Cyprus Mail
Cyprus Mail
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02/09/2012 01:21 PM
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Syrian authorities kill at least 29 in Homs assault
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Syrian forces killed at least 29 people this morning, firing rockets and mortars on five districts in the city of Homs to supress anti-Assad activists, sources said. According to British-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 12 people had been killed earlier in two of the five districts, Baba Amro and another in Khalidiya. The death toll since the government's assault on Homs began last week - the heaviest assault since the uprising against Assad began in March - is now in the hundreds according local reports. Syrian authorities say they are fighting foreign backed "terrorists" in Homs.
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02/09/2012 01:08 PM
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Venizelos goes to Brussels empty handed after inconclusive bailout talks
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GREEK finance minister Evangelos Venizelos is en route to Brussels without a deal on austerity measures after Greek leaders failed to reach an agreement last night. Their failure to agree on essential measures has exasperated its EU and IMF partners, who are demanding the new austerity measures and financial reforms in return for a €130 billion bailout. Pressure is now mounting on Greece ahead of a March 20 bond redemption. Speaking after all night talks between the three coalition parties, and EU and IMF inspectors, Venizelos said this morning: "I am leaving for Brussels in a short while with the hope that the Eurogroup meeting will be held, and a positive decision on the new programme will be taken.” "The financial survival of the country in the coming years depends on the new programme ... It is time of responsibility for everyone." He added Euro zone officials say the full package must be agreed with Greece and approved by the EU, European Central Bank and IMF before February 15 so legal paperwork can be completed in time to avoid a chaotic default that could threaten global economic recovery. Venizelos had hoped to present to his fellow euro zone finance ministers in Brussels a fully-fledged deal on a new bailout plan, including commitment for €3.3 billion in budget cuts this year. Greece has been falling deeper into recession since it was rescued by a first bailout deal in May 2010, with unemployment reaching record highs of over 18 per cent.
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02/09/2012 12:38 PM
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Cyprus Airways shares trading suspended after reports of possible sale
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Shares in national carrier Cyprus Airways were suspended from trading today after media reports about its potential sale and financial situation, the Cyprus bourse said. Cyprus' cabinet on Wednesday authorised the finance minister to negotiate the sale of a stake in the state-controlled airline. One newspaper said today a potential suitor was Aeroflot, the Russian flag carrier. The recommendation to suspend trading came from the Securities Commission, the stock exchange said. It cited "uncertainty" arising from statements and press reports on the company's prospects and financial standing, and said it expected a clarification from the airline. Cyprus Airways is 69 per cent controlled by the state. A government spokesman on Wednesday said the airline would raise its capital, and negotiate the sale of a share package to a private partner. Details of the capital raising have not been disclosed. The finance minister has previously said the state was willing to sell up to a majority stake in the carrier. The airline made a loss of €29.28 million euros in the first half of 2011, the last available financial results issued. Its full-year results will be issued at the end of the month.
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02/09/2012 11:43 AM
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Omonia rout Salamina, Anorthosis through
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OMONIA manager Neophytos Larkou was pleased with his side’s 8-1 thrashing of Nea Salamina in the second leg of their Coca Cola Cup Last 16 clash at the Ammochostos Stadium in Larnaca on Wednesday. “Our aim was to go through. We approached the game seriously and achieved our goal. It is difficult to motivate the team in games like this, but I am very happy that our new signings showed readiness and willingness to perform at the required level. “Now we must focus on the upcoming league game this weekend,” Larkou said. Nea Salamina manager Stephen Constantine made it clear that he would rest most of his usual starters as his team’s priority is the national championship and the next game against Apollon. Constantine’s approach backfired as the league leaders ran out 10-1 winners on aggregate. Anorthosis meanwhile beat second division side APOP Kinyras 3-0 in their second leg encounter to advance 6-2 on aggregate. All three goals came in the first half for Ronny Levy’s men with Evandro Roncatto scoring twice and newly signed Georgian defender David Kvirkvelia netting his first goal for the team. “It was very important for us to qualify. We demonstrated how a serious team has to approach a cup game and we controlled the match throughout,” said Levy. “I also had a chance to give our younger players some playing time and that is always good. It is important that we have achieved our goal and now we will fully concentrate on the league game against AEL,” he added.. Elsewhere, Olympiakos Nicosia beat Omonia Aradippou 3-2, while AEK Larnaca trounced minnows Enosis Neon Pareklisias 5-0 away in their first leg matches. Olympiakos started the game in great fashion, scoring twice within the first 11 minutes through Ramiro Rendon and Marco Aurelio and when Senegalese striker Moussa Koita hit the third early in the second half, the Aradippou side looked doomed. However, the visitors never gave up and Andreas Kyprianou scored twice to keep his team’s hopes of progression alive. Round 20 of the Cyprus championship kicks-off tonight at 7pm when APOEL host Ethnikos Achnas at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. The game was moved back to Friday evening to allow the Cyprus champions more time to prepare for their eagerly-awaited Last 16 Champions League clash with Lyon in France on Tuesday night.
