Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-03-11

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

Wednesday, March 11, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Miller urges 'creativity and flexibility'

[02] US experts testing more bones

[03] Turks close door to further talks

[04] Solomis hits back at 'mud-slinging' coup claims

[05] Meningitis vaccinations for National Guard?

[06] Fishing boat attacked off the coast of Egypt

[07] Matsakis steps up fight against exercises

[08] Stock market falls back to earth

[09] Canada urged to rethink reactor sale to Turkey

[10] Turks jailed for illegal entry

[11] Taxi driver held over pension cheque scam

[12] Aeroporos mother fined for court assault

[13] Clerides and Simitis agree EU formula

[14] Quarter of offshore firms may leave on EU entry

[15] Artiste says she was raped

[16] Holders need to rise to the challenge

[01] Miller urges 'creativity and flexibility'

THE US remains undeterred by the Turkish Cypriot side's latest rejection of EU and UN talks, State Department Co-ordinator Thomas Miller said yesterday.

In the early hours of yesterday the Turkish Cypriot 'Assembly' approved a resolution rejecting both participation in European Union accession negotiations and UN-led efforts for the resumption of direct talks between the two sides.

Commenting on the latest developments at a bi-communal press conference in Nicosia before leaving the island, Miller said: "This does not deter us from trying to get to our final goal: a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation."

He did, however, acknowledge the "deep gulf" that still had to be overcome.

"We recognise there might be more than one path to that eventual goal," Miller added.

"If there is to be a solution to the Cyprus problem, what is needed is creativity and flexibility on the part of both sides."

The US envoy admitted the task had been made more difficult "as a result of events over the last couple of months."

In December, an EU summit in Luxembourg gave the go-ahead to accession talks with Cyprus at the end of this month.

Since then, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has been pushing for recognition of his regime as a precondition for progress on any front.

He has also put a stop to all bi-communal contacts by preventing Turkish Cypriots from crossing the Green Line.

Miller yesterday expressed his disappointment over the bi-communal aspect and said that during his two-day visit he had urged the two sides to resume contacts.

However, in answer to questions, he admitted he had received no such assurances from Denktash, whom he met earlier yesterday in occupied Nicosia.

Miller made it clear the US initiative would not be implemented though "pressure and demands", and that he believed that while the goal of a bi- communal, bi-zonal federation in Cyprus would not be easy, it was nevertheless feasible.

Miller also referred to the arrival next Tuesday of Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary-general's special Cyprus envoy with whom he has had close contacts in recent months.

The US envoy was also soon planning to meet top US envoy Richard Holbrooke.

Cordovez, who has chaired two rounds of failed direct talks between the island's two leaders, is to brief the UN Security Council on Cyprus tomorrow.

[02] US experts testing more bones

Miller last week informed the family of Andreas Kassapis, one of the 1,619 persons listed missing since 1974, that their son, who was 16 at the time, had been confirmed dead through DNA testing.

Responding to questions at a bi-communal press conference in Nicosia yesterday, Miller said the only thing found "in terms of confirmable remains" were those of Kassapis, a Greek Cypriot who had American citizenship.

Four others with US citizenship are also listed as missing.

Miller said the remains of these four had not been found.

"That does not mean that there might not be other remains there and we're doing further tests," he said.

"There is further testing that's being done on other bones, and maybe something further will come up."

The US diplomat said, however, that the process of extracting DNA samples from the remains was a very, very difficult process.

"It's not sure the specialists can even get any DNA from the samples," he said.

Miller told reporters he had informed the Kassapis family, who live in Detroit, of their son's death.

"The family was living in limbo and suffering all these years with the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to him," Miller said.

A report on the five American citizens listed as missing is expected shortly.

Greek American Associations have welcomed the developments, saying yesterday they hoped the Kassapis case would be the first of many.

"We are encouraged by recent efforts to bring and end to this tragic humanitarian issue," a statement said.

The process of identifying the remainder of the 1,619 Greek Cypriot missing persons has got under way with the exchange of information relating to the whereabouts of mass graves.

The Turkish Cypriot side has 803 missing persons dating back to the intercommunal troubles of 1963.

