Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-03-17

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

Tuesday, March 17, 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Denktash formally rejects EU offer

[02] Egyptian sandstorm blankets Cyprus

[03] Impromptu Cyprus stopover for Robin Cook

[04] Tough visit ahead for UN envoy

[05] Drachma devaluation to have little impact on Cyprus

[06] No let-up in market skyward surge

[07] 'Immigration's right to detain is unconstitutional'

[08] New chief for National Guard

[09] Lifeline for Limassol port?

[10] Diko wranglings rumble on

[11] MPs urge transparency in road projects

[12] Government plans UN protest over seizure of fishermen

[13] Pilots flock to rival union

[14] We need good managers

[15] Anorthosis helped by refereeing mistake

[01] Denktash formally rejects EU offer

TURKISH CYPRIOT leader Rauf Denktash yesterday officially rejected the European Union's offer for the Turkish Cypriots to join Cyprus' negotiating team, saying it was a trap the Turkish Cypriots would not fall into.

His outright rejection of the offer came as France said it was still unhappy about Cyprus entering the European Union in its current divided state.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Yves Doutriaux told reporters it would be "contrary to efforts carried out for the 24 years" to admit Cyprus to the EU as a divided country.

Replying to this, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said the French stance was condoning the Turkish Cypriots' refusal to participate in the accession negotiations.

Denktash, meanwhile, described the EU accession offer made to him officially by British High Commissioner David Madden yesterday, as a Greek Cypriot trick to get the Turkish side to recognise the government as the "legitimate government of Cyprus".

"They can count us out." he said.

His reaction echoed earlier statements when he went on record as saying the EU was "not on the Turkish Cypriot peoples' agenda." Speaking on his return from Turkey, where he collected the Turkish Communications Man of the Year award on Sunday, he warned he did not intend to be taken in by Greek Cypriot "tricks".

Denktash's outright refusal may now complicate EU accession matters even further, as European Commission president Jacques Santer was reported in the Financial Times as saying that the first phase of accession negotiations would involve screening the whole of Cyprus, and not just the free areas to see how closely it had adopted EU legislation.

His stance has also prompted a group of six British deputies to table a resolution at the House of Commons condemning the Turkish Cypriot leader and his attempts to block Cyprus' EU accession.

The resolution, tabled on Friday, has so far gained the backing of 21 other MPs.

On Sunday, British Envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay had described the EU proposal to the Turkish side as "serious" and worthy of "careful consideration". He added, however, that he thought it "unlikely" to generate a positive response.

On his part, President Glafcos Clerides, on his return from London the same day, described his visit's objectives as having been "accomplished", as his proposal for the inclusion had been favourably received by the EU, if not by the Turkish Cypriots.

[02] Egyptian sandstorm blankets Cyprus

A view of downtown Nicosia during the sand storm yesterday morning THE SAHARA came to Cyprus yesterday as a yellow haze from Egypt blanketed the island.But the dust should have cleared by today, according to Meteorological Department head Cleanthis Filaniotis. The bizarre weather conditions were caused by a sandstorm in Egypt. The dust started to blow into the coastal town of Paphos at around 2am yesterday. By daybreak, it had covered the island. Senior Meteorological Department spokesman Loizos Hadjioannou said strong westerly winds and rain would eventually clear the atmosphere, and indeed by around 6pm yesterday heavy showers had begun to break the haze. Normal conditions were expected by this morning.

But the rain proved a mixed blessing, wreaking havoc in western parts of the island as afternoon storms lashed the Paphos area, causing thousands of pounds' worth of damage.

Trees and telegraph poles were blown over and cars were struck by flying objects. Meteorologists said the storms were an after-effect of the dust.

More than 100 people across the island were treated for respiratory problems caused by the dust and all those with breathing problems were advised to stay indoors. Meanwhile, police advised motorists to drive with dipped headlights after the conditions also caused a spate of minor accidents.

Meanwhile, 10 planes destined for Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan were diverted to Larnaca as the sandstorm forced the closure of regional airports.

[03] Impromptu Cyprus stopover for Robin Cook

Hoping for a flying start

BRITISH Foreign Secretary Robin Cook yesterday expressed his country's strong support for Cyprus' EU accession.

"We are making progress on the application of Cyprus to the EU. Britain, which is currently the president of the EU, strongly supports the application of Cyprus," Cook said from his hotel in Larnaca as he waited for a flight to Egypt.

