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Cyprus news updated daily courtesy of the Cyprus Mail Online.

Cyprus Mail

Britain grants bail to fugitive Nadir
by Simon Bahceli
31 Jul 2010 at 3:24am
Author:  Simon Bahceli

FUGITIVE Turkish Cypriot tycoon Asil Nadir was granted bail by a London court yesterday providing he returns to Britain to face fraud charges relating to the collapse of his Polly Peck empire almost 20 years ago.

Nadir, 69, a Conservative Party donor, fled to northern Cyprus, which has no extradition treaty with Britain, in 1993 to avoid a 34 million pound fraud trial.

The Serious Fraud Office, which is investigating the case, said he remained charged with 66 counts of theft.

Nadir, who denies any wrongdoing, has said he would stand trial to clear his name if he was not taken into custody. Granting bail, a judge at London's Old Bailey court said he hoped the move would end the "legal limbo" in the case.

The judge quashed an arrest warrant for him and imposed 10 bail conditions, the Press Association reported. These included a requirement for Nadir to be at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on September 3.

He must also deposit 250,000 pounds with the court as a security before returning, give notice of his flight, submit to electronic tagging and surrender travel documents.

His Polly Peck empire included business interests as diverse as electronics and hotels. Before its collapse the firm was one of the fastest growing on the London stock market in the 1980s.

Justice Bean said: “I think it is desirable that the legal limbo as to Mr Nadir’s bail status should be brought to an end and he should be given the opportunity to submit to the jurisdiction of this court by attending in person.”

Nadir will have to apply for a British passport before he can travel, the court heard.

Responding to the news Nadir told The Times: “It’s good news. It’s a very good first step. I’m more hopeful that we’ll have some fair play than I have been in the last 20 years.”

Asked if he would return to the country for the September 3 trial he said: “Obviously. I’ve been battling for this for all these years. It’s what I’ve been fighting for.”

Nadir escaped to his native Cyprus in 1993 as he was about to go to trial on 66 charges of false accounting and theft from his once phenomenally successful Polly Peck business empire.

In doing so, he forfeited 3.5 million pounds bail money but found refuge in the north.

A source close to Nadir told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that Nadir had made the application for bail because of his “intense desire to clear his name”.

“He wants to go to England with his passport and bail paper in his hand,” the source said, adding: “How long can someone wait for justice? Do you think an injustice goes away with the years? It doesn’t”.

According to the same source, the 69 year-old Nadir is currently in “very good health” and “has the energy to deal with this”.

“He’s got plans. He’s not stopped thinking about business. His whole life was business. He lives to work”.

Nadir, who has always maintained his innocence in the handling of Polly Peck, has since lived as a virtual recluse in his Lapithos home, running a dwindling number of business interests in the north of Cyprus and Turkey. Most notable of his remaining assets is the Kibris media group, which includes a daily newspaper, TV and radio channels. Kibris is the mostly widely read publication coming out of the north, and has a tangible influence on public opinion.

Before his arrest in 1991, Nadir’s Polly Peck, which traded in just about everything from fruit to electronics, the Lefka-born Turkish Cypriot had been named by the Sunday Times as Britain’s 36th richest man. Those who bought shares in Polly Peck during the eighties saw their value rise to up to 1,000 times their purchase value. His downfall was however even swifter than his phenomenal rise to riches.

Nadir has long expressed a wish to return to the UK “to clear his name”. He has also been quoted as saying that he intensely missed Britain. He has four sons who live there.  However, our source said Nadir’s desire to return to the UK was primarily motivated by his desire to clear his name.

“Life is good here, but you cannot forgive and forget,” the source said.

At the Old Bailey yesterday, Nadir’s lawyer Alison Hill outlined to Justice Bean the reasons why the Turkish Cypriot businessman should be allowed to return to the UK for trial without being held in custody.

