Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-05-26

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

Tuesday, May 26, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Turks jailed for gunning running, but police 'zeal' condemned

[02] Turkish communist seeks political asylum

[03] Immigration under fire for treatment of asylum seeker

[04] Government rejects US report on its missing

[05] Miller flies in for new round of talks

[06] Christodoulou pledges to return deficit to Maastricht limits

[07] Roof collapses on British tourists

[08] Road deaths well up on last year

[09] Top Cyprus bankers say mergers possible

[10] Amnesty concern at new gay law

[11] Weekend e-mail crash

[12] Pilots set to strike

[01] Turks jailed for gunning running, but police 'zeal' condemned

POLICE "encouraged" two Turkish Cypriots to smuggle guns from the north in order to arrest them for gun-running, the Nicosia Assizes court ruled yesterday.

Ozman Kondoz, 41, and Mustafa Veli, 33, both from occupied Louroudjina, were nonetheless sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for smuggling two hand- guns and bullets from the north.

The two men were arrested on the night of October 23 last year after a police sting operation in the Athienou buffer-zone area.

Their lawyer, Youstrel Katri, claimed during their trial that Kondoz and Veli had been victims of police entrapment. He said police impersonated gun- buyers to induce his clients to bring guns from the north, even giving them gifts to prompt them.

The three-bench court accepted the defence position but only as grounds for leniency and not for dismissing the charges. The judges said police had not actually instigated the two suspects to commit a crime but had only "encouraged and pushed" them to smuggle after receiving information they were trying to sell weapons.

Police had been "excessively zealous" in investigating the case, "repeatedly" prompting the two Turkish Cypriots to smuggle, the court found.

During the trail, case investigator Yiannakis Ellinas detailed how Kondoz and Veli were jumped on by police after allegedly handing him a pistol and bullets. The sting was planned after Dhali villager Andreas Maltezos informed police that Kondoz and Veli had approached him in Pyla village seeking a buyer for 30 pistols, two kalashnikovs, one G3 automatic, three shot-guns and a million pound's worth of fake £10 notes from Turkey, Ellinas said in his statement. He told the court he had posed as a crooked millionaire gun-buyer.

Under cross-examination by Katri, Ellinas admitted that Maltezos had himself in the past been involved in smuggling animals from the occupied areas.

Ellinas denied Katri's claim that he had given the suspects a crate of brandy and two Michelin tyres for a Volkswagen in an effort to induce them to smuggle guns.

Kondoz and Veli, who denied the charges, faced up to five years imprisonment for the offence. Katri said afterwards his clients should, with standard remission, only serve another two months behind bars as they had already been in custody for the past seven months.

[02] Turkish communist seeks political asylum

Abdul Kantir Dogan crossed the dividing line near Strovilia in the Dhekelia area on Sunday afternoon and then walked into a Greek Cypriot home, investigating officer Andronikos Andronikou told the court.

The 35-year-old Turk was offered coffee and candied fruit at the home and then asked to use the phone so he could call police to come and pick him up, the court heard. After his arrest, Dogan told police he was a communist and had spent time in an Istanbul prison for his political beliefs, Andronikou stated.

Dogan told the court he wished to seek political asylum and stay in the government-controlled areas to start a new life.

He also said political prisoners in Turkey got neither water nor cigarettes.

Andronikou said police believed Dogan had arrived on the island via an illegal port of entry -- occupied Kyrenia -- in December last year. The court remanded the Turk for three days.

[03] Immigration under fire for treatment of asylum seeker

THE IMMIGRATION department came under fire yesterday for wanting to send a Kurdish asylum seeker back to Iraq, where he says he faces execution.

Only a last-minute intervention by Attorney-general Alecos Markides -- who was alerted by Amnesty International -- saved 30-year-old Abdullah Azal Hammas from deportation on Sunday.

Yiannakis Agapiou, the chairman of the House Human Rights committee -- which examined Hammas's case yesterday -- said the immigration department had ignored the Iraqi Kurd's pleas for asylum.

"We (the state) are obliged first of all to see if he is a political refugee, but instead of this the immigration department policeman at the airport decides if he should stay or go," Agapiou said, summarising the House committee's sentiments.

Hammas was to be deported to Jordan and then on to Iraq. He claims he is considered an opponent of Saddam Hussein's government and faces execution if sent back to Baghdad.

The committee decided to send a letter to Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides asking that all pleas for asylum in future be investigated by a committee and not a single individual.

"We ask the government to set up a body to look into such matters, which we have an obligation to investigate," Agapiou said.

Hammas was yesterday being held at Larnaca airport awaiting the outcome of Markides's investigation into his claims to be a political exile.