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02/09/2012 10:18 AM
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Family feud leads to brutal murder in Paphos
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A FORMER policeman was remanded in custody for eight days by the Paphos district court yesterday after being considered the prime suspect in a brutal murder which took place in Tala village yesterday morning. The suspect, a 64-year-old Greek Cypriot is accused of shooting Ivan Granchev, a 34-year-old Bulgarian on the doorstep of the victim’s home in the Paphos district village. Paphos police spokesman, Nicos Tsappis, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday: “The Bulgarian national died immediately from a gunshot wound to the chest. His fiancée, a 36 year old Cypriot woman, was previously married to the suspect’s son.” Police believe the pair had personal differences, which resulted in the fatal shooting at 7.30am yesterday. It is thought that the suspect blamed Granchev for his son’s failed marriage. The victim’s fiancée called police as the alleged perpetrator fled the murder scene. According to Tsappis, there were three witnesses to the shooting, all of whom were in the victims house at the time the crime was committed. Following information received, the suspect was found by police about one and a half hours after the incident, hiding in a rural area. Police uncovered a gun in the suspect’s car. “We have found a shotgun in the suspect’s car and it has been sent away for examination to determine whether or not it is the murder weapon,” said Tsappis. The incident, which has shocked residents of the usually peaceful village, took place in an area of Tala, close to Mavrokolympos dam. Many residents of the area rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots. The village leader of Tala, Areti Pieridou said: “This is a very sad situation and it’s not a case that should involve killing someone.” The victim’s fiancée divorced the suspect’s son around five years ago. They have three children together. Her own father died just two months ago. The victim and his Cypriot girlfriend were well liked and respected in the village. “They are hard working and trying to do their best,” said a Tala resident, “the victim was engaged to marry his Cypriot girlfriend who works at a supermarket in Paphos and they are quiet and decent people.” “I know both of these families as they are from Tala, and now it’s a bad situation for both of them,” added Pieridou. Tsappis said that the suspect is denying any involvement with the case. Yesterday’s killing was the second murder since last Saturday when a 22-year-old was found shot dead in his car. On the same day someone threw a hand grenade at the home of former police spokesman Michalis Katsounoutos in Limassol. No one was hurt. In addition only three days ago an attempted murder took place at a Nicosia petrol station. In that instance the victim was also shot and remains in hospital. Justice Minister Loucas said this week a six-year plan with 221 measures to combat rising crime had been drawn up.
 Tala village, in Paphos district, where Ivan Granchev was murdered
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02/09/2012 10:15 AM
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Our View: National cheese merits more effort to end registration dispute
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AFTER years of squabbling among the interested parties, the government was finally forced to withdraw the application to the European Union to register halloumi as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product. The government had been left with no choice as the Association of Dairy Product Manufacturers insisted on ignoring the traditional ingredients for Cyprus’ national cheese and introducing a new recipe, because this was the practical solution. The dispute, from the start, was over the milk that should be used. The producers did not want to have any restrictions on how much cow’s milk they would use to make halloumi, as there were large quantities available. Since 1985, when the government reached an agreement with the Association, aimed at helping cow-milk producers, the main ingredient of halloumi has been cow’s milk. However, traditionally, halloumi was made from sheep and goat’s milk as there were no cows in Cyprus in the old days. And logically, if the cheese was to be registered as PDO, it should have been with the traditional recipe, and not some bastardised recipe that suited dairy product manufacturers and the cattle-farmers. This was why the agriculture ministry had argued that the 51 per cent of the milk used for halloumi should have been from sheep or goats. Dairy producers did not want such a restriction, for two reasons. Firstly, the supply of sheep and goats’ milk was too low to satisfy the demand of the producers who would have to reduce production with a risk of losing export sales. Secondly, since 1985 cow’s milk has been the main ingredient of exported halloumi, which is what consumers abroad had become accustomed to; the stronger, slightly sour flavour of the traditional recipe might put them off the cheese. In short, both sides have strong arguments. It would be correct to use the traditional recipe, but would this not limit supply and threaten exports? On the other hand, how do we protect ‘the Cyprus cheese’ if we do not apply for Protected Destination of Origin, citing the traditional recipe? Would this not allow other countries to carry on marketing halloumi as has been the case so far? The danger is that another country producing halloumi could market its own brand more aggressively and displace the Cyprus version from the shelves of supermarkets abroad. Our attempts to protect our export markets by not applying for PDO could backfire - the possibility the ministry of agriculture fears. Unfortunately there are no easy answers, which is why all sides must make one more effort to work out a solution.
