Morphou residents remind UN of its responsibilities
THE MUNICIPALITY and organisations of occupied town of Morphou yesterday appealed to the Ambassadors of the five UN Security Council permanent members to actively work towards a viable solution to the Cyprus problem.
A resolution was handed over to the Embassies of the USA, Russia, France and China, the UK High Commission and the EU Permanent Representation by town mayor Charalambos Pittas and municipal council members requesting the five’s contribution “on the search for justice and peace in Cyprus”.
The resolution was handed over on the occasion of the 35th anniversary since Morphou was captured by the advancing Turkish troops on August 16, 1974.
Following the meeting with Russian Federation Ambassador Vyacheslav Shumskiy, Pittas stressed that the resolution “condemns above all the ongoing Turkish occupation” and reminded the five “of their responsibilities”.
He said: “Indeed, the UN has a responsibility for the ongoing violation of human rights in Cyprus… The UN Security Council and its five permanent members are obliged to exert more pressure on the Turkish side to cooperate for a solution of the Cyprus problem.”
Pittas said the property issue was also discussed during the meetings.
“We said that it is even more unacceptable now, when negotiations are taking place, for the other side to continue the illegal exploitation of our property and to continue the destruction of our cultural heritage,” he said.
The resolution, which is also signed by Morphou’s cultural and sports organisations, refers to the ongoing occupation of Cyprus by Turkey for 35 years, the violent partition of the island, the violation of human rights, the Turkish settlers, the destruction of the cultural heritage and the exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.
Ship accidents double in 2009
THE NUMBER of marine accidents involving Cypriot ships almost doubled in the first six months of 2009 over the same period last year, the Merchant Shipping Department said yesterday.
Between January and June this year Cypriot-flagged ships were involved in 60 accidents compared to 35 in the same period in 2008. No loss of life was incurred however.
The Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping Serghios Serghiou said that over the past decade there had been a steady decline in accidents involving Cypriot vessels.
Two of 60 maritime accidents in the first half of this year were listed as ‘very serious’ and eight ‘serious’. The largest increase was recorded in the sector of ‘minor’ accidents, which reached 30, or half of the total accidents. In the same period last year , there was only one accident recorded in the ‘minor ‘ classification.
In 2007 there were 57 accidents in total with three deaths and three total losses. In 2006 ten people died on Cypriot-flagged vessels.
From 2001 until 2007, the Cyprus register recorded its best performance in 2004 with only 29 accidents, although the loss of human life reached four.
The shipping department said that the reason numbers appeared to be up this was due to the fact that a change in criteria for registration meant that accidents were now recorded, not only attributable to the Cyprus registry but also those that take place in Cypriot waters.
Also July 1, 2008 saw the inclusion of accidents relating to small vessels, which was not previously included.
In 2008, according to the European Maritime Safety Agency (European Maritime Safety Agency – EMSA), there were 670 accidents in European waters with 754 ships involved.
Kitas suspensions’ decision by today
THE DECISION of whether or not to suspend four senior police officers and one Central Prisons official pending the outcome of their criminal prosecution will be cleared up no later than today, said the Justice Minister.
Loucas Louca yesterday refused to comment further on the issue He said he would decide what to do about the five no later than this morning.
The Justice Ministry officials, who will appear in court on October 19 to face charges regarding their involvement in the incarceration and escape of lifer Antonis Prokopiou Kitas last year, were indicted by the Attorney-general’s office on July 31.
Louca must now decide whether to suspend the five from active duty pending the outcome of their trial.
Tourist arrivals down
TOURIST ARRIVALS in Cyprus decreased in the period January to June by 10,8 per cent according to the Cyprus’ Statistical Service CyStat.
The majority of travellers, some 91,8 per cent, arrived on flights or ships, which had as country of origin European countries. .
The UK led the list compromising 3.7 per cent of arrivals, followed by Greece with 17.9 per cent, Russia with 5.5 per cent, Germany with 5.1 per cent, Sweden with 3.0 per cent, Austria with 2.6 per cent, United Arab Emirates with 2.0 per cent and Israel with 2.0 per cent .
In January-June 512.803 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 529.072 in the corresponding period last year, recording a decrease of 3.1 per cent. About 33.1 per cent had visited Greece, 24.6 per cent the UK, 3.7 per cent Russia, 3.1 per cent Romania, 2.8 per cent Bulgaria, .2 per cent France, 2.2 per cent Germany and 2.1 per cent Israel.
Cyprus should let stimulus measures expire
Cyprus should let economic stimulus measures expire once recovery sets in and curb its deficit, the International Monetary Fund said yesterday.
In a statement following its regular consultation with Cyprus, the IMF said the budget deficit would need to come down by 0.5 to 0.75 per cent of gross domestic product a year, with a significant upfront correction to avoid unfavourable debt-deficit dynamics.
