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

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

Friday, April 3, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Missiles 'will aid solution in Cyprus'

[02] Taxi driver pleads guilty to murder of tourist

[03] House finally approves patent bill

[04] Blair sees problems in EU accession

[05] Why not store missiles unarmed?

[06] Students step up protest as MPs seek compromise

[07] Paraplegics lobby parliament

[08] Farmer arrested over bases protest

[09] Concern over noise pollution bill

[10] Stricter dog laws in the pipeline

[11] Package holiday bill could add to costs

[12] Ant1 FM hits the airwaves on Monday

[13] Scotland Yard briefs Cyprus police on Paphos suspects

[01] Missiles 'will aid solution in Cyprus'

THE government's controversial purchase of Russian S-300 missiles will hasten a settlement on the island, Russia's special envoy to Cyprus Vladimir Chizhov said yesterday.

Turkey has threatened a military strike should the ground-to-air missiles be deployed and the US and Britain - fearing escalation in Cyprus - have made their opposition to the sale clear.

But Chizhov insisted the S-300 deal was good news. "The S-300 missile issue brings an element of time into the Cyprus problem," he said in Athens where he met Greek deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis before travelling to Cyprus.

Chizhov said it was his "impression" the introduction of a time factor into the Cyprus problem equation would help settlement efforts.

In Moscow, meanwhile, Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos confirmed Russia would go through with the missile deal despite international opposition.

"The Russian government clearly confirmed that it guarantees production, transportation, supplies and all the rest for these systems," he said after meeting Russian leaders. Tsohatzopoulos re-stated the Greek side's position that the missile order would only be cancelled if Cyprus was demilitarised.

After arriving in Cyprus yesterday afternoon, Chizhov echoed what Tsohatzopoulos had said, giving assurances the missiles would be delivered on schedule unless demilitarisation was achieved.

The S-300s are due for delivery in the summer.

Chizhov also referred to the current deadlock in settlement talks, saying "we are one step behind where we were last summer".

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is refusing to return to peace talks with President Glafcos Clerides unless the UN recognises his breakaway state - a condition rejected by the Security Council.

"What is needed at the moment is the promotion of the Secretary-general's good offices mission and the resumption of bi-communal talks soon," Chizhov said.

In Ankara, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said yesterday Turkey should be on the alert over Cyprus.

"We are in a period in which Turkey's foreign policy has to be at the height of vigilance," Yilmaz told a news conference, called to announce he was seeking early elections.

"There are extremely important developments taking place on Cyprus. This has reached the stage where it concerns Turkey's security," he said.

In Nicosia, Russian envoy Chizhov had separate meetings with Clerides and Denktash later in the day. He described his meeting with Clerides as "useful and interesting", but said his meeting with Denktash had not left him any more optimistic about the possibility of overcoming the talks deadlock.

Chizhov was not the only envoy arriving yesterday.

US State Department special co-ordinator Thomas Miller arrived in the late afternoon for his second visit in less than a month.

Miller, who also met Clerides yesterday evening, is seen as paving the way for the arrival today of US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke.

Holbrooke, known to be a tough negotiator, is expected to make an effort to kick-start talks, something Miller failed to do last month. Holbrooke is scheduled to have talks with both Denktash and Clerides during his three- day visit.

According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), a US State Department official said Holbrooke and Miller were bringing with them "certain ideas" on restarting talks.

Miller made no statements yesterday.

[02] Taxi driver pleads guilty to murder of tourist

A LARNACA taxi driver pleaded guilty yesterday to murdering a French tourist he picked up from the town's airport on Christmas Day last year.

The Limassol Assizes heard that 36-year-old Zanas, from Kiti outside Larnaca, shot 49-year-old Jacqueline Françoise Chomik en route to her Limassol hotel just hours after her arrival. Her body was dumped down a 100- foot well near the Famagusta district village of Xylotymbou, 60 km away from the alleged site of the killing at Moni, the court heard.

Zana will reappear before the court on May 4, and will remain in custody until then.

He was arrested on February 7 after the DNA blueprint of blood stains discovered on his cab was found to match closely that of Chomik's relatives. Police say that on February 8, a month after Chomik's disappearance, Zanas led them to a well near Xylotymbou where the victim's body was discovered.

