Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 02-02-17

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

Sunday, February 17, 2002

CONTENTS

[01] 'Grivas slogans' report given to Clerides

[02] Dissenting bishops speak out on abbot's promotion

[03] Parties honour Spyros Kyprianou

[01] 'Grivas slogans' report given to Clerides

THE FINDINGS of an investigation into allegations that conscripts were ordered to shout slogans in support of the late General George Grivas were not made public as expected yesterday after President Glafcos Clerides asked to see the report first.

An investigation had been launched by the Defence Ministry into public allegations by the left-wing opposition party AKEL, which claimed that National Guard recruits at a Larnaca training camp were ordered to shout pro-Grivas slogans.

General Grivas led the EOKA struggle against British colonialism between 1955 and 1959, which had as its aim enosis, or union of the island with Greece.

After independence he became commander of the National Guard and led its forces during the inter-communal strife but left the island in 1967.

He returned secretly in 1971 and launched a terror campaign against President Makarios through the EOKA B organisation, which gained notoriety for murdering communists.

The findings of the investigation were handed over to Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos yesterday, who told reporters he could not disclose anything as the President had asked to view the report personally.

In light of this, “the report will be handed over to the President on Monday morning,” Hasikos said.

The minister said he did not know what action Clerides would take, saying only that he had been ordered not to publicise the report before the Presidence looked at it.

Hasikos said Clerides had not been briefed on the findings prior to his request to see the report.

He added that the matter would be discussed in the House Defence Committee on Thursday.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[02] Dissenting bishops speak out on abbot's promotion

The decision was taken on Thursday, but four bishops who voted against argued that the decision to ordain Nikiforos while he is still Abbot is against the Church charter.

Six bishops approved Nikiforos' ordainment.

Paphos Bishop Chrysostomos and Kition Bishop Chrysostomos rejected the dissenters' argument, and said that according to the charter the Holy Synod could take decisions either unanimously or by majority vote.

The Paphos Bishop said that the Synod was the supreme judicial and legislative authority and could authentically interpret the charter, therefore its decisions were binding.

The Bishop of Kition agreed that the decision did not go against Church rules, arguing that the Holy Synod could in fact increase the number of bishops.

But three of the four bishops who voted against the increase yesterday issued a written statement arguing that announcements made concerning the decision to ordain Nikiforos went against the charter.

The Bishops of Kyrenia, Limassol, and Morphou said that in Thursday's session the Synod had rejected the proposal because it could not secure the necessary majority - three quarters of its members.

“That is why the Synod secretary did not announce anything about any election; thus comments about Nikiforos' election do not correspond to reality,” the statement said.

The bishops argue that the same person cannot hold the two positions simultaneously since the duties and responsibilities vary substantially, and that carrying out the duties of one post would surely hurt the other.

Based on the charter, their statement said, the Archbishop is only allowed to have two bishops in his diocese and to change that the charter had to be amended.

The three bishops warned that when Church rules were not respected then “peace could be disturbed” but at the same time they stressed that their motives were pure and that no hostility was felt towards anyone.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[03] Parties honour Spyros Kyprianou

FORMER President Spyros Kyprianou was honoured last night for more than 40 years of service to Cyprus.

Representatives of all the political parties gathered in Nicosia to join in celebrations organised by DIKO to honour Kyprianou for his contribution to public life during his many years of involvement in politics.

President Glafcos Clerides described Kyprianou as a “beloved friend of the Cypriot public” and expressed his gratitude for having had the opportunity to have worked with him.

“I have always respected his patriotism and his passion in his contribution to politics,” Clerides said.

DIKO president Tassos Papadopoulos thanked Kyprianou for his important role in the founding of DIKO and his years of contribution as the first president of the party.

“The party decided to hold this celebration to honour and respect Spyros Kyprianou's service to DIKO and the public over the past 40 years,” Papadopoulos said.

Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and other members of the Greek government sent messages to mark the occasion.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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