ALITHIA: “Mockery” Reporting on the spat between the government and the grape growers, the daily claimed that Agriculture Minister Timis Efthymiou remained exposed since he had failed to stick to his public commitment to publish all correspondence that would prove he took all necessary action with the European Union to support the grape growers. The minister was challenged by DISY deputy Christos Pourgourides to publish the documents.
HARAVGHI: “Our right” AKEL’s mouthpiece yesterday slammed Attorney-general Solon Nikitas for criticising the party’s stance in the case regarding Health Minister Dina Akkelidou allegedly intervening in the course of justice. Quoting party spokesman Andros Kyprianou, the daily said it was AKEL’s right to express its view wherever necessary. Kyprianou also pointed out that Nikitas should respect AKEL’s right in the same way the party respected his.
SIMERINI: “UN: unacceptable” The daily reported that the government appeared annoyed with UNFICYP over their alleged decision to let a group of Turkish Cypriots cross into the government-controlled areas through an unauthorised point. Simerini said the UN commander had apologised for the incident while the foreign ministry planned to lodge a complaint to the UN. Investigations are under way by the police and the military to determine the circumstances under which the event took place.
MACHI: “Party intervention in course of justice” Reporting on the ongoing spat between AKEL and the Attorney-general, the daily suggested that the communist party’s reaction was an intervention in the course of justice. DISY deputy Ionas Nicolaou managed to table the issue for discussion before the House Legal Affairs Committee, while the European Democracy party demanded the minister’s immediate resignation.
POLITIS: “Operation cover-up” The daily claimed yesterday that certain circles were trying to put a lid on a report regarding the findings of an investigation into the 1999 stock market fiasco, which saw thousands of small investors lose their life savings in bubble shares. The efforts intensified in recent days, when it transpired that prominent names were going to be included in the report, including brokers, lawyers, accountants and politicians.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “Casus belli for Dina” Reporting on the issue concerning Health Minister Dina Akkelidou, the daily commented that it had turned into a full-blown war between AKEL and the Attorney-general, who had ordered a criminal investigation against her. Meanwhile, the government has chosen to keep its distance from the affair, whose outcome depends greatly on the findings of the investigation, the daily said.
