ALITHIA: “Government uncovered” The opposition daily commented that public reactions over fuel hikes were multiplying, while it has been confirmed that no rises were necessary. The daily suggested that the government did not have to raise prices by so much, pointing out that from the hikes £11 million were expected to flow into its coffers – five million more than the deficit it supposedly wanted to cover with the hikes, Alithia said.
HARAVGHI: “Over £300 million in benefits for the people” AKEL’s mouthpiece yesterday sought to dampen the bad publicity formed about the administration over the fuel hikes by publishing a list of grants and benefits offered by the “government of change”. The daily said the long list of benefits was the real reason behind DISY’s aggressiveness, adding their arguments were unfounded and aimed to annihilate the government’s work so far.
SIMERINI: “Tractors of wrath warming engines” The daily reported that wheat and potato growers had formed a pact aimed at putting pressure on the government to satisfy their demands for cheaper fuel and a secure future in the industry. The wheat growers said the aim of the pact was to reinforce farmers’ position, since most of the problems faced by all areas were common. The farmers were poised to embark on industrial action but the final decisions were expected to be taken last night, the daily said.
MACHI: “Wave of European migrants” The daily claimed yesterday that the weakness of the Cypriot system regulating foreigners had reached the ears of Eastern Europe, prompting the arrival of many immigrants without papers. Most of the migrants come from Georgia, after being notified about the system by Pontian relatives and friends already on the island. They arrive by plane and immediately apply for political asylum in Nicosia. There are 100,000 foreigners in Cyprus, of which 50,000 are illegal, Machi said.
POLITIS: “They’ve turned a church into a shop” Thirty years after the invasion, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has turned a church in a Kyrenia village into a shop, Politis said. The case has been reported by a Turkish Cypriot who works across the road from the church.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “Group for the reconstruction of the occupied areas ready” The daily reported that the strategy for the rebuilding of the occupied areas and the resettlement of population is concerning the government, which is expected to discuss the matter at ministerial level. The cabinet would need to approve the structure of the reconstruction service and decide whether its head would be a senior civil servant or if it would be necessary to hire a private expert.