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02/09/2012 10:14 AM
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Green light for CY to raise fresh capital
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THE government said yesterday that ailing Cyprus Airways (CY) could raise fresh capital as it announced its decision to sell down its own stake in the state-controlled carrier. Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the amount of capital which will be raised was up to the board of the airline, in which the state holds a 69.5 per cent stake. The remainder is owned by private investors. Cabinet, the spokesman said, "approved participation of government as the main shareholder in new capital issue ... and has also decided to authorise the finance minister (Kikis Kazamias) to negotiate the sale of government shares in Cyprus Airways." The government’s involvement in the capital increase must be approved by the commissioner for state aid. Asked whether the decision concerned a majority stake, the spokesman said that was something the minister would negotiate with potential investors. Last week, Kazamias did not rule out selling a majority stake to a private partner. CY has gone through several overhauls in recent years, with attempts stymied by stiff competition from cheaper carriers on its most lucrative routes and rising fuel costs. It posted a net loss of €29.3 million in the first half of 2011, its last reported results. Full-year results were due by the end of February. Stefanou could not give a timeframe for when negotiations would start, but said the government wanted the issue resolved soon. "The issue is pressing and the government's intention is to move swiftly," he said The government last year gave CY a €20-million cash injection earmarked as compensation for damages incurred due to the Turkish ban on the airline using its airspace. It followed agreement with staff on a rescue plan whose main provisions involved measures by the company to save €30 million and the workers contributing another €12 million - €7 million through pay cuts and the rest through shedding 140 jobs from a total of around 1,200. Staff fear the company will suffer the fate of state-owned charter airline Eurocypria, which went bust late in 2010 – leaving around 300 people jobless – despite receiving €35 million from the state earlier in the year. The airline inevitably became the latest point of conflict between ruling AKEL and main opposition DISY. EDEK MP and former communications minister Nicos Nicolaides said it would not be an exaggeration if it was said that CY was staring bankruptcy in the face. But Nicolaides also summed up the situation in the airline, exploited through the decades by respective governments and parties for their own ends. He said “to date no one has been brought to account for the many catastrophic mistakes in such a defining sector for our country;s economy.” Instead, the people are witnessing a blame game by parties who had and have serious responsibilities, Nicolaides said of ruling AKEL and main opposition DISY.
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02/09/2012 10:13 AM
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Dairies cheesed off over halloumi dispute
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EVEN IF Cyprus was to have halloumi registered as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) there wouldn’t be enough goat and sheep milk in Cyprus to cover export needs, the head of the Cyprus Dairy Products Manufacturers Association explained yesterday. According to Andreas Andreou, the Agriculture Ministry’s decision to alter the halloumi prototype so that it consists mainly of goat or sheep’s milk – as is traditional - has made it impossible for the association to go ahead with the PDO application. He claimed that if the new prototype was followed, industries would have only enough goat and sheep milk to produce halloumi for just four months a year. That is why dairies are insisting on a combination that includes all or mainly cow’s milk. The lack of state help to aid goat and sheep farmers produce more milk was also a problem, they said. “We are thinking, why register a product that we won’t have the ability to produce,” Andreou said. “The data is there and it is clear. As the situation is now, there are no months in the year where goat and sheep milk production will exceed that of cow’s milk.” He added: “If we were to use all quantities of Cyprus’ goat and sheep milk just for halloumi – no yoghurts, trachanas (soup) or other white cheeses – we would have enough milk to produce halloumi for four months a year”. Andreou said the dairy producers’ association applied for the PDO with the 1985 halloumi prototype in mind: “for raw materials, goat or sheep milk can be used, or a mix of the two with cow’s milk, or without (the cow’s milk)”. “This prototype was created by the Agriculture, Health and Commerce Ministries, in cooperation with the Veterinary Services, Dairy Industry Organisation, Health Services and other related state services,” he said. “Knowing the seasonal problems with goat and sheep milk, they decided to show leniency. And since 1985, halloumi has been produced and exported without specific percentages.” Andreou said these exports led to an annual turnover of around €40 million. But numerous lengthy discussions