Another Larnaca airport taxi driver has been charged with helping Zanas dispose of the body. Larnaca District court has heard that Zanas rang Panicos Andreou, 38, alias Shioferos, after the attack to tell him he had a body in the boot of his car. Shioferos led Zanas to the dry well outside his village, Xylotymbou, and then helped him dump the body, the court heard.

Shioferos has pleaded not guilty to charges of being a accessory after the fact.

Police say the motive for the killing was theft, Zanas having stolen about £190 in cash from Chomik. Zanas' lawyer has told the court his client suffers from psychological problems.

[03] House finally approves patent bill

AFTER years of postponements, the House plenum yesterday unanimously approved a controversial bill tightening up local patent law by bringing it into line with EU regulations.

Deputies bowed to pressure from the government, the EU, the US, the US pharmaceutical industry and drug importers and gave the amendment the nod despite desperate last-minute lobbying by the powerful local drug industry who wanted it shelved.

The bill was passed without debate after a back-room meeting of party leaders, which delayed the start of the afternoon plenum session by an hour.

The head of Cyprus's EU accession talks delegation, George Vassiliou, flew in from Brussels -- where he is attending EU accession talks -- specifically to push deputies to approve the bill.

Speaking after the bill was passed, Vassiliou said approval of the bill had been crucial to the island's accession course.

"I believe if the bill had been postponed or not approved this would have gone against Cyprus's interests. It would have jeopardised the accession talks process," he said.

Tomorrow was the deadline for Cyprus to meet its European patent convention obligations by approving the amendment. The Attorney-general, Alecos Markides, warned earlier this week that the EU considered approval of the patent protection bill second in importance only to Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus's accession talks.

"There was information that approval was to be postponed and that there were deputies objecting to the bill," Vassiliou said before jumping into his limousine to drive off to Larnaca to fly back to Brussels.

In a concession to the local drug makers, House president Spyros Kyprianou told the plenum Markides had undertaken to review the patent law of all 15 EU countries with a view to amending the bill within two months, should a "more favourable" legislation be found.

Drug manufacturers, who mostly sell copies of foreign medicines, have stated approval of the bill would ruin the sector -- a major foreign currency earner -- by banning experimentation on patent-protected drugs.

Foreign pharmaceutical firms have countered that the law needed to be tightened up to stop local firms pirating their patented drugs -- a charge local firms deny outright.

Vassiliou refuted the local industry's claims yesterday, saying tighter patent protection regulations would encourage foreign firms to set up shop on the island and boost the industry.

[04] Blair sees problems in EU accession

CYPRUS' accession to the European Union will be difficult, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.

The EU, under Britain's presidency, opened accession negotiations with Cyprus this week.

Blair told the House of Commons on Wednesday that although a political settlement was not a precondition for accession, the situation on the island was "extremely difficult".

"Although we welcome the start of the accession negotiations with Cyprus, it will be far more difficult for the accession to take place properly within the context of a divided island," Blair said.

"We have made sure that a settlement should not be a precondition of access, but we want the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the process."

The Turkish Cypriot side has turned down the government's invitation to take part in the process as part of a Cyprus delegation because it does not recognise the government's right to represent the whole island.

Blair said efforts to persuade them to participate would continue.

"In the end we cannot make this work unless both parts of the island want to work together," he said.

Turkey's minister responsible for Cyprus policy yesterday criticised the EU for starting entry talks with Cyprus, saying they would lead to further rifts on the island.

State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said the EU had now lost Turkey's confidence and that Cyprus was likely to be permanently divided.

"The EU sees problems in other places but it cannot see the major problem it has taken in Cyprus," Gurel said.

"They had better not try to impose on someone else the problems arising for their mistaken action. Responsibility rests fully on EU shoulders."

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said "even if a few of the European countries were well-intentioned" they should have urged the lifting of the embargo imposed on the occupied areas the minute they opened negotiations with Cyprus.

Editorials in Turkish, British and American newspapers have all criticised the EU's move.

The Turkish Daily News said the date for full membership of Cyprus to the EU, "probably in the year 2002, will be the day for the TRNC to get recognised. It will be a great day for two nations and two states, although the results will be completely different and in favour of the TRNC."

