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Baby Zoe on her way for life saving operation

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pic for baby zoe story

By Bejay Browne

AN 11-DAY-OLD baby girl was transported to Israel on Friday to undergo a life saving operation paid for by the ministry of health.

“An ambulance collected Zoe from the hospital at lunchtime; she will then fly in an air ambulance to Israel for her treatment. She is being accompanied by a doctor as her parents are not able to travel with her,” ministry of health spokesman Demitris Constantinou said on Friday. She will be treated at the Schneider Children’s Medical Centre in Haifa.

The baby’s Indian father, John Dhull, whose visa recently expired was granted a one month re-entry visa to Cyprus by the immigration authorities at the last minute on Friday, but not in time to board the flight with his baby.

“I will fly to Israel on the first available flight either tomorrow (Saturday) or Sunday. I want to be with my little girl,” he told the Cyprus Mail:

The baby’s mother is unable to travel as she is still recovering from a caesarean and her visa has also expired.

Following a report in Tuesday’s Cyprus Mail outlining the baby’s plight, Minister of Health Petros Petrides stepped in to save Zoe’s life. She was in a critical condition with a serious heart defect at the Makarios hospital in Nicosia.

Her distraught first-time parents – 31-year-old former student John Dhull and Virginia Taguinay, 32, from the Philippines – had no private medical insurance and were unable to obtain a state medical card, which would have covered the baby’s medical expenses, as their visas had expired. They were given less than two weeks to raise the thousands needed to pay for a life-saving operation until the ministry of health on Tuesday said it would cover the costs of the treatment.

The operation will be performed by a specialist team in Israel. It is not possible to carry out the operation in Cyprus as a specialist unit is needed.

Zoe was born at Paphos general hospital on June 25 and weighed a healthy three kilos. Her parents had no idea their baby had any health issues until two days after she was born.

They were informed that she had severe breathing complications caused by a heart defect.

The baby was then rushed by ambulance to the Makarios hospital in Nicosia.

According to the hospital’s paediatric cardiologist, Dr Andreas Rousounides, who was treating Zoe, the baby’s pulmonary valve is almost completely closed and she is being kept alive by medication at present, but this only works for a short period of time and her condition could deteriorate at any time.

The procedure which is expected to be carried out will see a balloon placed inside to open the area and Rousounides said the child will be able to lead a normal life.

Constantinou said: “As soon as the baby arrives in Israel she will be taken to hospital and undergo a series of tests to determine the extent of her problems. The family will then be consulted to give approval for the treatment and surgery needed.”

He added: “We will have more news next week.”

In the meantime, Zoe’s emotional parents expressed their gratitude to the ministry of health and the Cyprus Mail for giving their child the chance of a healthy life.

 

 

 

 


Free clinic in old Nicosia [VIDEO]

Attorney-general blames MPs for extradition obstacle

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By George Psyllides

AUTHORITIES will seek the extradition of former interior minister Dinos Michaelides, wanted by Greece in connection with money laundering, despite seemingly insurmountable legal obstacles, it emerged on Friday.

Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said it was Cyprus’ obligation to execute a European arrest warrant issued by Greece for Michaelides and his son Michalis, but it was up to the court to decide.

Greece has issued arrest warrants for the pair in connection with a case involving former Greek defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

The investigation concerns alleged kickbacks paid in the purchase by Greece of the Russian TOR-M1 surface-to-air missile system.

The two denied the allegations.

Attorney-general Petros Clerides highlighted the legal difficulties faced by the authorities and suggested it was all parliament’s doing.

The alleged offences had taken place in the 1990s and Cyprus’ constitution currently prohibits the extradition of Cypriot nationals for events or actions that happened before the country joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.

Before it was changed, in 2005, the constitution banned the extradition of Cypriots outright.

Clerides argued, as he did at the time, that no restriction should have been placed.

“And here lies the parliament’s responsibility,” the attorney-general told the state broadcaster.

He said his suggestion was correct, politically and legally, because that was what the EU directive on arrest warrants provided.

“If the court decided they will not be extradited, it is up to parliament to amend the constitution, as should have been done from the beginning,” Clerides said.

On Thursday, ruling DISY urged authorities to find ways to overcome legal obstacles and extradite Michaelides.

They were echoed by the Green party on Friday, while AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou urged Michaelides and his son to co-operate with the authorities.

DIKO, Michaelides’ party, reiterated that everyone was innocent until proven guilty and did not comment on the matter of the extradition.

Dinos and Michalis Michaelides were recently summoned to Athens to respond to questions by Greek investigators but failed to show up.

They said they had explained the reasons why they did not turn up through their lawyer.

The former Cypriot minister and his son are suspected of money laundering, involving alleged kickbacks of €7.7 million believed to have eventually ended up in the hands of Tsohatzopoulos who signed the agreement for the supply of the missile system.

Greek investigators believe the millions in kickbacks were sent from one offshore company to Michalis Michaelides’ account to which his father Dinos also had access.

Tsohatzopoulos, 73, was arrested in April 2012 on money laundering charges in the biggest scandal in Greece involving a politician.

 

Venizelos: Greece-Cyprus priorities unchanged

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By Peter Stevenson

THE ECONOMIC crisis will not change the national priorities of Greece or Cyprus, Greece’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Friday

Venizelos met with President Nicos Anastasiades, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, House Chairman Yiannakis Omirou and party representatives on his one-day visit.

Speaking after his meeting with the president he said the two discussed the Cyprus problem, the situation in the Middle East and the financial crisis.

“We must declare – the Greek Republic but I am sure the Republic of Cyprus as well – that the financial crisis will not change our priorities in relation to foreign policy or the protection of national integrity and national sovereign interests,” he said.

Venizelos added that the financial crisis is currently affecting both countries as well as the EU and is affecting foreign policy but stressed it will not adversely change it.

“It is very important that we take advantage of our national resources, and have a full understanding because the area raises both new problems and new opportunities,” he said.

The Greek foreign minister met Kasoulides earlier in the day and discussed a wide range of subjects including the Cyprus problem, natural gas, Turkey and the turbulence in the Middle East. Talks will continue between the pair in Athens on July 15 when Kasoulides travels to Greece.

“We mean it when we say our hopes during the resumption of talks in October is to find a solution, so we will see if the other side means it too,” Kasoulides said.

Venizelos added that solving the problem would benefit Cyprus economically and improve relations in the region.

“Greece has a very large and direct interest in resolving the problem in a smooth manner,” he said.

The Greek foreign minister added that his trip to Cyprus was aimed at finding out at what stage both sides are in the negotiations.

Referring to developments in energy, Venizelos said that the research and exploitation of natural resources, pipelines and terminals changes the basis of a country’s geostrategic relationships and enhances both Cyprus’ and Greece’s role in the area.

Speaking about cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, Kasoulides noted that it will add value to the common EU foreign policy with energy being the driving force behind it.

Venizelos stated that such cooperation is aimed at making the Mediterranean region one of coexistence, peace and culture. He added that the discovery of natural gas in the region has added a new dimension.

The Greek foreign minister was due to leave late last night.

Econ probe will continue, government decides

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By George Psyllides

THE GOVERNMENT on Friday decided that an inquiry into the island’s economic debacle could continue its work, even though a parallel criminal probe has also been launched.

The inquiry into Cyprus’ recent financial history led by two former Supreme Court judges and the former ombudswoman, has been limited by their refusal to delve into areas which could become subject to lawsuits, such as possible failures in corporate governance and acquisitions.

