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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-04-13Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cyprus-mail.com/>Friday, April 13, 2001CONTENTS
[01] Corrosion blamed for Castor deck splitBy a Staff Reporter THE American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has warned that the rapid spread of corrosion aboard the Cypriot-flagged Castor was the most likely reason for the disaster that befell the tanker last December.According to Lloyd's List, ABS was shocked by its preliminary findings on the stricken Castor and said they had serious implications for double-hull tankers in general. The Castor had become a "laboratory for corrosion", ABS said. The Greek-owned Castor hit the headlines last December when the crew reported a deck crack on New Year's Eve in the western Mediterranean. The ship had left Ukraine on December 24 and was en route to Lagos in Nigeria. It was carrying 29,000 tonnes of unleaded petrol and was refused shelter to transfer the cargo by the authorities in several Mediterranean ports, who feared it might explode. The Castor was towed eastwards by the salvage firm in an attempt to find calmer waters and was able to discharge the cargo successfully in February off Malta. It was then towed to Piraeus in Greece for examination. ABS said the preliminary findings, carried out jointly with the Cypriot authorities, showed that one of the ship's tanks had been subjected to "hyper accelerated corrosion" due to exposure to both petrol cargos and to salt water. If the initial findings hold up it could mean wider implications for the construction and maintenance of double-hull tankers. A full report will be issued when the investigation is complete. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [02] Police plan more patrols to catch bad eggsBy Rita Kyriakides POLICE traffic patrols will be out in force over the holiday weekend in an effort to prevent road accidents as many people travel to different towns to celebrate Easter with relatives.Last Easter there were 32 accidents and one fatality, with eight people seriously hurt and 26 treated for minor injuries. Police say they will be operating increased patrols from April 13-16 and will concentrate on the use of seat belts and motorcycle helmets, speeding and illegal overtaking. They also plan to carry out more breathalyser tests. On Easter Sunday between 9.30 and 11am traffic police will be handing out traditional flaounes and red eggs to drivers and chocolate Easter eggs to children on the following routes: Nicosia to Limassol near Latsia, Anthoupolis to Astromeritis near Mangli, and Limassol to Paphos near Episkopi. Police are urging drivers to be especially careful and to obey traffic laws so everyone can have a Happy Easter. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [03] Britain 'very concerned about Tsiakourmas'By a Staff Reporter BRITISH Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Keith Vaz said yesterday that his government is very concerned about the continued detention of Greek Cypriot contractor Panicos Tsiakourmas in the north.In a written reply to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Tom Cox, Vaz said: "We are very concerned about the continued detention of Mr Tsiakourmas. During my visit to Cyprus in March I raised the issue with Mr Denktash and urged him to find a satisfactory solution to the case as soon as possible." Tsiakourmas, a diabetic, who is being held on drugs charges, was abducted from British Bases territory on December 13, taken to the occupied north and arrested. His trial ended on Wednesday and the verdict will be announced on April 26. Yesterday Tsiakourmas' distressed wife Niki told reporters that not much was being done to free him "If they don't do something soon he is going to spend the next ten years in prison," she said. "They don't care what happens to him." She said the British were concentrating on the Cyprus problem and not doing much to help release her husband. "Denktash will do whatever he wants and Panicos is not an important issue for him," she said. "He is making a fool out of the British and this whole case is an embarrassment for them." Tsiakourmas said her husband was not at all well and that his sugar level was up. "Panicos is very sick and no one is helping him," she said. "He is only 39 years old." Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [04] Bank victims in north stage protest to demand compensationBy Jennie Matthew THE BANK Victims Association is staging a protest in occupied Nicosia this morning to protest against massive loss of savings, in an effort to gain compensation for lost funds.Since abandoning the IMF-backed currency regime on February 22, the Turkish Lira has almost halved in value -- slashing savings by nearly 50 per cent and clocking up bank debts of £250 million in the north. The average civil servant's salary has fallen from the equivalent of £500 to £270 a month and the minimum wage from £200 to £108. Some 18,000 Social Insurance Fund pensioners take home just £100 a month. The Bank Victims decided to stage today's rally after its leader, Metin Arhun, accused the 'government' in the north on Wednesday of failing to come up with a compensation programme for victims who faced difficulties of unimaginable proportions. A compensation programme to repay investors after last year's banking crisis has dried up since the Lira went into free fall. Local observers expect 1,500 to 2,000 people to