The IMF estimated the budget deficit would hit 3.9 per cent of GDP in 2009 after posting surpluses in 2007 and 2008.
“Fiscal adjustment should rely on reducing public consumption, particularly the wage bill, and on broader public administration reforms,” the IMF said in a statement.
The Fund said Cyprus had been relatively shielded from the global financial crisis so far, thanks in part to its adoption of the euro currency, conservative financial sector practices, and solid domestic demand.
“However, the economy is beginning to slow in response to the global crisis,” the IMF cautioned.
“On current policies, a tepid but uncertain recovery is expected to begin, starting 2010,” the IMF said
Naked burglar strikes in broad daylight
A 30-YEAR-OLD man from Rwanda is on remand after breaking a shop window at the Limassol centre and stealing a nearby car to escape all while he was completely naked.
“Around 10am the foreign man was seen by a journalist breaking the glass window of a shop, taking something from it and exiting. The journalist tried to stop him, but unfortunately he fled. He got into a car that had been left unlocked with the engine on and headed to Gladstonos street breaking a red light,” said Yiannakis Georgiou, the Limassol police spokesman.
A police patrol car then chased the stolen vehicle and managed to stop the man, who was in a frantic state. Officers managed to take the car keys from him but had to keep him locked into the vehicle until he calmed down. Finally, the man was covered in a sheet and taken to Limassol Hospital.
“Because he was in a bad state and sustained several wounds to the arms possibly from breaking the shop window, an ambulance was called to take him to hospital. He is receiving treatment for his wounds,” Georgiou said.
Police confirmed that the man had spent the previous night at Limassol police headquarters after a police patrol car saw him walking in Limassol and
took him in for identification purposes.
Police said that he was suspected of being an illegal immigrant, although he is in fact legal and after reviewing his documents released him.
Heart transplant needed for baby
AN 18-MONTH-OLD baby suffering from serious heart problems has been sent to a hospital in Berlin, where she awaits a heart transplant.
The toddler has been in a critical condition in the capital’s Makarios Hospital for the past week suffering from viral myocarditis, as well as serious cardiac insufficiency.
According to her child lung specialist, Panayiotis Yiallouros, the 18-month-old’s health problems started after she contracted a virus.
She will remain in Berlin until a suitable heart has been found.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency on Sunday, Yiallouros said the girl’s condition had deteriorated over the past few days, “and it was decided that the only suitable treatment would be a possible heart transplant”.
He added: “The Health Ministry made intense efforts to find a medical centre abroad, which could take on the transplant on a child of this age and after contacting various centres in Greece, Austria and Germany, the specific centre was eventually found in Berlin, which accepted to take on the case of this little girl”.
Meanwhile, efforts have begun to find a suitable heart. “The baby was in quite a bad condition,” said Yiallouros. “A team of German doctors came to Nicosia [on Saturday] and managed to stabilised the girl’s condition, and a little before noon [on Sunday], it was possible to transport her to Larnaca Airport, where she departed for Berlin.” The 18-month-old was accompanied by her father.
Work will begin soon at Ledra Street crossing
AT THE end of this month or the beginning of next month, work will begin on the dilapidated buildings that line the Ledrs Street crossing point, Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou said yesterday. ‘We are ready to begin work but because of the summer holidays it hasn’t started yet,” she said. The Ledra Street crossing opened in April 2008 and so far only support has been added to the buildings to keep them from collapsing.
Man arrested for setting fire to kiosk
A 60-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a kiosk belonging to his son in Ayios Dhometios. He was arrested after an eye witness informed the police. The kiosk had only been open for three months. It was completely destroyed, as was the apartment directly above it. The man has been remanded in custody for six days.
Game keepers fined
TWO GREEK Cypriot gamekeepers were yesterday each fined 200 Turkish lira by a court in occupied Famagusta, after accidentally venturing into occupied areas on Sunday afternoon. The two men, 34-year-old Pavlos Pavlou and Lefteris Frangou, 25, had been patrolling the Troulli area for illegal hunters, when they entered Turkish-controlled grounds without realising.They were arrested by the Turkish forces and detained. Their ordeal only ended late yesterday afternoon, when the “court” decided to fine them and released them.
UNSG possible visit
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon may visit Cyprus in the second half of October, the Turkish Cypriot press reported yesterday. According to Kibris, New York sources told the site that Ban’s visit will aim at supporting the direct negotiations that began last September between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The leaders are due to meet again next month.
Rainy August
BY MID-MONTH, rainfall for August had far exceeded the month’s average, according to the meteorology department.
According to the weather services the average rainfall for August since 1961 was 2.9 millimetres. This August rainfall levels had reached 3.9 millimetres or 134 per cent of the month’s average.
Meanwhile annual rainfall had already covered 98 per cent of the rain year’s average. Up until October 1 average rainfall since 1961 was 498.5 millimetres and already this year 486.7 millimetres of rainwater had fallen, the meteorology department said.