The Foreign secretary was diverted to Cyprus on Sunday night after a sandstorm closed Cairo airport.

This gave him an impromptu opportunity to promote the island's membership credentials.

"Cyprus is one of the stronger candidates, in terms of a very well developed economy. There has been a lot of progress over the past few years... I would like to see this application succeed."

On Saturday, the EU British presidency secured agreement at a summit meeting in Edinburgh on the text to mark the opening of Cyprus' formal accession talks on March 31.

The agreement was thrashed out despite opposition from France, which wanted to delay the process.

Referring to the Edinburgh agreement, Cook said:

"In the text we welcome the application and would like to see it prosper."

"Now we have the support of all the EU foreign ministers to get the negotiations off to a flying start."

Cook said Britain would like to see a Cyprus solution before the island became an EU member, but stressed this was not a precondition.

"Britain has always taken the position that this should not be a condition of Cyprus coming into membership with the EU, but we would like to see it happen."

Asked about the Greek Cypriot sides proposal toward Turkish Cypriot participation in EU negotiations Cook said:

"We would like to make sure that all the people of Cyprus benefit from EU membership."

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has snubbed the proposal as a "trap".

However, Cook described the Cyprus government's offer as "fair" and "realistic".

Britain is now using its diplomatic channels to persuade Denktash to change his mind.

"Our High Commission here is in consultations with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community, urging them to accept."

"It is now a matter firmly in their court. But I hope that they will respond and they will respond positively."

High Commissioner David Madden is expected to meet Denktash later this week to discuss the matter further.

Britain hopes the impoverished Turkish Cypriot side will realise it has a lot to gain economically from the island's EU accession.

"Indeed one of the ironies of the Turkish Cypriot leadership is that actually they in the north of the island stand to benefit more than anybody else from EU membership," Cook said.

The Foreign Secretary left Cyprus just after 12 noon for Egypt, to help revive the flagging Middle East peace process.

"The EU is very anxious to get the Middle East peace process back on track again," he said as he left.

[04] Tough visit ahead for UN envoy

TOP UN envoy for Cyprus Diego Cordovez arrives on the island late tonight in a fresh attempt to bring the island's two leaders back to the negotiating table.

The government said yesterday Cordovez's six-day visit, to be followed by trips to Athens and Ankara, was very important and represented hope for a new start.

But the UN Secretary-general's special envoy will have his work cut out for him, according to diplomatic sources and home and abroad.

"He is expecting a tough time of it," a diplomatic source told the Cyprus Mail, adding that although Cordovez would meet both leaders, the focus of his contacts would be his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Denktash has been playing hardball since the EU summit in Luxembourg last December when member states gave the green light to open negotiations with Cyprus at the end of this month.

The Turkish Cypriot leader has said the intercommunal talks are dead and refuses point blank to consider joining the EU process.

"I do not think there is any room for progress at this stage after the positions that Denktash and Turkey have taken regarding the talks," another diplomatic source told Reuters.

Cordovez will have a working lunch with Denktash on Thursday and with President Clerides on Friday.

"He will try to get as much information as possible rather than to accomplish anything," the Cyprus Mail source said. "The situation is difficult and the gap is very wide and it will be impossible to bridge it overnight."

However, it appears the UN may offer Denktash a meeting with UN Secretary- general Kofi Annan as a sweetener in return for concessions to Cordovez.

Denktash asked for such a meeting in February at the height of the Iraqi crisis and on the eve of the Cyprus presidential elections but was refused.

UN sources in Washington told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA): "Any meeting with the Secretary-general would depend on how much progress Cordovez is able to make with Denktash."

A Denktash-Annan meeting could conceivably take place in Geneva on March 26 when all international Cyprus envoys plan to meet.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Secretary-general agreed to such a meeting provided there was progress during the Cordovez visit," the diplomatic source here said.

[05] Drachma devaluation to have little impact on Cyprus

THE WEEKEND devaluation of the Greek drachma will have little impact on the Cyprus economy but is set to benefit Cypriots studying in Greece or planning to take a holiday there, the Central Bank said yesterday.

The devaluation, which ushered the drachma into Europe's Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), had a much more significant impact elsewhere.

The Athens bourse, in the first day of trading after the 14 per cent devaluation, rose by more than seven per cent yesterday and the drachma itself rallied by as much as three per cent from its newly adopted central parity.

"There is tremendous buying interest from both locals and foreign players," said equity analyst Vasilis Kletsas at Telesis Securities in Athens.