[03] Turks close door to further talks

The decision, taken in the early hours after a 12-hour session, was repeated later in the day by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash after his meeting with US State Department co-ordinator Thomas Miller.

"The EU destroyed all chances of a solution in Cyprus," Denktash said, referring to the Luxembourg summit's December decision to begin talks with Cyprus at the end of this month.

"The EU application was made in order to destroy the balance between Greece ad Turkey," Denktash added.

And he warned that if EU talks went ahead, there would be "two Cypruses" on the map in the future.

Denktash said the EU development, together with the stance of President Glafcos Clerides, had destroyed the UN-led intercommunal talks.

"A new process is now open on the condition we are recognised for what we are," Denktash said, adding the talks should be between "two governments".

He also said he did not expect the EU to make any contact with him, "and I am not making any contact with the EU either."

The main provision of the latest resolution by the Turkish Cypriot side is that all future negotiations would have to be based on the existence of two states.

The 'Assembly' also decided it would be "out of the question" for Turkish Cypriots to participate in EU negotiations under the terms of the 1960 agreement.

Turkish Cypriot papers said yesterday that while the ruling coalition used its majority to pass the resolution, two separate motions tabled by the opposition Communal Liberation Party (CLP) and Republican Turkish Party (RTP), were rejected.

CLP leader Mustafa Akinci said the resolution was merely a question of Denktash "wanting a few more years".

"It is like a chess game," Akinci said. "Denktash can see a few moves ahead. He wittingly wants to be checkmated and he wants to checkmate the community."

[04] Solomis hits back at 'mud-slinging' coup claims

HEALTH Minister Christos Solomis yesterday denied press allegations that he had taken part in the 1974 coup engineered by the junta in Greece.

Akel mouthpiece Haravghi on Sunday published a front-page letter to Edek leader Vassos Lyssarides from former party member Kyriakos Televantos, who accused Solomis of taking part in the 1974 coup.

Televantos also accused the Health Minister of interrogating him and his brother for hours while threatening them with a Kalashnikov automatic- rifle.

The allegations were repeated on Monday in the afternoon paper, Apogevmatini and on the left-wing radio station, Astra.

Solomis yesterday called a news conference in which he strenuously denied the allegations, accusing Haravghi of unethical practices and dismissing Televantos as a mud-slinger who, under another name, had aimed similar allegations on September 3, 1976.

Televantos, the minister said, was none other than a certain Kyriacos Athanasiou, who had levelled the same coupist charges at Solomis, then a Disy Famagusta deputy, in an affidavit published by Ta Nea.

Twenty-six days later, Solomis said, Athanasiou had publicly retracted his allegations in Ta Nea, and apologised to him and others he had allegedly slandered in the original article.

Solomis circulated photocopies of the articles to the press and went on to accuse Athanasiou of now going under the name Televantos, backing up his claims by pointing out both men reportedly had the same date and place of birth and the same identity number.

"This is an attack not just on me, but on the Clerides government," said Solomis, adding he would start investigations of his own to unmask Televantos and seek legal action against both him and Haravghi.

Haravghi, continued the Health Minister, had gone completely against "journalistic ethics" in publishing Televantos' unsubstantiated letter, without even having the "sensitivity" to get Solomis' response before going to print.

"It is very easy to get a person from the underworld with no morals to make such claims." added the minister, claiming that the man known as Athanasiou had five convictions for theft, two for causing grievous bodily harm and pending suits against him for tax-evasion.

The matter follows in the wake of mud-slinging between Disy and Akel, which is angry at Edek's participation in a multi-party government under the presidency of Disy's Glafcos Clerides.

[05] Meningitis vaccinations for National Guard?

This follows the death from bacterial meningitis of 19-year-old National Guardsman Lefcos Eliades on Monday. Eliades was stationed at a Nicosia district camp and died in the intensive care unit of Nicosia general hospital just before midday.

Health Minister Christos Solomis, speaking yesterday at a news conference, said both his ministry and that of Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou, were working on an extensive medical study to establish if there was a need for NG vaccination against meningitis and other infectious diseases.

