SIMERINI: “Papadopoulos-Simitis tele-conference via Hellas Sat”. Communication Minister Kikis Kazamias flew to Athens on Sunday in order to appear at a tele-conference between President Tassos Papadopoulos and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis. The conference was held yesterday at 1.35pm through the Greco-Cypriot satellite Hellas Sat. Kazamias said the creation of Hellas Sat was very important as it included the two countries in a group of 20 space countries.
ALITHIA: “Nikiforos postponement”. The Defence Ministry is examining the possibility of changing the date of the upcoming Nikiforos military exercise because the government wants to avoid giving Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash pre-election campaign advantages. The exercise will not take place in October as originally planned, but instead will be rescheduled for a later date. When asked on the matter President Tassos Papadopoulos said he had not yet been informed about the exercise.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “To-ing and fro-ing to the occupied areas has thinned”. Fewer Greek Cypriots have been crossing over to the occupied areas over the past two weeks, including people visiting the casinos. In the past long queues of cars waited to cross the Green Line, whereas now a car crosses every five minutes. Police said the reduction in numbers was down to frequent arrests by Turkish Cypriot authorities, Denktash’s refusal to operate the Rizokarpasso gymnasium and refugees’ stress of being able to see their old homes, but not being allowed to live in them.
THARROS: “Blood donors but no bank”. Recent blood donation pleas led several donors to show up to donate blood at Nicosia general hospital on Sunday. However, all they found was an empty room. According to the hospital’s manager, this was because the appeal concerned a blood drive last Monday and anyone wishing to give blood outside set campaigns had to do so during the blood bank’s working hours on Monday to Friday.
POLITIS: “They attacked police officers”. A group of youths attacked three police officers during the early hours of Sunday morning causing them actual bodily harm. The incident took place at around 5.15am in Limassol in the Yermasoyia district when police went to investigate reports of a scuffle outside a nightclub. Five youths attacked the officers, three of whom were injured. All five boys, aged 17 to 20, were arrested and remanded in police custody.
HARAVGHI: “Rauf Denktash’s bumpy landing”. The helicopter carrying Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to a town in Turkey was forced to carry out an emergency landing. Denktash was unharmed. According to the paper’s sources, during the flight the helicopter developed technical problems and was forced to land in Riza. Denktash disembarked and was taken by car to his destination.