Greece's decision to devalue its currency in exchange for ERM entry also won praise from traders and analysts in London, Europe's leading financial capital, and from the Central Bank of Cyprus.

"The Greek move was very clever and there is a very favourable outlook for the drachma in terms of stability and total returns," said Joe Prendergast, head of global currency strategy and research at Credit Suisse First Boston in London.

In Nicosia, the Central Bank said in a statement yesterday that the move reflected the Athens government's tough policy on the drachma and its resolve to fight inflation. But the consequences for Cyprus, it added, would be "peripheral."

It said Cypriot exports to Greece would now be less competitive, while the island's imports from Greece would be cheaper. This, however, would have little effect since the entire Cyprus-Greece trade accounted for only 7.5 per cent of the island's total foreign trade.

On tourism, the drachma's devaluation would mean that foreign holidays for Greeks, whether to Cyprus or elsewhere, would be more expensive. But Cypriots planning to visit Greece or who are studying there can now expect a saving, the Central Bank said.

Greek exports, it added, would have an advantage over those of Cyprus in third countries' markets. But again, this is not likely to have a serious impact on the island's economy since the two countries' export products are different.

The Bank said there was no danger of the drachma devaluation allowing Greece to lure tourists away from Cyprus because the island attracted a different type of tourists than those who went to Greece.

But Vassilis Rologis, chairman of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce disagreed, saying cheaper holidays in Greece would certainly have a negative impact on tourism in Cyprus.

The Central Bank fixed the drachma-Cyprus pound exchange rate yesterday at 615.5200 (selling) and 617,9800 (buying), compared to 538.9500 and 543.7000 on Friday.

[06] No let-up in market skyward surge

All but one of the market's seven sectors rose in yesterday's trade, which recorded a volume of �2.27 million.

The usually robust bank shares were the only losers, their index shedding off a microscopical 0.02 per cent but accounting for more than 30 per cent of total volume.

Universal Bank gained the most of bank shares, rising by 7.5 cents to close at �2.14 while the Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank closed down at �3.425 and 2.965 respectively. Popular Bank stocks closed up at �3.545.

Commercial companies rose the most yesterday, with their sub-index up by 3.24 per cent. The indices of both industrial and tourist companies followed with an identical gain of 1.77 per cent.

Yesterday's biggest loser was the Cyprus Tourism Development (Hilton), which shed off 18 cents to close at �7.020 on a meagre turnover of 700 shares.

[07] 'Immigration's right to detain is unconstitutional'

A COLONIAL law which allows the immigration department to detain illegal immigrants until they are deported violates the constitution and must be changed, the House Human Rights Committee said yesterday.

It said only courts could order someone to be held in custody. The immigration department's policy of holding foreigners until they are deported - in line with a law of 1952, could not be right, it added.

"The committee has decided to ask the Attorney-general to amend the law which puts Cyprus to shame abroad. No other European state has such a provision," committee chairman Yiannakis Agapiou of Akel told reporters.

The issue arose during a committee probe on the circumstances of the arrest and detention of Egyptian Atef El Said Mutwally.

Mutwally was shot in the leg by a policeman during a chase to apprehend him in Limassol late last year. The policeman said the gun went off accidentally when he wrestled Mutwally to the ground.

Mutwally said he was shot from a distance from the back - and filed a complaint demanding compensation.

In the face of conflicting statements, the Attorney-general's office called in independent forensic pathologist Marios Matsakis, who ruled that two shots had come from the back - and a distance of more than 40 centimetres.

The Attorney-general's office will complete its inquiry within a fortnight. But talks are under way between the state and the plaintiff's lawyers on possible compensation, the committee heard yesterday.

Meanwhile Mutwally, jailed for a month on December 8 for illegal entry, remained in jail after January 9 - the date of his discharge.

He was finally deported on February 20 at his own request. The House Human Rights Committee - which had asked authorities not to deport him so that his complaint could be investigated - agreed to the request.

Immigration officials said yesterday Mutwally had remained in custody pending deportation in line with the island's immigration law.

But Agapiou said the committee had asked that the man not be deported - not that he be held in jail. Detaining him in prison without a court order after he had served his sentence was illegal and unacceptable, he said.

[08] New chief for National Guard

The procedure for his appointment is already under way, government spokesman Christos Stylianides said. The final decision on when the new army chief will take over will be decided at a meeting in Athens later this month between Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou and his Greek counterpart Akis Tzohatzopoulos.

