THE LATEST package of austerity measures announced by Greece’s finance minister on Sunday will condemn the country to at least two more years of recession and many more years of high unemployment. And this is the optimistic forecast which sees Greece returning to a positive growth path again in 2012. This is assuming the Greek government does not default on its loan repayments in the meantime, which remains a distinct possibility given the scale of its debt.

A TEAM of international bird conservationists yesterday described how they were savagely beaten up during an anti-poaching operation in Paralimni at the weekend.

Members of the German-based Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), had just dismantled scores of illegal lime sticks when they were brutally assaulted by three men.

CABS general secretary Alex Heyd, with blood seeping from a gash on his head and his face swollen, said his members feared for their safety when they were set upon by the men who pelted them with stones.

THE RESUMPTION of peace talks between the two sides will likely take place on May 26 and start from where they left off, according to reports yesterday.

UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer met with new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu yesterday for an hour, during which Eroglu reportedly agreed to the Australian diplomat’s proposal for direct talks to restart at the end of the month. This will be the first official meeting between President Demetris Christofias and Eroglu since the latter replaced Mehmet Ali Talat last month.

According to Today’s Zaman, Eroglu told reporters after the meeting that the negotiations in Cyprus would most likely resume on May 26. Downer will likely confirm this date after meeting with Christofias today.

PARLIAMENT yesterday began discussions on the bills that aim to put an end to the difficulties faced by Cypriot and foreign property owners in acquiring their title deeds.

The House Interior Committee began discussions on three of five bills that aim to reform the legal framework for governing building permits and the issuing of title deeds – a move expected among others to bring in significant revenue to the state.

The remaining two bills, which have to do with the legal aspect of the matter, will be discussed at the House Legal Affairs Committee.

LAWMAKERS yesterday expressed their concerns over a bill that will give the Cabinet the authority to release state-owned land when it deems it necessary.

The bill – drawn up in order to prepare the legal framework for the ratification of Cyprus’ agreement with Qatari investors to build a luxury building complex in Nicosia – basically offers the Cabinet the authority to decide whether to release state-owned land, when it decides it is “of public benefit”.

Attorney-general Petros Clerides joined Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis to explain the bill to the House Interior Committee, though the session was interrupted to be discussed in more detail today at noon.

SEVEN persons are to stand trial on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.

The accused are: Giorgos Christodoulou a.k.a. Zavrandonas, Spyros Stylianou, Charalambos Demetriades, Aristos Stylianou, Andreas Christodoulou, and Bulgarian nationals Christo Oignatov and Petko Todorov.

Zavrandonas is a former convict who was jailed for manslaughter and Stylianou is a Drug Law Enforcement Unit officer

The accused are to remain in police custody until July 2, the opening day of the trial.

They face a total of 31 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, illegal possession of firearms, explosives and drugs, as well was securing an income from illegal activities.

THE CONDITION of a baby born three months’ prematurely has stabilised but she is yet to breathe unaided, her doctor said yesterday.

The little girl, whose age is now estimated at being a little over 24 weeks, was delivered prematurely in Limassol General Hospital nearly two weeks ago.

Weighing in at a mere 900 grammes, the unnamed baby is recovering at a satisfactory rate and has even managed to drink some milk. She is being taken care of in the intensive care unit of the Makarios Hospital.

“Every day looks more positive but obviously only time will tell if she will survive,” Head of the Paediatric Unit at Nicosia’s Makarios Hospital Dr Andreas Hadjidemetriou said yesterday.

OPPOSITION party DISY will vote against the government’s six bills aimed at clamping down on tax evasion because in fact they penalise law-abiding taxpayers, DISY Deputy President Averoff Neophytou has said.

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Neophytou said that the way the bills have been drafted, rather than targeting tax-evaders they represent a “tax-raid on the law-abiding citizen who for years declared his income, in order to convert the state into a tax police state” through changing the taxable basis of property and other provisions.

THE NATIONAL Council will continue its meeting next Wednesday, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday.

“The meeting is being held in a constructive spirit. We agreed to continue on Wednesday the 12th of May at 10 o’clock”, Stefanou said following the conclusion of yesterday’s meeting, during which the political parties expressed their views.

Asked to comment what the public should expect if after the lengthy National Council meeting the parliamentary parties had still not reached a common line, Stefanou said: “First of all let’s not be hasty. The National Council meeting is continuing. Secondly, I’ll say that we don’t have to take a general stand on the issue, if we don’t reach a common line, because that way we might lose the essence of policy.”