He reassured parents of Guardsmen that the situation was under control and said "all possible safety measures were being taken... with medicine dispatched to those who had recently come in contact with Eliades".

"Up till midnight last night, tests run on those who had been close to him (Eliades) showed negative results," said Solomis; "this proves not everyone coming into contact with him would necessarily have been infected - it depends on the individual's immunity."

The Health Minister also said meningitis was particularly difficult to diagnose because sufferers manifested ordinary flu symptoms and the disease sometimes progressed too rapidly to control.

This countered claims by former state-pathologist Marios Matsakis, who said on Monday that earlier diagnosis might have saved Eliades' life.

But Solomis pointed out that the victim had been revelling with friends just the Saturday before he died, intimating the guardsman had therefore not experienced symptoms that might have caused him to suspect he had anything other than flu.

[06] Fishing boat attacked off the coast of Egypt

A CYPRIOT fishing boat was ransacked by Egyptian "pirates" in international waters off Egypt on Monday, the vessel's captain said yesterday.

The seven crew of the Nemesis were held at knife-point by 50 to 55 assailants who surrounded the vessel in five boats, claiming to be shipping inspectors, captain Panicos Loizides said. He said the boarders cut him on the neck with a knife when he tried to stop them stealing equipment from his boat and damaging the vessel's engine.

Loizides was speaking to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) as his vessel was towed to Limassol port yesterday afternoon by two Cypriot boats which had gone to the Nemesis' rescue.

But police described the attack as a dispute between rival fishermen rather than piracy.

A police spokesman said the Nemesis was ganged-up on by five Egyptian vessels about 30km off the coast of Egypt. The crews of the five vessels boarded the Nemesis, smashed up equipment and damaged the engine, he said. One of the seven members of the Nemesis crew was injured, but not seriously, the spokesman said.

Captain Loizides had contacted maritime frequency Cyprus radio earlier on Monday to say that a number of Egyptian boats were closing in on his vessel "threateningly", police said. Loizides' urgent communication was cut off after he gave his vessel's location.

The attack was later reported to Cyprus radio by other Cypriot vessels sailing in the area.

Police said the incident would be investigated and representations might be made to the Egyptian embassy in Nicosia.

Yiannis Karytzis, senior marine surveyor in the Shipping department, stressed that the alleged attack had taken place in international waters.

Karytzis also said this was not the first time the Nemesis had come under attack off Egypt. Two months ago the vessel was assailed by Egyptian fishermen throwing molotov cocktails, Karytzis said.

Karytzis put both attacks down to disputes between fisherman.

[07] Matsakis steps up fight against exercises

THE GOVERNMENT is trying to find an alternative site for the military exercises that the British army plans to conduct in the Akamas later this month, the House environment committee heard yesterday.

Deputies, led by Diko deputy Marios Matsakis, attacked the government approach, saying what they wanted was an end to British exercises anywhere on the island.

"The House did not ask for an alternative site for destruction to be wrought, we asked that no permit be given at all. What have you done in this direction?" Matsakis asked the Defence Ministry's representative.

The ministry representative told the committee the government was not in a position to be able to say no to the exercises, but was working to find a less ecologically sensitive site.

Britain's right to carry out live-fire exercises in the Akamas for 70 days a year is enshrined in the treaty guaranteeing the island's independence, he said.

The House has repeatedly made clear its opposition to exercises in the pristine Akamas area, which is earmarked for a national park.

"The House asked for exercises in the Akamas to be ended, not all exercises, " the ministry man said, taking issue with Matsakis.

"Whether the exercises happen or not depends not only on the government (consenting) but on us also," Matsakis said, referring to the possibility of protests to disrupt the exercises planned for March 23. The former state pathologist is a veteran of such protests.

"We are making every effort not to grant permission for March 23 or any other time, but we have to respect the treaty of guarantee so we are trying to find alternative sites," the ministry representative said.

He told deputies alternative sites had been suggested but "problems which have not been easy to overcome have appeared." He did not say what these problems were but said they were not objections from the National Guard.

