Turkish Cypriots protest Turkish-backed austerity steps

2011-03-02

Thousands of Turkish Cypriots marched on Wednesday against Ankara-inspired spending cuts as mounting dissent strained ties with Turkey.

More than 25,000 protesters, angry about what they believe are efforts by Turkey to exert more control over the Turkish Cypriots, gathered at Inonu Square in north Nicosia in what is believed to be one of the largest demonstrations ever in the breakaway state.

Many waved banners reading, “This is our country, let’s run it ourselves” and “Take your hands off Turkish Cypriots”.

Others waved flags of the Republic of Cyprus, something that sparked the ire of Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan when it happened in a previous demonstration in January.

 

Police clash with Palestinians in Larnaca

2011-03-02

CLASHES between Palestinians and the police broke out in Larnaca again yesterday after the government attempted to move 70 Palestinians to new housing, resulting in three arrests and two injuries.

Three Palestinians were arrested for assaulting officers who tried to calm tempers outside a Larnaca hotel when one of the Palestinians had an argument with his wife about moving into a government-appointed reception centre.

Scuffles broke out, resulting in two police officers being taken to hospital with minor injuries. One of the arrested is also being investigated for attempting to grab a policeman’s service revolver during the fracas.

Akrotiri role in Libya no-fly zone mooted

2011-03-02

THE GOVERNMENT is expecting a response from Britain as to whether it is considering basing Eurofighter Typhoon jets at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday.

Asked to comment on reports in the British press that the UK was considering using its air base in Cyprus to police Libyan skies, Stefanou said the government contacted the British government after reading the same media reports.

“We’ve had some contacts and we are expecting to get some information on this issue. We still have nothing,” he said.

Thousands expected at direct rule rally in north today

2011-03-02

THOUSANDS OF Turkish Cypriots angry at an Ankara-inspired economic austerity package and what they perceive as direct rule over the north by Ankara are expected to take part in a mass rally in north Nicosia today.

“The real message behind the rally will be Turkish Cypriots’ demand for self determination,” political analyst Ahmet Sozen from the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Famagusta said yesterday.

“This is not necessarily in the sense of wanting their own state, but in the sense of ruling themselves, either in a federation with Greek Cypriots, if Greek Cypriots endorse it, or until a federation is formed, without the interference of Turkey,” Sozen said.

President’s body theft suspect dragged from court

2011-03-02

THE Nicosia Criminal Court will next month announce its verdict on the three defendants, including a convicted murderer, on trial in connection with stealing the body of former president Tassos Papadopoulos in December 2009.

Convicted rapist and murderer Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, his brother Mamas and Indian national Sarbjit Singh are facing charges of conspiring to commit the crimes of desecrating a tomb, illegal entry into a cemetery and digging up a corpse without a permit.

Kitas had to be dragged out of the courtroom yesterday because he insisted on speaking to the President of the Court, claiming he had “new evidence.”

Minister accused of ‘adopting’ Iraqi troublemakers

2011-03-02

DIKO MP Zaharias Koulias yesterday accused the interior minister of “adopting” Iraqi troublemakers and bringing them to Cyprus, costing taxpayers millions of euros.

Koulias was apparently referring to Iraqi Palestinian refugees and a recent attack, involving some of them, against the Larnaca welfare office for delaying their benefit cheques.

The incident resulted in one policeman being injured.

During a heated debate on state radio with AKEL MP Yiannos Lamaris, Koulias suggested it was Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis’ fault the Palestinians were on the island.

State teachers accused of deliberately underperforming so they can cash in on private lesson

2011-03-02

STATE TEACHERS are allegedly not only illegally tutoring students but doing a bad job at school to force them to take yet more lessons, the head of the Association for Private Tutors, Adonis Mylonas charged yesterday.

“It’s completely unacceptable to be manipulating parents and students,” said Mylonas, who referred to the situation as a ‘black market’. “Think that this is the case in such bad economic times: the tax evasion, the burden on households,” he added.

Green line trade hindered by lack of solution

2011-03-02

 

GREEN LINE trade fell from €6.1 million to €5.2 million between the 2008/2009 and the 2009/2010 economic period, but could be substantially increased with the lifting of certain trade restrictions, according to economists.

Speaking at a bicommunal trade seminar in Nicosia on Monday evening, Head of the EC’s representation in Cyprus, Androulla Kaminara also said the number crossings to the north fell between 2009 and 2010 – from 730,310 to 670,910, while crossings to the south rose from 1,185,073 to 1,287,126 in the same period.

Preparations for May’s parliamentary elections underway

2011-03-02

PREPARATIONS BY the Interior Ministry are underway in earnest for the parliamentary elections to take place on May 22, Head of the Election Service Demetris Demetriou said yesterday.

Demetriou said that on April 14 a decision will be taken on the dissolution of the House of Representatives and one day later the Interior Minister will issue a decree officially announcing the elections, while the Chief Returning Officer and the District Returning officers and their deputies will be appointed.

Demetriou said that candidacies will be submitted on May 3 and on May 6 a decree will be issued listing the election centres.

On May 13 the allocation of voters to election centres will be published.

Paphos man fights for road

2011-03-02

A BRITISH expat living in Paphos has finally received permission to build a road to his plot of land after a 22-year wait, but the process is further being held up by a disagreement with the local community board.

Tom Lince has been struggling for more than two decades for permission to build a road to his plot, number 57, on a hillside in Chlorakas and says it would now only take three weeks to complete.

He is desperate to sell the land. According to Lince, the road will provide access to the three land owners in the area and once completed, including tarmac, will have cost them in excess of €100,000. In addition to these costs, Lince stands to lose €30,000 off the value of the land if the road is not completed, three valuations of the plot have indicated.

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.