In Britain, a Daily Telegraph editorial backed Turkey's position that Cyprus, under its constitution, could not join the EU; by opening accession talks, the EU had taken away the incentive for the Greek Cypriots to reach an agreement with the Turkish Cypriots and the government had lost interest in the intercommunal talks.

An editorial in the Washington Post took a similar line. It accused the EU of fumbling away the opportunity to see a settlement of an agitated corner of Europe by "insultingly" denying Turkey a place in the queue of would-be EU members.

[05] Why not store missiles unarmed?

THERE is a solution to the missile crisis which could satisfy all parties, a leading Cypriot defence expert suggested yesterday.

Nicosia-based analyst Aristos Aristotelous told the Cyprus Mail the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile system could be brought to the island and then stored unarmed.

"This would be less costly for all parties," he said.

Aristotelous said such a solution eliminated the immediate threat felt by Turkey at the proposed deployment.

"The US would also feel happier that the threat was eliminated, the Russians because they would have sold the product, and Cyprus because it would receive the missiles," he said.

"All the other options available -- such as cancelling or postponing the order -- are damaging and costly to most of the parties involved."

By storing the system unarmed, the government would still have control in the event of war or attack, Aristotelous said. He said there would be enough warning of any such attack to give plenty of time to arm the missiles.

"If there's going to be a war there will first be a political crisis," Aristotelous said.

"This solution satisfies everybody. If the US concern is eliminating the possibility of a conflict and not the selling of Russian products in Cyprus, and if Turkey feels in danger, this can be eliminated by the missiles being stored safely."

Any other scenario, Aristotelous said would be damaging.

"If the deal is cancelled, it will damage the credibility of Russia and Cyprus and cause trouble," he said. "If it's postponed it only postpones the problem."

Aristotelous said Turkey could be satisfied that the stored missiles were not armed by simple checks and supervision by an independent force.

"I don't believe this will be a costly process. It's easy to see if the missiles are armed or not," Aristotelous said.

It has been reported that 38 missiles will be deployed on the island, the majority at the newly-built Paphos air base.

The deal involving the missiles, due on the island later this year, is opposed by the international community.

[06] Students step up protest as MPs seek compromise

STUDENTS of the Higher Technical Institute (HTI) yesterday took their campaign for job security to the Presidential Palace, as the House of Representatives stepped in with a compromise formula.

The students want a specific engineering post created in the public service and recognition of their diplomas as equivalent to university degrees.

They have been boycotting classes and threatening not to take their end of year exams if their demands are not met. Their spokesman said yesterday they wanted to explain the problem firsthand to President Clerides.

As students demonstrated, the House Labour Committee met behind closed doors to discuss a long-awaited bill on the status of the HTI.

In the face of disagreement between the Labour Ministry and academic staff over the bill, the committee decided to give all sides until May 10 to try to work out a consensus.

Committee chairman Avraam Antoniou warned that if they failed to do so, then the committee would press ahead with approval of the bill.

Avraam also revealed that the House had written to the government proposing the establishment of a special position within the civil service and semi- government organisations for HTI graduates. The students were later briefed about the proposal by House president Spyros Kyprianou.

[07] Paraplegics lobby parliament

WHEEL-CHAIR bound demonstrators staged a protest outside the House of Representatives yesterday to call on the government to set up a separate fund to provide for a carers allowance that would not be means-tested.

Funding for such care is currently administered by the Labour Ministry's Welfare Office.

A spokesman for the group, Stavros Sideras, said yesterday that although the demonstrators were supported by the Cyprus Paraplegic Organisation, they were a body in their own right, formed specifically to lobby for a law to ratify the separate fund.

He said government funding for the care of handicapped people had begun in 1990 under the control of the Welfare Office.

Sideras said the aid was tailored to each person's minimum wage -- which on average meant £190 per month in care-money, per person.

"But although the government was giving a measure of help, over the last two to three years they've started to cut funding," said Sideras.

"We want care to be seen as the right of each disabled person and not restricted in any way," he continued, pointing out, for example, that under current Welfare Office regulations, funding for care ceased the moment a disabled person got married.