“The issues raised (by judges) can be resolved by inquiries which will be handled by criminal investigators,” said Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou. “There is no legal obstacle for a parallel investigation.”

The issue was discussed yesterday between President Nicos Anastasiades, the members of the committee, and the attorney-general.

The committee decided in its majority last week to leave alone any matters subject to court proceedings, even though the panel had been sworn in on a mandate to investigate criminal, civil or political responsibilities over the near collapse of the country’s economy and banking sector.

The committee’s decision effectively made it toothless as some of the most controversial aspects of the events that led to Cyprus’ current economic misery are the subject of a parallel criminal inquiry led by the police and the attorney-general, the remit of which was announced on Thursday.

Nicolaou said the cabinet had taken into account two factors when deciding to allow the committee to continue: criminal investigators will cover the gap, and its work will be of significance.

The criminal probe will span the years 2006 to 2013, covering the transfer of capital from Laiki Bank to Greece, dodgy loans, the issuing of securities by both Laiki and Bank of Cyprus (BoC), and banks’ activities abroad, such as BoC’s acquisition of Uniastrum and Banca Transilvania.

Problems on Cyprus, which joined the euro zone in 2008, snowballed into the winding-down of Laiki under a mountain of debt and a large chunk of deposits exceeding €100,000 being converted to equity to prop up BoC.

Cypriot banks lost about €4.5 billion when European Union leaders agreed in late 2011 to a Greek debt write-down, designed to make that country’s debt burden more sustainable.

 

 

 

Concerns over frozen food storage

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By Peter Stevenson

PUBLIC HEALTH services are on alert and have targeted checks on frozen goods in supermarkets during the current ‘high-risk’ period of high temperatures and an economic crisis.

The department has received few reports of supermarkets not storing frozen goods properly so far in 2013 said acting director Christos Christou yesterday. He said these were mainly in small grocers.

However, Larnaca health services received a report on Thursday morning from Meneou resident Mary Pytharas that the freezers at a large chain of supermarket were almost ten degrees lower than they should have been.

“I went in on Wednesday and noticed they had changed their fridges over the weekend from upright ones to chest. Each freezer’s temperature gauge was set between -9 and -12.5 degrees when ice cream, frozen fish and vegetables should be stored at -18 unless they will be consumed within a month,” she told the Cyprus Mail.

Pytharas is clued up on the subject due to her professional background, working for 25 years as a medical researcher in London. She decided not to buy any products as she deemed them unsafe and called health services on Thursday morning.

“They informed me they would go and check and called me back in the afternoon to inform me that the fridges had not been properly calibrated as they were brand new and ordered goods which were not stored properly to be removed,” the pensioner said.

Pytharas said she believed it was possible the supermarket was trying to save electricity.

“It could be a case of negligence but with only three staff working there, they can’t possibly have enough time to serve customers, check sell-by-dates and make sure freezers at calibrated correctly,” she added.

The pensioner revealed she had been told by the health department that the supermarket was forced to change its original freezers as products were being over-packed.

An official at Larnaca health services assured the Cyprus Mail that checks were being carried out regularly and that only four products were withdrawn from the specific supermarket after it was discovered they were being improperly stored.

“We explained to Mrs Pytharas that we located the problem she was referring to and it was due to the fridges not being calibrated correctly,” he said.

Health services ordered the supermarket to withdraw the goods and destroy them.

The acting director explained that a circular had been sent out to all districts telling local health services to be extra vigilant in light of the economic crisis, especially with frozen goods.

“Frozen food needs to be checked continuously, throughout the delivery process,” Christou said.

He explained that despite health services not being present during the whole process, supermarkets are obliged to comply with strict temperature regulations.

“Freezers and fridges at supermarkets carry registers where staff write down the temperatures and then health service officials go around and check they have been filled out accurately,” he said.

Christou added that if any temperatures are recorded below the permitted level then directions are clear and supermarkets must withdraw and destroy the goods.

“There are strict laws about delivery and storage and there is very little flexibility about unloading and packing so they need to be completed within a logical timeframe,” he said.

“We are on alert as this is a high risk period so we have targeted products that need freezing,” Christou concluded.

Reports that Cypriot pick up trucks smuggled into Syria

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By Stefanos Evripidou

THE NUMBER of double cabin trucks sold to foreigners this year has tripled compared to the same period last year, fuelling rumours that the Cypriot-registered cars have ended up on the frontline of the Syrian civil war.

According to local daily Politis, the increase in the purchase of double cabin trucks is mainly as a result of Arab-speakers purchasing the vehicles, driving them to the occupied north and from there transporting them to Syria to be used by rebels in the fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

The paper reported that around 170 transfers of ownership of double cabin trucks to foreigners were registered from January to June in 2012. For the same period this year, the number of transfers reached over 500.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, head of the Road Transport Department Soteris Kolettas confirmed that the number of transfers had indeed tripled this year, though he could not confirm the exact figures.

Politis cited sources saying the sudden increase in the change of car ownership could be explained by Cyprus-based Arabs buying cars from Cypriots on behalf of Syrian rebels, mainly double cabin trucks but also jeeps.

The cars are then driven from the government-controlled areas to the occupied north via the checkpoints, and loaded on to vessels either at Kyrenia or Famagusta ports and taken either straight to Syria or on to Turkey, and from there driven to the Syrian border.

While the police said they did not register any major increase in cars crossing north and not returning, a source at a main checkpoint told the Cyprus Mail that they had observed an increasing number of double cabins crossing north but not returning to the government-controlled areas.

However, the police were not able to provide any statistics on the matter.

One EU diplomat could not rule out that this was happening but questioned why the rebels would go to the bother of coming to Cyprus for vehicles when they could make their purchases instead in neighbouring countries. They suggested the pattern witnessed could be the work of organised crime.

Auditor-general bemoans lack of staff

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By Poly Pantelides

THE AUDITOR general has warned her office is short-staffed and cannot respond to its existing tasks, let alone take on – as it could – the job of monitoring the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) Cyprus agreed with its international lenders.

Chrystalla Georghadji said that Cyprus would gain credibility with its EU/IMF lenders whose concerns would be put to rest if the task of monitoring the MoU was assigned to an independent party. It would remove a “tendency to question the objectivity” of the government, itself an interested party, she said. She was talking to the Cyprus News Agency which published an in depth interview yesterday.

Georghadji said there are community councils her office has been unable to audit in years, since three people have the impossible task of auditing 356 community councils. Her office is appointed by the president but stands independent of any ministry and audits state and semi-governmental bodies, and any organisation or natural entity receiving state grants or loans.

The auditor general said her office employs 88 staff, short of the 119 people her office is designed to work with. As people have been retiring, some opting to leave even ten years before they would reach retirement age, she is left with fewer competent people expected to do more with less, Georghadji said.

Georghadji told the Cyprus News Agency she wrote to the finance ministry in June last year asking why they had not included any slots for the audit office in the 351 job positions the ministry said should be exempt from the hire freeze.

The letter acknowledged the need for austerity measures but said the audit office needed more staff. She had asked for 10 more staff, but got none, she said.

Georghadji said she has asked the finance ministry to get staff seconded to her service from other state departments, which can “stand losing people”.

But she nonetheless said her office would try to monitor landmark developments on the island, such as a mooted project to build a liquefaction natural gas (LNG) plant on the island.

