Greek Press

PHILELEFTHEROS: “Tassos furious over state of National Health Plan” In its lead story, the paper cited sources saying that President Papadopoulos was “extremely concerned” about the lack of progress in the development of a National Health Plan. The President has reportedly instructed acting Health Minister Andreas Christou to prioritise this issue, in a bid to achieve some tangible results within the first quarter of the year.

ALITHIA: “Best-man relationship changes Turkish perceptions” Noting that the best-man relationship between Turkish and Greek leaders Tayyip Erdogan and Constantinos Karamanlis is an indication of changing times, the daily said that, for the first time in 82 years, Ankara no longer considers Greece as one of its major threats abroad. Instead, the Turkish government, now in a European orbit, views Athens as one of its most important partners.

THARROS: “Second doctors mission to Sri Lanka” A second delegation of Cypriot volunteer doctors flew to Sri Lanka on Sunday to assist the stricken population and carry some 2.5 tonnes of relief aid. The mission would be returning to Cyprus on January 6, while other teams would be heading out to south-east Asia in coming days.

POLITIS: “Hospital in terminal condition” The paper focused on progress in new Nicosia general hospital, claiming that some £80 million invested are not being put to use. The interest payments on this capital amount to £4 million a year, while medical equipment worth £8 million is just sitting around.

SIMERINI: “Jams at 10 points” The traffic problem in Nicosia cannot be resolved with quick-fix measures, a study has revealed. The study, carried out back in 2002, never saw the light of day and was forgotten over time, as traffic jams in the capital keep worsening.

HARAVGHI: “Irreconcilable with the occupation” The communist party mouthpiece quoted from an interview with AKEL boss Demetris Christofias, who appeared cautiously optimistic about the future of the Cyprus problem. In the interview, Christofias stressed that Greek Cypriots would never reconcile themselves with the occupation, adding however that the struggle for a solution should go on.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.