Cyprus in middle of regional clash

2011-09-07

TURKEY IS freezing defence trade with Israel and stepping up naval patrols in the eastern Mediterranean, highlighting a potentially destabilising rift between the two major US allies in the Middle East and raising the spectre of further instability over Cyprus.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s threat yesterday to send warships into waters where Israel’s navy operates raises the risk of a naval confrontation between the two powers.

Our view: Interminable discussions with unions doing nothing to help economy

2011-09-07

FINANCE minister Kikis Kazamias has begun a new round of talks with public sector unions as he prepares the second package of measures for the economy that he promised to table at the legislature by the end of next week. On Monday he saw representatives of the main unions, including teachers’ unions, who had not been involved in the negotiations over the first package.

Asgata residents face off with army

2011-09-07

RESIDENTS of Asgata village, in the Limassol district, were up in arms yesterday on seeing military trucks laden with munitions cut through their community in the early morning hours.

The ordnance was being transported to an army camp near Asgata. It consisted of an unknown quantity of Bofors 50 mm anti-aircraft shells.

The National Guard said later that the trucks had planned to bypass the village using byroads, but as these were closed the vehicles had to double back and cross the village’s main street on their way to the camp – ruining the military’s incognito operation.

Local residents quickly figured out what was happening; they rushed to the nearby army camp, blocking its entrance to stop the trucks from offloading their cargo there.

‘Christofias’ testimony rife with contradictions’

2011-09-07

THE GOVERNMENT’S and the opposition’s respective readings of the President testimony could not have been more dissimilar yesterday, the former claiming Christofias had “shed light” on the events of July 11 and the latter calling the President’s testimony a lesson in disinformation.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the President’s appearance before the Mari panel on Monday has caused the “myths spread by the opposition in the last few weeks…to collapse like a house of cards.”

Stefanou’s take was that the President had “analysed all the facts and events clearly” and had demonstrated that Cyprus’ handling of the munitions cargo was in full compliance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Denktash slips back

2011-09-07

FORMER Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, 87, remains critical after undergoing a new bout surgery late on Monday night.

He was operated on after doctors decided that it was the best course of action given how critical he was.

Denktash has been undergoing treatment at a hospital in the north since August 30, after he was transferred from a hospital in Ankara.

He was in a critical condition last week but showed some improvement later in the week.

Yachts to be brought ashore at Larnaca marina

2011-09-07

 

Patrick Dewhurst

THE CYPRUS Tourism Organisation (CTO) is to evict up to 150 boats from Larnaca marina after investigations revealed dangerously unstable pontoons.

Acting CTO general director Lefkos Phylactides said yesterday: “We have found out through technical studies and onsite inspections that some of the wharfs – where the boats are tied – have problems relating to structural adequacy.”

Phylactides said that given the possible dangers of collapsing wharfs, the CTO had no option but to close off access to the dangerous parts of the marina. Around 150 are thought to be affected, while another 150 are safely berthed.

State must ‘get its act together’ on natural gas

2011-09-07

AUTHORITIES here must get their act together if drilling for natural gas is to begin by month’s end, the energy boss said yesterday.

Energy Services Director Solon Kassinis told the House Commerce Committee: “Everything is going according to plan without any delays so we’re hoping to start drilling before the end of the month.”

According to Kassinis, Texas-based Noble Energy, which has a concession for offshore drilling, has assured authorities here they can build a pipeline from “Block 12” directly to the Vassilikos power plant by mid-2014.

Kassinis, however, cited the lack of political decision as one of the main problems.

He said he has outlined three scenarios for making use of natural gas.

Demand for electricity stabilises

2011-09-07

THE DEMAND for electricity is finally stabilising and supply is more than adequate to cover current needs unless something unforeseen occurs.

Director of the Transmission System Operator (TSO) Christos Christodoulides told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) yesterday that demand had stabilised at around 845 MW while capacity stands at 920MW.

“We hope that the situation will continue like this,” he said

Christodoulides further said the generators that arrived in the second container from the US, as part of the agreement signed by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) with Energy International, have not yet been connected to the EAC’s network.

These generators have a 35MW capacity and are scheduled to be installed at the Moni Power Plant.

Jobless rate grows again in August

2011-09-07

THE NUMBER of jobless people at the end of August stood at 26,667, an increase of 4,292, or 19.2 per cent more than August last year, the Statistical Services announced yesterday.

Jobless rates were higher in the trade sector, which saw another 1.191 unemployed. In construction the figure was 781, public administration, 425, manufacturing 393, transportation and storage, 267), accommodation and food service activities, 165. There were another 851 newcomers to the jobs market left unemployed.

Opposition DISY deputy Averof Neophytou, commenting yesterday said the numbers were beginning to confirm the ‘nightmarish” estimates of an 8.0 per cent jobless rate for 2011. In July the figure was already 7.5 per cent, he said.

Lonely Planet lauds Aphrodite’s Rock as romantic hotspot

2011-09-07

THE BEACH at Aphrodite’s Rock in Paphos has made it on to a list of the world’s 100 most romantic hotspots compiled by travel guide publisher Lonely Planet.

The Paphos beach where legend has it the Goddess of Love emerged from the sea’s foam is in inspired company, with the ‘Meeting Place’ at London’s St Pancras station also on the list.

The London station boasts a nine-metre tall bronze sculpture of a couple hugging, a not uncommon sight at train stations around the world where people greet or bid goodbye to loved ones.

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.