POLITIS: “Tassos admits secret meetings”. Four months after the April 24 referendum and after numerous media reports, the government admitted that President Tassos Papadopoulos had secret meetings with Serdar Denktash and ‘communications minister’ Omer Kalionzou in early April. The delayed confession raises a number of important questions and also raises the issue of political order.
ALITHIA: “Akkelidou interferes with courts”. Health Minister Dina Akkelidou’s interference in the work of the court is unprecedented in Cyprus and should lead to her resignation or dismissal. In a written letter marked ‘confidential’, the minister called on a Larnaca district court judge not to impose a jail sentence on 35-year-old Cleanthis Petrides from Larnaca, who is charged with drug use and trafficking.
HARAVGHI: “Grape growers rejoice” After a marathon session of negotiations and contacts, the grape growers’ saga is finally reaching its end with a solution in sight. Negotiations between the government and Brussels last week produced the desired result. Specifically, the government will provide support to the wine producers with the approval of the EU and they in turn have agreed to take delivery of all of this year’s winemaking grape production.
MACHI: “Odd transfer of presidential guard”. The transfer of the head and deputy head of the presidential guard raised eyebrows in police circles since this is the first time in history that this happens before the end of a president’s term in office. The presidential palace remains tight-lipped about the affair. The former heads of the presidential guard left their posts on Monday without bidding farewell to their colleagues nor discussing the reasons for their transfer.
SIMERINI: “They fight me over the NO vote” Commerce Minister George Lillikas told the paper in an interview that certain people were using him as a target because of his support for the ‘no’ vote in the April 24 referendum. In a message to his detractors, Lillikas said the orchestrated attacks would not make him change his mind. The minister highlighted that the criticism against him was concerted and organised.
PHILELFTHEROS: “Heads roll in Greece” All Chinook helicopters were grounded from Monday after orders from the manufacturer Boeing following the fatal helicopter crash into the sea off Mount Athos, killing 17 people aboard. It was finally confirmed that the helicopter had had problems with its blades about a year and a half ago. The tragedy has shaken the military and political leadership in Greece.
