PHILELEFTHEROS: “Confessionals for schools asks Athanassios” Bishop Athanassios of Limassol is requesting from the Ministry of Education that children at schools have a place where they can confess. The Ministry has yet to respond. Teaching unions however are opposed to the idea, saying that schools foster children of various religions and languages and adding that confession must be someone’s choice and not a disciplinary action.
POLITIS: “Powell and Gul in Athens” US Secretary of State Colin Powell is meeting with Abdullah Gul in Athens to hold talks on the Cyprus problem. Powell will visit Athens on October 22, while Turkish Foreign Minister Gul will arrive the day before. It is not unlikely that Gul’s stay will be extended if an important matter arises. During the same time, US envoy Thomas Weston will visit Athens, Ankara and Nicosia.
ALITHIA: “Nikitas ignores all on young offenders” Attorney-general Solon Nikitas is opposed to modern ideas on young offenders. DISY deputy Ionas Nicolaou stated that the Attorney-general was ignoring the ideas and suggestions made by parliament and would not comment on the implementation of a juvenile court. Nicolaou has pressed for a juvenile court be implemented and said that Nikitas’ tactics were not taking into account minors’ best interests.
MACHI: “Today Kazamias – Truckers” The paper looks ahead to yesterday’s meeting between truckers and Communications Minister Kikis Kazamias to discuss the EU harmonisation law that abolishes the issuing of ‘A’ licences to truck drivers. The meeting is critical, as the public fear another strike would be detrimental to Cyprus’ economy. The Ministry will meet with POVEK, who will represent the truckers. All parties hope to reach an agreement. There has already been a drop in the number of truckers in protest from 4,500 to 1,500 just before the strike was ended.
HARAVGHI: “Neighbourhood Police” The new Neighborhood Police programme was put into action by the government on Monday. The pilot programme will be in operation until the end of the year, when observations and conclusions will be recorded as to whether it is helping bring down crime. Minister of Justice Doros Theodorou said the goal was to bring the police close to the citizen and to gain their trust. Thirty police officers have been trained for the programme.
SIMERINI: “Increase of 800 per cent in cigarette smuggling” Since the increase in cigarette prices, there has been a rise in smuggling cheaper cigarettes from the north. The authorities have confiscated 313 cartons of cigarettes from people coming back to the south. The customs authorities are now cracking down on people smuggling cigarettes although not everyone can be checked when crossing the border. The matter is being investigated and measures will be taken.
