PHILELEFTHEROS “Reduced taxes in EU, increase in prices in Cyprus” Due to the price of sugar and rice in Cyprus the EU has taken measures to reduce import tax by up to 30 per cent on these products. At some supermarkets, prices have soared in the last two weeks resulting in sugar costing 65 cents per kilo while rice has reached £1.20 per kilo. At the same time, the increase in sugar prices has created anger in bakeries and confectionaries, as they have to buy their ingredients at astronomical prices.
POLITIS “Promoting harmonisation of the North” The European Commission wants to harmonise the north with EU directives. The idea was discussed at the beginning of negotiations on the Cyprus problem, but the mention of it now troubles the government. The government has filed a suggestion on how this should be done, under certain intentions that could help solve the Cyprus problem rather than hinder it. The matter of ports and airports in the North is also under discussion.
MACHI “Cypriots seek detox in Kirgizistan” Cypriots are seeking detoxification at a small clinic in Kirgizistan in order to break free of their drug addiction. The clinic has 35 rooms and is run by a former drug addict who has managed to treat 15,000 adults – 80 per cent of whom have managed to stay clean despite the fact that in Kirgizistan a dose of heroin or cocaine costs less than two dollars. Nazaraliev uses a cocktail of 100 medicines and herbs and with a mixture of hypnosis therapy.
HARAVGHI “AKEL rallying round” AKEL yesterday announced their six candidates for the euro elections. Adamos Adamou, Despina Bembedelis, Neoklis Silikiotis, Kyriacos Triantafyllides, George Hadjigeorgiou and Titos Christofides. Yesterday the party’s committee met and approved the six out of the 19 candidates interested. The General Secretary of AKEL expressed his certainty that the history of AKEL would once again be appreciated by society.
ALITHIA “Blair opens Tymbou-ports” The consequences of the resounding ‘no’ by the Greek Cypriots in the referendum and the growing acceptance of the Turkish Cypriots have begun to come to light. British Prime Minister Tony Blair clearly said that the embargoes would be lifted. The airports and the ports would be open to trade. Blair also congratulated the Turkish Cypriots and said the Greek Cypriots were wrong to reject the plan.
SIMERINI “Matsis: respect 76 per cent of the nation” Nicos Anastassiades and Yiannakis Matsis yesterday battled it out on air. On the lunchtime programme on Ant1, Matsis asked Anastassiades to respect DISY’s votes and to adapt to the politics on the Cyprus problem, based on what the nation had decided in the referendum.