A spokesman for the British bases said no official answer had yet been received from the government concerning the March 23 exercises. But, he said, even if the government refused, the bases could go ahead with the exercises thanks to the provisions of the treaty of guarantee.

[08] Stock market falls back to earth

THE CYPRUS Stock Exchange all-share index did yesterday what everyone had been expecting it to do, but did not know when - it came back to earth.

After five successive sessions stretching back to last Tuesday had given investors and brokers the stuff of dreams, the official index closed yesterday at 84.63 points, down by 0.82 per cent from Monday's close.

Losses were across the board, with investment and commercial companies the biggest losers - their sub-indices closed down 2.80 and 2.74 per cent respectively. Volume was a respectable £1.58 million.

The blue-chip shares of the island's three major banks - Bank of Cyprus, Popular Bank and Hellenic Bank - closed slightly lower with about 200,000 shares between them changing hands.

"The market cannot continue to go up without taking a breather," said John Pitsillos of Share Link Securities, a Nicosia-based brokerage. "It will continue to consolidate for the rest of the week and then resume its ascent next week."

Each of last week's four trading sessions (Green Monday was a holiday) and that of Monday this week saw the index climb to new highs with combined gains of nearly four per cent. In Thursday's session, trade volume reached £2.38 million, the biggest since the market began operating officially two years ago this month.

"If it had continued to go up, investors would not feel that they were standing on firm ground," said Stavros Agrotis, a senior stockbroker with CISCO, a full-owned Bank of Cyprus securities company.

"My feeling is that if it goes down tomorrow too, it will go up the next day. This is good for the market because it tests the strength of last week's gains," he added.

[09] Canada urged to rethink reactor sale to Turkey

The motion, proposed last month by MP Sarkis Assadourian, suggests Canada should reconsider the idea of selling nuclear reactors to a country with Turkey's level of human rights violations and history of aggression.

Community groups will come before the Parliamentary Standing Committee some time during the next two weeks to voice their concerns over the possible deal.

Assadourian has described the sale as "not right", and has the backing of Greek and Greek Cypriot community organisations in Canada. One of these, the International Co-ordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA Canada) has already undertaken a letter-writing campaign to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and aims by April to have collected up to 90,000 signatures on a petition protesting the sale. The petition has already be distributed across Canada.

PSEKA President Constantinos Sophocleous said his group opposed the sale because of the potential it gave Turkey for the manufacture of nuclear weapons, something he described as a "destabilising factor".

Canada is currently in competition with Germany, France and America to sell reactors to Turkey.

[10] Turks jailed for illegal entry

The two, Sarim Mustafa, 26, and Kalal Halih, 18, arrived in the occupied areas at Kyrenia port; they crossed the Green Line in Nicosia on Monday.

They then approached a passer-by and asked to be taken to the nearest police station.

Last week, Larnaca court freed a Turkish national arrested on similar charges after crossing the Green Line. The man was released after the court heard he had fled from political persecution in Turkey.

[11] Taxi driver held over pension cheque scam

Iakovos Christodoulou Demetriou, 45, has admitted to stealing ten cheques that he had been entrusted to deliver to Paphos pensioners in his taxi last August, police told the court.

Demetriou put his own photograph over that on a driving licence he stole from a pensioner who used his taxi, the court heard. He than used this forged document to cash eight of the stolen cheques, amassing £1,734, the court heard.

The Limassol resident, arrested in Larnaca on Monday, was remanded for six days.

[12] Aeroporos mother fined for court assault

Eleni Aeroporos, 56, from Kolossi and her son Michalis, 35, mother and brother to the accused Aeroporos brothers, were fined yesterday in a separate case for assaulting and slandering Androulla Ioannou, mother of murdered 18-year-old Stallo Ioannou.

The court heard yesterday that on June 30, 1997, when mother and son had gone to the hearing of Aeroporos brothers Andros and Hambis in Larnaca, a fracas broke out between them and the picketing parents of Ioannou, who blamed the Aeroporos family for their daughter's murder. Ioannou had been a former girlfriend of one of the Aeroporos clan.

Eleni Aeroporos attacked Androulla Ioannou while Michalis swore at her.

