Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-08-09

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Fanieros - murder attempt

[02] Famagusta - Event

[03] Agriculture Minister - Water resources

[04] Government Spokesman - Demilitarisation

1125:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Fanieros - murder attempt

Loucas Fanieros, 31, from the southern coastal town of Larnaca, was shot during an attack with an automatic weapon at 1.30 a.m. (22.30 GMT) as he was driving with two companions.

No one was hurt, although the car was hit by a bullet. The culprits escaped in a saloon car.

Police cordoned off the area and is conducting investigations, led by headquarters officials.

According to press reports, Loucas' father, Antonis, who was nearly killed in May 1997 during a gangland hit, claimed that he was the target.

The new shooting comes just 10 days after Andros Aeroporos, 32, of Kolossi village, near the southern coastal town of Limassol, was killed as he was leaving a Limassol night club.

Aeroporos, who received a hail of bullets from a machine-gun and was instantly killed, was one of three brothers who had walked free from court last June in connection with the attempted murder of Antonis Fanieros.

Fanieros, 57 had been hit in the neck after a machine-gun attack last year, but survived, after extensive surgery.

Anastasios Simillides is serving a nine-year prison sentence for the attempted murder of Fanieros.

Aeroporos and his brothers Charalambos and Panicos, were acquitted by the Assize Court which ruled that there was no case against them in the attempted murder of Fanieros.

Last night's shooting is seen as part of a long-running feud between underworld gangs vying for control of lucrative gambling, prostitution and drugs rackets.

Justice and Public Order Minister, Nicos Koshis, said last week that he expected acts of reprisal following the murder of Andros Aeroporos.

CNA EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Famagusta - Event

Acting President, House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, Archbishop Chrysostomos, MPs from Britain, Greece and Portugal, as well as hundreds of people from Famagusta attended the event.

It was organised by Famagusta Municipality to stress the determination of all Cypriots to return to their homes and properties in the Turkish occupied areas.

In his address, Kyprianou underlined that the government and the political leadership will not give up the undeniable right to build the island's defence as long as part of Cyprus is occupied by Turkey and Ankara continues its policy of ethnic cleansing and its threats against the Republic.

He also assured that no solution that does not ensure the restoration of the human rights and basic freedoms of all Cypriots will be accepted.

On his part the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus said the Church cannot remain indifferent to the dangers ahead.

Archbishop Chrysostomos rejected a 'give-and-take' policy for the settlement of the Cyprus problem and said a new procedure has to be followed.

A memorial service for all who lost their lives protecting democracy and the freedom of Cyprus was held, followed by a concert.

Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on July 20 1974. On August 14 the Turkish army embarked on the second phase of its operation, occupying 37 per cent of the island, including the popular coastal resort of Famagusta.

CNA MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1245:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Agriculture Minister - Water resources

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment minister, Costas Themistocleous yesterday announced that with water supplies due to run out by the end of this year the government is also examining the cost of shipping water from abroad.

"Next year will be one of the most difficult because our water supplies will run out completely by the end of this year and the second desalination plant will not be ready," Themistocleous said.

Cyprus has one desalination plant in Dhekelia, near the eastern coast, and the second is expected to be completed after the year 2000.

The minister assured that the government will do everything possible to tackle the problems "which are mainly the result of extended drought".

He pointed out that the dam-building policy followed by governments has been stumped by low rainfall and said that reservoirs are less then 10 per cent full.

"That is why we are now talking of a strategy that does not depend on rainfall but on desalination and recycling," the minister added.

Themistocleous said the Council of Ministers decided on Friday to seek tenders for two mobile desalination plants, in September, which could start operating before the summer of 1999.

He added that environmental impact assessment studies for these two plants will be carried out soon.

"We will also investigate the possibility of importing water as an alternative solution," Themistocleous said.

The cabinet has also decided to detail a technical committee to study the possibility of introducing higher water charges as well as the requisition of private bore-holes.

Among the other measures decided by the government is the preparation of a plan for the purchase and use of water-saving devices in homes and systems for treatment and recycling of 'grey water' for use in toilets and garden irrigation.

It will also provide 20 thousand pounds (about 40 thousand US dollars) to repair water pipe networks in towns and villages.

"The state must apologise to its citizens, because at the end of the 20th century, in a country with an enviably high standard of living and a society with a high per capita income, we have weaknesses and shortcomings in a basic necessity, which affects quality of life and economic activity," Themistocleous said.

CNA MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government Spokesman - Demilitarisation

He was speaking at a memorial service held in Paralimni, in the eastern coast, for Tasos Isaak and Solomos Solomou, two young Greek Cypriots brutally killed by Turkish extremists during the August 1996 anti- occupation demonstrations in Dherynia.

Stylianides said that Cypriot Hellenism has a strategy to combat the deadlock in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem, created through Turkish provocations and intransigence.

The strategy includes cooperation with the Greek government and the Greek diaspora, the Republic's joint defence pact with Greece and above all Cyprus' application to join the European Union, he said.

Stylianides criticised those who are recently "trying to place the Cyprus Republic on an equal footing with Turkey's occupation and expansionism" due to Cyprus' decision to upgrade its defences.

He wondered since when the aggressor and the defender are treated as equals.

"... we respond with our specific proposals for demilitarisation", Stylianides said, and challenged Americans, Europeans and all others who criticise the government to act on these proposals.

The Spokesman stressed "we will never allow Cyprus to become Turkey's protectorate, a state under custody, and will always safeguard our international status."

The US, Britain and other countries object to the planned deployment of the Russian S300 anti-aircraft missile system which Cyprus has purchased in an effort to boost its air defence, in view of the increased Turkish armaments in the occupied areas.

In his speech, Stylianides praised the two Greek Cypriot men who breathed life into the struggle of Cyprus for freedom with their sacrifice.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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