Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 01-08-19

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cyprus-mail.com/>

Sunday, August 19, 2001

CONTENTS

[01] Tourist riot on flight from Cyprus

[02] Cyprus report 'gave the CIA heartburn'

[03] Hopeful signs for a solution, says departing Clay

[04] Cassoulides in Moscow talks

[05] Biker killed after hitting pedestrian

[06] UN warning to hunters

[07] UNFICYP investigating shooting report

[08] Freak storm hits Troulli

[09] Vandals wreck illegally parked cars at airport

[01] Tourist riot on flight from Cyprus

Some 50 Transjet passengers became unruly and around 15 threw beer cans at terrified air stewards, spat and tried to break into the cockpit, according to the Press Association (PA). The incident happened on Wednesday night.

The flight from Larnaca had been scheduled to land at Manchester Airport, but strong winds meant it had burnt more fuel than normal and the captain of the McDonnell Douglas MD83 plane decided to divert to Gatwick.

The announcement to passengers sparked outrage and some began to spit and throw cans at cabin crew.

The captain alerted police at Gatwick who boarded the flight when it landed at 8.20pm and questioned the passengers. But they were unable identify the ringleaders.

A detective who boarded the plane said they had feared major problems but that the situation calmed down when they arrived. “People felt there had been poor service and things seemed to escape out of control,” he said.

The passengers were later bussed to Manchester after the crew refused to get back on the flight.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[02] Cyprus report 'gave the CIA heartburn'

A RETIRED US State Department historian who helped compile a suppressed report on Cyprus-Greece-Turkey for the years 1964-1968 has said the censorship move was a “classic example of marriage, bureaucratic-style” between the Department and the CIA.

James E. Miller told the Washington Post that the mild disclosures in the report about covert operations that were proposed, but never approved, showed “how little it takes to give the CIA heartburn and make it wave the flag in the name of national security”.

"They have to justify themselves, and the record of American covert operations since 1948 is incredibly embarrassing. Even the ones that succeeded left bad marks," Miller said.

What's bothering CIA officials about the mid-60s history, which chronicles dealings with Turkey and Cyprus, Miller said, are documents about two proposals to influence Greek politicians and elections, Miller told the newspaper.

The first, he said, was a plan in September 1965 to buy the votes of enough lawmakers in Athens to secure a right-wing government. But policymakers in Washington responsible for reviewing and approving covert actions, known then as the 303 Committee, said 'no'. They "took a look at the idea and concluded that if the Greeks couldn't find enough money to buy their own politicians, why should we?" Miller said.

The second proposal, he said, was made in early 1967 when the US Embassy in Athens, "the CIA really", came up with a plan to pour money into Greece in an effort to defeat left-wing politicians." The 303 Committee, Miller said, "thought this was crazy" and again said 'no'.

The newspaper reported late last month that the release of the report was being halted by the CIA even though it was officially declassified in 1998

and 1999

The documentary history dealing with Greece, Cyprus and Turkey was printed in February 2000, but is locked up under the label: "Embargo: This publication cannot be released."

"It's basically a case of the CIA putting pressure on State and the State's bureaucratic culture being wimpy,” Miller said. “CIA usually gets its way."

He noted that an arrangement was made in 1995 to release the report, but that the CIA station chief in Athens "got the US ambassador there to say the sky would fall in". Last year, Miller said, CIA officials in Athens convinced a visiting congressional delegation that publication "would destroy Greek-American relations".

Miller said nothing of the sort would happen. He said the CIA feared the disclosures would prompt Greek terrorists to launch attacks against Americans, but he noted that the notion that Greek terrorists "sit around reading Foreign Relations of the United States volumes to get their ideological direction is absurd”.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[03] Hopeful signs for a solution, says departing Clay

PROSPECTS for a solution to the Cyprus problem are better than they have ever been, British High Commissioner Edward Clay has said in a farewell interview with the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

He said the expected resumption of UN-led talks next month was a very constructive and hopeful sign, adding that there appeared to have been some change in the Turkish position since last November.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash pulled out of the ongoing talks last November, saying they were a waste of time. He wants negotiations to take place between two states and also wants his proposal for a confederation placed on the table for discussion.

The Greek Cypriot side and the international community want a bizonal bicommunal federation.

Clay acknowledged the interruption of the talks was a result of a decision in Ankara for Denktash to leave the negotiating table, but refused to be drawn into speculation as to why or how the Turkish side had a change of heart.

"The signs are that the UN process will recommence and that is a very constructive and hopeful sign indeed," he said.

