be carried out on the basis of the laws and regulations of the Republic, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce refuses to issue the certificates,” Chrysostomides said.

Negotiations between the two sides have apparently reached deadlock, as it would be impossible for the government to carry out its own checks in order to issue the certificates.

“(The chamber) wants the whole legislation to change and us to comply with their demands. This is not possible. Cypriot legislation exists -- trade will be carried out on the basis of the laws and regulations of the Republic of Cyprus,” the government spokesman said.

He added that the government wanted trade with the Turkish Cypriots but not to the detriment of the Republic, and not by delegating authority in other directions.

On Thursday, Trade and Industry Minister George Lillikas, without disclosing any details, suggested that there were political reasons for the chamber’s change of heart.

But the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot chamber, Ali Erel, denied there was a political motive for their decision.

He told the Cyprus Mail that the reasons given to them concerned VAT, Turkish Cypriot companies not being registered with the company registrar, and acceptance of invoices among other things.

Erel said the chamber has always been ready and willing to issue the certificates.

“We do not have any difficulty,” Erel said.

He said despite various declarations by the European Union and the government concerning support to the Turkish Cypriots to bring the north closer to the EU, there have not been any positive results yet.

“A comprehensive (Cyprus problem) settlement based on the (UN Secretary- general Kofi) Annan plan seems to be the only way out.

“Without a settlement, the same old positions of the two political leaderships will keep preventing any real improvement,” Erel said.

“The Turkish Cypriot community will soon change their political leadership in the north and they will be looking forward to see if their partners in the south are ready and willing to solve the problem based on the Annan plan, and join the EU as a united Cyprus,” he added.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[09] Why not exclude TC firms from VAT?

THE UNITED Democrats yesterday suggested that Turkish Cypriot companies be temporarily excluded from registering with the VAT service as part of a series of measures to further co-operation between the two communities.

In a three-page memo, the United Democrats suggested the opening of more crossing points as well as the publication of Turkish-language maps and guides.

“Apart from its usefulness to Turkish Cypriots coming to the free areas, this would be a welcoming gesture,” the memo said.

On trade between the two communities, the party suggested that Turkish Cypriot companies be temporarily considered by the VAT service as ‘non- registered’ and that tax be paid by the consumers when buying the goods instead of the traders paying before they hit the market.

The United Democrats also said procedures should be expedited concerning the issue of official documents and mini-buses could be hired in co- operation with the Nicosia Municipality to take Turkish Cypriots to the appropriate government services.

The memo proposed the creation of a separate action group by the Labour Ministry to handle Turkish Cypriot affairs and stressed the urgent need for a website to guide Turkish Cypriots through the procedures.

The party also suggested the joint organisation of a weekly open market to reinforce the effort to reopen Ermou Street, which was a bustling trade centre before the bicommunal troubles in the 60s.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[10] Denktash Varosha move ‘inadmissible’, says UN

THE UNITED Nations Security Council has said that any attempts to settle part of Varosha by people other than its original inhabitants is inadmissible, and urged the two sides on the island to resume negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.

The statement was made in response to demarches by Cypriot Chargé d’Affaires George Cassoulides in New York after threats by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Last week Denktash threatened to open Varosha for settlement if the government did not agree with his proposal two weeks ago to accept part of the city back in exchange for reopening Nicosia Airport.The Security Council President, Ambassador Inocencio Arias of Spain, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that he briefed the members of the Council on the concerns expressed by the government of Cyprus about the latest developments, especially on the situation on Varosha.“The Council reiterated its well-known position on Varosha, which remains unchanged, and also urges the parties to resume the negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue on the basis of the Secretary General’s plan,” Arias said. Cassoulides had urged Council members to address the matter urgently and take all necessary measures to ensure that no violation of the status quo takes place and to promote the implementation of resolution 550.Resolution 550, issued on May 11, 1984, “considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha (Famagusta) by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations”.

The government yesterday welcomed the latest statement from the Security Council.

“We hope the opposition does not say once again that the government is inactive,” said spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[11] Bi-communal group seeks to break the hold of nationalism

TODAY at 9am, the Bicommunal Initiative against Nationalism and War, comprising Greek and Turkish activists and political groups, will convene at the Ledra Palace to remember and honour all those killed on both sides of the Green Line in 1974.

Phaedon Vassiliades, a member of the Initiative’s co-ordinating committee, said the participants will first travel by coach to visit the village of Maratha in the north. There they will lay wreaths on the graves of Turkish Cypriots killed in 1974 before crossing back again to the Constantinou and Eleni cemetery to pay tribute to Greek Cypriot civilians killed in the invasion.

“It is very important and symbolic for the Initiative that the Turks and the Greeks cross together as one people,” Vassiliades said.

“We thought it would make a dramatic point to honour the innocent people who we feel were undeservedly killed in the war.”

The Initiative says in its official press release that “for decades the nationalists on both sides have been amplifying their own peoples’ suffering in order to encourage feelings of hatred and difference between the two sides”.

Recognising the desire for peace and reconciliation on both sides of the Green Line, the Initiative plans to send a powerful symbolic message, not only to Cypriots, but to Greece and Turkey as well.

“There is a collective desire for peace and co-operation in our common future,” said Vassiliades, who hopes today’s demonstration will start a dialogue between the two sides.

The Bi-communal Initiative already has more activities planned for the near future. In August the group will spend a night camping in the north. Vassiliades said that the camping excursion would challenge the leadership of both sides in two ways.