As things stood before yesterday, Nadir would have been arrested and jailed if he had returned to the UK. Hill is believed to have spent the past weeks in Cyprus working with Nadir on his retrial plan. A similar application by Nadir is 2001 was thrown out by the court. However, it is believed that this time the Serious Fraud Squad (SFO), the body that accused him of theft and false accounting in 1991, did not oppose the request.

Nadir has recently made something of a recovery in north Cyprus’ business community by winning a contract to run cargo handling for the north’s second airport at Lefkonico [Gecitkale]. While Lefkonico currently handles very little cargo, the former tycoon is likely eyeing the EU’s direct trade regulation, which is believed on line for ratification by the EU later this year. This would open up the breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet to trade with the European bloc, in which case the Nadir contract could prove lucrative.


Our View: Leaders’ dinner a case of much ado about nothing
31 Jul 2010 at 3:23am

IT WAS inevitable that political meaning would have been read into the dinner at Dervis Eroglu’s house in Nicosia. It was also inevitable that the meaning extracted from the dinner would be negative.

Before President Christofias had even crossed to the north of Nicosia for his social engagement, EDEK issued an announcement expressing “disagreement with the President’s acceptance of Dervis Eroglu’s invitation to dinner in occupied Nicosia.” It was “inconceivable for the President of the Republic to go to the occupied territories and have contacts under the bayonets of the occupier,” the party said.

From the pictures shown on television we did not see any soldiers holding guns with bayonets outside Eroglu’s house when Mr and Mrs Christofias arrived for the dinner. Perhaps we did not see any soldiers because they were in the dining room, pointing their bayoneted guns at the guests, thus making sure they ate all their vegetables. Even if this were the case, how did EDEK know about it, the morning before the dinner?

We apologise for being facetious, but when a party uses poetic language there is always the danger that it will be taken literally. At least the EUROKO general secretary, Rikkos Erotokritou, avoided resorting to metaphors when castigating Christofias for attending the dinner. His presence in the north “gave the Turkish side the ability to create arguments to secure tiny openings for recognition of the pseudostate.”

The refugee organisation Adouloti Kerynia, identified even bigger dangers. The dinner was “a staged political act for the further de-recognition of the Cyprus Republic, which the president was dragged into.” In effect, the organisers of the dinner were trying to achieve the objectives of the Annan plan – “the dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus and the creation of the new Cyprus of two states.”

Another danger was identified by Phileleftheros chief columnist. “The significance attached to these spectacular events by the international factor should make us more careful.” And the ‘international factor’ must have noticed, like the columnist, that “the flag of the Republic had disappeared from the car of the president for the visit to the north.” Was the absence of “our symbols” without significance, he asked.

Even the Secretary-General’s special envoy Alexander Downer appears to have acquired the knack of reading political meaning into everything. At least his interpretation of the event was not negative. His dinner experience gave him hope for the future of Cyprus, he said. He called on all Cypriots to “take some heart from the positive atmosphere” as it was “a reminder that in Cyprus you have a tragic past, but an encouraging future.”

We will refrain from reading any significance into Wednesday night’s dinner, because we do not think there was any.


Saudi billionaire’s yacht too big for Latchi harbour
by James Short
31 Jul 2010 at 3:22am
Author:  James Short

A SAUDI Arabian royal billionaire is currently holidaying in Latchi, with police taking special measures to protect him and his entourage.

Prince Al Waleed bin Talal - 19th richest man in the world, is visiting Cyprus on his 90-metre long luxury yacht, which is far too large for Latchi’s tiny marina to accommodate.

Local police confirmed that they are aware of the royal visit and have taken precautions to safeguard him. Speaking last night, a representative for Latchi police said: “Of course we are protecting him. We don’t let people go too close to him, He is swimming with his partner at the moment.”

The spokesman also confirmed that police boats are being used to cordon off the area around the yacht, which has been just offshore since Wednesday night, according to Phileleftheros.

A local business owner told the Cyprus Mail: “A special jetty had to be built on the beach; he’s using a 32-foot (10-metre) boat to get to and from the yacht, as well as a helicopter.” He also verified that “the police are watching, and a lot of private security. They’re stopping anyone from going near the boat.”

