SIMERINI: “Green light for private universities”. The government has given the green light for the establishment of private universities in Cyprus. Draft legislation is already in the hands of the Cabinet, which is expected to approve the bill at the next meeting. Education Minister Pefkios Georgiades told the paper that the private universities would be profit-making organisations. The bill should reach parliament for approval by the end of October.
ALITHIA: “The Euro deputy goes against DISY”. The latest ‘show-off’ heroics of DIKO MEP Marios Matsakis were not about him trying to cross to the occupied north without showing ID, but mainly about moving public opinion away from the recent visits there by DISY. As is well known, DISY’s initiative to make contacts with the north not only seriously troubled Matsakis’ own party, DIKO – as acting leader Nicos Cleanthous made obvious from his attacks against the DISY leadership – but also the Presidential Palace.
MACHI: “Golden Dawn spreading its tentacles”. Cyprus will pay a huge political cost as a result of the polarisation of views on the national problem. The arrival of Nazi-style organisation, the Golden Dawn, in Cyprus marks a new age on the Cypriot political scene. We are talking about an extreme right-wing organisation with a terrorist background, combined with dangerous nationalistic views, which spreads dissension and terrorism in political and social life. This organisation calls itself the People’s Nationalist Movement.
HARAVGHI: “Ominous signs”. The prospect of solving disagreements within the hotel industry looked bleak after the meeting between the Labour Minister and hotel employers on Wednesday. Minister Christos Taliadoros noted serious differences on the core issues between workers and employers over the renewal of collective agreements, saying there was a danger that the two sides would not reach an agreement. The unions are gearing up for action and have already called a meeting of the Council of Unions.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “Surprises from Washington”. The American government will continue its efforts for the reunification of Cyprus, said US Secretary of State Colin Powell. At the same time, however, senior US officials believe the Cyprus problem remains at a dead end while nobody knows when a new initiative will begin.
Washington has made it clear that it awaits to hear the final positions of President Tassos Papadopoulos before making a new start. An informed source told the paper the US would open communication channels with the President and to expect ‘surprises’ as a result.
POLITIS: “Strike unfortunately looming”. The personal intervention of Labour Minister Christos Taliadoros was not enough to bridge the gap between the hoteliers and unions over the renewal of collective agreements. As a result, a repeat of last year’s chaotic strike measures is still on the cards, and appear to be the likely outcome. Yesterday’s scheduled meeting of all the unions involved will probably pave the way for industrial action once a deadlock has been officially announced.
