Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 99-06-20

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

June 20, 1999

CONTENTS

[01] Arty steps in to save the day for Sophie

[02] Cautious approach to G8 resolutionBy Jean ChristouPRESIDENT Glafcos Clerides reacted cautiously yesterday to a revised draft resolution on Cyprus due to be passed by the G8 group of countries in Cologne today.The revised draft states that UN resolutions on Cyprus should be used as a "reference point" in future direct talks between the two sides.The previous draft was more in line with the position of the Greek Cypriot side in that it said talks should be "on the basis" of UN resolutions.Responding to journalists' questions on whether this change amounted to moving the goal posts in the Cyprus issue, Clerides said: "It wouldn't be correct to say that such a decision has been taken."Government spokesman Costas Serezis told The Sunday Mailhe was not in a position to comment: "It's Saturday and I have not seen the President," he said.However the change in the G8 resolution is not likely to be welcomed by the Greek Cypriot side, particulary as it is seen by observers as an attempt to mollify the Turkish side which has raised strong objections to the G8 involvement.The Turkish Cypriots are insisting they will only sit at the table as a recognised state and negotiate for a confederation, and on Friday warned the G8 not to intervene in Cyprus.In Cologne Cypriot diplomatic sources told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the government was taking all appropriate measures to secure as far as possible a reference to Cyprus which is in line with its position.The Greek Cypriot side wants negotiations to take place for a bicommunal bizonal federation on the basis of UN resolutions. It also says it is willing to engage in talks without preconditions."The government of the Republic of Cyprus has always outlined its views to the governments of the G8 nations," the diplomatic sources told CNA. This position was also conveyed in writing to all G8 capitals before their Foreign Ministers met last week, along with the government's vow to remain "steadfastly committed" to the aim of establishing a bizonal bi-communal federation.The draft G8 resolution says that the Cyprus problem has been unresolved for too long and that a solution would not only benefit all the people of Cyprus but also peace and stability in the region.It also recognises that both parties to the dispute have legitimate concerns "that can and must be addressed", and urges the UN Secretary-general to invite the leaders of the two communities to negotiations, probably in the US at the beginning of October. It calls on the two leaders to give their full support to comprehensive negotiations."In accepting the invitation the two parties/leaders should commit themselves to... no preconditions, all issues on the table, commitment in good faith to continue to negotiate until a settlement is reached, and prior UN resolutions and relevant treaties serve as a point of reference for the negotiations," the draft said.In conclusion it says that members of the G8 undertake to give their full and sustained backing to the negotiating process and hope that it will prove possible for its outcome to be reported to the meetings of heads of state and government at the meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul in November.

[03] Kyprianou and Diko vice-president in defence spatBy Martin HellicarAN UNHOLY row erupted yesterday between Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou and party vice-president Nicos Cleanthous.It began with Cleanthous publicly accusing Kyprianou of doing a U-turn on the defence budget without consulting the party beforehand.Kyprianou responded with a statement slamming his number two, saying he had got his facts wrong and was undermining party unity.In a morning interview on CyBC radio, Cleanthous claimed Kyprianou had made a laughing stock of Diko by deciding, out of the blue, that it should back the 1999 Defence Budget.Diko and fellow opposition party Akel have made plain their misgivings about approving provisions in the budget for the purchase of advanced weapons systems. Opposition deputies fear that Turkey, the UN, US and EU would block deployment of such weapons if they were ordered -- just as they did with the Russian S-300 missiles.Talking to The Sunday Mailyesterday, Cleanthous explained that he had caught wind of his leader's "change of heart" only minutes before the budget was due to come up for a vote at the House plenum on Thursday.No new decision had been taken by the party collective organs, but Kyprianou had distributed a letter explaining that everything had changed, Cleanthous protested.As it happened, the vote on the defence budget was postponed when Disy deputies had to leave early to attend gatherings ahead of their party conference."Mr Kyprianou thinks it better to communicate by letter rather than through the party's collective organs," Cleanthous told The Sunday Mail."He has made a fool of himself and everyone in the party by taking a different position at the latest meeting of party leaders," the deputy complained. Party leaders met in a back room to discuss the defence budget just before Thursday's plenum session.Cleanthous said Kyprianou's actions were dragging the party down. "This raises a huge issue of order," he said.Kyprianou issued a terse statement in response, expressing "surprise" at Cleanthous's attack and questioning his mental aptitude. The veteran politician said Cleanthous's interpretation of "opinions and thoughts" he had forwarded to Diko deputies was "far removed from reality"."I like to believe that he did not comprehend the spirit and letter of the relevant opinions," Kyprianou said. He did not clarify when these "opinions and thoughts" had been handed to Diko deputies, but he denied changing tack on the defence budget. "My opinions as contained in the relevant letters neither clash nor diverge in the slightest from relevant decisions by the party's collective organs," he said."I wonder why Mr Cleanthous did not seek, before going public with his criticisms, to come to me to discuss any queries or doubts he might have," he said."Even though I could say more and worse, I do not wish to say anything more publicly at this time," Kyprianou added.Kyprianou's centre- right party has been in a downward spiral ever since it abandoned a coalition with governing Disy to back a looser in the February 1998 presidential elections.

