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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-02-26

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


Wednesday, February 26, 2003

CONTENTS

  • [01] Bases offer: proof they no longer need the land?
  • [02] Man held after Palestinian stabbed in Limassol brawl
  • [03] Weather causes mayhem across the country
  • [04] Cut off from the world
  • [05] Anastassiades: side-by-side with government at critical time
  • [06] Cassoulides to challenge for DISY leadership
  • [07] Among the highest paid teachers in Europe
  • [08] Heavy blow as bank profits slump
  • [09] Greek bank sees decline in 2002 profits
  • [10] Cabinet holds farewell meeting

  • [01] Bases offer: proof they no longer need the land?

    By Jean ChristouBRITAIN on Monday offered to hand back almost half of its 98 square-mile territory as part of a Cyprus solution: why now, and - if the land is of no military value - why not sooner?According to the proposal, presented by British special envoy Lord David Hannay, Britain would give up some 45 square miles in the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem.Britain currently retains 98 square miles, or three per cent, of Cypriot territory. Approximately 3,500 British forces are stationed at Dhekelia and Akrotiri, which is the largest RAF facility outside Britain and served as a key supply post during the 1991 Gulf War.Ninety per cent of the territory returned would come under Greek Cypriot control, the rest would go to the Turkish Cypriot community.The offer is valid only if a Cyprus solution based on the UN plan is agreed by both sides in separate referenda. If either community rejected the peace settlement, the British offer would be void.However, according to Appendix P of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, under which the two sovereign base areas were created: “In the event that the government of the United Kingdom, in view of changes in their military requirements, should at any time decide to divest themselves of the aforesaid sovereignty or effective control over the Sovereign Base Areas, or any part thereof, it is understood that such sovereignty or control shall be transferred to the Republic of Cyprus.”The fact that Britain is prepared to give up territory in the event of a Cyprus solution has raised the question of why it was not done sooner, in line with the provisions of Appendix P.Britain admits that the areas in question are no longer necessary for their military operations on the island, but it is believed they have not been handed back sooner for fear of entering a political minefield with the Turkish Cypriots, many of whom live within bases territory. This is believed to have been the key consideration to holding on to territory Britain no longer needs.Including the extra land in the context of a Cyprus settlement removes any problems in that regard.From a legal point of view, the Treaty of Establishment refers to the Republic of Cyprus as created in 1960 with Turkish Cypriot participation. Britain is concerned at handing the land back to the Republic without a settlement for fear of upsetting the Turks, even though it only recognises the Republic.DIKO deputy and anti-bases campaigner Marios Matsakis said that by offering back the land as part of a Cyprus solution, Britain had shown it didn't really need it in the first place.“If they don't need it, they should give it back immediately and it shouldn't be part of a solution,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “It has nothing to do with a solution.”Commenting on Britain's reasons for not giving the land back sooner, he said there was no reason why it should have upset Turkish Cypriots because the land would have been given back to the Republic of Cyprus.“The treaty of establishment talks quite clearly about the Republic of Cyprus and this is the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus,” he said.“They will not be taking anything from the Turkish Cypriots. They will be giving back some land to the Republic of Cyprus.”Matsakis said that even if there was no Cyprus solution, he would strongly support the idea that civilian areas outside British military installations be given back to the Republic.“This stance of the British government has proved what I've been saying all along: that the civilian areas outside the installations are not of military importance to Britain so they have proved this and therefore they should give it back,” he said.Following a similar line, the Green Party said yesterday it would not rest until the bases were completely removed from Cyprus.Outgoing government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said it was too early to be thinking about whether Britain should return the land irrespective of a solution. “It's a sacrifice they are undertaking to facilitate a solution,” he said. “That's what they say. Let's wait and see whether there will be a solution and we shall see.”Outgoing Attorney- general, Alecos Markides, who has been retained on Tassos Papadopoulos' negotiating said it didn't follow that Britain should give the land back in any case. “They want to make a gesture for the purpose of facilitating a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he said. “The bottom line is they want to make a gesture, nothing less, nothing more.”He did not want to comment on Appendix P and said it was a matter for the government.House President Demetris Christofias warned the Cypriot people should not be blinded by the bases offer and should focus on the issue at hand -- “a solution to the Cyprus problem.”Papadopoulos said yesterday the British offer was “an encouraging development, which we must welcome. Let's hope that gradually, all the Bases' territory will be returned either to the Republic of Cyprus or the new state which will ensue,” he said.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Tuesday, February 25, 2003