The Kurd arrived on the island from Frankfurt last week and has been held at the airport ever since.

[04] Government rejects US report on its missing

AN AMERICAN report on the fate of five US Greek Cypriots listed as missing persons is to go to the Attorney-general's office for an opinion, the government said yesterday.

Although refusing to comment on the report, which declares the five to be dead, spokesman Christos Stylianides made it clear the government would accept only physical proof that any of the 1,619 are dead.

The US on Friday released a 37-page report on the fate of the five Greek Cypriots with US citizenship, one of whom, Andreas Kassapis, has been proved dead through DNA testing on remains found by an American team in the occupied areas.

The US report, prepared by ambassador Robert Dillon, concludes that Kassapis, then 16, was killed shortly after his capture on August 20, 1974, "very likely by Turkish Cypriot militia men and buried in a field in northern Cyprus near his home town of Asha."

His partial remains were found there in December 1997 by a UN team of forensic experts and will be returned to his family in the US.

Of the remaining four, the report said, one probably died from physical hardship stemming from captivity in the northern mountain range above Karavas on August 8, 1974

The other two "very likely" died in separate killings carried out by Turkish Cypriot fighters in the Mesaoria region between August 15 and August 21, 1974.

The fifth person was last seen in the company of several unidentified Turkish or Turkish Cypriot persons "who may very well have robbed and killed him," the report said.

Commenting on reports of these people being taken prisoner, it added that the team found "no evidence" bearing out these allegations, which it described as "unfounded".

"Although the US government believes that all five missing Americans are dead, it will continue to pursue any additional leads it receives on their fate," the report concludes.

The US State Department said that, had the four survived, one would be 84 years old and the other three over 90.

"It would be unrealistic to hold out any hope of them still being alive," the State Department said.

Stylianides said the government was studying the report, which has been sent for state legal advice.

"The position of the government is clear," he said. "We do not accept to consider any missing person dead unless scientific convincing evidence is provided about his identity."

He added that the government was pleased that the remains of one of the five missing had been positively identified.

He said the government was ready to begin exhuming the remains of Turkish Cypriot missing persons in the government controlled areas in line with an agreement between the two sides last July to put an end to the missing issue.

Files relating to the whereabouts of some 400 Greek Cypriots and 200 of the 803 Turkish Cypriots missing have since then been exchanged at a meeting between the two sides.

A new meeting is expected soon, Stylianides said.

[05] Miller flies in for new round of talks

Miller, who arrived on the island last night, made no statements to reporters at the airport.

During his visit, he will also address a two-day economic conference entitled "US efforts to help solve the Cyprus problem".

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said yesterday the talks with Miller would cover "all issues pertaining to the Cyprus question."

Any proposals Miller might bring would have to be in line with efforts to resume the intercommunal dialogue, Stylianides added.

Commenting on widespread reports that Miller is on the island to step up American attempts to talk the government out of deploying the S-300 missiles, Stylianides said the government would "simply outline our position on this issue."

[06] Christodoulou pledges to return deficit to Maastricht limits

FINANCE Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou, possibly the most ardent defender of government policy, yesterday blamed a yawning fiscal deficit on anything from drought, defence, customs union agreement with the EU to a fit of spending to revive the economy.

But Christodoulou, speaking before scores of bankers, economists and lawyers attending a Nicosia business conference, pledged that the deficit would be brought back within the ceiling set by the Maastricht treaty, three per cent of GDP, by the year 2000.

The island's fiscal deficit reached five per cent of gross domestic product in 1997 and according to some estimates is expected to reach seven per cent this year, something that has given rise to serious concern.

"The temporary deviation in 1997 (from the Maastricht criteria) was the result of an expanding fiscal policy, an option we consciously took to enhance economic activity," Christodoulou said.

"In 1997, we had the worst year of the century in terms of agriculture. The drought destroyed entire crops and we had to help that sector," he said. "We also had an increase in defence spending without a matching increase in revenues."

Losses from compliance with the customs union agreement with the European Union, he added, would amount to nearly £130 million this year. The loss in import duties, he said, "represents a fiscal deficit of three per cent. Had it not been for that, our fiscal deficit would not exceed four per cent."

"The government is aiming toward a gradual reduction of the fiscal deficit so by the year 2000 it conforms with the relevant Maastricht criteria."

Turning to other aspects of the economy, Christodoulou said this year's expected four per cent of GDP growth was higher than the EU average.

According to a new method of calculation devised by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, he added, the per capita income of Cypriots is $20,500, an increase of more than $5,000 over what had hitherto been known.