Mother and son admitted the charges, but said they had acted under emotional strain; they were fined £100 and £50 respectively.

Aeroporos brothers Hambis, Andros and Panicos stand accused in connection with last May's attack on 57-year-old Antonis Fanieros.

[13] Clerides and Simitis agree EU formula

PRESIDENT Clerides and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday agreed in Athens a draft formula for Turkish Cypriot participation in European Union accession talks.

The specifics of the proposal are being kept under wraps, but it is understood to make Turkish Cypriot participation in the EU talks conditional on no recognition being given to the breakaway 'TRNC' regime.

"Of course, one of our fundamental thoughts... was (to ensure) anything we do will not have consequences on the subject of the recognition of the Cypriot Republic and the... non-recognition of the so-called state to the north", Clerides told journalists after his meeting with Simitis.

He added, however, that the draft proposal was a "generous" one.

Clerides will put the proposal to UK Foreign Secretary and current president of the rotating EU Council of Ministers, Robin Cook, when he meets him in London tomorrow.

Recognition of the breakaway state is one of the conditions set by 'TRNC' leader Rauf Denktash for Turkish Cypriot participation in the EU talks, due to begin at the end of the month. He has also made recognition a condition for resuming bi-communal peace talks.

Yesterday, following a vote by the Turkish Cypriot 'Assembly', Denktash reiterated his refusal to participate in the EU talks or to resume the UN peace talks.

Simitis nevertheless stressed the importance of the peace talks, urging Turkey to resolve the Cyprus problem so as to improve its cool relations with the EU.

"We believe strongly that a Cyprus settlement will bring Turkey and Europe closer and open new horizons in Greco-Turkish relations" he said.

Later in the day, Clerides had a brief meeting with New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, who said their talks were "very useful".

The president also met US Cyprus co-ordinator Thomas Miller, who had travelled to Athens after failing to kick-start bi-communal peace talks in Cyprus.

Miller briefed Clerides on Denktash's refusal to resume peace talks and said US presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke would be unlikely to visit Cyprus unless there was a genuine prospect of progress on this front.

He said that peace talks held at the wrong time could give rise to undesired developments.

[14] Quarter of offshore firms may leave on EU entry

FEAR OF higher taxes would prompt a quarter of the 33,000 offshore companies registered in Cyprus to consider leaving the island if it joined the European Union, according to a survey released yesterday.

But about 50 per cent of those interviewed said they would not relocate when Cyprus became an EU member, the survey - conducted by InterCollege's Research and Development Centre - concludes.

Cyprus opens accession negotiations with the 15-nation bloc at the end of this month or early next month, but is not expected to be a member before 2002. The prospect of EU membership for the island has given rise to serious concern among the offshore business community that Cyprus might sacrifice the sector under pressure from EU negotiators.

Cyprus first enacted offshore laws in 1975 in a bid to rebuild an economy devastated by the Turkish invasion a year earlier. The laws cover huge tax breaks and an array of privileges in such areas as custom duties, value- added and corporate taxes.

In a bid to boost the local bourse and encourage offshore companies to invest more funds locally, the government has recently submitted to parliament a draft law allowing offshore companies to invest in the local stock exchange for the first time. Stockbrokers are also demanding that offshore businesses be allowed to list on the bourse.

Of the 33,000 companies registered on the island, only 1,050 maintain fully- fledged offices, employing 2,700 expatriates and 2,200 Cypriots. The rest, according to the Central Bank, conduct their business through local lawyers and representatives.

The sector accounts for four per cent of gross domestic product, almost on a par with agriculture, and brings the treasury close to $300 million a year in foreign currency receipts.

The survey's findings were based on interviews with 50 executives from the offshore sector and public and private sector managers doing business with offshore enterprises. A summary of the findings, made public in a news conference, did not say when the interviews were conducted or give a margin for error.

Besides worries over the likely impact of EU membership, the offshore executives interviewed said they were troubled by what they called the "negative influence" of trade unions on economic competitiveness and excessive bureaucracy in government departments.