“I consider it our duty to bust our back, regardless of how few employees we have, to participate (in monitoring the LNG plant project). We can’t be auditing much smaller scale sectors and leave behind the big and substantial (tasks),” Georghadji said.


Our View: Extradition hurdle exposes our irrational lawmaking

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ÃÅÍÉÊÏÓ ÅÉÓÁÃÃÅËÅÁÓ - ÄÇÌÏÓÉÏÃÑÁÖÉÊÇ ÄÉÁÓÊÅØÇ

IT IS VERY difficult to understand some of the laws that are made by the legislature. The law about the extradition of Cypriot nationals against whom European arrest warrants have been issued is a case in point. An amendment made to the bill submitted by the state’s legal office restricted the scope of the law in a way that was, from a rational viewpoint, unjustifiable.

As the attorney-general explained yesterday, the legislature amended the relevant bill, which it approved in 2005, so that nobody wanted in connection with offences committed before Cyprus’ entry into the EU, would be subject to extradition. For the legislature, the only offences that counted were those committed from 2004 onwards. Suspects wanted by other EU countries, in connection with crimes committed before 2004, could not be extradited.

Why was the commitment of crimes outside Cyprus, before the EU accession year, deemed not to count by our deputies? Was it a human rights issue that we are not aware of? Had they decided to protect the interest of suspects, who did not know they would be subject of European arrest warrants, when they committed an alleged offence? With the amendment, deputies had in effect given an amnesty to Cypriot nationals for alleged offences committed abroad pre-2004. Do deputies have such an authority?

There is the cynical view, that one or two of the many lawyers in the House had clients who could have had a European arrest warrant issued against them, and the law was amended in order to ensure against this happening. But why would the majority of the deputies have approved the amendment? Perhaps they were following instructions from their respective parties, which are quite capable of doing such favours.

The issue was in the public domain this week when it transpired that European arrest warrants, issued by Greece against the former interior minister Dinos Michaelides and his son Michalis, could not be executed because they were related to alleged offences committed before 2004. The attorney-general is reportedly determined to bring the two before the court and argue in favour of the execution of the warrants, but there does not seem a way round the law.

Unsurprisingly, most of the parties, which issue statements about every issue imaginable, have said nothing about this scandalous matter. Only DISY, to its credit, took a stand, urging the state to find a way to execute the arrest warrants. “It is not appropriate in an EU member-state, while we talk continuously about transparency, for there to be legal obstacles, preventing the execution of European warrants.” DISY is absolutely right and the sooner these indefensible obstacles are removed the better.

Cabinet tackles loan restructuring

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By Stefanos Evripidou

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday announced a series of measures to ensure banks and their clients reach a fair compromise on how to restructure existing loans under today’s challenging economic conditions.

“One of the president’s major pledges was, given the economic crisis and huge problems facing households and businesses, to ensure the restructuring of loans of either businesses or natural persons,” said government spokesman Christos Stylianides.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Stylianides said cabinet yesterday approved an amendment bill on the establishment and operation of the financial ombudsman to facilitate the settlement of financial disputes out-of-court.

The aim of the amendment bill is three-fold, he said.

First, to create a mediation service for the purposes of reaching agreement between banks and their clients on loan restructuring and the integration of this service into the financial ombudsman’s office.

The second objective is to pass legislation which would include cooperative banks in the definition of financial institutions, thereby expanding the mediation service’s remit, and its scope to mediate in disputes over loan restructuring.

Finally, the board of the financial ombudsman would be expanded by one to include a representative of the cooperative movement.

The measure is part of the requirements listed in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the troika in exchange for a €10 billion international bailout.

Specifically, the final sentence in section 1.16 of the MoU states that a mediation service between banks and their clients to achieve fair debt restructuring should be established by the end of June 2013.

The section is headed: ‘Monitoring of corporate and household indebtedness’.

The aim of the section is to specify the obligation to take measures to deal with troubled borrowers following the implementation of the resolution and recapitalisation of Cyprus’ weak banks.

The MoU stipulates that the approach to debt restructuring in the private sector will be based on market-based voluntary workouts underpinned by measures to strengthen the legal framework to support debt restructuring.

“In this regard, in addition to the central credit registry, a framework for seizure and sale of loan collateral will be implemented,” said the MoU in section 1.16.

Regarding measures to strengthen the legal framework, Stylianides also announced that the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) will issue a code of conduct on debt restructuring, in consultation with the finance ministry.

“The code will be formulated exclusively by the CBC but the finance ministry is in consultation with the Central Bank in an effort to formulate government policy through this dialogue,” he said.

The services of the banking mediator will only be used after exhausting all efforts between bank and client “as provided in the code of conduct”, he added.

According to state broadcaster CyBC, the code of conduct will provide clear instructions to the banks, including cooperatives. Each debt restructuring must be judged on a case-by-case basis, depending on the financial capabilities and solvency of the borrower.

Through this framework, extending the loan repayment period and adjusting interest rates will also be evaluated, with different rules applying for different loans, depending on whether they be housing, consumer or business loans.

Should the borrower and bank fail to reach agreement on debt restructuring through the code of conduct, only then will the banking mediator intervene.

The state broadcaster cited sources saying that the decision of the mediation service will be binding for both sides on the proviso that at least one of the sides agrees to it. If both disagree, then the dispute can be taken to the courts.

The government hopes the cabinet-approved amendments will be passed by parliament next Thursday, scheduled to be its last session before the summer recess.

Stylianides also announced a host of other measures approved by cabinet yesterday.

Under a new VAT scheme, very small businesses with a turnover of less than €25,000 a year will not have to pay VAT on the sale or provision of goods and services until they are actually paid for those goods or services.

Also, taxpayers who were affected by the restructuring measures imposed on the Cypriot banking sector and who failed or fail to pay or declare taxes on time, will have their additional penalty levy reduced from 10 per cent to five per cent.

This applies for the tax period ending on May 31, June 30, July 31, August 31 and September 30 this year.

Cabinet also approved an amendment bill regarding the law on the education of children with disabilities. The bill relates to children with special needs who for various health reasons cannot attend normal lessons at school for a long period of time.

The aim is to provide these children with special education and training either at home or in hospitals up until the age of 21.

Bartoli routs Lisicki to win Wimbledon title

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Marion Bartoli of France holds her trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, after defeating Sabine Lisicki of Germany in their women's singles final tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London