    [02] Man held after Palestinian stabbed in Limassol brawl

    By a Staff ReporterA 24-YEAR-old Limassol man was yesterday remanded in custody for eights days in connection with the attempted murder of a Palestinian man outside a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday.Mohamed Soto, 21, was yesterday in critical condition after he was stabbed in the throat during a fray outside a Yermasoyia nightclub.Police told the court that the suspect, along with three accomplices, assaulted three Palestinians with knives and broken bottles.The three Palestinians had just come out of a club and were walking to their car when they met the suspects who were also in a car.Police said the Palestinians waved at the suspects whom they reportedly knew, but, instead of waving back, got out of the car and attacked them.All three Palestinians were wounded, with Soto sustaining the most serious injury.He was rushed to a private clinic and his condition was still critical yesterday.His two friends were treated and subsequently discharged.The suspect said he did not know the Palestinians, who claim they knew their attackers and blamed the incident on a misunderstanding.Nicolaides was remanded in custody for eight days. His three suspected accomplices are sought by police.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [03] Weather causes mayhem across the country

    By Stefanos EvripidouCYPRIOTS battled against the elements yesterday as heavy snow continued to fall, backed by wind, rain, hail and frost, closing tens of schools, blowing down trees and causing 36 road accidents, while cutting off 19 villages across the island from the outside world.According to traffic police chief Andreas Papas, over 36 road accidents occurred in the Nicosia district alone due to slippery roads, with five pile-ups in the greater Nicosia region, one of them involving a 1,000 car tailback on the Nicosia-Limassol highway. He warned motorists to drive slower and keep greater distances from each other, warning that the frosty weather conditions and slippery roads were the perfect recipe for disaster. After yesterday's numbers were released, police called on the public to take greater precaution on the road and observe the multitude of police warnings to avoid more smash-ups. The Nicosia-Limassol highway played host to three pile-ups while two more occurred in the Nicosia district yesterday, including a 10-car accident on the Nicosia-Kokkinotrimithia highway. Nobody was seriously injured in the accidents. Motorists driving to the capital got stuck in a 1,000-car traffic jam on the Nicosia-Limassol highway after slippery roads caused another pile-up. “There are about 100 cars per minute on the Limassol highway coming into Nicosia every morning. When traffic stops for ten minutes, 1,000 cars come to a standstill,” said Papas.All roads to Troodos were closed to traffic and many more restricted to cars with four-wheel drive or snow chains due to heavy snowfall. Around 19 villages throughout Cyprus, including Kannavia and Spilia, were snowed in and had to have supplies of milk and bread delivered by police forces. The road next to Chrisorroyiatissa monastery was blocked by a fallen tree while police made efforts to reopen the route.The measure of snow reached one metre on Mount Olympus and 85 centimetres in Troodos Square. Providing a majestic view to many in the capital, a blanket of snow also covered the occupied Pentadaktylos mountain range.The Civil Defence issued warnings to people not to travel unnecessarily under bad weather conditions. They released public guidelines to deal with bad weather, reminding people that if their car gets stranded by floods, they should abandon the vehicle and find refuge in a safe place. The Education Ministry announced that foul weather conditions caused the closing of 30 kindergartens, 46 primary schools, two technical schools and 11 high schools in the Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos districts. According to Turkish Cypriot press, schools in the occupied north were also closed due to bad weather conditions. The Water Department revealed that rainfall had reached 143.5mm for February, surpassing average rainfall for the month by 76 per cent. The winter season rainfall, from October to February, reached 106 per cent of normal rainfall for that period, hitting 398mm.Last night's temperatures dropped to minus six degrees on the mountains, below zero inland and two degrees on the coast, with plenty of frost forecast overnight. Today's forecast predicts finer weather interjected with clouds and a gradual rise in temperature to 11 degrees inland, 13 on the coast and zero on the mountains. Sporadic clouds and rain and snow will continue tomorrow with the weather shaping up a little for the weekend; expect a temperature rise coupled with scattered showers.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [04] Cut off from the world