The business owner also spoke of the need for the government to prepare Cyprus to cope with such high end, large scale tourism. “We should have marina facilities available for these huge yachts – it’s a great thing for Cyprus, especially now.”

Rumours published in Phileleftheros that Prince Al Waleed, 55, is occupying the Anassa Hotel remain unconfirmed, with hotel management declining to speak on the matter. An anonymous Latchi resident said he believed the Prince and his entourage to be staying in the hotel - reserving 30-35 rooms and suites – and using their private helicopter to commute from the yacht. He reportedly has an entourage of 40 people with him to celebrate his birthday, which was in March.

It is believed that the prince has requested his visit to be as low key as possible, wanting to visit Cyprus unofficially as a tourist. No contact is thought to have been made between his representatives and officials, though there is a possibility unofficial contact has been made with Cypriot high society, amid rumours he is set to invest in the tourism industry on the island.


Day out in Larnaca could cost you €114.97
by Sama Meibar
31 Jul 2010 at 3:21am
Author:  Sama Meibar

LARNACA has the most expensive coffee out of 12 holiday destinations popular with British tourists, a recent study has found.

According to the study carried out by the UK Post Office, a regular tourist would spend around €114.97 for a day in Larnaca.

Coffee in Larnaca cost €3.24 compared with Portugal at the other end of the spectrum at €0.75.

France was not far behind, but still cheaper than Cyprus with a cup of coffee costing €2.15 whereas Italy charged just a little more than Portugal with €0.92.

Apart from coffee, the day’s buys included beer, soft drinks, sunscreen, ice cream, a sun bed, bucket and spade, a beach towel, a lilo, jelly shoes and a pedal boat for an hour.

Overall, Cyprus was fifth cheapest among 12 countries.

The cheapest was Portugal at €82.38 per day and the most expensive was Italy at €168.93.

Among the tourist attractions the survey checked out was hiring a pedal boat for an hour. Cyprus came in most expensive at €14 while Portugal was charging less than half, at €6.50.

Laying on a beach on a sun bed for half a day finds Cyprus looking good alongside Spain at €2.15 whereas Italy charged €14.

However, things didn’t look good for Cyprus when the survey went to water parks.

It showed that tickets for a family of two adults and two children, cost around €107.91.

Moving on from fun in the water and on to family attractions, France topped the list with an absolutely free attraction at Mont Saint-Michel and Cyprus came in seventh charging €32.35 for a family to go on a glass bottom boat cruise.

A family meal was another important category, and Cyprus came fourt, charging €50.65 for a two adults and two children which showed a 20 percent decrease from 2009.

Greece’s prices had dropped 17 percent and although Italy’s fell by 3.0 percent, they still came in most expensive with a meal costing €100.

Hiring a car that uses Unleaded95 petrol for three days costs approximately €183.34 in Cyprus - the seventh cheapest out of 20 countries.

The cheapest country was the USA and the most expensive was Norway at €339.

A diesel car however, would cost around €181 in Cyprus and came halfway down the list. The cheapest country for diesel was Portugal whilst France was the most expensive.


Be an ‘ambassador for tourism’ pleads CTO
by James Short
31 Jul 2010 at 3:20am
Author:  James Short

THE CYPRUS Tourism Organisation (CTO) has established a new programme aimed at promoting Cyprus as a destination for business conference tourism.

‘Ambassadors in Tourism’ is asking for Cypriot or foreign volunteers who travel regularly to international and regional conferences to champion the virtues of Cyprus whilst abroad, encouraging organisations to locate future events here on the island.

The CTO wish to take advantage of Cyprus’ existing attractions for tourists - along with its geographical location - to convince multinational corporations to visit. Their website portrays Cyprus as more than “a dot on the map”, with excellent and convenient transport links from Africa, the Middle East and the rest of Europe. They also promote the infrastructure already in place here such as hotels and conference rooms, complimented by the “beautiful weather throughout the year with spectacular views of azure waters.”

