Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 00-01-19

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

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

CONTENTS

[01] Expats sue Turkey in European court

[02] Broad welcome for bi-communal restoration plans

[03] Accepting Swiss model doesn’t mean accepting confederation

[04] Kyprianou hits back from US hospital

[05] Hellenic rises amid takeover rumours

[06] Shock at resignation of CY Group Chief Executive

[07] Pontian registration process under way in Paphos

[08] Limassol backs Zakaki foundry protests

[09] UN member for the missing dies in Switzerland

[10] Rolandis urges EAC to modernise to face European competition

[01] Expats sue Turkey in European court

THREE Cypriot expatriates will sue Turkey this Friday in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for denying them access to their property, which today lies buried under the Lefkoniko military airport runway in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus.Lawyers Achilleas Demetriades and Nicolas Angelides, a Lefkoniko refugee, told a news conference in Nicosia yesterday they would file the lawsuits at the request of a 30-year-old association of Lefkoniko expats in Britain.The three plaintiffs are George Nicolas Hadjiyiannis of Melbourne; Andriane Vassili Katsifli of London; and Androniki Christoforou Veoukas, who lives in Florida.Despite emigrating from Cyprus before Turkey invaded the island in 1974, none of the three ever surrendered, renounced or sold ownership of the land.Each claims their land -- which today houses the ‘Gecitkale’ Turkish military airfield -- was once used solely for agricultural purposes.The impending lawsuits are relying on the same principles on which Demetriades won his classic case of Loizidou v. Turkey before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.In that suit, the court held Turkey responsible for human rights violations for depriving Titina Loizidou, a refugee, of her right of access and right to enjoy her property in Kyrenia on the north coast.The Court dismissed Turkey's claim that the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ was responsible for the denial to Loizidou, noting the ‘TRNC’ did not exist in international law, and that Turkey in fact called the shots in the occupied north.On December 18, 1996, the Court awarded Loizidou a total of £320,000 in damages, and all court costs and legal fees. Turkey has ignored the judgment.It is now up the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to enforce the court's order against Turkey. On October 6, 1999, the Committee of Ministers adopted an Interim Resolution in which it "strongly urges Turkey" to pay Loizidou.Ankara's refusal to comply with the court's ruling in favour of Loizidou is a high-stakes gamble that could cost it dearly on two fronts, Demetriades said."There is no way Turkey can avoid honouring the (Loizidou) judgment of the European Court unless it is willing to leave the Council of Europe, which in the light of the Helsinki Statement (awarding Turkey EU candidate status) is not a possibility, as far as I understand it.""To be an EU candidate," Demetriades added, "you must abide by human rights, which are rooted in the Council of Europe (CoE)." So if Turkey dismisses a human rights ruling of the CoE's European Court of Human Rights, it is tantamount to both writing itself out of the CoE and killing its EU chances, he said.

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[02] Broad welcome for bi-communal restoration plans

AS THEIR leaders battle it out on the political arena, ordinary Greek and Turkish Cypriots will be working on the restoration of each other's holiest shrines under a scheme announced by the UN and the United States.

Turkish Cypriots are expected to work on the restoration of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in occupied Karpasia while Greek Cypriots will become involved in work at the Hala Sultan Tekke on Larnaca's Salt Lake.

The two shrines have in recent years become the only path by which people from both sides cross the Green Line through regular but limited pilgrimages.

UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan officially announced late on Monday that the first phase of the project had got under way.

Annan said the first phase began following discussions in Cyprus with the relevant institutions on both sides and the United Nations Development Programme, all in partnership with the United States.

"I consider this a very constructive step forward, one well suited to the spirit of the New Year," Annan said in a written statement.

The project’s implementation will be entrusted to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The government and the Church yesterday welcomed the UN announcement that the Apostolos Andreas Monastery was to be fully renovated along with the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque in Larnaca.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said he saluted the move, which he said would be almost wholly financed by the US.

He said teams of specialists on both sides would be advising UNOPS on what needed to be done.

"UNOPS will then assign the work to private companies, in the occupied areas to Turkish Cypriots and in the free areas to Greek Cypriots," Papapetrou said.

Archbishop Chrysostomos expressed the Church's willingness to become involved in the repair of the Monastery.

He said that he had not yet been officially briefed on the project other than through what he had read in the newspapers, but said the Church was willing to contribute financially.

"We haven't had any official information that work was going to start," he said. "We don't know what needs to be done. I have not been there but if some expert who has seen it tells us it needs this and that then we will be willing to contribute."