"Britain still subscribes to the view that a bizonal, bicommunal federation is the best way to achieve security and prosperity in Cyprus," Clay added. “This is probably most acceptable to most Cypriots and if that is so, we would regard it as best securing our interests too."

Asked if Turkish Cypriot demands for two separate states was out of the question, Clay said it was not up to London to decide what was "in or out of the question". He said that the UN process entitles the two sides to "air any of the issues which each regards crucial to them".

"The question is to discuss them to see whether a way can be found to safeguard the essential principle within forms that are acceptable to both, " Clay said. "The main bulk of any settlement has got to be what is negotiated and acceptable to the leaders of the two communities."

Clay is leaving Cyprus to become British High Commissioner in Kenya. He said he hoped there were "no hard feelings" as he leaves Cyprus, but added that often things needed to be said -- even if they seemed uncomfortable for some.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[04] Cassoulides in Moscow talks

The talks are expected to touch on the situation in the Balkans, the situation in Cyprus, and the development of Cypriot-Russian relations, especially in the context of the upcoming entry of Cyprus into the EU.

Sources told the Russian Interfax news agency that they have not ruled out the possibility that the talks would include discussions on military and technical co-operation between Moscow and Nicosia.

Cassoulides' visit to Moscow follows a visit by Ivanov to Nicosia last October.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[05] Biker killed after hitting pedestrian

Paraschos Polycarpou, a 25-year-old single mechanic from Famagusta, was driving on the Larnaca to Dhekelia beach road at about 10.20pm when he hit a pedestrian, Mohammed Abdullah Al Sayari, who was crossing the road.

Polycarpou lost control of his bike and hit the wall of a hotel building, suffering severe injuries. He died while he was being taken to Larnaca General Hospital in a Fire Brigade vehicle.

Al Sayari, a tourist from Saudi Arabia, was treated at Larnaca Hospital for a fractured arm.

Polycarpou lived in a refugee estate in Xylophagou in the Larnaca district with his parents and five brothers. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[06] UN warning to hunters

The peacekeeping force reminded the hunters of the need to act cautiously and responsibly, both for their own safety and the safety of others they might come into contact with.

“In the past hunters have proved to be a hazard to each other and to UNFICYP patrols,” the announcement said.

“Moreover, given that many hunters wear camouflage outfits and carry guns they can easily be mistaken for soldiers and therefore are at risk of being fired upon by either of the opposing forces, should they inadvertently enter the buffer zone.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[07] UNFICYP investigating shooting report

THE POLICE yesterday complained to UNFICYP that Turkish forces in the occupied areas had fired at a National Guard checkpoint on the dividing line in Ayios Kendeas in the Famagusta District.

The police were informed about the incident by the National Guard which described it as “a provocation”.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Turkish forces fired 10 shots using an automatic weapon at the Greek Cypriot checkpoint at about 10pm on Friday and one more shot at 12 .15 am yesterday, according to the police.

UNFICYP spokesman Brian Kelly told the Sunday Mail yesterday afternoon that the UN had not yet confirmed the report.

“We have been informed by SBA Police in Dhekelia that two shots were heard in the area at around 10pm, but that is the only information we have so far. We don't know who is responsible for the incident,” Kelly said.

He said UNFICYP was investigating the allegations.

A government official played down the reports. "There were some shots, but it was not against (Greek Cypriot) army posts. The matter is being taken up on a local level with a protest to the United Nations force," the official said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[08] Freak storm hits Troulli

No one was hurt, but police said the storm, which lasted for an hour from 5- 6pm, overturned two lorries and damaged two electricity pylons. Some solar water-heaters were also damaged, they said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

[09] Vandals wreck illegally parked cars at airport

They said that between Thursday night and Friday morning vandals had smashed car windows with stones and other implements, damaging at least nine cars.

The investigation was launched after several car owners went to pick up their vehicles on their return from abroad. Travellers have been parking illegally in the area in order not to have to pay airport car park fees.

Larnaca Public Works (PWD) Department said last week there was nothing more they could do about cars parked near the airport. A hard core of motorists continued to avoid using the airport car park, instead leaving their vehicles around the Salt Lake next to the airport.

After a long struggle to move all the cars, the PWD fenced off the area for around 500 metres to the west of the airport. But that did not stop those who were reluctant to pay the parking fees of about £5 a day. They just removed the concrete blocks preventing them from entering the area or moved further along.

The department had cleared the immediate area next to the airport so that tourists who had just arrived did not have to see the eyesore as soon as they left the terminal.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2001

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