[04] Disy showdown for deputy leader

[05] Stolen icon returned after secret Swiss rendezvousBy Jean ChristouA RETURNED 16th century icon was at the Archbishopric in Nicosia yesterday pending a decision on where the Church will place it permanently.The icon of the Apostle Matthew was taken straight to the Archbishopric after its arrival late on Friday night, said Church antiquities advisor Athanassios Papageorgiou."I'm not sure when a decision will be taken on where the icon will be placed permanently," he said.Papageorgiou said the 16th century icon, stolen from the occupied areas after the 1974 Turkish invasion, was in good repair. It was taken from the Antiphonitis Church near Kyrenia.The icon, measuring 86x63cm, was handed over to representatives of the Cyprus Church and the government at a secret rendezvous in Switzerland.It was given back to Cyprus by the unnamed collector who had it for the past 25 years. According to reports, when he found out it was stolen he said would return it on the condition that he remained anonymous.The icon was brought back to Cyprus by Stella Ioannidou and handed over to Archbishop Chrysostomos.Ioannidou said that in early August 1999 the Cyprus consul in Zurich sent a letter to the Cypriot embassy in Bonn in which he mentioned a lawyer's letter which said their client was in possession of an icon, and he wanted to know if it was on the catalogue of missing Cypriot icons.The query came shortly after German police uncovered a huge haul of allegedly stolen Cypriot icons in a flat belonging to a Turkish art dealer in Munich. That case is still pending in the German courts.Investigations into the Swiss case revealed that the offer to return the icon was genuine and that the icon was authentic.In this instance, far from having to pay out millions to get the icons back in a major art deal, the cost to the church will be only £3,600 in lawyers' fees and storage costs for the icon.

[06] Greens launch campaign to ‘stop the GM rot’THE Ecological Movement group yesterday launched a campaign to have genetically modified food banned.Such altered foods may not be common on local supermarket shelves -- though the absence of relevant labelling means the picture is unclear -- but the greens want to stop what they see as a ‘rot’ before it sets in.Members of the pressure group were out in Nicosia's Eleftheria Square yesterday morning preaching their anti-genetically modified food gospel to anyone who would listen."Genetically modified foods are an unknown risk on our plates," a campaign leaflet said.Splicing alien genes into plants and animals produced foods that would increase the risk of allergic reactions, the greens claimed. "People already suffering from allergies will not be able to avoid the dangerous substances, and for them everyday food will become Russian roulette," the Ecological Movement said.Eating foods that have been modified to confer resistance to antibiotics would make people resistant to vital medicines, the greens claimed.They added that growing genetically modified crops could also have unforseen environmental consequences."The environmental consequences of mass production of genetically modified products are unpredictable and the damage may appear many years later," the movement said.

[01] Arty steps in to save the day for Sophie

WHEN SOPHIE Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward in London yesterday evening there was one man who was keeping a very close eye on her feet -- Greek Cypriot shoemaker Arty Achilleous.

London-based Arty played fairy godfather to the bride by saving the day in a last-minute dash to match Sophie’s shoes to her £5,000 wedding dress.

Arty (Artemis) Achilleous, 46, who was born in Larnaca, was given the emergency task of covering the £250 shoes by Royal dress designer Samantha Shaw after she discovered her ivory/pale coffee creation had been matched with a pair in an offending peach colour.

With no success in locating a matching pair and with only two days to the wedding, Shaw desperately turned to Achilleous, the owner of Baboucha Shoes.

"We were given the shoes on Thursday afternoon and they went back on Friday afternoon," Achilleous told The Sunday Mailyesterday from his shop in Barnet, North London.

"We had to help so we stepped in exactly like a fairy godmother. So Cinderella did go to the ball with our help."

Rhys-Jones did not make a personal visit to the shop, and nor did Arty receive an invitation to the wedding, but he said he planned to watch it on television so he could keep a close eye on his handiwork.

"Hopefully the heels won't fall off," he joked.

Achilleous, a third generation shoemaker, said the entire job took around 5- 6 hours to complete.

He said the shoes were made by a different company and with the wrong fabric and had to be literally taken apart to be covered in material matching the royal wedding gown.

The size-five plain court shoes were described as having a sweetheart toe with scalloped edges.