Unficyp spokesman Charles Gaulkin told the Cyprus Mail yesterday the first phase was in its very initial stages. He said no estimates were yet available on the extent of the work to be done and no costs estimates had been made.

"Basically the first phase involves making thorough inspections and analysis to get a full picture of the requirements," Gaulkin said. He added this could take a few months.

He assessed that Apostolos Andreas, situated on a cliff at the north easternmost corner of the island, would probably need more work because of its exposure to the elements over the years.

The Tekke, he said, needed quite a bit of work on the grounds and gardens, which suffered from lack of water.

Unficyp chief of Mission James Holger said he hoped the projected would pave the way for other similar moves to help create the right atmosphere for the resumption of proximity talks in Geneva on January 29.

"This is a very important initiative directly related to the culture of Cyprus and its two communities," he said. "Discussions have been going on for the past year or so. This comes at a very appropriate moment."

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[03] Accepting Swiss model doesn’t mean accepting confederation

"We don't accept the Swiss confederation in its entirety but we are ready to discuss chapters," said government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou.

"The government has not abandoned its positions about sovereignty. As far as the cantons and the numerical equality that Mr Denktash is demanding, we have repeatedly said we accept the term given by the Security Council that political equality does not mean numerical equality and it is also known that we do not accept the rotating presidency."

Papapetrou said the fact that the Greek Cypriot side says it is ready to discuss the Swiss model chapter by chapter does not constitute an about- turn on policy.

A year ago, President Clerides issued a strongly worded written statement expressing his objections to a comment by British envoy Sir David Hannay.

Hannay's comment was perceived as a suggestion that Cyprus follow the Swiss model, which Clerides at the time said was the Turkish position.

The row over the Swiss model erupted at the weekend after a passing reference to it by Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous.

Despite universal criticism from opposition parties, the government has stood behind the Minister, saying his comments had been misunderstood. But yesterday it appeared to back off a little when Papapetrou said Themistocleous had been speaking in his capacity as general secretary of minority coalition partners, the United Democrats.

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[04] Kyprianou hits back from US hospital

HOUSE President Spyros Kyprianou yesterday issued a written statement from his Cleveland hospital bed, saying he knew "a lot more" than what he had said on Friday.

Hours before leaving for the US on Friday, Kyprianou said the policies of the governments in Athens and Nicosia on the Cyprus problem were dangerous. He had also called on President Clerides to resign.

Kyprianou issued yesterday’s statement from the United States, where he is about to undergo a weak heart-valve operation.

He was responding to a statement from Greek Government Spokesman Demetris Reppas saying Kyprianou's fears were inexcusable and his accusations unfair.

"I do not accept Mr. Reppas' claims that what I have stated in the past days are unreal accusations and things that I imagine," said Kyprianou.

He also expressed his readiness to prove what he said after he recovered from his operation.

"I know a lot more than what I already said."

"It is not my intention to accuse anyone, rather to point out that the way things are developing today, we are led to the completion of the plan which was set in motion in 1974 with the treacherous coup and the barbaric Turkish invasion," he added.

In his statement, Kyprianou also stressed that nobody had the right to doubt his sincere concern for creating conditions of unity in Cyprus.

He claimed that during Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's recent visit, he had asked Clerides –- in vain -- to call a National Council meeting.

Kyprianou arrived in the United States on Monday.

He has been admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio.

The operation on his mistral valve is expected to take place either today or tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[05] Hellenic rises amid takeover rumours

HELLENIC Bank shares took centre stage on the Cyprus Stock Exchange yesterday as the rumour mill went into overdrive once again with the bank being touted as a possible takeover target.

Irrespective of a 1.3 per cent drop in the general index, Hellenic dominated trading with a 1.37 million share chunk of volume, rising 23 cents to £5.21.

Traders said insurance firms owned by the Popular Bank had shown a keen interest in the stock from last week, sparking interest from other institutional investors, which started snapping up the share.

Unconfirmed rumours were circulating on the market that Popular was buying Hellenic in a pre-emptive move to scupper a possible takeover by another institution.

"It is just a rumour and has not been verified. But that is the word out," said one stockbroker.

Hellenic, the smallest of the three large banks, has been the object of speculation several times in the past but has repeatedly denied it is in talks with any third party for a takeover.