Though they are hailing ‘Ambassadors in Tourism’ as “the most innovative programme the CTO has ever led”, lines of communication between the CTO and their volunteers seem to be experiencing teething problems. Voluntary ambassador and Head of Life and Health Sciences at Nicosia University Dr. Edna Yamasaki told the Cyprus Mail: “I have no idea what my role is.”

A statement from the CTO specified that they wish to target amongst others academic, medical, governmental, entrepreneurial and ministerial conferences, as well as societies, sports and art associations. They are appealing to patriotic Cypriots to “show their love for their motherland” by becoming an ambassador in tourism and helping to boost the industry.

Those wishing to participate – from any profession or nationality - must complete an online ‘statement of interest’ in time for the ambassadorial opening ceremony on October 12. Further details on volunteering can be found at www.cyprustourismambassadors.com.


Garoyian faces down DIKO dissenters
by Charles Charalambous
31 Jul 2010 at 3:20am
Author:  Charles Charalambous

DIKO leader Marios Garoyian won the latest round last night in his ongoing struggle to rein in those senior members of his party who regularly and very publicly disagree with President Demetris Christofias policies, especially regarding the Cyprus problem and the economy.

Party spokesman Fotis Fotiou said last night that Garoyian used a five-hour meeting of DIKO’s Executive Bureau and parliamentary group yesterday to insist that government partner DIKO must speak with “a single political voice in order to restore the party’s credibility and image”.

Fotiou said that as part of a discussion that had begun “in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding”, Garoyian had proposed that all of DIKO’s collective bodies will be convened in September in order to finally resolve the issue, “but we should realise that the primary duty of all members is to behave maturely, like a serious political force, especially in these crucial times.”

Fotiou said that in his own view, DIKO has a crucial part to play, especially regarding the Cyprus issue, but “the current situation and the image we are projecting right now does us no credit”.

“We must set aside confrontations, we must forget introversion, but above all we must have a single political voice and respect for the decisions of the party’s collective bodies”, he added.

Yesterday’s meeting, which began at around 4.30pm, spent the first few hours thrashing out a common position on the Christofias’ latest proposals for the ongoing talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, ahead of the next meeting of the National Council on Tuesday, August 3.

In a speech he made on July 15, the President outlined three elements to be addressed in the talks: the return of occupied Varosha in exchange for allowing the north to have direct trade with the EU under UN control; holding an international conference to deal with international agreements and treaties relating to Cyprus, including the Treaty of Guarantee, which allows Greece, Turkey and Britain to intervene militarily on the island; and linking the property issue (with its permutations of compensation, exchange and restitution) to the issues of territory and settlers from Turkey.

Fotiou said that after an in-depth discussion during which almost all Executive Bureau members had given their view, a proposal by Garoyian to treat these proposals “as the basis for us to collectively formulate a new assertive strategy in the National Council” was passed by a majority, with 18 votes in favour.

DIKO had no problem with the first element, Fotiou said, as “for the most part” it had already been the party’s position under the previous Papadopoulos presidency. However, he added, Garoyian had been mandated to seek clarification of certain “problematic” aspects at the next National Council meeting.

Fotiou said that “the crystal-clear view of the majority members of the Executive Bureau” regarding the second element was that “such an international conference was justified when all the aspects of the Cyprus problem are agreed, except for security matters.”

He emphasised that “only then would an international conference be justified, and that is DIKO’s unambiguous position”, which it will take up at the next National Council meeting.


Private university fees finally set
by George Psyllides
31 Jul 2010 at 3:19am
Author:  George Psyllides

THE government yesterday set the maximum increase in tuition fees charged by private universities to take effect in September 2011.

The order was published in yesterday’s government gazette and stipulates that any increase cannot be over 0.45 per cent of the already approved fees, Education Minister Andreas Demetriou said.