General Demetriou will take over from General Nicolaos Vorvolakos, whose term is expiring.

The two will also discuss plans for the inauguration of the Paphos air base, completed in January.

[09] Lifeline for Limassol port?

Two major shipping firms from Denmark and Saudi Arabia have approached the Cyprus Port Authority (CPA) about establishing their Mediterranean operations at Limassol.

According to reports, the companies are promising a large flow of container traffic if certain conditions can be met.

They want assurances that Limassol port will operate on a 24-hour basis and demand the introduction of extra cranes if they are to move business from their present base in Malta.

It is understood the authorities have already met with representatives from the two companies; discussions are thought to be under way with the port unions to provide an attractive offer.

Several major shipping lines have abandoned Limassol in recent years citing industrial unrest, high costs and the lack of a 24-hour service - available at all competing ports in the region.

[10] Diko wranglings rumble on

DIKO yesterday hit back at claims made by Central Committee member Christos Triantafillides that a statement issued last week by the party did not correspond to the content agreed upon at a preceding committee meeting.

Triantafillides said in an open letter also sent to Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou that it had been decided that committee members would tender their resignations in May, and immediate party elections would follow.

However, he said the statement finally issued by the party did not make this clear and instead put off the elections indefinitely.

Triantafillides added there were other discrepancies, and that he still intended to resign on the date originally agreed.

In a statement issued later in the afternoon, the party refuted the claims, saying the original statement simply bound members to call the election as soon as possible. It added that the paragraph to which Triantafillides referred as containing the other discrepancies simply expressed the opinions of party members.

In addition, the party said, much of the letter referred to points which were the known position of the party rather than specific decisions taken at the meeting.

Triantafillides, it added, would have a chance to make his point at today's party executive committee meeting. However, it added that his actions in publishing the letter had been "unnecessary".

Meanwhile, in a separate statement issued yesterday, Diko's Larnaca office called for the resignation of Larnaca Mayor and Diko dissident George Lycourgos in the light of his refusal to back candidate George Iacovou in the recent presidential elections.

Pointing out that Diko had stood by Lycourgos at a time when Disy - with which the party was then in alliance - opposed his mayoral candidacy, the statement accused him of "betraying" the party and actually "celebrating" Disy's presidential victory.

[11] MPs urge transparency in road projects

ACCESS to inside information about upcoming road projects has allowed some speculators to turn a quick profit and left others at a loss, a deputy charged yesterday.

But as the House Ethics Committee heard, this may soon be about to change.

Written criteria on procedures to be followed in the routing and building of new roads are being drafted and will soon be sent to the Council of Ministers for approval.

They include guidelines to ensure public access to information about future road projects - and a say in their routing.

But one provision to regulate weaknesses in procedures regulating compulsory purchase will mean a two-year delay in new projects. Benefits, including eliminating the need to change road routes once construction has already started, will outweigh these delays, government officials said.

The issue was brought to the committee by Edek deputy Doros Theodorou - a follow up on discussions in 1995.

He said it was essential to bring in specific, objective criteria setting out procedures on road projects - and thus ensure all citizens have equal access to information.

The alternative was speculators benefiting from inside information while others who are kept in the dark lose out.

Two road arteries have changed routes - in two cases four times. The repercussions were not just extra costs and delay in the roads. Major, private interests could be at stake whatever the size of the road, the Edek deputy said.

"It is time to end the period when the speculator has privileges and not the citizen. It is time for everyone to have equal access to information," he said.

Ombudsman Nicos Charalambous confirmed he had received many complaints from citizens. His inquiries gave reasonable ground to suspect the routing of certain roads had been altered as a result of "pressure and interventions" by affected individuals.

Officials from the Communications Ministry said an ad hoc committee had drafted criteria which would have to be approved by the Ministers of Communications and Interior. They will then be sent to the Council of Ministers. Once adopted, they will be circulated among government departments.

Key provisions include allowing the public a say in new road projects through open meetings. Routing of roads can then be changed at the decision of the minister. The issue remains before the committee.

[12] Government plans UN protest over seizure of fishermen

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said the Greek Cypriot side was ready to deal with any buffer zone incidents that might put Cyprus' EU course at risk.

He said the Foreign Ministry was closely monitoring the situation.

The two fishermen - seized by Turkish troops on Saturday -are due to appear in 'court' in the north tomorrow, according to the UN.