In contrast to Hellenic, shares in Popular and Bank of Cyprus fell. Bank of Cyprus dropped 22 cents to a last trade of £9.98 on a volume of 271,141 shares while Popular was off 20 to £13.40 on a volume of 151,205. Popular Bank ex-dividend stocks were up six cents to £13.30 on a volume of 21.303.

The banking sector was off 1.15 per cent.

The all-share index dropped 8.76 points, or 1.32 per cent, to 652.96 after opening slightly firmer from Monday's close of 661.72. Intraday highs and lows recorded were 661.79 and 648.75. Trading volumes reached £30.29 million, five million higher than Monday, and on 5,042 deals.

"It is logical that after some days of increases there would be a marginal correction. That is very healthy," said broker Stelios Bekris of SB Unigrowth.

Companies in the "other" category led losses with a 2.25 per cent drop, followed by commercial shares, which fell 2.2 per cent. All but one sector ended the day with losses.

Insurance shares bucked the trend and climbed 1.51 per cent. Universal Life climbed £1.84 to £19 on the relatively low turnover of 4,150 shares.

* Printing works JC Cassoulides and Sons said yesterday it would issue 125, 951 new shares to finance the purchase of an 86 per cent equity stake in TTG (Middle East and North Africa) Ltd.

Cassoulides said some 102,200 shares would be given to existing shareholders in the publication, and 23,751 shares to creditors.

TTG (Middle East and North Africa) is headquartered in Nicosia. Its monthly publication reaches more than 10,000 subscribers in 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

* Avacom Computer Services shares will be suspended from trading on the bourse between January 28 and February 8 inclusive pending a five-way split to the share from a par value of 20 cents to five cents.

* The board of Glory Leisure Holdings will meet on January 28 to review preliminary results of the company for 1999. The company will also discuss the possibility of distributing new equity to new representatives of the group.

* Share Link Financial Services said yesterday that only AAA United Stockbrokers and Share Link Securities were responsible for the allocation of shares in investment firms Kyknos and White Knight. Sharelink said any investor who has bought shares through a third party with an additional premium or commission should report it to them by calling 02-554000.

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[06] Shock at resignation of CY Group Chief Executive

CYPRUS Airways (CY) has accepted the resignation of Group Chief Executive Demetris Pantazis, which he handed in on Monday.

Pantazis, who was with CY for 31 years and who worked his way up to the top, is believed to be moving over to the private sector after obtaining a position with Libra Holidays.

The company is said to be moving into the airline business in the near future.

Media-shy Pantazis is highly regarded as one of the most knowledgeable people in the airline business in Cyprus. He was responsible for the creation in the early nineties of CY's low-cost charter firm Eurocypria, which he headed for a number of years before being appointed Chief Executive for the entire CY group.

His resignation came as a complete surprise.

"He worked hard, he knows all the departments and he is very experienced and capable," said a CY source. "Basically he was running the show."

CY now has three top positions vacant. The airline recently replaced Chairman Takis Kyriakides, who also moved to the private sector, with Haris Loizides.

In addition to the position of Group Chief Executive made vacant by Pantazis' departure, the Eurocypria managerial chair is also empty due to the retirement of Charalambos Hadjipanayiotou, as is the position of manager at the Cyprus Airways (CY) Duty Free Shops.

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[07] Pontian registration process under way in Paphos

MORE THAN 5,700 Pontian Greeks currently living in Paphos have agreed to enlist themselves in a special government register, whose purpose, according to Paphos District Officer Nicos Roussos, is " to help the authorities distribute their services where needed most".

He said he was sure that all the Black Sea Greeks in Paphos would go to the registration posts and give in all their data. "We should have done this a long time ago, from the moment we agreed to accept Greek Pontians in Paphos, " he admitted.

Pontian representative Omiros Poursanides told the Cyprus Mail he was glad "the government decided to register us so that accusations expressed by local politicians against Pontian refugees can be seen off."

"In this way, our people will be accepted in Cypriot society and all illegal immigrants either accused or arrested for crimes in Paphos would be blacklisted," he added.

"It’s a good move, better late than never."

However, Diko deputy Nicos Pittokopitis, who has been very critical of the Pontian ‘ghetto’ in Paphos, told the Cyprus Mail that he was withholding judgement for one month. "The procedure will take one month and I will comment on the results after the registration is over, hoping that the true information is registered and double checked," he said.

Pittokopitis has been accused of racism against Pontians by the media and by fellow deputies. "They can call me what they like, but the future will confirm my worries," Pittokopitis said yesterday, adding that "at least now the government that accepted the refugees here in Paphos will be able to control them."