“First, by sleeping overnight in the open air free of charge, Greek Cypriots, upon returning to the south, will not have any hotel receipts to submit to Turkish guards. We will be directly challenging the policy set forth by (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash that every Greek Cypriot must submit a hotel bill to prove their overnight stay when crossing back home.”

And by camping in the north, our group hopes to challenge the Greek Cypriot leadership that is discouraging any kind of travel there,” he added.

Vassiliades believes these two events will be the first of many symbolic events that will contribute to the steadily developing mood of peace and reconciliation among ordinary civilians on both sides in recent months.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[12] Travel agents lobby for Middle East charter flights

THE ASSOCIATION of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) has called on the Civil Aviation Department to grant charter licences for Israel and Lebanon, saying the move could bring in an additional 10,000 tourists from the region.

In a written statement, ACTA said it could not understand the Department’s refusal to grant charter licences for the two routes at a time when the island’s tourism was down 10-15 per cent overall.

Although Cyprus has liberalised its air routes to Europe in line with EU harmonisation, other destinations remain closed under bilateral agreements between governments, since there is no obligation to implement an open skies policy for the Middle East.

Currently, Lebanon is served only by Cyprus Airways and MEA, and Tel Aviv by Israeli airline El Al, but passengers have frequently complained of the high fares for such short journeys.

ACTA said Cyprus could bring in more than 10,000 new tourists from the region on package deals, which would cost far less than the current scheduled fares. It called on the government to reconsider its decision.

Private Cypriot airline Helios complained last year that the government’s steadfast refusal to granted them a charter licence for flights between Paphos and Tel Aviv had cost the island 9,000 Israeli tourists.

Symeon Matsis, Permanent Secretary of the Communications and Works Ministry, told the Cyprus Mail that it was not blocking charter flights to the two destinations.

“We are not blocking anything. There are plenty of seats available on the scheduled flights,” Matsis said. “These flights are coming in between 60-75 per cent full, so there still seems to be a lot of availability, and if that is the case there is no justification for allowing additional flights, either charter or any other.”

Matsis admitted that flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv were relatively more expensive and that charter packages would probably be cheaper since they involved less cost to the airline.

“But at the present time there is not really an opportunity,” he said. “It has been examined, and we have asked for companies to lower fares and we have taken all measures to ensure there are available seats for any potential tourists.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[13] Plan to crack down on road offences by young drivers

A NEW BILL providing for more penalty points and higher fines for traffic offences committed by young drivers will be put to the cabinet in September.

The bill, announced yesterday by Communications and Works Minister Kikis Kazamias, would help crack down on offences such as failure to wear a seatbelt, the use of mobile phones while driving, speeding and reckless driving.

The announcement follows a spate of road deaths this month, with 14 people losing their lives in road accidents in 25 just days. Sixty people have been killed in road accidents in Cyprus so far this year.

Speaking after a Road Safety Committee meeting, Kazamias said the committee had also decided to promote a number of educational measures for soldiers and students in order to combat the problem. He said there was even a proposal that mopeds used by underage youngsters should be seized by police, after parents said “they couldn’t easily counter the insistence of their children”. The position of speed bumps on roads will also be re-evaluated.

The committee has decided, in conjunction with the Defence Ministry, to introduce road safety lessons in all army camps. A special traffic park in Nicosia is set to be completed in autumn, where the ministry hopes the police can give students lessons in road behaviour. A similar park may be built in Polemidia -- the local municipality has put forward £70,000 for the cause.

Educational videos on road safety will also be shown in schools to instil youngsters with good road sense. The videos will feature interviews with victims of road accident.

The bill is expected to be tabled before the cabinet at the end of September.

“We agree with these proposals,” police spokesman Demetris Demetriou told the Cyprus Mail yesterday. “According to our statistics most road deaths are young people under 25.”

Demetriou said police statistics showed 34 out of 94 road death victims last year were under 25.

“We have a big problem with young people. They are undisciplined and reckless, and these measures can only improve the situation. Maybe penalty points and higher fines will deter them.”

Demetriou said about 3,400 mobile phone offences had been recorded during this month’s police campaign to crack down on motorists using mobiles at the wheel.

“For the whole of last year 9,500 offences were recorded in total, and this year in only 24 days we had 3,400. This year so far we have a total of 8, 500 mobile offences recorded. So we obviously have a problem with mobile use.

“But the campaign will hopefully do its job. And in August we will focus on drink driving which is also a problem.” Twenty-five per cent of road death victims in the past five years were found to have consumed excessive alcohol.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Saturday, July 26, 2003

[14] Tourism links with Libya to be revived

CYPRUS and Libya said yesterday they planned to co-operate in the field of tourism following a meeting between Foreign Minister George Iacovou and Libyan Ambassador Khalifa Ahmed Bazelya in Nicosia.

Air links between Cyprus and Libya were cut in April 1992, after the imposition of sanctions under UN Security Council resolutions on Tripoli in the wake of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

The sanctions, a response to Libya's refusal to hand over two men suspected of the bombing, banned flights to and from Libya, forbade the sale of spare parts for oil refineries, and froze all Libyan funds abroad.

The sanctions remained in place until 1999 but air links have not yet been restored by all UN member states, including Cyprus. Until 1992 Libyan Airlines used to operate two weekly flights to Larnaca.

Cyprus Airways stopped flying to Tripoli prior to 1990, a spokesman said.

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) said that the last year in which a substantial number of Libyan tourists came to Cyprus was 1989, when 3,399 visited the island. By 1997 the number had dropped to only 497 and last year it was 377.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

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