THE cabinet yesterday decided to launch an investigation into the involvement of the head of President Demetris Christofias’ diplomatic office in a potential multimillion euro Chinese investment at the old Larnaca airport as the public service commission (PSC) officially terminated Marios Ieronymides’ posting at the Presidential Palace.
Following a cabinet meeting at Christofias’ holiday home at the village of Kellaki, it was announced that the foreign minister would appoint an investigating officer to look into the affair.
The name of the officer, who must be a ministry permanent secretary, is expected to be known next week.
Earlier yesterday, the PSC said it had decided to terminate the posting in accordance with the relevant provisions of existing public service legislation.
Ieronymides, Cyprus’ former ambassador to China, handed in his resignation last Friday, after daily Politis reported that he had accompanied Chinese investor Yang Qi - sole shareholder of Far Eastern Phoenix (FEP) - at a signing ceremony with airports operator Hermes on March 23, 2012, of the 19-year lease of the old airport.
He also escorted Yang Qi to two other high-level meetings with Cypriot officials.
The paper said his wife, Tatiana Ieronymides, served as co-director of FEP for three years, resigning on March 17, 2012, six days before the signing.
The government said it was caught unawares by the revelations.
While Ieronymides claimed no wrongdoing, he acknowledged that his presence at the meetings was not appropriate and submitted his resignation.
However, as a civil servant, the formal method for removing him as director of the president’s diplomatic office is through a decision by the PSC, duly taken yesterday.
Ieronymides will return to the foreign ministry for work.
Last week, DISY number two Averof Neophytou called on the government to launch a disciplinary inquiry into the Cypriot diplomat to clarify his involvement in the proposed project.
Meanwhile, ruling AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou yesterday told state radio that Ieronymides’ presence at those three meetings went beyond the call of duty and was “unacceptable and unethical”. He added to those voices calling for an investigation to clear up the matter.
He attempted to put distance between the diplomat and Christofias, saying he had no doubt that Ieronymides was not acting on the instructions of the president.
“These matters can be cleared up in a very simple manner through a process of investigation,” said Kyprianou.
The AKEL leader berated those rushing to criticise Ieronymides and the president before knowing all the facts, saying these critics were trying to harm investment prospects for the country and the government’s economic policy ahead of next February’s presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Politis yesterday ran an article listing the five Christofias-appointed officials linked with alleged scandals in the last four years.
The first top official to step down under the Christofias government was the former director of the office of the president, Vasos Georgiou, who resigned after private TV station Antenna reported that his office allegedly sought favourable treatment for six National Guardsmen in July 2010.
In October 2010, a Politis article forced deputy attorney-general Akis Papasavvas to return €17,000 to the state after claiming the money from the health ministry for teeth implants received in the private sector.
In May 2011, the Supreme Court annulled the 2008 appointment by cabinet of Costakis Christoforou as head of the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC), citing faults in the hiring procedure.
Politis writes that the presidential palace had plans to re-appoint him following the proper procedures but gave up on them when Politis raised questions regarding his academic credentials.
In June 2011, former head of Cyprus’ EU Presidency Secretariat Andreas Moleskis resigned over questionable hiring practices in June 2011 after Politis revealed he had hired his daughter’s 29-year-old boyfriend for an EU presidency job on a salary of €119,000.