By Ed Osmond
MARION Bartoli overwhelmed an out of sorts Sabine Lisicki 6-1 6-4 on a sun-drenched Centre Court to win her first Wimbledon title on Saturday.
Frenchwoman Bartoli, seeded 15th, took full advantage of a desperately nervous performance by her German opponent who knocked out defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round.
Bartoli, 28, became the first French player to win a grand slam title since Amelie Mauresmo in 2006, finally breaking her major trophy drought at the 47th attempt.
“As a small girl I dreamed about this moment,” Bartoli, the 2007 Wimbledon runner-up, said in a courtside interview after lifting the Venus Rosewater dish.
“Finishing with an ace to win Wimbledon, even in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined that. Honestly, I cannot believe it. have practiced my serve for so long, at least I kept it for best moment!”
Lisicki, the 23rd seed, broke Bartoli’s serve in the opening game of the match but the Frenchwoman hit straight back and took advantage of 14 unforced errors by the German to secure the opening set in 31 minutes.
Lisicki’s booming serve never functioned smoothly and Bartoli, seeded 15th, kept the ball away from her dangerous forehand to move within one set of her first grand slam title.
Lisicki left the court to try to compose herself and held serve in the opening game of the second set but she wasted four break points in Bartoli’s first service game and the Frenchwoman pounced to break for a 2-1 lead.
Struggling to hold back tears, Lisicki dropped her serve again to trail 4-1 and Bartoli had three match points at 5-1.
The German bravely saved them, however, and suddenly found her form, breaking Bartoli to trail 3-5 and holding serve comfortably to raise hopes of an unlikely comeback.
But Bartoli regrouped and held serve to love, sealing her first grand slam title on her fourth match point with her sixth ace after one hour 21 minutes.
As an emotional Lisicki sat in her chair Bartoli clambered into the stands to embrace her entourage which included father and former coach Walter and Mauresmo.
“I was just overwhelmed by this whole situation,” Lisicki said. “Credit to Marion, she has been there before and she handled it perfectly.”
Bartoli’s triumph after 47 grand slam appearances beats the previous record held by Czech Jana Novotna who won Wimbledon in 1998 in what was her 45th appearance.

UN chief recommends extension of UNFICYP mandate

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Buffer zone in Nicosia

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has recommended that the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) be extended for a period of six months, until January 31, 2014, noting that “UNFICYP continues to play an essential role on the island by exercising authority in the buffer zone and contributing to keeping the calm and to the resolution of various issues affecting the everyday lives of both communities.”
In his draft report on the UN operation in Cyprus, Ban referred to his good offices’ mission and noted that there have been no negotiations between the leaders of the two communities since March 2012.
Diplomatic sources said the report is carefully worded, especially where the good offices of the Secretary General are concerned, and does not give the impression that the resumption of talks for a solution of the Cyprus problem is imperative.
Ban said that the election of President Nicos Anastasiades in February brought new hope and cautious optimism for constructive talks between the two communities, and that Anastasiades met Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on May 30 in a convivial atmosphere at a dinner hosted by Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer Special Representative and Chief of Mission Lisa Buttenheim.
The UN Secretary General also referred to various UNFICYP activities, including the prevention of a recurrence of fighting and the maintenance of the military status quo, demining, the restoration of normal conditions and humanitarian functions, the work of the Committee on Missing Persons, and financial and administrative issues.
Regarding the exploration for natural resources within the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, Ban noted that related tensions continued during the reporting period.
“Drilling activities continued in order to verify the presence and extent of hydrocarbon resources within designated blocks to the south and south-east of the island. Turkey continued to protest the development. Following the start of a second phase of drilling activities, on June 14 Turkey issued a statement confirming its position in support of Turkish Cypriot objections that such actions prejudge the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community. The statement indicated Turkey’s intention to provide assistance for the exploration for natural resources by the Turkish Cypriots to the south of the island,” he said.
He added that, “in response, on June 17 Cyprus issued a statement in defence of its sovereign right to explore and exploit natural resources in its exclusive economic zone” and that “the statement condemned Turkey’s intention to support exploration for natural resources by the Turkish Cypriots, noting that such a development would increase tension in the area.”
Ban called on all parties to make every effort to avoid raising tensions, which may have a negative impact on the security situation, including in the buffer zone, adding that “it is important to ensure that any new-found wealth, which belongs to all Cypriots, will benefit both communities.
“Without doubt, the discovery of offshore gas reserves constitutes a strong incentive for all parties to find a durable solution to the Cyprus problem. It is my hope that the discovery may engender a deeper cooperation for the benefit of all stakeholders in the region,” he said.
Regarding the work of the Committee on Missing Persons, Ban noted that it continued to carry forward its bicommunal project on the exhumation, identification and return of the remains of missing persons, and that, “as of June 2013, the Committee’s bicommunal teams of archaeologists had exhumed the remains of 978 individuals on both sides of the island.
“To date, the remains of 407 individuals have been returned to their respective families, including 71 during the reporting period,” he said.
In his observations, Ban said the situation along the ceasefire lines remained mostly calm and stable, with a low level of military violations, and encourages both sides to desist from challenging the UN delineation of the ceasefire lines and, consequently, the demarcation of the buffer zone, which only increases tensions.
He furthermore expressed concern that “the financial and economic crisis affecting Cyprus has the potential to negatively impact inter-communal contacts and relations,” and pointed out the need for further contacts and confidence building measures.

Lions end 16 years of failure with crushing win

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Rugby Union - 2013 British and Irish Lions Tour - Third Test - Australia v British and Irish Lions - ANZ Stadium

By Nick Mulvenney
THE British and Irish Lions made a blistering start, rode an Australian fightback and ran out record 41-16 winners in the decisive third Test yesterday to end a 16-year wait for a Test series triumph.
After just three points separated the two sides in the first two matches, the Lions built their emphatic victory on the back of a dominant scrum to join the hallowed tourists of 1971, 1974 and 1997 as series winners in the modern era.
Prop Alex Corbisiero, flyhalf Jonny Sexton, winger George North and centre Jamie Roberts scored the tries and fullback Leigh Halfpenny, named player of the series, added 21 points with his boot to give the Lions their highest ever tally in a Test match.
“It’s pretty indescribable. There was a lot said about the selection in the week and with big thanks to the fans coming out I think we’ve proved that despite selection the northern hemisphere is doing pretty well,” Lions skipper Alun Wyn Jones said in a pitchside interview.
After a tight first Test in Brisbane and second in Melbourne, the decider looked like being a rout after 25 minutes with the home side reduced to 14 men, their scrum in disarray and the Lions 19-3 up.
The first eight minutes were disastrous for the Wallabies with scrumhalf Will Genia spilling the kickoff, their pack twice penalised at the scrum and flanker George Smith leaving the pitch after a head clash with Lions hooker Richard Hibbbard.
The fumbled kickoff and a quickly taken freekick had the Lions charging at the home try line inside the first 90 seconds and Corbisiero carried the ball low and hard to reach over and touch down.
Halfpenny converted and added another penalty from halfway after the Wallabies winger Joe Tomane had been penalised for not releasing to give the tourists a 10-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes.
Smith, returning after four years out of international rugby to win his 111th cap, remarkably re-entered the fray and the Wallabies hit back with a penalty from Christian Leali’ifano two minutes later.
The problems with the pack remained for the home side and referee Romain Poite called a freekick and two penalties against them at the next three scrums, allowing Halfpenny to extend the lead to 13 with two more spot kicks.
Poite ran out of patience at the next scrum and prop Ben Alexander was sent to the sinbin for 10 minutes for collapsing the set-piece, Halfpenny adding three more points from the resulting penalty.
The Wallabies looked down and out two minutes later when winger Israel Folau pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury to bring Jesse Mogg on for his test debut.
Instead, though, the home side managed to endure the remaining period with just 14 men – Sexton’s missed dropped goal the only real threat – and started to put together some backline rhythm.
Mogg’s first burst up the middle was stopped by a brilliant tap tackle in open field from lock Geoff Parling but the Wallabies kept coming.
It was from a scrum just before halftime that they finally made the breakthrough, though, O’Connor jinking past Sexton and taking scrumhalf Mike Phillips over the line with him to score.
Leali’ifano converted to leave the Lions with just a 19-10 lead at the break and the centre cut six more points out of it with a pair of penalties in the first five minutes after the break.
A huge shove through tighthead Adam Jones saw the Lions regain their dominance at the scrum and the Wallabies crumbled before it, allowing Halfpenny to extend the lead to 21-16 after 51 minutes.
Five minutes later and the Lions attacked up the left flank with Jonathan Davies releasing Halfpenny who got the ball back inside for Sexton to run round and score under the posts.
The slight fullback added the extras for a 29-16 lead and eight minutes later set up the coup de grace, slipping past Genia on the counter-attack to set North on his way for his second try of the series.
Halfpenny failed with the conversion – his only miss in nine kicks on the night – but it was made academic after 68 minutes when Roberts cut through the Wallabies defence to score the fourth try.
“We had too many errors, mate, early on and we gave them a head start,” Wallabies skipper James Horwill said.
“We started the second half like we wanted to start the game and then we let them get away with it and they were too good. You’ve got to give them credit, they played very well and they were the better team tonight.”

