Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-03-04

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Wednesday, March 4, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] New cabinet gets down to work

[02] Fire rages in Akrotiri

[03] Galanos won't rule out forming new party

[04] Denktash snubs EU commissioner

[05] Britain not informed of Denktash refusal to meet Cook

[06] Fury at plan to turn occupied monastery into hotel

[07] Green fury at Peyia development plan

[08] Lawyers strike over delay in prison deal

[09] Cannabis seized in container

[10] Unions protest hotel sackings

[11] Don't panic, Lumiere tells subscribers

[01] New cabinet gets down to work

AS THE eleven new ministers officially began their duties yesterday, there was confidence in a brave new era ahead but very little substance.

Despite the pre-election talk of an all-party government or at least a broader-based administration, seven of the cabinet members re-acquainted themselves with old friends at their ministries yesterday.

The usual spin was put on "collective responsibility" and the hard work needed to achieve results, but less clarity on the specifics.

Very little was said by the 'new' ministers about their agenda.

Commerce Minister Nicos Rolandis observed that Cyprus was a "minor player in the global market" and must tread carefully.

Education Minister Lycourgos Kappas was equally unwilling to discuss specifics, but did say he would strive for a "Hellenocentric education system".

He also pledged he would work tirelessly to ensure future generations helped free occupied Cyprus.

Costas Themistocleous, Agriculture Minister, indicated his priorities straight away by calling for a unified agency to handle the island's acute water shortage.

Edek's Yiannakis Omirou said his defence ministry would continue to improve and strengthen the defence pact with Greece.

He explained that this meant going ahead with the arms programme and operating the base in Paphos.

The old hands, Yiannakis Cassoulides (foreign ministry), Christos Solomis (health), Christodoulos Christodoulou (finance), Dinos Michaelides (interior), Andreas Moushiouttas (labour), Nicos Koshis (justice) and Leontios Ierodiaconou (communications) were rather more assured about their place in the scheme of things.

Cassoulides said team work was the key to success in government, whether it related to EU entry or the peace process.

The foreign minister said he was more confident second time around because of the "experience I gained from the personal relations we have all managed to create".

Solomis said his priorities were introducing a national health scheme (put on the back burner in Clerides's first term) and building new hospitals.

Nicosia is due a new general hospital in three years and work is under way on a new hospital for Paralimni, Solomis said.

Koshis, regarded one the pluses of the previous administration, said the war on organised crime was under control. But fighting drugs and reducing road deaths were now the police force's top priorities, he said.

On the financial front, Christodoulou gave his usual pride-in-the-economy speech and warned he would keep a tight rein on government spending to help reduce the fiscal deficit.

[02] Fire rages in Akrotiri

A Cyprus police spokesman said the fire had destroyed three square kilometres of scrubland and was heading towards Lady's Mile.

At least seven fire-engines were engaged in trying to extinguish the blaze, which started near the village of Asomatos.

There were no reports of any injuries or residential areas being under threat.

Unconfirmed reports said the fire may have been started deliberately.

[03] Galanos won't rule out forming new party

DEPUTY Alexis Galanos, back in his seat as House Finance Committee chairman, yesterday ruled out joining another political party - but not forming his own.

Galanos told reporters after chairing the first meeting of the House Finance Committee since the presidential elections that he was willing to step down from the chair if asked to do so either by the selection committee or the plenary.

But he said he saw the chairmanship as non-party and an opportunity to serve. "If I am asked to leave, then I will do so with pleasure, I would even say some relief," he said.

The former Diko vice president was less explicit about his next moves on the political arena. He ruled out joining another party, said prospects for returning to Diko were very small, but was cryptic about the possible establishment of a new party.

Galanos contested the presidential elections after disagreeing with Diko's decision to back George Iacovou. He polled 4 per cent of the vote in the first round and went on to back Glafcos Clerides in the second. About half of Diko supporters followed him in this decision.

His party responded angrily - expelling him and several other leading Diko members, including party vice president Dinos Michaelides and Kyrenia deputy Katerina Pantelidou. Some have since taken the issue to court.

At Saturday's swearing-in ceremony of the new president, Galanos and Pantelidou were obliged to relinquish their place on the Diko benches at the request of Diko, which had written to the House secretariat to inform it that Galanos and Pantelidou were no longer members of the Diko's parliamentary team. They were instead seated between the United Democrats and Akel.

In a written statement yesterday, Galanos said the Diko act exhausted just about every prospect of good will and distanced thousands of Diko voters from the party.

Asked by reporters about the new seating arrangements, Galanos said they "sent a message of the move of a percentage of Diko who supported the views of Alexis Galanos."

On his future plans, Galanos said he had several options - one of which was to remain an independent deputy. Asked about his relations with Diko, Galanos said prospects for rebuilding bridges were very limited.

"There are other options on which I have not yet decided, it is not an issue of just me, but also a question of exchanging views with my associates," he said.

Galanos said that his contacts across Cyprus since the elections showed that the voters who followed him remain "close to Mr Galanos and trust him."