demonstrate in the park outside the 'parliament' building in north Nicosia, despite press reports claiming that between 10,000 and 20,000 people take part in similar protests. The organisation is also urging the Cyprus Credit Bank to consider an acquisition proposal from a foreign investment company. The bank met last night to discuss the matter. "A lot of people think they'd be silly not to do it. If they come in and pick up a $50 million debt, it will be an opportunity for the government to be relieved of one debt," said one Turkish Cypriot journalist. He added that his newspaper salary was "worthless". But the north is shielded from the economic destruction that has engulfed Turkey, largely because of the Turkish Cypriot tradition of banking money in hard currency. Nevertheless, hard currency expenses have become unaffordable for those paid in Turkish Lira. Rent for two students sharing, for example, has jumped from £250 to £500. "There is a little frustration. But I honestly can't see it is as bad as it is in Turkey. In Istanbul there's no traffic because people aren't driving to work. On Saturday I sat by the harbour in Kyrenia and there were brand new cars with temporary registration plates. People are still spending," said the journalist. "But there is a question mark looming over people's heads about what's going to happen. The authorities are waiting for something to come from Turkey," he added. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash left for Ankara yesterday morning, at the invitation of the Turkish Parliament and the Finance and Foreign Affairs Committee. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will fly to the north for a meeting on Monday. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [05] Iranian remanded after cannabis findBy a Staff Reporter A 45-year-old Iranian has been remanded for eight days after the discovery of more than 150 cylindrical plugs of cannabis on Tuesday.A man was arrested at Larnaca Airport after nine capsules were discovered in his pockets. He was taken to Larnaca Hospital where one-and-a-half kilos of cannabis were recovered. He appeared in Larnaca District Court yesterday and has been remanded. Drugs Squad officer Marios Xenofontos said police suspected drugs were being smuggled to hotels in Larnaca before being taken to Limassol to be sold. INTERPOL is also investigating as the Iranian's passport showed he visited Cyprus twice before in January. In another drug-related incident, three Iranians were arrested on Tuesday after police searched their apartment. A total of 68 grams of cannabis was found. The Iranians admitted they were not legally resident in Cyprus, police said. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [06] Nicosia bonfire scufflesBy a Staff Reporter SCUFFLES broke out between a group of teenagers and police in old Nicosia early yesterday evening after officers tried to pull down a massive woodpile the youths had erected for their Easter bonfire.The youths protested by setting the woodpile, in the Ayios Kasianos area, alight three days early. The Fire Brigade arrived with a water canon to douse the flames and the teenagers began pelting the fire engine and police with stones and sticks. The water canon was then turned on the stone throwers and baton-wielding officers chased the youths down the alleyways of the old town. Five arrests were made. No serious injuries were reported. Police said the bonfire had been cited too close to local homes, but the teenagers said they had been allowed to light a fire at the same spot last Easter. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [07] Tourism braces for the Easter rushBy Jennie Matthew HOTELS are fully booked and flights are up 25 per cent as the tourism industry braces itself for a busy Easter.Cyprus is a top destination from Britain, as bad weather and the lingering foot and mouth crisis persuade more UK residents than ever to head abroad for an Easter break. And with the Western and Orthodox Easters falling on the same day this year, hotels are under extra pressure from mainland Greek and local tourists converging on resorts for a weekend away. The director-general of the Hoteliers' Association, Zacharias Ioannides, said that some hotels in the mid to luxury range were fully booked. "Hotel occupancy levels are in a very good shape due to the popularity of Cyprus as an attractive destination for Europeans. This is a very positive development compared to last year, but the actual percentage difference is very difficult to establish at the moment," he told the Cyprus Mail. British airports are ready to process some 1.5 million passengers jetting off for a break in the sun. Cyprus, Tunisia, Majorca, Ibiza and mainland Spain have been named as top Mediterranean attractions, alongside Florida and the Caribbean for long- haul travellers. Of those heading to Cyprus, Paphos pulls in the largest number of Britons. "Year on year, the number of British holidaymakers travelling abroad has been on the increase, with Easter this year being no exception," said Steven Bath, president of the Association of British Travel Agents. More than 19,000 UK nationals flew into Cyprus in April 2000. Neither the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) nor the Hoteliers' Association were able to estimate the numbers expected this month, but flight arrivals from Europe have increased by 25 per cent this year. The general manager of Larnaca Airport, Andreas Soshilos, said the number of tourists coming from all over Europe was on the increase. "If there are 13 flights a day, multiplied by 15 days from last weekend to the next, multiplied by the average number of seats, 130, you get an idea about how many we're expecting - 25,350," he said. