DISY NUMBER two Averof Neophytou yesterday called on the government to launch a disciplinary investigation into former head of the president’s diplomatic office, Marios Ieronymides, regarding his involvement in a potential multimillion euro project to lease the old Larnaca airport.
Speaking to CyBC yesterday, he said Ieronymides’ involvement in negotiations between Hermes Airport, the state and potential Chinese investor Yang Qi either as a friend or state representative most likely violated public service laws.
Ieronymides submitted his resignation to President Demetris Christofias on Friday after press reports revealed that the former Cypriot ambassador to China was present when Chinese investor Yang Qi, who represents Cyprus-registered company Far Eastern Phoenix (FEP), signed an agreement with Hermes Airports on March 23, 2012, for the 19-year lease of the old airport.
He subsequently accompanied Yang Qi to an introductory meeting with Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzos to explore the option of extending the lease for a further 31 years with the government.
It later transpired that he participated in a third meeting on May 10, this time between FEP and the ad hoc committee set up to evaluate the project’s viability.
Complicating matters even further, Politis revealed that his wife, Tatiana Ieronymides, served as co-director of FEP for three years, resigning on March 17, 2012, just six days before the signing of the agreement with Hermes.
The government said it was caught unaware by the revelation of Ieronymides’ presence in the negotiations and his wife’s role in the company.
Ieronymides acknowledged that it was probably wrong of him to be present at those meetings, but maintained that he did nothing wrong. He said he was doing his best to encourage Chinese investment in Cyprus, and only acted in his capacity as a “friend” to Yang Qi.
Neophytou argued that while Ieronymides has resigned as head of the president’s diplomatic office, he was still a diplomat who would return to work at the foreign ministry.
He called on Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis to launch a disciplinary investigation against him.
Acting government spokesman Christos Christofides said the government is not against launching an investigation against Ieronymides and taking other steps if deemed necessary.
However, Christofides accused the opposition deputy of purposefully trying to confuse two separate issues: Ieronymides’ behaviour for which the latter has already publicly admitted he acted wrongly, and the government’s handling of the negotiations.
Meanwhile, representative of the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) Christodoulos Angastiniotis yesterday clarified that Yang Qi has been providing services to CIPA since February 2011, for a retainer fee of €1,000 a month, to help organise investment conferences in China, attract investors to the island, and encourage residential property sales.
He said CIPA was satisfied so far with the services offered by the Chinese businessman, noting that he has brought many Chinese businessmen to Cyprus, resulting in an increase in sales of residential properties.