Asked whether he planned to join another party, Galanos replied: "I do not see this possibility. I am not among those who join other parties but among those who take their fate their in their own hands."

For its part, the Finance Committee yesterday examined the annual budgets of the Youth Board, the Cyprus News Agency and the House Finance Organisation - all of which are expected to go to the plenary on Thursday for a final approval.

[04] Denktash snubs EU commissioner

TURKISH Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash yesterday said he would not meet EU External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek who arrives on the island later today.

A spokesman for the European Delegation said yesterday a request for a meeting between van den Broek and Denktash had been turned down by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Last week the Turkish Cypriot leader refused to meet Britain's special Cyprus envoy Sir David Hannay.

Van den Broek is due to arrive on the island tonight for a round of talks tomorrow with President Clerides and Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides relating to EU accession talks with Cyprus due to begin on March 31.

Denktash told Turkey's private NTV television he "had nothing to discuss" with van den Broek.

The Turkish Daily News yesterday quoted Denktash as saying Turkish Cypriots would never agree to join a European Union which excluded Turkey.

He said the debate on EU membership had been initiated in order to "sabotage" the UN-led negotiations between the two sides on the island.

Turkish Cypriot press reported Denktash as saying he would not "play the game" set by the EU.

"They want to get us on their field by ourselves and to lead us anywhere they want," Denktash said. "We cannot set foot on this field."

Commenting on President Clerides' inaugural speech on Saturday, when he invited the Turkish Cypriot leader to co-operate, Denktash said: "If you invite me as a TRNC citizen and President Denktash, the doors to negotiations will open."

He warned that if Clerides rejected the invitation to talk between two states and if Cyprus' accession to the EU took place, then the island would be "divided in two".

[05] Britain not informed of Denktash refusal to meet Cook

BRITAIN said yesterday it had not been officially informed by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash of his reported refusal to meet Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

Sir David Hannay, who visited the island last week and is expected to return tomorrow with EU External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek, said Cook had invited Denktash to London this month.

But according to yesterday's Turkish Daily News (TDN), Denktash has said that "nothing short of a fatal illness would take him to Britain."

Commenting on similar reports in the Turkish Cypriot press, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Nicosia said: "We've seen the reports but we have not spoken to him (Denktash)."

The spokesman added there was a possibility Denktash would meet Sir David, whom he refused to meet last week, but if not he would probably see British High Commissioner David Madden.

Denktash told Turkish Cypriot newspapers at the weekend he would not go to Britain until London lifts its visa restrictions on Turkish Cypriots.

He told journalists in the north that Cook was to meet President Clerides on March 12 in London and had invited "leader" Denktash for another meeting.

"I will not go to London until the visa issue is removed," Denktash is quoted as saying. "I will not go even if it lasts ten years."

One Turkish Cypriot newspaper reported yesterday that 'police' were investigating a gang involved in issuing fake British visas.

Britain imposed the visa restriction on Turkish Cypriots late last year after an upsurge in travellers from the north claiming political asylum in the UK.

[06] Fury at plan to turn occupied monastery into hotel

The Armenian monastery of St Makar in the occupied Chalefka region was to become a 50-room hotel supporting tourism, Turkish Cypriot newspapers reported on January 21. The decision was also publicised by foreign news agencies.

In a statement issued yesterday, a support committee for the monastery denounced the move as an attempt to eradicate every cultural and religious trace of the Armenians in the occupied areas.

"The proposed plan insults and wounds the Armenian Church and Armenian people, violates... International Law and... Human Rights and exploits religious, ethnic and cultural values," said the committee.

The committee called for joint Greek and Armenian Cypriot opposition to the move.

Meanwhile, Council of Europe (CoE) permanent Cyprus representative, Thalia Petrides, denounced the move in a letter to CoE general secretary Daniel Tarschys yesterday.

Petrides drew attention also to the desecration of Greek Orthodox churches and cemeteries in the occupied areas, urging Tarschys to take all necessary steps to halt the situation.

[07] Green fury at Peyia development plan

DOES a planned housing development near Peyia's imposing sea caves spell disaster for a sensitive nature spot? Or will low key, organised development with pavements and large expanses of green improve the area - and protect the environment?

When the question was put to the House Environment Committee yesterday there was no doubt where the opposing sides stood.

For the Greens, one of Cyprus' finest areas was being sacrificed for private profit, with authorities acting as accessories. Any construction would be close to the caves - which extend 30 metres inland under water.

For property owners Aristos Developers and Peyia municipality which backs the plans, the project was not only perfectly legal - it would allow controlled, organised development in which a large expanse of land would be earmarked as green areas.

The plots being opened were not close to the caves - in fact a wide corridor next to the beach would be a protected green area which would improve the environment, they said.

Etek, the Technical Chamber, weighed in with its own cannons. President Nicos Mesaritis said Etek had challenged the 1996 decision to change the area's zoning regulations in the Supreme Court. A ruling was still pending.

