Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 03-04-23

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

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

CONTENTS

[01] CY paying $7,500 a day for overdue aircraft

[02] Christofias and Clerides face off over archives spat

[03] Phone licence auction delayed until October

[04] Security stepped up after passport thefts

[05] Limassol residents 'sitting on a huge bomb'

[06] JPC meets with MEPs

[01] CY paying $7,500 a day for overdue aircraft

CYPRUS AIRWAYS (CY) yesterday admitted an American company that purchased four A-310 aircraft is entitled to claim up to $900,000 in fines after the national carrier failed to deliver the aircraft on time.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, CY Spokesman Tassos Angelis confirmed that American aircraft hiring company ILFC was entitled to charge CY with a delay fine of $7,500 per aircraft per day.

The revelations come after Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides announced on Monday that the government had launched an investigation into problems arising from the renewal of the fleet, which involved the sale of the A-310s and the lease of two A-330s.

According to Chrysostomides, before handing in his resignation former CY Chairman Haris Loizides had assured the President on two separate occasions the deal with CY and ILFC did not have any problems.

“It now seems there are many discrepancies regarding the contracts, especially for four aircraft that were scheduled to be delivered to ILFC,” Chrysostomides said.

The investigation is expected to centre on documents that had surfaced regarding the aircraft, their repair and maintenance, pricing and delivery.

Angelis confirmed that ILFC was entitled to charge CY with a $7,500 fine on each aircraft on a daily basis, but refused to comment on the reasons why CY had failed to deliver the aircraft in time.

But a source told the Cyprus Mail that the delay was due to demands made by ILFC based on the signed contract.

“There are some terms on the contract that ILFC are demanding should be met, ” the source said.

“Apart from asking for the maintenance side of the aircraft, they also have other demands.”

The source revealed that a provision in the contract stated that the aircraft should be delivered to the buyer's full satisfaction, meaning that the buyer is entitled to ask for whatever he wishes as long as he is satisfied.

Neither the government nor CY wished to comment any further on the issue until the investigation was completed.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

[02] Christofias and Clerides face off over archives spat

HOUSE PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias yesterday insisted the previous administration removed important archives from the presidential palace while former president Glafcos Clerides suggested Christofias “ignored the procedure”.

The issue, which is the first major spat between the new government and the opposition, emerged on Sunday when Christofias alleged the last administration had emptied all the drawers at the presidential palace, taking with them vital archives that should have been handed over to the new president.

The claims were immediately rejected by former undersecretary to the president Pantelis Kouros who said in accordance with common practice everything necessary could be found at the foreign ministry as well as the office of the Attorney-general.

Main opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades did not miss the chance to put the authority of President Tassos Papadopoulos into question, adding that Christofias' charges were “completely unacceptable because they came from the most unauthorised person”.

Former foreign minister Yiannakis Cassoulides went a step further charging that Christofias was a “super president” and stressed that the “House president could not play the role he was apparently playing at this point”.

Cassoulides said Christofias' “irrelevant fireworks” were “undoubtedly a smokescreen” aimed at concealing the problems faced by the parties in government.

Former president Clerides suggested Christofias ignored the procedure and said he handed over his office exactly as he had received it.

“I handed over the drawers of my desk empty; the way I received them.

“These drawers are only used for the president's personal archive,” Clerides said.

He added: “Concerning the rest, the archives regarding cabinet and national council meetings and proposals to (Turkish Cypriot leader) Mr Denktash as well as his replies, are all at the foreign ministry because the minutes were kept by a foreign ministry official.”

Clerides said these archives could also be found at the attorney-general's office and a third set was given to the House president.

But Christofias insisted yesterday Presidential Palace archives had disappeared, arguing that the manner his claims had been refuted “was the best and biggest confirmation”.

“Look at Mr Kouros' comments and it is self evident that they collected items, which they describe as personal archives,” Christofias said.

Replying to criticism concerning why he made the claims and not the government spokesman, who was standing behind him at the time, Christofias said: “I wanted to make this statement and I did. I am not going to get permission from anyone - not from reporters or from the former government,” Christofias said.

He added: “I am an independent political figure and I have every right to give my opinion.”

“I know very well that items and documents directly related to the Cyprus problem have been lifted and I don't have them, neither does President Papadopoulos or anyone else,” Christofias said.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said no one was accusing anyone of anything but they were only verifying facts.

He said there were no confidential archives of any notes and minutes concerning the former president's meetings with officials or mediators concerning the Cyprus problem.

“Continuation should be secured with the existence of a historical archive, ” Chrysostomides said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

[03] Phone licence auction delayed until October

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday announced it would delay the auction of the first mobile phone licence to the private sector.

The announcement follows concerns expressed by potential bidders over the current monopoly of the telecommunications market by the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA).

The new timetable for the issuing of the licence was decided jointly by the Minister of Communications Kikis Kazamias and the Telecommunications Regulator Vassos Pyrgos.

It is unlikely to be welcomed in Brussels, where the European Union has already reprimanded the authorities for delays in the deregulation process.