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [08] Turk wanted for murder may be extraditedBy a Staff Reporter A TURKISH citizen wanted for murder in Turkey has been traced to Cyprus and could be extradited if Ankara forwards the necessary papers, Attorney-general Alecos Markides said yesterday.He told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the government was ready to carry out the extradition if Turkey was ready to respond. Ankara does not recognise Cyprus. Fisherman Mustafa Muhsuroglu, 38, from Kayseri, in Turkey, was arrested last year and imprisoned for five months for entering the Republic illegally through the occupied areas. He had only just been released when police picked him up again last Friday following a request from Interpol. Markides told CNA the authorities were now waiting for official documents from Turkey, under international conventions, in order for the extradition to go ahead. "In case Turkey does not send the relevant documents, the convict will be deported to a country of his choice," Markides said. A police statement said the Turkish authorities had sent a message to Interpol in an effort to trace the whereabouts of Muhsuroglu who is wanted in Turkey for murder. Muhsuroglu appeared this week before the Nicosia District Court, which ordered his remand until May 14, in order to give Turkey time to send the paperwork required for his extradition. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [09] Paphos parties urge government to monitor gypsy influxBy a Staff Reporter A CO-ORDINATING committee of political parties and organisations met in Paphos yesterday to discuss the recent influx of gypsies from the occupied north.Three of the organisations demanded the meeting be cancelled because it would put across the wrong message, but other members felt the issue should be discussed since the recent arrival of gypsies over the past fortnight had caused some problems. The chairman of the committee, Paphos Mayor Phedias Saricas, said afterwards there was no particular problem in Paphos and that the committee was not against the arrival of gypsies. But he urged the government to ensure the new arrivals are Turkish Cypriots, not Turks. The committee believes the situation is under control, he said, but there is also a general feeling that Paphos is not ready for the influx of gypsies. Most committee members felt the meeting was a rushed decision and might convey feelings of racism and xenophobia. They plan to watch developments and monitor measures taken by the government. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [10] Firm pledges payment in CSE row 'by the end of the month'By Melina Demetriou BROKE investors in a company that failed to enter the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) were yesterday assured that they would get their money back by the end of April.About 30 investors in MaxDATA Holdings Ltd stormed the company's offices in Strovolos yesterday for the second day in a row, demanding back money they had invested in the firm last year. The company began preparations to enter the CSE early in 2000. It was ordered to return investors' money after its entry was delayed and issued cheques to pay back the money. But about 100 investors claim that their cheques bounced. After a meeting yesterday with DIKO deputy Marios Matsakis and party hopeful for the May elections Yiannakis Ioannou, the company's owner, Andreas Athanassiou, promised investors that they would have their money back by the end of the month. But the investors and Matsakis allege the company has repeatedly refused to return the money in the past when asked to do so. One investor told the Cyprus Mail that many investors were financially ruined and that some were even on the verge of committing suicide. "Some people have lost over £300,000. Many families have broken up and some people have lost their houses and cars because they could not pay their debts otherwise. One man might die as he is sick and can't take the pressure," he said. Athanassiou said that the company was not obliged to return investors' money until a financial problem -- its bank accounts have been frozen -- was resolved. "We haven't issued shares to anyone," he said. "Seventeen share packages had been given out to companies in return for loans. But they went behind our back and sold the shares to other people." Athanassiou said that half of the people who bought shares had got their money back and that the other half would get their money - about £2.5 million -- by the end of April. But some investors insisted they had bought shares issued by the company. One investor showed media a receipt for shares signed by someone he claimed was Athanassiou. Athanassiou said that some companies' associates had taken out millions of pounds in local and oversees loans in maxDATA's name, pretending to be company directors. "Then they tried to run off with the money," he alleged. Athanassiou dismissed claims that cheques the company had issued to investors had not been honoured: "They didn't bounce: our accounts were frozen by the Attorney-general's Office which is investigating the missing money case." The company was not obliged to pay back investors until the company's accounts were unfrozen, Athanassiou said, adding that "I have personally