Underage drinkers

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news briefs (rect)

MEMBERS OF the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) gatecrashed a party in Lakatamia on Friday night attended by 500 people, mostly teenagers, and fined the 22-year-old organiser for having underage drinkers present.
At around 10pm on Friday, members of the police unit went to the municipal swimming pool in Lakatamia, where there was a party taking place with around 500 people present, mostly under 17 years of age.
According to police, the CPU carried out an investigation and discovered that the 22-year-old party organiser had not obtained a permit to hold the party, nor for the music he was playing while 24 partygoers were drinking alcohol supplied by the party organisers under the legal minimum age of 17.
Police gave the 22-year-old a grace period of 15 minutes to stop the music and unplug the loudspeakers while slapping him with 24 fines for each case of underage drinking found.

€13,000 confiscated after raid

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news briefs (rect)

POLICE CONFISCATED nearly €13,000 on Friday night after a raid on premises that had been converted into a casino in the Yermasoyia area of Limassol.
Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said members of the Limassol Crime Prevention Unit and Mobile Rapid Reaction Force (MMAD) raided the premises with a warrant, after receiving information that illegal gambling was taking place there.
Police had to break into the locked entrance which was protected by guards. Once inside, they identified 30 people who were gambling.
Police also had to break open a door on the first floor of the building to enter a room where they found another 17 people gambling.
The authorities found €12,830 in a till, which they confiscated along with tables, roulette wheels, cards, dice and other gambling paraphernalia.
Following further investigation, it transpired that five of the people at the makeshift gambling joint owed money to the state in pending fines. Police received €3,000 in relation to those outstanding fines.
During the search, police found two rolled cigarettes on one person, allegedly containing cannabis.


Snapshots of austerity

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feature pic for austerity story

By Poly Pantelides
An ongoing British-based theatre project aims to capture how Europe’s long-running recession has affected its citizens, from hope to despair to first-person accounts of a turning point. And Cypriots are welcome to contribute.
British director Esther Richardson has been gathering these stories, urging people to contribute anonymously – so that they can give uncensored accounts – by offering testimonies on how they have been impacted by austerity in the post-2010 Europe.
The project, dubbed All Across Europe, is still acquiring shape and form subject to the kind of contributions available to Richardson. She says on her blog allacrosseurope.wordpress.com she aims to develop a theatre piece over the following months for a performance by professional artists for the Nottingham European Arts and Theatre festival due in the summer of 2014.
The project is looking for specific, detailed contributions with background context so the experiences can make sense to others with different circumstances, perhaps a “central observation” or a story of hope of change. Richardson says it would be “fantastic” to hear from people who were either part of anti-austerity protests, have felt unable to take action, have been changed in some way, or might be able to offer “a story of hope”. The work “will try to capture the sweep of our experience of this unique era of European depression, presenting its intimate, untold and little known stories,” Richardson says on her blog. Beyond the individual stories, Richardson wants the project “to chronicle and express [the depression’s] wider impact on our human interactions and relationships”.
That is a substantial task, but All Across Europe’s feed on social media site twitter already bears the hallmark of a project capable of assembling personal stories and it attracted the attention of Zoe Piponides, a Cyprus-based teacher who was motivated by the project to seek out Richardson and offer her own contribution, based on her own “conversations and observations”.
Piponides joined a weekly writing workshop last year and when depositors were told in March their Cyprus deposits would be raided, she was encouraged to write about it.
“The more stories I heard, the more disturbed I became,” she says. Finding out about the call for austerity stories, Piponides was inspired by Richardson’s “wish to listen to ordinary voices, inviting people to speak without reservation”.
Piponides’ stories, short accounts of her understanding of how different people have been impacted in Cyprus, ring true of the situation as it has been unfolding on the indebted island. She transmits different people’s anxiety, and concern, as they are forced to cut back on expenses and incur losses on their deposits.

Extracts from Zoe Piponides’ contribution:

THE TEACHER HOUSEWIFE
Teacher Housewife’s salary will be lopped again any month soon, setting a ‘fine’ example to the rest of the community. Already, she’s marginalised the way she shops, listing only necessities unless there happens to be a special offer. She’s decided she doesn’t need new clothes, rarely goes out for meals and thinks twice before doing anything near the end of the month when she owes her debit card 1000 euros.
Cypriots are known for being big spenders on gatherings. Now, she sees more and more shoppers fingering soggy tomatoes and bruised bargain bag apples, trolleys half the size they were 20 years ago. Cosmetics and clothes from the biggies like M&S and Next are still higher in price in the sales compared to UK original pricing; a tea bag dunked in hot water costs 3.50 at a central café, 4 euros if it’s by the sea, while a bank holiday trendy beach frappe coffee can reach a staggering 6.50 euros. Just who do the middlemen think they are?
Each time Teacher fills the petrol tank, she acknowledges that she is one of the lucky ones as others buy petrol in 10 euro doses. More crew cut scenarios mean she will spend even less than she is doing now as she tries to save for promised harder times ahead. The hairdresser, the beautician, the department store and even the dentist will just have to wait.
She feels lucky to be a permanent employee. No one will dare to kick her butt for a more cost-effective replacement. After all, is she not protected by Mr Civil and oh so Right? Till now, permanency has meant immunity, but who is she kidding?