Special Russian-speaking personnel have been hired on a part-time basis at two registration posts in the Greek Pontian area in Paphos in order to help the refugees with the government paperwork. Special certificates of registration will be issued, which will later be deposited in order to issue final working and residence permits.

Costas Vladimirof, a Pontian refugee waiting to register yesterday, quipped: " When Cyprus finally solves all its problems and joins the European Union, then we Pontians will be called European Citizens."

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[08] Limassol backs Zakaki foundry protests

LIMASSOL municipality has given its backing to a local residents' campaign to halt operation of the Nemitsas foundry in Zakaki.

The anti-foundry action group yesterday called on the municipality to follow up a municipal council decision calling for the relocation of the metal works with action.

The decision was, according to an announcement by the action group, taken on December 9 but never publicised.

Zakaki residents claim the foundry - owned by former Commerce Minister Takis Nemitsas - is poisoning their environment with cadmium, lead and dioxins.

Foundry management insists the works, located in a built-up area and near a primary school, does not exceed legal emissions limits.

Tests carried out by the Labour Ministry late last year found particulate concentrations in foundry smoke stack emissions of 384 and 290 mg per cubic metre. The legal emissions limit is 300 mg per cubic metre.

The action group feels the government is not treating its complaints as seriously as those of Ergates residents protesting about a foundry in an industrial zone outside their Nicosia district village.

After months of protests by the villagers, the government recently announced the Ergates foundry was to be closed down till new pollution control equipment could be installed.

"The government has shown great sensitivity over the Ergates foundry... whereas for the Nemitsas foundry - where there is a similar if not greater problem - it has done nothing despite many protests," the Zakaki residents' action group stated in its announcement yesterday.

Local residents fear the government may be loath to police the Nemitsas foundry because of its owner's political clout.

"This is a very different situation to Ergates, here the factory is not in an industrialised zone 400 metres from the nearest home, here there are homes right up against the factory," action group member Bernadette Charalambous told the Cyprus Mail.

The action group is calling for blood and soil tests similar to those carried out by a private epidemiologist at Ergates to be conducted in its neighbourhood. The Ergates tests showed high levels of lead and cadmium in village soil and in villagers' blood.

Charalambous said an action group delegation was to meet with Health Minister Frixos Savvides to discuss the Nemitsas foundry issue on Friday.

Wednesday, January 19, 2000

[09] UN member for the missing dies in Switzerland

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday expressed its condolences on the sudden death on Monday of Swiss diplomat Jean-Pierre Ritter, the UN-appointed member of the Committee for Missing Persons (CMP).

An announcement from the UN late yesterday afternoon said Ritter, 69, had died suddenly at his home in Lausanne Switzerland on Monday.

"We express our sorrow and regret for the death of Mr Ritter,"

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told the Cyprus Mail on learning of the death.

Papapetrou said that in his role as the `Third Member' of the tripartite CMP, Ritter had spent a lot of time on the island and put in a lot of effort.

"We would like to pass on to his family and to the UN our condolences," Papapetrou added.

Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Dr Takis Christopoulos, who worked closely with Ritter on the issue of missing persons over the past 18 months, was clearly shocked to learn of his death. "I had no idea," he told the Mail. "This is a complete shock and I am very sorry to hear it."

Christopoulos said Ritter had been on the island only last week to take part in the last meeting of the CMP on January 11.

According to the UN announcement, he had been due back on the island next month for the next meeting with his Greek and Turkish Cypriot counterparts, Elias Georgiades and Rustem Tatar.

Ritter, a retired Swiss diplomat who had served his country in various important posts, was appointed by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan in June 1998.

He is survived by his wife Renate and a son. His funeral will take place on January 21 in Val d'Illiez, Switzerland.

[10] Rolandis urges EAC to modernise to face European competition

"We know that at some point, when we enter the EU, we will have to face competition, and it's possible that other companies will come here to produce electricity," Rolandis told an EAC board meeting.

"Already two foreign firms have shown an interest" in doing just that, he said. "We want, as a first stage, to see how we can modernise the EAC as best as is possible, so it can face European realities."

Rolandis said the proposals from these European power companies were "significant," and stressed that, once Cyprus was an EU member, it would not be able to stop them from landing on the island and setting up shop.

Rolandis noted that in Germany, when competition entered the power- generation market, electricity prices dropped by 60 per cent.

This, he said, was "something which means that, at some point, we, too, will face similar realities, and we have to look at how we face this competition."

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 2000

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