    By Alexia SaoulliNINETEEN mountain villages in the Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos districts were snowed in yesterday. Children were kept home from school, with driving conditions deemed very dangerous and motorists cautioned to use chains or four-wheel drive vehicles around Troodos. All roads leading to the square were closed to all vehicles, police said. By lunchtime there was one metre of snow on Mount Olympus and 85 centimetres in Troodos Square. In the Nicosia district, Spilia and Kannavia villages were cut off; in Limassol it was the villages of Foini, Palaiomylos, Ayios Demetris, Treis Elies, Kaminaria, Pachna and Lemithou; and in the Paphos district Salamiou, Mesana, Arminou, Kidasi, Kedares, Ayios Ioannis, Pretorio, Ayios Nicolaos, Archimandrita and Kouklia villages were snowed in. Kakopetria village, just five kilometres from Spilia, was also coated in a thick blanket of snow. Most shops remained closed and only one or two residents could be seen clutching umbrellas as they hurried along the empty streets to get indoors. “Why stay open an entire day waiting for one shopper,” said 65-year-old Andreas Gerasimos. “It's better to stay indoors until the weather clears.”A 91-year-old woman greeted passers-by from her door, unable to venture out further for fear of slipping on the icy roads. From her roof, a huge slab of snow crashed to the ground, barely missing her daughter below. “It's like this every year,” said Anastasia Chrysanthou. “You can't go anywhere or do anything. It's too cold outside so I can't go to the fields, and indoors my hands ache from the cold so I can't get any chores done.” She gets through the winter by keeping on the gas heaters and wood-burning stoves. Unable to read and not interested in television, Chrysanthou heads for bed at around 9pm, after being forced to spend yet another winter day cooped up at home. “It'll only get worse in days to come,” she warned. “We've not seen anything yet.”Newsagent owner, Pantelis Kyriacou, 39, said the government had supplied families with bread and milk the night before because they had thought Kakopetria would be snowed in. Everyone had central heating in Kakopetria so winters were bearable, he said. “But if there's a power cut you have to get to bed to warm up. It could last 12 hours.”Yesterday he had walked to work. “My car was snowed in, so I walked here, although the main village road is clear. The local primary school and gymnasium are closed, but that's because kids from surrounding villages can't get to school. You can hardly open a school for just 15 students from this village,” said Kyriacou. Restaurants along the road towards Spilia from Kakopetria also remained closed. Snow weighed down the pine trees and the silence was only broken by the sound of the car chains breaking through the ice. One resident told the Cyprus Mail a digger had broken down and could not clear the Kakopetria-Karvana-Spilia road. The road was covered in thick, freshly fallen, powder snow, painting a fairytale picture, as an abandoned white car lay parked by the mountainside, almost hidden from view. Spilia itself was a ghost village. Shutters were closed, doors shut and not a person stirred. Most homes were unreachable because of the heavy snow blocking their entrances, and one resident could be seen shovelling snow from his garage so he could move his car. The village church was dressed in white, as piles of snow-covered logs, waiting to be used for firewood, lay strewn outside, too wet to use. Seventy-four-year-old Eftychia Ploutarchou clutched to the railing as she gingerly ventured down her snow covered stairs with a grin on her face. The sprightly grandmother said she used electric blankets and hot water bottles to keep warm at night. She also used about four tonnes of wood in a winter this cold. Each ton was £110, said Ploutarchou. “It's getting on my nerves, but I have to keep cheerful, because I can't exactly break down and cry. It's simply freezing and today I can't get to my sister's house. I think I'm going to get a walking stick and make my way there slowly,” she said, pointing up the mountain.The village shop and supermarket were both closed. Two drenched cats struggled to jump over a pile of snow without getting wet, and failed. Once onto the road they raced off helplessly looking for some warm, dry shelter.The only place humming with activity was the local coffee shop. Six or seven men sat around joking and laughing, and one pair played cards. A couple of men wore Wellington boots and explained they had had to wade through the thick snow to reach the coffee shop for their daily stint of pilotta (a card game).“Very few people come out in this weather,” said owner, Ioannis Tsoutis. “Business has really dropped. They stay at home and drink zivania to keep warm.”But Pambos Pepes said it didn't bother any of the residents too much. “We're used to being closed in and it's only for three or four days. Besides if it doesn't snow it will affect our crops in the summer,” he said, pointing to a number of walnut trees. Most villagers usually spent their time in the fields, not the coffee shop, 69-year-old Andreas Theodotou hastened to point out.But the major problem for most people in Spilia residents was that they did not have central heating. Pepes said: “I keep applying for electricity and am told the power lines are too weak so my application is rejected. I'm going to apply again this year because sometimes my kitchen is four degrees, which I've been told is even too cold for a fridge to work.”While the men played cards, the wives stayed at home cooking and cleaning, said Menelaos Andreades, 79. But, 82- year-old Ioannis Ioannides interjected: “We don't stay here that long. Only one or two hours for a card game and then go home. When there's nothing to do there, we come back.”