THE STUDENTS
School gathers young people from surrounding villages. Each year Teacher conducts a survey to assess family employment. Each year, the numbers decline with an all-time low this last year. In one class of 15 teenagers, only three fathers are employed. Finding five euros to pay for a school trip is impossible for some families. Some students pretend they’re not hungry or are dieting because there’s no sandwich in their bag and no money to buy one. Yes, they’re given coupons now. How must if feel to queue, clutching a coupon for a snack or a bag of free pasta? It’s far less embarrassing to go without.
Student One worries about his father’s faulty tractor. He can’t focus on the lesson, knowing there isn’t enough cash to cover major repair and that without the tractor the family farm is at a standstill.
Student Two’s estranged father is jobless, her mother in hospital, terminally ill, while she goes home to an empty house every day. Chocolate is a luxury for her. She’s ready to work but where are the jobs?
THE ARTIST
Austerity lies like a brick in Artist’s guts because he knows what Cypriot politicians are capable of and how incapable they can be. He is furious with the government, past and present. He has no faith in Cypriot politics. He avoids reading newspapers because they ulcerate his soul. He understands the futility of elections, the ugly reality of nepotism and how who you know counts all too often.
He depends on tourists and locals with a bit of extra cash in their pockets. Austerity measures all across Europe mean fewer tourists and those who do come to Cyprus have little to spare for decorative art, even if ancient dual headed symbols of unity are interesting motifs on modern sculptures. More and more people are ‘just looking’ and Artist’s current account credit took an exit a long time ago.
THE EXPAT
The worst? Cyprus is the only country in the world to finance its crisis using private deposits. Australian Expat immigrated to Cyprus and placed a million dollars in a ‘popular’ (the people’s!) Cypriot bank; his life’s savings dismantled overnight, left with a mere tenth of his earnings.
Anglo-Cypriot froths when he mentions 70 per cent of seized deposits are from UK based ‘investors’. The Londoners he knows are livid and will never again think of resettling. They feel used and betrayed, he says. ‘Charlie’ Cypriots, with their own hesitant off-limits dialect, are ever a source of ridicule on the island, and now a source of political ridicule. What could be worse from one’s mother country?
THE LOCAL PENSIONER
Local Pensioner was always half deaf and is now half paralysed after suffering a stroke, unable to speak, so her sons have little idea how much she understands. She used to sell handmade toys and saved for her later years because she knew the grim reality of state retirement homes. Her bed in a private nursing home costs over 900 euros a month; speech therapy is available at an extra cost. Who dares tell her about the latest rumours on the grapevine – a 30-50 per cent cut in cooperative bank deposits? Her sons are wondering if what is left will be enough to help her live a little comfortably the final years of her life.
Submissions are anonymous. Richardson says that only she is the only one with access to the email account set up especially for contributions and will not reveal names and identities to other parties. But authors may also license their work using creative commons though the works will be presented anonymously within the theatre project itself. If the project proves profit making, proceeds will be distributed to European cultural and charitable projects, Richardson said. Testimonies in English are preferred, but not necessary.
Send your accounts at all.across.europe@gmail.com and get in touch with Zoe Piponides at zoepip@cytanet.com.cy

Can gas drive down our electricity prices?

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elias gas story

By Elias Hazou
CYPRUS inches closer to making up its mind on whether to import interim supplies of natural gas – but the million-dollar question still stands: will it drive down sky high electricity prices?
Talks between the Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA) and preferred bidder Itera are set to continue into next week, after negotiations on Wednesday and Thursday did not yield an agreement.
Cyprus is seeking to secure a short-term supplier of natural gas not exceeding 1.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year as a stop-gap solution until it can bring ashore its own natural gas. The interim gas would be used for domestic electricity production.
Under the terms of the call for expression of interest, the supply of gas was to begin no later than early 2015 and last up until September 2018, when the island should be able to start using its own resources from the natural gas discovery in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In terms of technology, DEFA’s tender is open-ended: liquefied natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), or any other technology. The top criteria are time and cost, and DEFA has reserved the right not to finalise any deal if the price of electricity generated by natural gas will be higher than that currently produced from diesel.
Under the circumstances, the import options are predictable. Should CNG be selected, Cyprus (or the gas supplier) will have to build the first CNG ship in the world. Currently no such ship has been built. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) – a classification society – has approved one such concept but no shipyard has built one to date.
The second option is to lay a submarine pipeline either from Israel’s Tamar field, which has just come online, or from the Aphrodite gas field. Here, the engineering challenges are significant. Considering that the pipeline will be laid in water depth at times reaching 2,200m, the project would take three to four years to complete.
Another scenario would be to import liquefied natural gas on LNG ships with onboard regasifigation facilities which will convert cryogenically cooled LNG into its gaseous form. These ships are known as floating, storage and regasification units (FSRUs).

Electricity prices in Cyprus are among the highest in the EU

Electricity prices in Cyprus are among the highest in the EU

Details of the bids are bound by a confidentiality agreement, but it’s understood that Itera’s proposal envisages the deployment of FSRUs. Local media reports this week said Itera’s offer would see the gas sold to Cyprus just under $16 per million British Thermal Units (mBTU). Reportedly, DEFA is trying to get Itera to drop its final price a little more in order to clinch a deal.
But $15 or $16 per mBTU is not much lower than the electricity utility’s current cost of producing electricity from diesel, believed to be between $17 and $18 per mBTU. The EAC will not disclose its cost of electricity production, keeping it a closely guarded secret.
Just as talks with Itera were entering an advanced and delicate stage, it was leaked to the press that Noble Energy, which has a concession on offshore Block 12, has approached the government with its own idea for short-term supply of gas.
For the time being Noble’s proposal is ‘informal’, in that it falls outside the bidding process conducted by DEFA. That’s likely why the government – wary of being accused of acting in bad faith with Itera – has not confirmed Noble’s pitch, although industry sources have since corroborated that such an offer was made.
The US energy firm is said to be proposing to deploy a spar platform at the Aphrodite well to produce a gas flow smaller than conventional drilling platforms but still enough to cater to domestic electricity needs.
Reports said Noble is suggesting bringing the gas to the Vasilikos power plant by early 2016 – later than Itera – but at a cheaper price, $12 per mBTU.
Now, the Sunday Mail hears that yet another company is making a play: Sea NG, which specialises in the development and commercialisation of technology for marine transportation of CNG.
The Canadian company, which bid for the tender but did not make the final cut, claims it can deliver gas by 2015 and for a lower price than the others. Sea NG, sources said, would secure gas from Israel’s Tamar field and ship it to Cyprus.
Israeli currently pays $5.8 per mBTU for electricity from its own gas. Even assuming a slight mark-up on that price were the Israelis to sell to Cyprus, and with Sea NG adding another $5 for delivery, that would bring the tariff to between $10 and $11 per mBTU.
Meanwhile the Sunday Mail understands that in its tender DEFA cited two different maximum distances for the source of the gas. Though not naming the countries, it is evident that DEFA had Egypt and Israel in mind. Analysts say the CNG method is ideal for markets within 2,000km of the gasfield, and CNG is economical over short sea journeys compared with LNG.
Still, it would take some convincing officials here since CNG has yet to be implemented anywhere in the world.
On the back of Noble’s spar platform proposal, Sea NG is now floating the idea of shipping gas from Cyprus’ Block 12. They would do this by deploying ships to Noble’s spar platform, and from there, the ships would fill up with the fuel in its gaseous form, compress it on board and transport it to a receiving facility at Vasilikos. Again, this proposal is outside the DEFA tenders process. Presumably, both Sea NG’s as well as Noble’s offers might be considered later should no deal be struck with Itera in the bids process.
Sea NG’s ‘taxi service’ to and from Block 12 would become relevant, for example, should Noble encounter difficulties in building a pipeline from its spar platform to the island’s south coast, and might choose instead to ship the gas in compressed form.
Sea NG estimates the total tab of its project to be in the vicinity of €500m.
By contrast, a pipeline alone running from the Aphrodite well to Vasilikos might cost double that. And besides the higher overheads for the related infrastructure, LNG is more expensive than the fuel in its gaseous form.
Moreover, sources said, Sea NG is willing to put up all the capital and to offer standard industry guarantees in the event of supply disruption.
The Sunday Mail is told also that the company has briefed both the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (the prospective buyer of natural gas) and the Cyprus National Hydrocarbons Company.
Successive reports by Eurostat have shown the price of household and industrial electricity in Cyprus to be among the highest in the EU. The electricity utility here has invested millions in acquiring dual-fuel combined-cycle gas turbines that run on either fuel oil or natural gas. For the moment, the machines continue to burn only the more expensive diesel.
Using LNG or CNG as an interim solution would almost certainly bring down electricity costs – but by how much? Will the cost be ‘substantially lower’ than current costs, as DEFA has specified in its tender? And how does one define ‘substantially lower’?