Under a law passed by parliament earlier this month, private universities will submit their proposed increases in tuition and other fees to the ministry, which will then decide whether the increases are justified.

In addition, the Education Minister has been authorised to issue a yearly cap on fee increases.

Under the new law, the maximum hike permissible can be no greater than 150 per cent of the rate of inflation of the previous fiscal year.

The minister said the law secured students’ right to know beforehand how much money would be needed for the duration of their studies.

The minister said an extensive dialogue took place with all the people involved before the law came to force and now everyone has to implement it.

Non compliance will cost the violator a €60,000 fine while repeat offenders could have their study programmes suspended.

“The sanctions are not a joke,” the minister said.

Demetriou said the aim was for private universities to evolve into non-profit organisations and a dialogue is currently underway to that end.

“We hope to reach an agreement for them to evolve into non-profit organisations,” the minister said.

He added that a similar adjustment regarding the fees of private secondary schools was also being examined.

At present, private universities charge around 9,000 euros a year for an undergraduate degree with increases each year of five per cent.

Private university owners have long claimed that state university students cost taxpayers more than double the cost of private tuition fees, arguing that it is unfair that private universities are asked to maintain the same standard with far less income.


Battle against trafficking ‘far from over’
by Stefanos Evripidou
31 Jul 2010 at 3:19am
Author:  Stefanos Evripidou

DESPITE SIGNIFICANT steps forward in the battle against trafficking in persons, the government could not remain complacent as there was still much to be done to “stamp out this crime”, said Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis yesterday.

Sylikiotis acknowledged that the battle against trafficking was far from over. “Despite the successes achieved in the last two years towards addressing the problem of trafficking in persons, we have not reached the end of the road, we have not yet managed to eradicate, stamp out this crime, which is why we will not remain complacent,” he said.

Speaking after a meeting of the Multidisciplinary Coordinating Group, responsible for human trafficking issues, Sylikiotis said the decision was taken to set up kiosks in all towns, distribute information pamphlets and hand out emergency cards at the island’s airports to raise awareness of the problems of trafficking in persons.

The group examined implementation of the National Action Plan for 2010 to 2012, approved by cabinet last April. During the meeting chaired by the minister, the group discussed the holding of an annual event on trafficking to mark European Day against Trafficking in Persons on October 18.

The decision was taken to set up kiosks in key points in all towns to distribute pamphlets raising awareness among the Cypriot public and foreign residents on the phenomenon of trafficking in persons.

“We also decided to issue cards with a telephone number that will operate on a 24-hour basis, as a first point of contact for information on people trafficking issues,” he said, adding the card “will be distributed at airports to foreign visitors”.

The minister noted that Cyprus was working towards reaching agreement on setting up an office of the International Organisation for Migration in Cyprus, dealing generally with issues of migration, and the return of victims to their homes.

Sylikiotis said the national action plan “contains realistic targets covering all aspects of the problem as well as specific actions that should be accomplished within specific timetables”. He added: “It is a useful and practical tool in our efforts to combat this heinous transnational organised crime which brutally offends human dignity.”

The new three-year plan “addresses issues of coordination, awareness-raising, prevention, victim detection and identification, victim protection and support, control and prosecution, data collection, training, international cooperation and evaluation”.

He argued that the government works beyond the action plan in its efforts to tackle trafficking in persons, which mainly comes in the form of sexual and labour exploitation. Sylikiotis referred specifically to “steps taken to modernise our legislation so as to be fully harmonised with European directives and international conventions, the ratification of Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Persons, the creation of a government-run shelter for victims, revision of the policy governing the entry and employment of foreign artistes and foreign domestic workers in Cyprus, and actions undertaken within the EU to promote and strengthen EU cooperation with third countries of origin.”

He added that “the significant steps we have taken over the past two years in the right direction have been recognised internationally and have led to Cyprus’ removal from the black list in which it was included”.

The minister argued this progress was reflected in the relevant European Commission working documents and most recently in a letter sent by the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, following his visit to Cyprus on June 10.