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [05] Anastassiades: side-by-side with government at critical time

    By a Staff ReporterDISY leader Nicos Anastassiades said yesterday his party would stand side by side with president elect Tassos Papadopoulos in his efforts to reach a settlement on the Cyprus question. Anastassiades was speaking after a visit to AKEL headquarters, where he met with party leader Demitris Christofias. He stressed this was a time for unity and not for party differences. “In this historic period, there should not be any separation between government and opposition parties,” Anastassiades said.“We would like to assure President Papadopoulos and Mr Christofias that as a responsible political party we are ready to co-operate in full so all of us can carry the burden of a necessary yes or no.“By exchanging our views we can build a basis in order to face any developments,” he added.Anastassiades said the third version of the plan would be discussed today at the National Council, which would be briefed on its details.“Historic responsibilities should be taken in critical times by both the government and the opposition,” he said.“We are talking about the future of our country and not the fate of a political proposal that will not have consequences on the island.”

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [06] Cassoulides to challenge for DISY leadership

    By a Staff ReporterOUTGOING Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides yesterday announced he would run for the DISY Presidency, challenging current leader Nicos Anastassiades for leadership of the party.The announcement comes in the run-up to party elections on March 23, at a time when internal party splits are still raw following DISY's defeat in the Presidential elections.Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Cassoulides said that as a DISY leadership candidate he would take it upon himself to lead the party, with the aim of broadening and enlarging DISY to embrace the centre of the political spectrum.Cassoulides stressed that DISY needed a leader with “political purpose… and not an inward-looking party leader.”“The politics of belligerence and raised voices has failed,” he said, adding that DISY needed to return to its roots and define itself through a plurality of views.A poll conducted by SRI Ltd between February 22 and 23 suggests that Cassoulides is the favourite to take over the party leadership.The findings of the poll, based on the responses of 633 people, show that 43 per cent of party members would vote for Casoulides, and 35 per cent for current leader Nicos Anastassiades. The remaining 22 per cent were not sure.Asked which candidate was most likely to secure the unity of the party, a resounding 63 per cent said Casoulides, and just 24 per cent chose Anastassiades. Fourteen per cent were unsure.Last Sunday, Anastassiades urged an end to the bickering over DISY's electoral defeat, but said he would step down if it would bring unity to the party.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [07] Among the highest paid teachers in Europe

    By a Staff ReporterSTATE schoolteachers in Cyprus are among the best paid in Europe, according to figures released by Eurostat.The figures show that based on Cyprus' GNP per capita, Cypriot teachers are the third highest in a list of EU and candidate countries.The starting salary for teachers in Cyprus is currently £911 per month. Head Masters can receive a monthly salary of up to £2,350 in primary schools and as much as £2,449 per month in secondary schools. The above salaries compare well with those received in Greece -- where teachers start on £473 per month -- but not as favourably as those received in Luxembourg, where salaries start at £1,592, rising to £3,292 a month for the more experienced teacher. Cyprus also ranks highly in the list of countries where private education institutions are most popular.According to a study by Constantinos Therianos, private education institutions are abundant in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Portugal.His study, recently published in a Greek newspaper, concludes that private institutions flourish in the above countries due to the very high competition for university places.Therianos also maintains that in countries like Greece and Cyprus, the belief remains that education, and more specifically higher education, is the key to financial security, therefore persuading many parents and students to invest in extra lessons at private institutions.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [08] Heavy blow as bank profits slump