made efforts to ensure they get their money". But Matsakis said he doubted whether the money would be refunded by the end of April. "If those investors get their money back by the end of the month I will admit I am a Martian," the outspoken MP said. Some investors asked Matsakis whether it would be a good idea to take the law in their hands and he replied: "That would be a good idea." He did not elaborate. Matsakis complained that the government was doing nothing to protect investors' rights. "I rang the Attorney-general's office three times between 12 noon and 1pm and no one answered the phone," he complained. "This is a banana state. Why should it need a legal service?" Responding to Matsakis' accusations, Attorney-general Alecos Markides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday: "For God's sake! It's Holy Thursday. We left a little bit earlier. I was there until 1.30 anyway." Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [11] New marina sites get the go-aheadBy a Staff Reporter THE cabinet has approved two new sites for marinas and the extension of two already approved yacht moorings, it was announced yesterday.The new sites, rubber-stamped by the cabinet on Wednesday, are just west of the old Limassol port and at the Paralimni fishing shelter. The sites to be extended are the Larnaca marina and the site earmarked for a yacht harbour at Ayia Napa. Marinas are one of the 'pet' projects of Commerce and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis, who sees yacht docks as a vital part of plans to upgrade the local tourism product. The island currently has two marinas, at Limassol and Larnaca. A Paphos marina site has also been approved, bringing to six the number of planned or existing marinas on the island. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [12] Raising Aphrodite: arts chief challenges Rolandis 'What on earth was going through your head?' By Jean ChristouThe president of the Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts (EKATE) wants to meet Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis for an explanation as to why he decided to consider building a giant statue of Aphrodite."We want to hear first hand about this idea and what inspired him and what on earth was going through his head," Andreas Pharmakas said. On Wednesday EKATE came out strongly against building a gigantic Aphrodite near Paphos as a tourist attraction to rival the pyramids and the Colosseum. It said the idea was "base, barbaric, morbid, bizarre, provocative, flashy, grotesque, monstrous, out of proportion, over the top, cheap, pointless, offensive and kitsch". "This is Hollywood thinking, the sort of thing you would only see in America where they don't have anything else to show," Pharmakas said yesterday. "Putting up a huge statue of doubtful aesthetic value is dangerous thinking for the traditions of Cyprus." Rolandis said on Wednesday he would ignore the detractors and already had artists and architects abroad looking at possible designs. They were working on it free of charge, he added. But Pharmakas said instead of creating a new scar on the Paphos horizon, the government ought to be looking at ways to improve the existing landscape in the area. "Much of it is already destroyed and needs cosmetic surgery," he said. He also referred to the huge statue of Archbishop Makarios in the grounds of the Archbishopric in Nicosia, which many people consider an eyesore. "This statue has no value," he said. "People only photograph it because of its size." Pharmakas said there were many people against the idea of a gigantic Aphrodite and that he wanted to give this message to the Minister before the issue reached the cabinet and somehow received approval. "We are afraid other ministers might have the same type of values as Mr Rolandis," he said. The minister believes there is not much point erecting "just another statue". He said if one was to be built it would have to be "larger than life" or it would not attract attention. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [13] Supreme Court overturns promotion to top postBy a Staff Reporter THE Supreme Court yesterday rescinded the promotion of Antonis Constantinou to the position of Director of Farming in the Agriculture Ministry.This is the second time Vrahimis Hadjihannas has successfully appealed against Constantinou's promotion to the top government post. Last time round, the Public Service Commission reappointed Constantinou as Director of Farming after the top court cancelled the promotion. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 [14] Three charged after football riotBy a Staff Reporter THREE suspected football hooligans were yesterday charged in connection with the ugly scenes that followed Wednesday night's cup semi-final clash between Nea Salamina and APOEL at Larnaca's Ammochostos stadium.A 20-year-old and two 17-year-olds from Nicosia were arrested for allegedly smashing the windscreens of three Nea Salamina club mini-buses, damaging a police car and breaking shop window panes as APOEL fans went on the rampage after their team was knocked out. The cost of the damage caused by the latest outbreak of football hooliganism on the island had not yet been calculated yesterday. The three suspects have been charged with disturbing the piece and causing malicious damage and then released. Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001 Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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