"This is because their spouses are expected to care for them, which is clearly unfair." said Sideras; compelling handicapped people personally to pay for care was a tremendous financial strain, even though they might be employed he added.

Another group-member, Andros Procopiou, said disabled people who earned more than the minimum wage set by the Welfare Office -- a mere £270 -- were considered able to pay for their own care.

"The Welfare Office keeps saying it is studying our proposal," Sideras said, but his group felt enough time had elapsed.

"The minimum the state can do is to provide us with care, so as to allow us some dignity."

Spokesmen for the House later announced the matter would be placed on the list of issues to be discussed by the Labour Committee.

[08] Farmer arrested over bases protest

XYLOPHAGOU farmer Hambis Chimonas was arrested by British Bases police yesterday during a disturbance at the Pyla firing range.

Himonas, who has had several run-ins with the British authorities, drove his car on to the firing range during an operation to clear the area of trees.

A bases spokesman said the farmer would at a later date be charged with driving recklessly and breach of the peace.

He said another farmer had also arrived at the range but left after speaking to an SBA police officer.

"Other than that, there was little interest," the spokesman said.

The bases yesterday began to remove illegally planted trees, which hinder the use of the Pyla firing range near Xylophagou.

The bases say the trees are planted by people involved in illegal bird trapping and are directly in the way of the range.

"The bird trapping that takes place on Pyla is an activity that cannot be condoned. It is illegal," a bases press release said. "The SBA police routinely patrol the area and during the winter have made a number of arrests and confiscated large quantities of nets and associated equipment."

The operation to cut down the trees had almost been completed by late yesterday afternoon. It was carried out by military personnel appointed as Forest Officers.

Irrigation equipment belonging to the farmers will be held for them, the bases said.

[09] Concern over noise pollution bill

The government bill would multiply the fine for illegal use of loudspeakers from the current £450 to a maximum of £10,000. It would also make it easier for authorities to confiscate loudspeakers being used outside .

Officials said low fines made it more profitable for club owners to stay open after hours than to stick to the law.

"We want to make breaking the law non-profitable," government officials said.

But some deputies voiced reservations. There was concern the increase in the fine was too drastic, while other deputies queried whether the measure would be used unfairly or would drive some people out of business. The issue remains before the committee.

[10] Stricter dog laws in the pipeline

The bill, drafted in the wake of a series of dog attacks on children, came before the House Legal Affairs Committee yesterday.

It would amend the existing law to make prosecution easier.

Officials said dog owners had been acquitted under the existing law because the prosecution could not prove they knew their dog had been aggressive in the past and could therefore assume they would attack again.

Deputies said they agreed with the spirit of the proposal, although Diko's Markos Kyprianou said it was only one step towards solving the problem of dangerous dogs, on which draft legislation is still expected from the government.

[11] Package holiday bill could add to costs

The bill sets clear guidelines on brochures and other advertising material on holiday packages. Tour operators would also be obliged to insure the packages offered. This is expected to add some 1 per cent onto the price of a holiday. Operators face prosecution if they fail to so, but yesterday saw agreement to replace proposed jail sentences with the penalty of having their operations closed.

Disagreement remained on whether insurance should also cover airline tickets or not.

The committee decided to give both sides another week for further consultations, when the committee will decide on the bill.

[12] Ant1 FM hits the airwaves on Monday

Ant1 FM stereo will begin broadcasting at midday. Frequencies are 102.7 and 103.7 FM.

In addition to discussion programmes, magazine shows, sports programmes and local news, the station will link up with the BBC World Service's Greek service four times a day for newscasts. Programmes will run from 6am until the early hours of the morning.

[13] Scotland Yard briefs Cyprus police on Paphos suspects

Cyprus police are seeking the extradition of the two.

The British police officers also returned several items believed to have been stolen in the raids.

The two -- John Talbot, 21, and his pregnant girlfriend Kathryn Lois King -- were arrested last month after an Interpol-co-ordinated effort between Scotland Yard and Cypriot police.

The couple are accused of stealing goods worth over £60,000, including diamonds and an array of designer watches, from shops in Paphos.

The Metropolitan Police officers leave the island tomorrow.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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