Arty said he chose a matt, stretch jersey which he described as a light coffee cream or antique ivory, the same colour as the dress but a different fabric.

"We also made her a matching handbag," he said. "And of course it was all complimentary."

Achilleous is no stranger to royal or celebrity shoemaking. His shop, which opened in 1983, provided the bridesmaids’ shoes for Prince Andrew's wedding to Sarah Ferguson. He also later employed Greek shoemaker Spiros Minas who had worked on the bridesmaids’ shoes for Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in 1981.

Achilleous also counts among his clients actresses Uma Thurman and Nicole Kidman, wife of Tom Cruise. "We make shoes for all sort of celebrities," he said.

June 20, 1999

[02] Cautious approach to G8 resolutionBy Jean ChristouPRESIDENT Glafcos Clerides reacted cautiously yesterday to a revised draft resolution on Cyprus due to be passed by the G8 group of countries in Cologne today.The revised draft states that UN resolutions on Cyprus should be used as a "reference point" in future direct talks between the two sides.The previous draft was more in line with the position of the Greek Cypriot side in that it said talks should be "on the basis" of UN resolutions.Responding to journalists' questions on whether this change amounted to moving the goal posts in the Cyprus issue, Clerides said: "It wouldn't be correct to say that such a decision has been taken."Government spokesman Costas Serezis told The Sunday Mailhe was not in a position to comment: "It's Saturday and I have not seen the President," he said.However the change in the G8 resolution is not likely to be welcomed by the Greek Cypriot side, particulary as it is seen by observers as an attempt to mollify the Turkish side which has raised strong objections to the G8 involvement.The Turkish Cypriots are insisting they will only sit at the table as a recognised state and negotiate for a confederation, and on Friday warned the G8 not to intervene in Cyprus.In Cologne Cypriot diplomatic sources told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the government was taking all appropriate measures to secure as far as possible a reference to Cyprus which is in line with its position.The Greek Cypriot side wants negotiations to take place for a bicommunal bizonal federation on the basis of UN resolutions. It also says it is willing to engage in talks without preconditions."The government of the Republic of Cyprus has always outlined its views to the governments of the G8 nations," the diplomatic sources told CNA. This position was also conveyed in writing to all G8 capitals before their Foreign Ministers met last week, along with the government's vow to remain "steadfastly committed" to the aim of establishing a bizonal bi-communal federation.The draft G8 resolution says that the Cyprus problem has been unresolved for too long and that a solution would not only benefit all the people of Cyprus but also peace and stability in the region.It also recognises that both parties to the dispute have legitimate concerns "that can and must be addressed", and urges the UN Secretary-general to invite the leaders of the two communities to negotiations, probably in the US at the beginning of October. It calls on the two leaders to give their full support to comprehensive negotiations."In accepting the invitation the two parties/leaders should commit themselves to... no preconditions, all issues on the table, commitment in good faith to continue to negotiate until a settlement is reached, and prior UN resolutions and relevant treaties serve as a point of reference for the negotiations," the draft said.In conclusion it says that members of the G8 undertake to give their full and sustained backing to the negotiating process and hope that it will prove possible for its outcome to be reported to the meetings of heads of state and government at the meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul in November.

June 20, 1999

[03] Kyprianou and Diko vice-president in defence spatBy Martin HellicarAN UNHOLY row erupted yesterday between Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou and party vice-president Nicos Cleanthous.It began with Cleanthous publicly accusing Kyprianou of doing a U-turn on the defence budget without consulting the party beforehand.Kyprianou responded with a statement slamming his number two, saying he had got his facts wrong and was undermining party unity.In a morning interview on CyBC radio, Cleanthous claimed Kyprianou had made a laughing stock of Diko by deciding, out of the blue, that it should back the 1999 Defence Budget.Diko and fellow opposition party Akel have made plain their misgivings about approving provisions in the budget for the purchase of advanced weapons systems. Opposition deputies fear that Turkey, the UN, US and EU would block deployment of such weapons if they were ordered -- just as they did with the Russian S-300 missiles.Talking to The Sunday Mailyesterday, Cleanthous explained that he had caught wind of his leader's "change of heart" only minutes before the budget was due to come up for a vote at the House plenum on Thursday.No new decision had been taken by the party collective organs, but Kyprianou had distributed a letter explaining that everything had changed, Cleanthous protested.As it happened, the vote on the defence budget was postponed when Disy deputies had to leave early to attend gatherings ahead of their party conference."Mr Kyprianou thinks it better to communicate by letter rather than through the party's collective organs," Cleanthous told The Sunday Mail."He has made a fool of himself and everyone in the party by taking a different position at the latest meeting of party leaders," the deputy complained. Party leaders met in a back room to discuss the defence budget just before Thursday's plenum session.Cleanthous said Kyprianou's actions were dragging the party down. "This raises a huge issue of order," he said.Kyprianou issued a terse statement in response, expressing "surprise" at Cleanthous's attack and questioning his mental aptitude. The veteran politician said Cleanthous's interpretation of "opinions and thoughts" he had forwarded to Diko deputies was "far removed from reality"."I like to believe that he did not comprehend the spirit and letter of the relevant opinions," Kyprianou said. He did not clarify when these "opinions and thoughts" had been handed to Diko deputies, but he denied changing tack on the defence budget. "My opinions as contained in the relevant letters neither clash nor diverge in the slightest from relevant decisions by the party's collective organs," he said."I wonder why Mr Cleanthous did not seek, before going public with his criticisms, to come to me to discuss any queries or doubts he might have," he said."Even though I could say more and worse, I do not wish to say anything more publicly at this time," Kyprianou added.Kyprianou's centre- right party has been in a downward spiral ever since it abandoned a coalition with governing Disy to back a looser in the February 1998 presidential elections.