[07] Roof collapses on British tourists

A BRITISH tourist described to the Cyprus Mail yesterday how he and his teenage son cheated death after a hotel roof collapsed on top of them.

Lawrie Mulheron, 45, from Oldbury, West Midlands, and his 14-year-old son were among six British tourists playing pool underneath the lean-to structure, when it came crashing down on Sunday night.

"It's a miracle no one was killed because it was a heavily tiled roof which fell," said Mulheron after being released from the Santa Marina clinic in Paralimni.

The father-of-two was playing pool with his son Stewart at the King Alkinoos hotel apartments in Protaras, when the incident happened.

"All we heard was a crash. My son got out with a cut knee and I was hit in the neck by the timber framework."

Lawrie Mulheron now has to wear a neck brace during the rest of his holiday.

"It's ruined my holiday, I'm snookered now."

A family-of-three from Aldershot are still being treated at the Santa Marina clinic and are expected to remain there for several days.

Mother Arlene Tonks, 59, is being treated for a shattered leg, after undergoing three hours of surgery.

Her husband, David, 44, received stitches for facial injuries, and their 12- year-old son Louis has chest injuries and suffered shock.

Their condition is described as stable.

According to tour company, First Choice, the family will be flown back to the UK as soon as they are released from the clinic.

However, the Mulheron family said all the tourists were fortunate to escape with mainly cuts and bruises.

"The only thing that kept me from getting squashed was the pool tables. We are lucky to be alive," said Lawrie Mulheron.

His wife Karen was still pinching herself on recollecting how her son narrowly escaped.

"He could have been killed by the debris, thankfully he got away with a cut knee."

A hotel spokesman said yesterday that everything was being done to assist the police investigation and look after the injured parties.

"Thankfully, there were no serious injuries as it was an isolated area of the complex," a hotel spokesman said.

Famagusta police have requested a report from Paralimni Municipality building inspectors to discover whether the structure had been approved.

Police are also trying to ascertain whether there were checks on the weight of the ceramic tiles which adorned the lean-to roof.

"We are investigating every aspect of the incident to see who is responsible," said Famagusta divisional commander Savvas Economou.

Police spokesman Glafcos Xenos told the Mail last night that police had received unofficial information from Paralimni municipality suggesting the roof might have been built illegally.

"If this is so, we will proceed with legal measures," said Xenos.

[08] Road deaths well up on last year

In the last week alone, four people died in separate accidents, bringing the total so far this year to 43.

This represents an increase of 35.7 over the same period last year, according to Renos Ioannides, Director General of the Road Transport Department.

Speaking on state radio, Ioannides said speed and the state of the roads and vehicles were to blame for the number of accidents.

He said, however, that once a points system was introduced, the number of accidents would drop significantly.

Anna Karamondani, a town planner specialising in communications, said Cyprus needed a proper enlightenment campaign and strict adherence to traffic laws.

Traffic police officer George Voudounos said it was up to drivers to behave on the roads. He also said the points system that was in the pipeline would be a solution.

Road Safety campaigner Athos Charalambous called for drastic action and suggested a committee of experts to look at ways of cutting down on the carnage.

[09] Top Cyprus bankers say mergers possible

TWO OF THE island's top bankers yesterday declared themselves in favour of mergers or closer co-operation between financial institutions to give the banking sector the strength to compete effectively in a deregulated Europe.

"Without being absolute, I believe that in view of international developments, it is necessary to examine in each sector and especially in Cyprus the prospect of merging banks... or, alternatively, the possibility of serious co-operation," said Michalis Tagaroulias, managing director of the National Bank of Greece (Cyprus).

"One way or another, Cypriot banks will consolidate their position. They will achieve economies of scale, they will prosper and contribute to the further development of the Cypriot economy," he told a business conference in Nicosia.

"The bank of Greece is likely to consider with great interest co-operation with other banking groups," said Tagaroulias. He did not elaborate.

The Bank of Cyprus is the island's largest bank, with the Popular Bank and the Hellenic Bank in second and third place respectively. Between them, the three have 75 per cent of the commercial banking market. The remainder is shared out by smaller banks -- Lombard NatWest, National Bank of Greece (Cyprus), Universal Bank and co-operatives.

The island's banking sector is set for drastic changes in the next few years as part of a government drive to liberalise the financial sector in tandem with the progress of accession talks with the EU which began in late March.

A bill abolishing an antiquated law governing interest rates, for example, is expected to be sent to parliament for approval in the next few weeks and controls on foreign exchange and capital movement are also expected to be abolished.