    By a Staff ReporterTHE ISLAND'S two biggest banks, both anchors of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, yesterday announced painful annual results for 2002.Bank of Cyprus reported a 70.1 per cent slump in pre-tax profit to £17.5 million due to higher provisions and investment write-downs, the bank said.Laiki revealed a £48.1 million pre-tax loss for the year, down from a profit in 2001 of £2.09 million; the loss was down to the slump in the stock market and an increase in its bad-debt provision, the bank said.Bank of Cyprus said its “core” profits, before provisions for bad debts, write- downs and before a one-off charge for retirement benefits, reached £97.6 million for the year, a 6.6 per cent increase over 2001. The bank said it had transferred £23.6 million, which reflected unrealised losses on equity investments, onto the profit and loss account and said it would not be paying a dividend to shareholders for 2002. Bad debt provisioning for the period rose 142 per cent to £80.1 million. “The year 2002 was a very difficult year for the banking sector in Cyprus as well as internationally, ” a statement from BoC said. “Despite these adverse conditions, the Group's core profit was improved and will continue to improve during 2003.” Earlier this month, Fitch Ratings, the international rating agency, downgraded BoC's Long-term rating to 'A-' from 'A'. The rating action reflected concerns over BoC's high costs, its asset quality indicators and loan loss reserve coverage levels as well as uncertainty regarding the economic outlook.Laiki also said 2002 had been a “particularly difficult year” for the sector, but said underlying operational profits had grown 7.3 per cent to £64.9 million during the year.Reports from Athens said the unit of Bank of Cyprus operating in Greece announced that its net profit in 2002 grew 4.5 per cent to €20.1 million without including a one-off gain from the sale of its stake in ABC Factors. The Bank of Cyprus subsidiary said it expanded its network in Greece to 75 branches last year from 60 in 2001, and contributed 34.1 per cent of the group's total operational profit in 2002. Greek operations accounted for 33 per cent of the Cypriot banking group's total loans and made up 27 per cent of deposits. Net interest income from the group's operations in Greece rose 30.3 per cent to €96.5 million with the net interest margin improving to 2.57 per cent in the last quarter of 2002 from 2.28 per cent in the first. “The objective of the group in Greece is to increase its market share to about 5.0 per cent by 2007 and continue to grow profitably,” Bank of Cyprus-Greece said in a statement. The Bank of Cyprus, with a current market value of €988 million, is listed on the Athens and Cyprus stock exchanges.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Wednesday, February 26, 2003

    [09] Greek bank sees decline in 2002 profits

    By a Staff ReporterTHE NATIONAL Bank of Greece, which had 31 branches in Cyprus in the last quarter of 2001, released the results of the Group and the parent company for the financial year ending December 31, 2002. The Group reported a decline in the profit before tax and minority interests with 349.8 million euros for 2002, down 49.9 per cent compared with 2001. This is due to the substantial decline in trading gains, which during 2002 dropped to 83.2 million compared with 390.2 million in 2001. The 2002 result was further burdened by the one-off cost of the voluntary early retirement programme for NBG and ETEBA staff, which totaled 28.5 million. The decline in profits before taking into account this exceptional item is contained to 45.8 per cent. Due to the same reasons, the profit before tax of the parent Bank amounted to 296.7 million euros, compared with 647.5 million euros in 2001. The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) accepted the listing application of the Cypriot branch of National Bank of Greece, the CSE board said last week. The shares of the National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) have been traded on the stock exchange since January 20.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

    Tuesday, February 25, 2003

    [10] Cabinet holds farewell meeting

    By a Staff ReporterTHE outgoing cabinet yesterday held its last meeting under the presidency of Glafcos Clerides, who wrapped up the session with a farewell lunch to his ministers.Before the meeting, ministers expressed their gratitude to Clerides for the esteem and trust he showed them during their term.Health Minister Frixos Savvides said he had mixed feelings, adding everything had a beginning and an end.“The people will evaluate each member of the Council of Ministers in the area they worked,” Savvides said.He thanked the media for their co-operation, noting that he was now returning to his job as an accountant, and his family.Communications Minister Averoff Neophytou suggested more could have been done concerning traffic and public transport.He said he felt good because he had done did his best, though the people had decided they wanted change.The longest serving minister, Andreas Moushiouttas, said he felt the cabinet was a family that was going to be scattered.Moushiouttas, who served as Labour Minister for 10 years - across both of Clerides' terms - said his conscience was clear because he had done his duty to the full.He thanked Clerides for entrusting him the ministry for 10 years, adding that the outgoing President was a man who fully understood his associates' views. Clerides' term ends on February 28, the day the new president, Tassos Papadopoulos is inaugurated.Papadopoulos is expected to announce his new cabinet on March 1.

    Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003


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