I must defend our former central bank governor

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comment pic for Loucas Charalambous

By Loucas Charalambous
I DISAGREE with the scurrilous campaign unleashed by Politis against the former governor of the Central Bank Christodoulos Christodoulou in relation to the supposedly suspicious depositing of one million euro in the account of a family company in Athens, by a friend and associate of Andreas Vgenopoulos, the shipowner Michalis Zolotas.
The amount was deposited a few months after the end of Christodoulou’s term as governor and was transferred to a Cypriot bank account, two years later. I am no friend of Christodoulou, and hopefully God will forgive me for the critical articles I wrote about him in the past, but I cannot tolerate this unfair attack on the man, whom I feel obliged to defend.
Politis editor Sotiris Baroutis keeps posing seven questions about the case and demands answers. But because Christodoulou has no time to bother with Baroutis’ questions I will try to answer on his behalf. Baroutis asked, for instance, whether the company, owned by Christodoulou’s daughter at the time of the payment, A.C. Christodoulou Consultants Ltd had any other clients apart from Vgenopoulos’ associate. The answer is ‘no’. Christodoulou was happy with just one client, as he was not greedy.
He also asked whether the company paid any income tax or VAT. I do not know the answer to this. What I do know is that if by some mistake or negligence by the company’s accountant taxes were not paid, Christodoulou, a law-abiding citizen, would be more than happy to pay them today, plus the interest due.
Another question was why Christodoulou was the beneficiary of the account of the company (all the shares of which belonged to his daughter) at the time the million euros landed in the account. There is nothing suspect about this, as it is perfectly normal for the daughter to have complete trust in her daddy and allow him to manage the company’s bank account.
I am also puzzled as to why the whole issue has been raised now as MOKAS (the unit that investigates money laundering) did not consider there was a problem. Its head Eva Papakyriakou was notified in writing about the allegations, by the Greek authorities on May 2, 2012. For 13 months, she did not consider it necessary to ask for a statement from Christodoulou and did not even bother to inform him about the matter. In short, she considered the information to be utter nonsense.
There is also the distinguished past service to the country by Christodoulou which should have spared him these malicious accusations. Christodoulou was, as he had revealed, deputy chief of staff of the Akritas organisation in 1963. The secret leader of the organisation, as Christodoulou revealed in a 2008 interview with Simerini, was the late Archbishop Makarios. If he was a dishonest man, would a leader of Makarios’ moral standing have made him deputy chief of staff?
After all, Christodoulou’s intelligence was always put at the service of the country. For instance on May 22, 2000, as interior minister in the Clerides government, he revealed how he had thwarted a satanic scheme, by the late Rauf Denktash to send to the Republic 1,500 gypsies that were living in the north.
He explained that he had stopped the gypsy invasion, by sending word to them that if they crossed south they would not be put up in hotel rooms and he would force them to work. This was how he saved the country from the gypsies among whom, according to his ministerial colleague Nicos Koshis, there were Turkish secret agents.
Christodoulou is the last person in the world that could be accused of money-grabbing. He was never interested in money and everyone knows how much money he gave to the poor, when he was a minister. This generosity and altruism earned him the nickname ‘Mother Teresa’. I still remember how in February 2000 he distributed cheques to the poor of Zygi – with camera crews from all the TV stations covering the event – after a storm had caused extensive damage to the village. Someone who helps the poor so generously could not possibly be a crook.
And we should not forget that Christodoulou also saved us from the Annan plan, proving that he was a true patriot as well. He had warned in April 2004 that with the approval of the plan “there would be serious, substantial and functional problems, with unfavourable consequences for our banking system and economy”.
Then there was the praise lavished on him by former president Glafcos Clerides, whose judgment of people was always impeccable. On the day he announced Christodoulou’s appointment as governor of the Central Bank, he said that the main reason for choosing him was “the man’s honesty”. A man whose honesty had Clerides’ approval should never have become the target of mudslingers.

Truth: Where can you find it? How can it benefit you and your family?

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jehovas

JEHOVAH’S Witnesses believe that all, including those who are not Witnesses, will benefit from the positive content and practical suggestions of the 2013 District Convention with the theme ‘God’s Word is Truth’ that will take place, in English, at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 101 Mestzit St, Limassol from Friday July 12 until Sunday 14. The Convention will take place worldwide in different places.
“This year’s convention theme is very important because it directs the spotlight on one of the basic family values of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” said P Ioannides, spokesman for the Witnesses. “For the Jehovah’s Witness families the Bible is the most reliable guide and counselor in these turbulent times. We believe the enjoyable convention programme, with a variety of practical subjects, will benefit not just us but also the public. Special emphasis will be given to the family and advice from within the Bible for each member of the family will be heard.”
Ioannides said Jehovah’s Witnesses give priority to personal study of the Holy Bible. For example each week families dedicate one evening for family worship, which is the study and research of the scriptures. “At this year’s Convention new tools for personal and family study of the Holy Bible will be presented,” added Ioannides.
The value of the Holy Bible as the only reliable guide for the many problems people now face will be stressed through exciting talks, dramatised Bible readings and presentations, and even two live theatrical performances, he said.
The exciting talk ‘What is Truth?’ will analyse why we can trust God’s word, the Holy Bible. The two performances will bring to life bible stories and the lessons we learn from them. Those attending will discern that trusting the Holy Bible can help them take wise decisions, improve their family life, strengthen their personal relationship with God and find true happiness.
It is estimated that four thousand people will attend the Bible-based programme. The Convention programme will be presented in English and there will be simultaneous translation in Sinhala and Tagalog all days and Vietnamese translation on Sunday only.
On all three days the programme will begin at 9:20am and finish at 4:50pm on Friday and Saturday and at 3:35pm on Sunday. Entrance is free.

COFFEESHOP: Taking personal responsibility is a criminal offence in a country of victims

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coffeeshop

AGRICULTURE minister and Eurocock Nicos Kouyialis had no doubt in his mind that the Newcastle Disease virus that has hit poultry in the last couple of weeks, forcing the authorities to put down almost 200,000 infected chickens, came from the occupied areas, the breeding ground of all animal diseases and mosquitoes.

Kokkinotrimithia, where affected poultry farms were situated, is right next to the infected occupied areas. His patriotic, scientific theory suffered a bit of a blow on Tuesday though when infected chicken were found in a coop in Prodromi village near Polis in the Paphos district, which is not very close to the pseudo-state.

Prodromi is still only about 40km away, if you drew a straight line on the map, reportedly, countered the Eurocock minister. And birds do not use the roads, which would have taken them much longer to get to the village from the north; nor was the Troodos mountain range that is between them an obstacle.

Kouyialis subsequently turned a bit more scientific, conceding that the disease was carried by birds but no infected wild birds have been found. In the event that infected birds are found how would we establish that they are Turkish or at least residents of the occupied north?

The same scientific test that was used to establish the ethnic identity of fish being brought in from the north would be implemented. It proved very effective as it stopped the import of Turkish fish, posing as Turkish Cypriot.

THERE is method to the patriotic madness of the Eurocock minister. He hopes that by persuading his fellow EU agriculture ministers, whom he will meet in Brussels a week tomorrow, that the disease came from the occupied areas, they would agree to pick up the tab for the damage.