In the letter Hammarberg welcomed the “progressive measures” taken to combat trafficking in human beings, in particular the abolition of the “cabaret artist visa”, but added it was crucial for Cyprus to “step up efforts to eradicate this scourge totally”.

The Commissioner expressed concern that other types of work permits, such as the one for bar maids, might be used to circumvent the law.

“This illustrates the need to be vigilant against organised crime and ensure that no type of visa or working permit can be abused for such unlawful purposes as trafficking in human beings,” said Hammarberg.

Sylikiotis agreed with Hammarberg “that we must be vigilant to prevent the possible misuse of use of visas or employment permits for illegal purposes, and also we should intensify our cooperation with international bodies and other countries with experience in eradicating the link between demand for sex and trafficking in persons.”

The multidisciplinary coordinating group includes officials from the Interior Ministry which is the national coordinator, and relevant state services such as the Legal Service, Justice Ministry, police, Foreign Ministry, Labour Department, Social Welfare Services, Health Ministry, Education Ministry, Migration Department, Asylum Service, National Body for the Rights of Women, as well as two non-governmental organisations (Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies and STIGMA).


EU finances closure of biggest waste dump in the north
31 Jul 2010 at 3:18am

THE EUROPEAN Commission is providing over €6 million in funding to close the largest waste dumpsite in the northern part of Cyprus near occupied Dikomo.

A statement from the Commission said closure works started on July 26. Works will be carried out by the French company - Le Floch Depollut?on and are to be completed within 21 months.

Quality of works is supervised by a consortium led by the specialised German company - C&E–Consulting und Engineering GmbH. As a first step of closure works, the contractor will put in place the necessary safety and security measures on site. The ground breaking ceremony will take place in September 2010.

Mixed communal, medical and hazardous wastes have been brought to the dumpsite for nearly 40 years. The existing dumpsite was not constructed and managed to protect ground waters, avoid fires, and collect landfill gasses. This dumpsite is today one of the major environmental hot-spots in Cyprus.

Closure of this dumpsite will be done in full compliance with EU environmental, health and safety standards, the Commission said.

The project is only one of the measures funded by the EU in the northern part of Cyprus to ensure modern solid waste management.

“Upgrading of solid waste management to EU standards requires time, support and active involvement from the general public. The European Commission calls for a common effort in making the island cleaner for current and future generations,” said the Commission.

EU funding for the rehabilitation works of the dumpsite amounts to € 6.3 million. The overall EU contribution to improved waste management practices in line with EU standards amounts to €19.5 million.

This project is funded by the EU under the €259 million Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community.


Event in memory of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou
by Andria Takkidou
31 Jul 2010 at 3:17am
Author:  Andria Takkidou

AN EVENT has been organised to mark the 14th anniversary of the murder of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou.

Isaac, 25, was beaten to death by a Turkish mob during an anti-occupation demonstration in the buffer zone in Dhekelia on August 11, 1996, which was organised by bikers.

Three days later, immediately after Isaac’s funeral in Paralimni, his cousin Solomou, 26, was shot in the neck as he climbed a flagpole in the same area to remove a Turkish flag.

On Sunday August 8 a group of young bikers wishing to preserve the memory of Isaac and Solomou, are organising an event in Paralimni.

The bikers will visit Paralimni cemetery where Isaac and Solomou are buried. This will include speeches, and the presentation of plaques to Isaac’s and Solomou’s parents. This will be followed by a concert.

Participants are required to wear a helmet and the t-shirts given to them at the meeting points.

The organisation made it clear it has nothing to do with political parties, football teams or any other organisations therefore participants are asked not to wear any other t-shirts with logos.

The invitation is open to the public as long as they follow the police’s guidelines, an announcement said.

The meeting points and times for bikers are: Nicosia- Oktagono Kiosk 7.30am, Limasol- Orphanides 7.30am, Larnaca- Rizoelia roundabout 8am and Famagusta- - Ayia Napa roundabout 8.30am.



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