Politicians spread Christmas cheer

REPRESENTATIVES of the island’s political parties showed their Christmas spirit yesterday as they visited various institutions in Nicosia spreading Christmas wishes and joy to those less fortunate.

Head of DIKO Marios Garoyian visited army camp BMH in Nicosia and told the soldiers: “Thanks to your vigilant efforts and your commitment we can now look towards a brighter future.” He then expressed the wish that 2011 will be the year that Cypriots finally taste freedom and conveyed his hope that Cyprus “will soon escape the economic crisis.”

DISY head Nikos Anastiasiades visited Ayia Marina’s old people’s home in Strovolos where he also attempted to spread Christmas cheer and joy.

After expressing the customary Christmas wishes, Anastiasiades warned that there is a serious problem in the way that old people’s institutions are run in Cyprus. “I believe that we should seriously review the government in providing assistance to these institutions as I fear for their future.”

When asked if Ayia Marina’s was in danger of closing Anastiasiades commented “yes this is what the Mayor of Strovolos indicated,” adding, “the danger that this institution might close and the 25 people might be homeless is very real.”

EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou and his political entourage visited Ledra Street where they spread their Christmas wishes to shop owners and locals wandering the area. Speaking to reporters, Omirou briefly reviewed the year past, saying that 2010 was an extremely difficult year worldwide, but especially for the people of Cyprus, “this has been a difficult year for us, with the economic crisis, the Turkish indifference towards our political problem and the mishandling of many situations by our side.”

With the hope that 2011 will be a peaceful year and that Cyprus will finally be reunited, first lady Elsi Christofia greeted children from Snow White nursery at the Presidential Palace. The children sang Christmas carols and gave the first lady flowers and sweets.

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.