So far, the bill for compensating poultry farmers is estimated to be in the region of 700 grand, an amount that could rise. Needless to say, the government has no such cash to spare and it would be a great help if the EU settled the bill, which it would regard as peanuts.

If Kouyialis persuades the EU that the disease came from the north he would be killing two birds with one stone – not only would he be saving 700 grand we do not have he would also be boosting our anti-occupation sentiments.

In the event that no infected Turkish bird is found to take to Brussels to prove our case there is an alternative way for Kouyialis to persuade his fellow ministers that the source of the disease was the north. In Greek, Newcastle Disease is known as ‘pseudo-panoli’ (pseudo-plague) which is conclusive proof the virus could only have come from the region’s only pseudo-state.

STUPIDITY is also contagious, but we cannot safely say that it came from the pseudo-state because there is nothing pseudo about the stupidity we are witnessing in the free areas of Kyproulla.

This week, the colossal stupidity of forcing the Bank of Cyprus to hire all Laiki’s employees back in March was brought home as the bank’s board and union ETYK rowed about the voluntary retirement scheme that would reduce the workforce by at least 1,000. The bank currently employs 5,300 workers, 2,500 of whom came from Laiki.

It is still not clear who took the insane decision to add 2,500 workers to the payroll of a struggling bank that had to bail in its depositors to stay afloat, but I cannot believe it was imposed by the troika as some sources have been claiming. The idea was so momentously irrational it could only have been thought up by members of our ruling elite.

There was a very easy and rational solution. When Laiki went into administration, its workers would have been paid two months’ salaries in compensation, as was stipulated in their contracts, and sent home. This is what happens in countries not run by idiots when a company goes bust.

ADVERTISING our superior intelligence, we decided to transfer them to the struggling BoC where they would have been paid four months’ salaries until the end of July and be given a much bigger compensation package to leave.

Instead of two months’ salaries as compensation, Laiki staff would now receive a month’s salary for every two years of service plus another five salaries. Twenty years’ service would give them 15 salaries.

The scheme plus the salaries it has been paying Laiki staff would cost the bank in excess of €100 million it does not have.

This, to get rid of 1,000 workers it should never have employed; and before the end of the year, another thousand workers would have to go, at a cost of another €100 million.

The BoC depositors, thanks to this scheme, are being made to pay huge compensation packages to the employees of a bankrupt bank. In any other country this would have been considered fraud or theft, but in Kyproulla it is a scam for a good cause.

ONLY ONE man could have thought of this scam. The scheming, bullying ETYK boss Loizos Hadjicostis. Back in March, when the resolution of Laiki was approved by the legislature, Hadjicostis was declaring that his union would not allow a single bank job to be lost and we were all laughing at him.

He obviously had a plan and had no trouble implementing it. Prez Nik, if he were half the man we thought he was before being elected, would have vetoed the ETYK boss’ idea for Laiki staff to be hired by the BoC. But with Laiki workers on the streets protesting, Nik agreed to Hadjicostis’ mad plan, seeing it as clever way of calming the revolting bank employees.

After all, he would not pay the cost out of his pocket.

The approval of Professor Panicos was also needed. As Governor, he was calling all the shots. And being a closet Akelite there was no way he would have said no to a union boss looking after the interests of the workers. Hadjicostis’ scam would push the BoC closer to collapse and if Panicos was interested in saving the banking sector he would have rejected it, but this was not his priority.

SPEAKING of stupidity and banking, I have to mention the new organisation set up to defend the interests of bank customers, or something to that effect. One of the leaders of this group spoke on a radio show last week protesting about bank interest rates and the pressure customers were under to make loan repayments every month. Many customers had loans that were so big they could not repay them he complained. And this was the fault of the banks as they should never have given such big loans, he insisted. Taking personal responsibility is a criminal offence in a country of victims.

INVESTIGATIONS to establish how one million euro ended up in the Greek bank account of a company owned by daughter of the former Governor of the Central Bank Ttooulis Ttoouli, aka Mother Teresa, are continuing.

The money was transferred a few months after Ttooulis stepped down as Governor by a close associate of Laiki chief Vgenopoulos. However we hear that the police are conducting their investigation in a rather unorthodox way.

They have still not called in Ttooulis or his daughter Athena for questioning, preferring to question others first. Normally, the people at the centre of the allegations are the first to be questioned and not the last. Perhaps, as a show of respect to Ttooulis for his many years of selfless service to the public, the AG ordered the cops to do things differently.

THE RECESSION appears to have affected our once thriving television stations. Things are so bad that none of them had paid for their annual broadcasting licence. Fed up of waiting for payment of the €55,000 licence fee, the Cyprus Radio-Television Authority gave an ultimatum to the TV bosses.

Stations had until noon on Monday July 1 to pay, or they would be taken off air. The Authority has the power to do this. All stations paid on Monday. The Church-owned Mega made its payment just 15 minutes before the deadline, an indication of the severe cash shortages facing the Church.

Its paymaster, the once mega-wealthy Kykkos monastery is having trouble paying staff wages every month now that there are no buyers for its overpriced building plots.

FOR THREE successive days a female CyBC radio presenter referred to the president of the ECB as Mario Ndrangi. Where she found the extra ‘Ns’ remains a mystery, although a couple had been seen walking aimlessly in the corporation’s cafeteria last Tuesday and there is speculation that she took pity on them and decided to adopt them. CyBC management, presumably, not wanting to hurt her feelings, did not ask her to drop the extra ‘Ns’, so ‘Ndrangi’ became the official pronunciation, creating the impression that the president of ECB was an African.

PREZ NIK’S meeting with Ndrangi on Wednesday sparked the traditional playground-level bickering by our kiddie politicians, with AKEL commies accusing the government of not achieving the objective of changing the terms of the memorandum. I have no intention of boring you with the government’s response. The only thing worth reporting about this pathetically predictable and lame row was the sexed-up headline given to the story by Simerini on its front page on Friday. ‘Political clash of megatons over the meeting in Frankfurt,’ it claimed in what could only be described as an exaggeration of megatons.

SEXED UP headlines aimed at drawing the attention of disinterested periptero customers are also becoming a feature of our leading daily Phil, which reported ‘Shock-instructions for loans’ on its front page on Tuesday. According to the ‘shock-instructions’ of the Central Bank, “from now on all loans, regardless of the collateral, would be considered non-performing if they are not serviced.” Shock-instructions indeed, considering this way of defining NPLs was one of the first diktats of the troika when its technocrats first arrived on our sun-kissed shores a year ago.

THE NEXT day paper’s main headline reported ‘Plan of war at bank’ in reference to ETYK’s rejection of the BoC’s voluntary retirement plan. If there is a war it would be the first in world history to be sparked by a voluntary retirement scheme and the first-ever featuring an army made up of bank employees. A pity the board’s army can no longer rely on the services of disgraced CEO Andreas Eliades, who was a trained lokadjis (army commando) as he never tired of telling interviewers.

THE MISINFORMATION campaign that usually precedes hostilities was started by warrior leader of ETYK Loizos Hadjicostis, another ex-lokadjis, who said that the board of the BoC was considering giving bonuses to its senior executives. This was also reported on the front page of Phil. It was a complete lie, but in a war situation of megatons everything is permitted to raise the morale and strengthen the fighting spirit of the troops.

 

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