‘Far-right groups must be banned’

2009-12-20

AN AD HOC co-ordinating committee of organisations opposed to far-right and racist activity will shortly be calling for the National People’s Front (ELAM) to be banned, Doros Polycarpou, the director of KISA (Action for Equality, Support and Antiracism) said yesterday.

Polycarpou said the ban will be called for on the grounds that ELAM “has open links with fascist groups at the broader European level” and “incites racial hatred by dishonestly linking immigration to local unemployment”.

“Of course, we’ve had neo-fascists and extreme right-wingers in Cyprus before, but what’s new is that this group has electoral aspirations, and is seeking formal political representation,” he said.

Our View: Our rhetoric could become a self-fulfilling prophecy

2009-12-20

 

FEW GREEK Cypriots seem to believe in the likelihood of a solution emerging from the current talks, according to a survey published this week, with 61 per cent of those asked saying they had no hope the process would deliver a settlement. At the same time, a large majority – 69 per cent – would like to see a successful outcome leading to a comprehensive settlement.

It’s a paradoxical situation, but one that should in no way surprise us, reflecting as it does the mantra of Cypriot political life: a constantly repeated desire for a solution wrapped in a monologue of mistrust for the partner we claim to want to coax back into a common future.

Tales from the Coffeeshop: Wanted – something to moan about over Christmas

2009-12-20

IN THE END the intensive, January, Cyprob meetings will not be taking place at the respective dachas of the two comrade leaders in Kellaki and Kyrenia, which is unfair and inconsiderate.

Now, Omirou, Garoyian, Syllouris, Perdikis and the rest of the bash-patriotic, crazy gang will have nothing definite to feel outraged about during the Christmas holidays. There is a danger that no smoke would come out of their ears when they wake up on Christmas Day, something you would not wish on your worst enemy.

Syrian woman dies on airport airbridge

2009-12-20

A SYRIAN woman, Shaha Rashid, 44, died on a Larnaca airport airbridge late on Friday, seconds before she was to board a flight to Damascus with her two teenage children.

Rashid, who was suffering the last stages of stomach cancer arrived at the airport in a wheelchair with her children aged 14 and 15. Her wish had been to spend her last days in her own country with her family and friends.

Rashid fell unconscious on the airbridge connecting the airplane to the terminal and was already dead by the time medical services managed to get to her.

She was declared officially dead at the emergency department at Larnaca Hospital where she was transferred after being initially taken to the airport’s medical centre.

‘Remember biodiversity in climate policies’

2009-12-20

BIRDLIFE Cyprus has warned that Cyprus faces a bleak climate future of more droughts and heat waves.

“Emission cuts are vital, no question, but there is a danger in the discussion about reducing CO2 emissions that we forget the crucial role biodiversity conservation has to play in limiting climate change and ensuring the ecosystems we are dependent on can adapt to it,” said BirdLife Cyprus Executive Director, Dr Clairie Papazoglou.

Noisy parrot makes it all the way to the mayor’s office

2009-12-20

 

A SMALL parrot has been causing havoc in central Paphos with neighbours complaining that he makes too much noise and is disturbing the peace.

According to reports, the problem has been ongoing since August when complaints against the bird were first made to Paphos municipality.

In October, municipality staff suggested taking legal action against the bird’s owner to have it removed from the premises. But no legal steps were taken and as a result, neighbours still complain that the bird is too rowdy.

The wonders of Qatar

2009-12-20

FREE FOOD, good coffee and a Henna tattoo, also for free.  The Qatari exhibition currently running at the International State Fair in Nicosia is open from 10am – 10pm to the general public with the aim being to encourage cross-cultural understanding.

The exhibition is held to coincide with National Day, the Qatari holiday which celebrates the accession to the throne of Shaikh Jasim, the ruler who secured Qatari independence from the Ottoman Empire.

President Demetris Christofias, who attended the exhibition yesterday, expressed the gratitude of the Republic of Cyprus to Qatar`s leadership for choosing Cyprus as the hosting-county of the first international exhibition about Qatar.

Deal on bus passenger’ rights

2009-12-20

EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council has reached a political agreement on a regulation regarding bus and coach passenger rights. Cyprus was represented at the Council by Minister of Communication and Works Nicos Nicolaides, who welcomed the agreement.

The regulation includes rules on the transport operator’s responsibility for death or injury of passengers and the right to information and assistance for passengers in the event of cancellations or severe delays. In addition, the regulation establishes the right to information and assistance for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility.

We’re Greeks, and we’re rich

2009-12-20

 

Profiles of the richest Greeks around the world are now gracing the pages of a brand new magazine shedding light on the crème de la crème of the Greek and Greek Cypriot community worldwide.

Many will be familiar with the first edition of the Greek Rich List that hit the shelves in 2007 featuring Britain’s top 50 Greek and Greek Cypriot millionaires. The updated list now boasts over 300 profiles from around the world.

“The concept of our magazine is to celebrate and document entrepreneurial stories; to inspire young entrepreneurs and promote Greek culture and heritage,” says publisher of the Greek Rich List, Savvas Pavlou.

Let us be useful

2009-12-20

TORN between longing for what they left behind in their homeland, and gratitude at not being sent back home, refugees in Cyprus are quietly trying to rebuild their lives here.

Most ultimately want to return home, but conditions in their homelands make this impossible.

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.