Andreas Constantinou, 58, and George Lefteris Zelou, 65, both from Dherynia, were seized by Turkish soldiers early on Saturday after crossing the Maritime Security Line (MSL) - the maritime equivalent of the island's Green Line.

Unficyp spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski said yesterday UN representatives had visited the fishermen twice since their arrest. They were both in good health, he said.

"We are now making efforts for their families to visit them as soon as possible," he added.

It is the second time in three years that father-of-three Constantinou has been detained by the Turks.

Cyprus police said on Saturday that Turkish soldiers had fired shots at the fishermen near the Kappari area of Paralimni where they crossed the MSL.

Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou said on Sunday the Turkish side was deliberately trying to create problems and raise tensions.

Saturday's incident came a day after an alleged shooting near Achna.

Turkish soldiers claimed Greek Cypriot national guardsmen fired a shot that hit their post. The UN investigation into the incident proved inconclusive.

[13] Pilots flock to rival union

The spokesman said that 17 of the charter firm's 28 pilots had left Pasipy to join the Sek union federation.

He said they all wanted to become captains and felt Pasipy was not doing enough to further their aims.

The spokesman said it was unreasonable for pilots with only 3,000 flying hours to expect promotion ahead of pilots with 8,000 hours.

"I doubt joining Sek will help them get what they want either," the spokesman said.

Last year, a large number of Cyprus Airways pilots also left Pasipy to join the airline's largest union, Cynika, which caters mainly for cabin crew and administrative staff.

[14] We need good managers

Koutouroushis, who was briefing the House Finance Committee on the authority's 1998 budget, said plans for this year included emphasis on small companies with fewer than nine employees. These represent 94 per cent of all companies on the island.

Other plans include job specifications and certificates for specific occupations, he said.

On unemployment, Koutouroushis said an average of 10,400 people were out of work. Unemployment in 1997 closed at 3.4 per cent and was expected to average 3 per cent this year.

Last year had seen a sharp increase in demand for training programmes. The authority, which planned to change its name to the 'Authority to Develop Human Resources', had taken part in the European Union's Leonardo da Vinci programmes. It had submitted four programmes and all four were approved, he said.

[15] Anorthosis helped by refereeing mistake

Earlier in the day, Omonia had improved their goal difference dramatically thanks to the 8-0 mauling of bottom club Ethnikos Ashia, to take over the top spot. Their goal difference is superior to Anorthosis by six, but there are still seven games to play.

No-one expected Anorthosis to beat Apoel by a big margin, especially after the midweek clash in the cup quarter-finals. In the end the champions were happy, not to mention fortunate, to take the points after a dismally poor game.

That the winning goal, scored by Yiotis Engomitis four minutes into the second half, was allowed to stand, was the slice of good fortune that Anorthosis required.

There could not have been a clearer case of a goal from an off-side position. Okkas shot at goal, the ball hit a defender and reached Engomitis who was in an off-side position, inside the six-yard box. He had no trouble scoring, as the linesman's flag, inexplicably, stayed down.

Few other chances had been created in the 90 minutes, although Petrides, back in the Apoel goal, pulled off an impressive reflex save in the first half to stop Krismarevic's header going in.

Even after they conceded the goal, Apoel, who were missing several first- team players, never threatened Panayiotou's goal, giving the impression of a side resigned to the inevitability of defeat.

Out of the cup and in a mid-table position in the league, Apoel, who have suffered three consecutive defeats, appear to have lost all desire to play. The problem is they still have seven more league games before the end of the season.

Ethnikos Achna, after their 14 match unbeaten run, seem to have hit a slump. On Sunday they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ael, which meant they have taken just one point from the last two games, and have lost touch with the title contenders - they are seven points behind.

It is difficult for village clubs with small squads to mount a title challenge. When a couple of key players begin to show signs of tiredness and there are no adequate replacements available, form suffers.

On Sunday another weakness was evident. Achna are better when they play a containing game and use counter-attacks to create chances. This works well away from home and against the big sides.

But against sides like Ael who also play a counter-attacking game, the tactics do not work. Achna have struggled whenever they have to take the game to the opposition; their game is not for breaking down well-organised defences.

On Sunday they fell behind to a 36th minute goal by Neophytou, who is now the league's top Cypriot marksman with 12. Achna were level after five minutes, Mousic converting a penalty kick, awarded for a foul on Pashiallis.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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