The change - an expanse of agricultural land with a building coefficient of 10 per cent became a holiday area with 15 per cent coefficient - had sent land prices rocketing and guaranteed a huge profit, perhaps £2 million for the developers, it was suggested.

Aristos developers rejected this. They said the 45 donums would result in 33 plots as 35 per cent of the land was being set aside for public use. The company had bought the land four years ago, and deposited the contract in the land surveys department in 1994. It had paid some £600,000, was selling plots at £50,000 and stood to make only a "logical business profit" and certainly not the £2 million suggested.

Construction, they added, was also permitted in agricultural land - but not in the organised way which ensures roads and pavements. And the area was in any case already being developed - there were houses around, while 88 plots had permits since 1974 for 60 per cent coefficient.

The wrangling continued. The Greens and Etek were out to condemn Peyia to stunted growth. "They just want us to be shepherds, stuck in sheep pens as a tourist sight," the mayor said.

The sea caves, a stretch of sea-cut caverns near Coral Bay, were one of only four expanses of coast described as being of "special natural beauty," in Cyprus, the Greens replied. Protests, they added, had already come in from tour operators and tourists, since the spot was an important tourist attraction.

The Town Planning Department said Peyia municipality had asked for the area to be made a tourist area - with 40 per cent building coefficient, including permission to build hotels. The department found the demands excessive. It sought a compromise formula - then sent the file to the Interior Minister who came up with the final formula. The Town Planning department issued the permits for plots to be divided on the basis of that.

The Agriculture Ministry's Environment Service said an environmental impact study should have been carried out before the permits had been given, but was never too late.

The House Environment Committee adopted this view. In a closed door meeting, it decided to ask the executive to require an environmental impact study. And it said that any building permit must be accompanied with a condition - that houses fit in to the environment.

[08] Lawyers strike over delay in prison deal

LAWYERS went on strike yesterday as the Cyprus Bar Association (CBA) began a two-day protest over delays in the implementation of an agreement giving effect to court imprisonment orders.

The agreement was reached in November with the Justice and Finance Ministries, providing for £1 duty stamps to be attached to imprisonment orders, covering jailed debtors' prison costs when they failed to repay their creditors.

Without such stamps, the Ministry and Prison Commissioner has so far refused to execute the orders, demanding instead that creditors' lawyers cover the full prison costs in advance, causing them grave financial hardship.

Due to bureaucratic delays in implementing the agreement, CBA lawyers nation-wide were absent from court as of 11am yesterday, resolved to continue their strike till 1pm today.

CBA president Xenios Xenopoulos said yesterday "the matter is frighteningly serious... because justice, at least in the domain of debt settlement applications, has come to a standstill."

For eight months, added Xenopoulos, pending imprisonment orders had accumulated to a tremendous degree, "leaving lawyers in a hopeless financial situation".

He pointed out, however, that the matter would come before the House of Representatives on Thursday, so the agreement would hopefully be given formal approval by the end of next week.

[09] Cannabis seized in container

"Members of the Drug Squad acting in conjunction with Customs and the Ports Authority searched a container which arrived at Limassol port," police sources said. "We believe the case to be connected to the recent one of illegal importation of drugs weighing 115 kilos."

The marijuana, which was compressed into 24 cylindrical blocks weighing in at 25 kilos, was transported in exactly the same manner as the drugs seized late last year.

On Monday, Larnaca District court renewed the remand orders for two of the suspects in connection with the previous haul, while authorities in Athens are holding a third man, described by Cypriot police as the "mastermind" of the operation, pending his extradition.

[10] Unions protest hotel sackings

Unions are furious at the rate of dismissals its members have endured in the past two weeks.

Twenty-five employees yesterday received notices of dismissal from two five- star hotels in the town.

This follows the sacking last week of around 20 hotel workers deemed surplus to requirements.

Unions say this "disturbing trend" comes at a time when the new tourist season starts to pick up.

They also claim Limassol hotels are happy to employ foreign workers while sending dozens of Cypriots into unemployment.

[11] Don't panic, Lumiere tells subscribers

PAY-TV channel Lumiere yesterday called on its 30,000 subscribers not to panic in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to revoked its license at the weekend.

The Court ruled that the license issued to Lumiere was invalid because the correct procedures were not followed when handling its application.

It said the proper ground work was not carried out by the broadcasting advisory board.

The Lumiere license issue was contested by Antenna TV, who claimed the government had acted illegally when processing the request.

But Lumiere was adamant yesterday that it had done nothing wrong and was seeking legal advice.

"The court case was brought against the government and we were the third party. We have done nothing illegal and it's now up to the government to correct the mistake," a Lumiere spokesman - who wished to remain anonymous - told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.

The station says it has not received the court decision in writing and "nobody has asked us to close".

"There is no reason for our subscribers to worry. We believe the government will find a way out of this," said the source.

But there were voices of dissent coming from Lumiere about the motives for the court case:

"We were the victims of a power game not a legal battle," said a Lumiere source.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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