In a statement issued yesterday Kazamias and Pyrgos said the publication of a regulatory framework of operation would help foster a climate of stability while also attracting notable organisations to bid for a licence thus contributing to the growth of a healthy competitive environment in Cyprus.

If all goes to plan, the new timetable for the issuing of new licences is as follows:

July 7, 2003 -- Comprehensive framework for deregulation (including publication of decrees from the Regulator and a Public Hearing concerning connection charges and finalisation of connection models for tenders)

July 10, 2003 -- Invitations to submit applications

September 15, 2003 -- Expiry of deadline for the submission of applications (52 days from the date the invitation is issued, plus two weeks for possible extensions)

October 30, 2003 -- Auction

A number of foreign mobile companies, including Greece's third largest mobile operator Stet Hellas, attended a public hearing on the issue of purchasing a licence in February but eventually ruled out purchasing a Cypriot GSM license, complaining that local regulators had failed to make the necessary reforms to the market.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

[04] Security stepped up after passport thefts

SECURITY HAS been stepped up in government buildings following the recent robberies that included hundreds of blank passports, Interior Minister Andreas Christou said yesterday.

According to Nicosia police around 850 blank Cypriot passports were stolen from the passport office between last Wednesday and Monday. A hundred blank passport pages and an unknown number of blank election booklet pages were also taken.

Around 2,600 driving licences and 270 professional driving licences were also stolen from the Driver's Licence Issue Department over the weekend, as thieves raided the department's office in Latchia. According to the department's head, the theft took place between April 18-21.

Yesterday, Christou revealed that a special plan was in the pipeline to further bolster security, while police have been asked to file a report on the matter.

But despite the apparent ease with which robbers entered the facilities, the minister rejected claims that government buildings were open for anyone to enter.

Concerning the stolen passports, Christou said no one could guarantee they would not be used, he added however that anyone caught using them would be arrested.

“We are making every effort, not only here in Cyprus, but together with the authorities of other countries and Interpol, to deal with the issue of stolen passports,” Christou said.

The minister said the thieves stole the blank passports and the thermal membranes placed on top of the picture but more was needed in order to counterfeit the document accurately.

“There is a series of other elements that the burglars ignored,” he said.

Meanwhile police were yesterday continuing investigations into the passport and driving license theft.

A source at Nicosia CID told the Cyprus Mail that the thieves would probably try and sell the passports on to foreigners.

“Anyone can sell the blank passports or fix them up so that holders can be seen as Cypriot citizens. They can even go to Europe now we are in the European Union. A Cypriot would have no need for a blank passport.”

The source added that the blank licences could be sold onto Cypriots or foreigners who could try and use them as a form of identification.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

[05] Limassol residents 'sitting on a huge bomb'

RESIDENTS of a Limassol neighbourhood were yesterday living in fear after discovering a huge amount of fuel, which apparently leaked from a nearby petrol station, has accumulated in the water table under their homes.

The discovery was made a few days ago by Serifos street, Zakaki, resident Andreas Hadhipieros, when a mixture of petrol and diesel came out of his borehole together with the water.

Hadjipieros immediately notified the fire service who sealed the well after spraying it with foam to minimise the chances of accidental ignition of the fuel.

The fire service informed the district administration and the water board who looked into the matter.

The investigation found that the fuel came from the underground tanks of a nearby petrol station whose owner said he has lost fuel worth over £150, 000.

According to residents the owner had complained in the past that fuel had gone missing from his tanks.

He suspected someone was stealing the fuel and around a month ago the station was closed for a few days in order to carry out checks.

The leak was apparently sealed but not before huge quantities of fuel had seeped in the underground waters.

A large amount of fuel was also detected in a second borehole in the area forcing the fire service to seal all wells in the area.

Electric power to the water pumps was also cut.

A fire service spokesman said the danger of explosion was great since the residents were literally sitting on a huge bomb.

“One spark could cause destruction if the necessary measures are not taken, ” the spokesman said.

Deputy district officer Yiannakis Monoyios assured residents that all necessary measures were taken to minimise the danger while investigation into the matter continued.

But terrified residents, who until a few days ago had not realised the gravity of the situation, charged yesterday that officials had neither informed them nor have they provided them with any safety instructions since.

One resident told the Cyprus Mail that they were waiting to see how authorities would handle the situation before acting.

She did not rule out suing the petrol company for destruction of property because even if there was no danger of explosion, the matter was still an environmental disaster.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

[06] JPC meets with MEPs

MEMBERS OF the European Parliament met with Cypriot leaders yesterday as part of the two-day EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The Greek Ambassador to Nicosia, Christos Panagopoulos, joined the head of the European Delegation Commission to Cyprus, Adrian Van Der Meer, at the Hilton in the morning, followed by a meeting at the presidential palace with President Tassos Papadopoulos.

This marks the 23rd meeting of the EU-Cyprus JPC, and the first since the signing of the accession treaty last week. Attendees are to discuss Cyprus' preparation to join the EU and the progress that has been made over the years, along with the greater goal and future of a united Europe. The members will leave Cyprus tomorrow morning.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003

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