Central Bank Governor Afxentios Afxentiou last week told offshore executives that the government planned to hire foreign consultants to help it draft a document arguing its case for keeping the offshore sector after EU membership.

"The government and the Central Bank will remain committed to maintaining the offshore sector after EU accession," Afxentiou assured the offshore businessmen.

Recommendations voiced by the offshore executives in the survey included establishing an independent body with the sole mandate of developing the sector, extending the island's network of double-taxation agreements with foreign governments and liberalising such state monopolies as telecommunications to secure better services at lower prices.

[15] Artiste says she was raped

The artiste told police that towards the early hours of Monday morning, she and a colleague met two men.

The men convinced the women to join them for a car-ride, eventually ending up at an apartment in the Omonia area of Limassol.

Eventually, the artiste's colleague left with one of the men, leaving the Russian with the other man.

The man then allegedly raped the artiste in the apartment. She claims he also beat her and prevented her from leaving the flat by locking her in.

According to police reports, the artiste said she tried to escape through a window but lost her balance, falling and injuring herself on the balcony of the second-floor apartment below.

She was admitted to Limassol hospital at around midday and is being treated for pelvic fractures and general cuts and bruising.

The man has denied all the allegations.

[16] Holders need to rise to the challenge

HOLDERS Apoel will need to overturn a one-goal deficit in the return leg of their Coca-Cola Cup, quarter-final tie against Anorthosis to continue the defence of their title.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Apoel will throw everything at the champions to avoid a premature end to the season. They are languishing in mid-table, and with no chance of taking second spot that would guarantee European football, the holders know that the cup is their only hope of success.

With only one foreign player on their books, and missing several key players through injury, Apoel know they have a mountain to climb today. But they are the par excellence cup side of Cyprus, having taken the title the last three years, even when their league form had been below par.

Their Cypriot players, undoubtedly have the ability to raise themselves for the big matches, and they also have tradition on their side. Will history repeat itself?

Last season, despite disappointing league form, they met Anorthosis in the cup semi-final, and lost the away leg 2-1. They won by the same scoreline in the return and then scored again in extra-time to clinch the tie.

There might be some pressure on Apoel, given that their whole season depends on today's result, but they have repeatedly shown that they are not affected by big match nerves.

They will be strengthened by the return of Fasouliotis, but question marks remained over the fitness of Costa, whose absence from the defence was evident in the 3-2 defeat by Paralimni, when Apoel gave away two soft goals. Soteriou could also make a return, to add firepower up front.

Anorthosis welcome back Krismarevic who missed the 3-2 victory over Ael through suspension and there might be a place in the starting line-up for the weekend's two-goal hero Bambis Andreou.

The champions have made it clear that their chief priority in the Nicosia game will be to contain Apoel, so no-one is expecting an open and attacking game. They will employ the same tactics Apoel used in the first leg, closing down space in midfield and getting bodies behind the ball.

Apoel's main objective will be an early goal to level the tie, and the sooner it comes, the better their chances will be. The two clubs meet again on Saturday in the league.

Salamina could celebrate the club's 50th anniversary in style today if they manage to knock out Apollonas after a 1-1 draw in the eventful first leg in Limassol.

In that game Salamina finished with nine men and Apollonas only managed to equalise in injury time from a Spoliaric penalty kick. Four days later, Apollonas defeated Salamina in a league clash in Limassol, but the cup remains different.

More significantly, Salamina are the only side to have beaten Apollonas in the league this season. A repeat at Ammochostos stadium today, cannot be ruled out even though a goalless draw would be enough to see the home side through.

Both sides will be almost at full strength. For Salamina, keeper Ioannou and Nicolaou, who were suspended after their sending off in the first leg, return as do Stoic, Kovacevic and Andreou.

Vata, Tsolakis and Kyriakou return from suspension for Apollonas, but Mladenovic and Papavassiliou are on the long-term injury list.

Anagennisis, boosted by their weekend victory over Evagoras, are at home to Ethnikos Achna. The first leg had ended in a 1-1 draw. Apop travel to Nicosia to play the first division's bottom club

Ethnikos Ashia, leading 1-0 from the first leg.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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