Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-11-13

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Saturday, November 13, 1999

Health scares top the news

HEALTH and environmental scares were in the spotlight in yesterday's papers with a varied batch of stories making the covers.

Phileleftheros reported on the Labour Ministry's decision to allow the wineries at the Karnagio area in Limassol, to continue to dump their waste into the sea until November 2000.

The Limassol Sewage Council, however, opposes the decision and said it would take legal measures against two of the four wineries because they have not yet applied for connection to the city's sewage system.

A spokesperson for the Sewage Council said that the other two companies had submitted their applications, together with all the information and details that the council wanted.

The major problem though is that of 'Vinassa,' a kind of waste that cannot be treated by the Sewage system.

The Sewage Council, says Phileleftheros, has decided to ask the Limassol Municipality to take the necessary actions to solve the problem of Vinassa being dumped in the sea once and for all.

Politis reported yesterday on the issue of toxic children's toys. The newspaper said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, had began a sample check on 'soft' toys and other objects, like baby dummies and rattles, which children under the age of three put in their mouths, to determine the levels of harmful chemicals that they contained. The European Scientific Committee had warned, says Politis, that toys that contain toxic materials were endangering children's' health.

It is known, the paper says, that these toxins are responsible for cancer and damage to the liver, kidneys, and testicles. Eight European countries have already banned the use of these materials from the production of toys. In Cyprus, according to the law, toys should be designed and made in such a way that they will not endanger the health of children who play with them.

Simerini reports on the proposed tax increases on used cars. The newspaper says that used car dealers will be ruined if the bill is passed by Parliament. It quotes the vice president of the Pancyprian Association of Used Car Dealers, Marios Frangos, as saying that the tax is unacceptable. It would be better if the government banned the import of used cars altogether, he added.

After research carried out by the association, it was found that the price of a used car would increase by between £1,000 and £6,000, depending on age, and engine capacity. The only way to save the dealers from ruin is to exempt the 50,000 cars already on the island, and tax newly imported ones only. The sales of used cars, says Simerini have fallen dramatically.

Alithia reports on the British High Commissioner, Edward Clay, saying that Britain recognises her responsibility toward Cyprus, and that is why it holds a leading role in the efforts for solving the Cyprus problem. Alithia quotes Clay saying that British efforts are designed to help Cyprus secure a better future.

Alithia also reports on Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's contacts with Cypriot parties ahead of the key European Summit in Helsinki, where Turkey's candidacy to the UE is to be decided. Papandreou, says Alithia, had already met with Edek Chairman Vassos Lyssarides in Paris, and he is meeting Disy Chairman Nicos Anastassiades in Brussels on Monday.

Anastassiades is expected to inform Papandreou on Disy's recent decisions concerning the conditions that have to be met for the Greek government to drop its veto on Turkish candidacy. Papandreou, the newspaper says, will be visiting Cyprus to coordinate the actions of the Greek and Cypriot governments before the Helsinki Summit.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article