2010-10-16 – Cyprus Mail

A Jewish and Democratic State

2010-10-16

WITH this law “Israel buys an exit ticket from the family of nations,” wrote Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea last week in the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. “The proposed loyalty law…is really racist. It obliges non-Jews to declare that they would be loyal to the Jewish state but exempts Jews from this obligation.” But Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s proposed new law is not racist, just short-sighted and nasty.

It is really about foreign policy: Netanyahu has also just demanded that the Palestinian Authority recognise Israel as a “Jewish and democratic state.” Back in 1977, prime minister Menachem Begin said exactly the opposite: “We do not (demand that) our right to exist in the land of our fathers be recognized.”

Smoking ban ‘too severe’, say MPs

2010-10-16

A NUMBER of MPs have co-signed a law proposal to amend the current smoking ban, which hopes to offer venues the right to have separate smoking areas.

According to DISY MP Andreas Themistocleous, who prepared the proposal, the current ban is not being adhered to, with members of the public smoking freely in entertainment venues – especially bars and nightclubs – in direct violation of the law, which came into effect in January this year.

The deputy felt it should be up to the public to decide whether they want to smoke or not – as long as they are not affecting anyone else.

Limnitis opening was almost scuppered

2010-10-16

THE OPENING of the Limnitis crossing on Thursday was almost scuppered when it emerged that the Turkish ‘ambassador’ in the breakaway north could be attending the ceremony.

When we arrived “at Limnitis the first thing we heard when the door opened was that there was a possibility of last-minute problems,” Androulla Kaminara, the Head of the EU Representation in Cyprus told state radio. The opening was not a given, she said.

According to government sources, as soon as the Republic was informed about the possibility of the Turkish ‘ambassador’ in the breakaway north of the island attending the opening ceremony, it told the United Nations it would not be accepted.

Cypriot athletes return jubilant from Delhi

2010-10-16

A JUBILANT Cypriot athletic team flew home from their best ever Commonwealth Games performance yesterday, after coming 12th out of 43 in New Delhi.

Their 11-medal haul – four gold, three silver and five bronze – has exceeded many observers’ expectations, including Cyprus’ Commonwealth team leader Dinos Michaelides, who was hoping to bring back six medals.

Rhythmic Gymnast Chrystalleni Trikomiti won Cyprus’ first gold medal of the games and eventually took home two golds, one silver and two bronze medals.

On her arrival last night she said: “I feel very proud for my country.”

Coffee ad slammed for being sexist

2010-10-16

A TV ADVERT for a coffee drink has been slammed by the Socialist Women’s Movement for promoting sexist images and messages.

The head of the Movement, EDEK MP Roulla Mavronicola, issued an announcement on Wednesday condemning the Coffee Break ad, which she said projected images and messages that “insult women and society itself”.

The advertisement, she said, has a clearly sexist content, which moves in the direction of projecting women as sexual objects and nothing else.

‘Eurocypria staff jobs safe’

2010-10-16

WORKERS at state-owned Eurocypria were yesterday assured they would not lose their jobs when the company closes down in November after being merged with national carrier Cyprus Airways.

Unions yesterday held a crucial meeting with Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis.

Afterwards, the general secretary of Eurocypria union, Elisseos Michail, said Eurocypria was expected to close down on November 13.

“We received assurances from the Finance Minister that on November 13, when Eurocypria’s cycle of operations will end, the employees will not remain exposed,” said Michail.

Football clubs feeling the heat from fans’ behaviour

2010-10-16

APOEL AND OMONIA have both been hit with mammoth fines by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA).

The CFA handed out fines to the clubs totalling €35,500 due to trouble caused by their respective fans in their most recent clash on October 3 at the GSP stadium.

APOEL were fined €5,000 for the entry of a fan into the football pitch, and €6,000 for fans abusive chants against the President Demetris Christofias.

Nadir back in the Old Bailey

2010-10-16

EIGHTEEN potential witnesses in the trial of Turkish Cypriot tycoon Asil Nadir have died, the Old Bailey in London heard yesterday.

They were among 283 people being traced by the Serious Fraud Office following Nadir’s return to the UK after 17 years to face trial.

The 69-year-old flew back last month after fleeing the country to the extradition-free ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ in 1993, claiming he would not get a fair trial.

He faces charges of theft relating to a £34 million fraud involving his former Polly Peck business empire.

Philip Shears QC, prosecuting, said 201 witnesses had been traced.

Commission in a ‘difficult position’ on direct trade

2010-10-16

FOREIGN Minister Marcos Kyprianou said yesterday the European Commission was in a very difficult position following a legal ruling saying it cannot bypass the Republic of Cyprus to implement direct trade with the Turkish-occupied north.

However, Kyprianou cautioned, this was not the end of the matter.

“Certainly it is an important milestone in this procedure … it changes the facts and puts the European Commission in a very difficult position,” Kyprianou told state radio.

Thousands out of work in Paphos

2010-10-16

MORE THAN 3,000 workers in the construction industry in Paphos are declaring themselves unemployed, according to the general-secretary of the builders’ section of PEO union, Neophytos Assos.

Assos confirmed during an interview on local radio that due to a massive reduction in demand in the construction and building sectors, many people have found themselves without any work at all. And he warned that the situation would continue until 2011.

“Signs of recovery in this industry will begin to show at the start of 2011,” he said, underlining that this would occur as long as the various private and public construction projects earmarked for the coastal town got underway.