An EU wind in its sails

2011-01-23

COOPERATION among Europeans has taken on many forms in recent years; we’ve had sporting events like UEFA, political cooperation through the EU Commission and Council and even some cultural progress through the Eurovision song contest.

Now, however, there is a unique project underway that brings together sport, business and politics under one yellow starred and blue banner.

The Esimit Europa project is the brainchild of the businessmen, wine producer and yachtsman Igor Simcic, who was in Cyprus this week to meet with government ministers and gather their approval for a visit to Cyprus during its EU presidency in 2012.

The Sunday Mail caught up with Simcic during his busy schedule to learn more about the project, its origins and where it will go next.

The malls that never quite worked

2011-01-23

EVEN in what might have been considered their heyday of the 1990s and early 2000s, they never quite worked.

Located in prime commercial real estate on Nicosia’s Makarios Avenue, Cyprus’ first three experiments with European-style malls should have had the punters flocking, but the City Plaza, Galaxias Centre and Capital Centre never even began to approach the popularity of the Mall of Cyprus, on the outskirts of the capital and which opened in 2007.

VAT measures already causing controversy

2011-01-23

GOVERNMENT measures to offset recent VAT hikes on foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals may not have been announced yet, but that hasn’t stopped arguments breaking out over the details.

Labour Minister Sotiroula Charalambous yesterday announced that the package was “90 per cent complete” and would soon be presented to President Demetris Christofias for approval.

Some final details needed to be ironed out, she added, while the plan also had to be examined by technocrats.

The minister said the aim of the measures was to make up for the losses that are suffered by vulnerable sectors of the public from the new 5.0 per cent VAT.

Tales from the coffeeshop: Unnatural gas produced by our opinion formers

2011-01-23

IF YOU ARE bored of all the unnatural gas produced by our opinion formers talking about the trillions of cubic feet of natural gas that we will be exploiting in the not too distant future, do not worry because we have very little to say on the matter.

We shall briefly examine the political dimensions of the gas find, which according to many analysts creates an opportunity for us to forge a strategic alliance with Israel, which has fallen out big-time with the Turks. More importantly, Israel is the closest ally of the US in the area and if we forge an alliance with it we will automatically enjoy the favour of Washington, or so the argument goes.

Our View: It is imperative to clean up our act

2011-01-23

 

WHEN DEMAND for holiday homes in Cyprus was at its peak, everyone who owned a couple of plots of land decided to become a developer and make an easy buck. Holiday villas grew like mushrooms all over the island, financed by banks which had ample funds to lend. They gave loans to the developers, loans to buyers and everyone was happy, for a brief period. But inevitably things began to go wrong as the world recession arrived and demand nose-dived.

Finding a formula for UN-led talks

2011-01-23

THE CYPRUS problem promises to end the first month of the new year with a bang, or at least a pop, if not a crackle.

Mirroring the envious lifestyle of Her Majesty’s top agent Mr Bond, the age-old conflict this week sees its main actors travel to yet another cosmopolitan city, filled with cosmopolitan players of the international scene aided by a stream of black cars, respectable accommodation and smart dress.

Yes, it’s that time again when UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gets the two leaders together and says, “What have you done for me lately?”

Rating agencies not that reliable, but shouldn’t be ignored, economists say

2011-01-23

CREDIT rating agencies – Fitch this week followed Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s in downgrading the island – may be inclined to issue more favourable ratings than the actual fundamentals justify as they are caught up in a moral dilemma, economists say.

The success of a share or bond issue by an organisation depends, to some extent, on the grades these securities have, economist Bernard Musyck, who teaches economics at Frederick University, told the Sunday Mail.

Nun’s final wish to be buried in Cyprus

2011-01-23

THE LAWYER of the Cypriot monk who was among three people caught in an Athens airport attempting to transport the remains of a nun to Cyprus in a suitcase has claimed that it was the dead woman’s final wish to be buried in Cyprus.

The 42-year-old monk, Effrem, has denied charges of sacrilege and quackery, saying the whole affair was down to a misunderstanding.

The Greek nun’s remains were reported missing by her family, but Effrem claims it was all down to lack of communication and that her family had not actually been informed on this last wish of hers.

The monk does admit, however, that he could have informed the family that he planned on taking the remains to Cyprus.

Minister expects positive answer from CY

2011-01-23

LABOUR MINISTER Sotiroula Charalambous yesterday said she was expecting a positive response from the management and unions of Cyprus Airways (CY) to her ministry’s compromise proposal to stop the ailing state carrier from going bankrupt.

The proposal, which hopes to improve CY’s viability, was submitted to management and unions late on Friday and the minister said they had until Wednesday to offer their replies.

Man gets nine years for setting flatmate who gave him HIV alight

2011-01-23

A MAN was sentenced to nine years in jail after he attempted to set his roommate, who gave him HIV, on fire.

The Romanian man believed that one of his eight housemates had given him the HIV virus, so in an act of rage and while his housemate was sleeping soaked him in paint thinner. He then flicked a cigarette on the man, who woke up in distress and on fire. He ran out into the street where he started rolling on the floor in an attempt to put out the flames.

He was eventually taken to the Nicosia General hospital where he was treated for second degree burns, which could leave permanent scarring on his neck, ear and various other body parts.

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.