"The competition is fierce amongst banks in Cyprus and between banks and co- operatives," Solon Triantafyllides, chairman and chief executive of the Bank of Cyprus, told the conference, entitled Doing Business with Cyprus.

"I share the view that banks should merge. But not now, later. We are working on a small island and we need a strengthened banking group to stand up in Europe," he told the gathering, organised by The Economist Conferences.

"In the next few years the banking sector in Cyprus will have to take up the biggest challenge it has ever faced. It is my belief that in view of the globalisation of banking... Cyprus will follow the international trends of mergers and acquisitions both among banking institutions and co- operative societies."

Hellenic Bank acquired the on-shore operations of Barclays in 1996, signalling the island's first banking merger. The bank is currently rumoured to be considering the purchase of a small bank in Greece.

Hellenic, the Bank of Cyprus and the Popular Bank are involved in a ruthless competition for the lucrative, though small, local market and often copy each other's moves to expand abroad, particularly in Greece. This makes mergers between them a somewhat remote possibility.

Competition between the Bank of Cyprus and the Popular Bank is particularly fierce. It is, for example, demonstrated on the floor of the Cyprus Stock Exchange where their fully-owned securities firms, according to traders, are known to resort to tactics designed to depress the share price of each other.

Stocks of the two banks are the market's most sought-after securities and between them account for nearly 60 per cent of the bourse's capitalisation.

[10] Amnesty concern at new gay law

GAY RIGHTS activist Alecos Modinos wants Europe to take a close look at the new law passed last week decriminalising homosexuality between consenting adults.

Amnesty International has already declared the wording of the law unacceptable and a breach of human rights.

"I would be very happy for the European Commission to look at the law that has been passed," Modinos told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.

"They have abolished one law to make another one much worse."

It was Modinos who brought the successful action against the old law at the European Court of Human Rights, bringing international pressure to bear on the government to adopt new legislation.

The wording of the new law, designed to appease the opposition of the Church and the anti-gay lobby, refers to homosexuality as "unnatural licentiousness", while other vague terms, such as "indecent proposals" or "advertising" by homosexuals are all punishable by jail terms.

Amnesty said that while it welcomed the passing of the law, it had "serious misgivings" about some of the provisions, which the organisation believes contravene human rights.

"We believe the provisions must either be deleted or amended," Amnesty said.

"We do, however, consider it likely that the Cypriot authorities will give the correct interpretation to the law to ensue it does not violate citizens' guaranteed rights under the constitution."

The organisation warned that anyone sentenced under any of the "objectionable provisions" would be adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty.

"We believe that discrimination against homosexuals continues because the sentences provided for under the new law are not analogous with those stipulated for the same crimes committed by heterosexuals," Amnesty said.

"Unnatural licentiousness, which is referred to many times in the new law, implies condemnation of the homosexual act."

And Modinos said the new law was more discriminatory than the old one. "Before, the offences related to any person. Now it's referring only to males. And calling us 'licentious' in itself stigmatises us," he said. "These extra provisions were added to satisfy the Church."

[11] Weekend e-mail crash

The high-level domain name servers, which are responsible for sorting all e- mail ending with the .cy suffix designating a Cyprus address crashed on Saturday morning, and, due to public sector working hours, there was nobody available to fix them until yesterday.

There is no back-up server for the system, which has been at breaking point for months now as Cypriots' internet usage has increased to the point where the server is struggling to cope with the traffic.

Private internet provider, Spidernet, has said it will contact the university and again offer to set up a back-up server.

Problems first surfaced last year, when the rising number of subscribers started to put pressure on the central server.

There are currently up to 10,000 internet subscribers on the island. The server was designed to cope with far fewer. Spidernet has offered to implement a back-up server in the past, but has yet to be taken up on its offer.

[12] Pilots set to strike

An announcement by the pilots union, Pasipy, said they had decided to take strike action over the company's failure to complete a deal on the renewal of their collective agreement.

Pasipy accused CY of not being genuine in its efforts to resolve the differences between the two sides. It said that under the industrial code, the union had had the right to strike as far back a January, but had been "holding off".

"They never answered our letter to them and didn't meet us," Pasipy accused.

Last week, the union wrote to the company setting out its demands. The main sticking point is a row over promotions to the post of captain in CY's charter firm Eurocypria.

CY pilots want to be given top jobs in Eurocypria if they have longer service than their charter firm counterparts.

Pasipy said in the letter to CY that an impasse had been reached in the negotiations.

The union's comments angered management, which said it would reply. Pasipy said yesterday it had not received any response.

"We are convinced management is doing everything to lead the airline into a crisis," Pasipy said yesterday, adding a call for investigation by the House of Representatives.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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