June 20, 1999

[04] Disy showdown for deputy leader

With Nicos Anastassiades set to be re-elected party leader unopposed, interest turns to Prodromos Prodromou's challenge to incumbent Panayiotis Demetriou for the post of party number two. The outsider for the position is petrol station owner George Christodoulou.

Party spokesman Prodromou has been complaining all week that Demetriou's supporters have been resorting to dirty tactics in an attempt to scupper his challenge. Demetriou has not replied to the allegations, except to say that he would have "plenty to say" if he chose to do so.

The right-wing party's eighth annual conference began on Friday and continued yesterday with addresses from Anastassiades and Disy members of the cabinet.

The party leader said Disy had met most of the targets it set two years ago. Party founder Glafcos Clerides had been re-elected president, and co- operation between Disy and the government had been put on a new and stronger footing, Anastassiades said.

June 20, 1999

[05] Stolen icon returned after secret Swiss rendezvousBy Jean ChristouA RETURNED 16th century icon was at the Archbishopric in Nicosia yesterday pending a decision on where the Church will place it permanently.The icon of the Apostle Matthew was taken straight to the Archbishopric after its arrival late on Friday night, said Church antiquities advisor Athanassios Papageorgiou."I'm not sure when a decision will be taken on where the icon will be placed permanently," he said.Papageorgiou said the 16th century icon, stolen from the occupied areas after the 1974 Turkish invasion, was in good repair. It was taken from the Antiphonitis Church near Kyrenia.The icon, measuring 86x63cm, was handed over to representatives of the Cyprus Church and the government at a secret rendezvous in Switzerland.It was given back to Cyprus by the unnamed collector who had it for the past 25 years. According to reports, when he found out it was stolen he said would return it on the condition that he remained anonymous.The icon was brought back to Cyprus by Stella Ioannidou and handed over to Archbishop Chrysostomos.Ioannidou said that in early August 1999 the Cyprus consul in Zurich sent a letter to the Cypriot embassy in Bonn in which he mentioned a lawyer's letter which said their client was in possession of an icon, and he wanted to know if it was on the catalogue of missing Cypriot icons.The query came shortly after German police uncovered a huge haul of allegedly stolen Cypriot icons in a flat belonging to a Turkish art dealer in Munich. That case is still pending in the German courts.Investigations into the Swiss case revealed that the offer to return the icon was genuine and that the icon was authentic.In this instance, far from having to pay out millions to get the icons back in a major art deal, the cost to the church will be only £3,600 in lawyers' fees and storage costs for the icon.

June 20, 1999

[06] Greens launch campaign to ‘stop the GM rot’THE Ecological Movement group yesterday launched a campaign to have genetically modified food banned.Such altered foods may not be common on local supermarket shelves -- though the absence of relevant labelling means the picture is unclear -- but the greens want to stop what they see as a ‘rot’ before it sets in.Members of the pressure group were out in Nicosia's Eleftheria Square yesterday morning preaching their anti-genetically modified food gospel to anyone who would listen."Genetically modified foods are an unknown risk on our plates," a campaign leaflet said.Splicing alien genes into plants and animals produced foods that would increase the risk of allergic reactions, the greens claimed. "People already suffering from allergies will not be able to avoid the dangerous substances, and for them everyday food will become Russian roulette," the Ecological Movement said.Eating foods that have been modified to confer resistance to antibiotics would make people resistant to vital medicines, the greens claimed.They added that growing genetically modified crops could also have unforseen environmental consequences."The environmental consequences of mass production of genetically modified products are unpredictable and the damage may appear many years later," the movement said.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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