to alter the prototype resulted in the Attorney-general advising that the main raw material in halloumi should be goat or sheep milk. This led to the Agriculture Ministry to alter the PDO application with the new prototype. “The Agriculture Ministry asked for a five-year grace period to fully implement the new prototype, gradually increasing the quantities of goat and sheep milk to reach 51 per cent; but unfortunately a year later, we don’t see the state being interested in supporting goat and sheep farmers to increase their production,” Andreou explained. “And goat farmers understand the problem, but they are disorganised and don’t have a collective negotiating power. They can’t stabilise their production.” “Therefore we withdrew the application as we will never make up the percentage in five years,” he added. Cattle farmers would also start to have difficulties, with a lot of cow’s milk going to waste, said Andreou – resulting in price increases and halloumi “turning into a delicacy”. Furthermore, consumers abroad have become accustomed to the halloumi as it has been made in recent decades, said Andreou. “If we export goat cheese to other countries, they might not like it as it is pungent. Abroad, this [cow’s milk] is how they know it and like it. That’s why they buy it,” he said. “The bottom line is, there was no reason for our association to register something that it simply couldn’t produce,” said Andreou. “From the two bad scenarios (withdrawing the application or securing the PDO without being able to deliver), we chose the least negative option. We want to register halloumi as a PDO, but we want to do it right and with everyone’s best interests in mind.” But Agriculture Minister Sophocles Aletraris yesterday said the whole point was to register halloumi as a traditional Cypriot product. “We have written records from 1556 that halloumi was manufactured in Cyprus with traditional methods; there weren’t cows in Cyprus back then. So how do we convince them [the EU] this is a traditional Cypriot product?” the minister wondered. “The dairy producers say the EU accepts something as a local tradition if it is manufactured in the same way for the past 25 years. But here we are talking about 500 years of tradition. Another country, such as Turkey or Bulgaria, may say that they have been producing halloumi for 100 years and register it themselves.”
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02/09/2012 10:12 AM
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Toddler dies from suspected heart attack at nursery
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A TWO-YEAR-OLD baby boy from the village of Pyla died yesterday, after suffering what is thought to be a heart attack while sleeping at the village’s communal nursery. Theodosis Anastasi was under the care of childminders for the day, while his parents were at work. When, according to the two childminders on duty at the time, the baby turned black in his sleep at around 4pm, his father was notified and called in to pick him up. The baby was finally taken to the Larnaca general hospital after a police car was stopped by the father while on his way to the hospital. The baby was pronounced dead on arrival, to the distraught of its parents. Police have already started an investigation on the matter, while they collected statements from the nursery’s personnel and evidence from the room where the baby was kept. The communal nursery’s vice-chairman, Andreas Kasenides said that this was the first incident of its kind which the nursery encountered in its two-year operation, while he stressed that the nursery is one of the best on the island. The nursery has hosted up to 60 children on occasions. It remains to be seen why the childminders did not act sooner and whether they had the appropriate training to promptly spot and treat any possible conditions. While it has yet to be confirmed whether the baby’s condition was hereditary, today’s autopsy is set to distinguish the exact reasons behind the two-year-old’s death.
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02/09/2012 10:12 AM
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Mari relatives file to lift Christofias’ immunity
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THE family of a fireman killed in a munitions blast last year yesterday filed an application at the Supreme Court to lift President Demetris Christofias’ immunity so that he can be prosecuted for the death. The July 11 blast, caused by decaying munitions stored haphazardly at the Evangelos Florakis naval base, killed 13 people and crippled the adjacent power station – the island’s main source of electricity. An independent inquiry found Christofias mainly responsible for the catastrophe and also blamed the foreign and defence ministers. The findings of the inquiry are non-binding. The two ministers along with six army and fire service officers have since been indicted in connection with the blast but no charges have been brought against Christofias who enjoys immunity under Article 45 of the constitution. The family, represented by lawyer Christos Triantafyllides, are asking for the Supreme Court’s interpretation of a provision under Article 45, which they say is vague and unspecified. The applicants have also asked for a ruling on paragraph five, which states that the president shall not be liable to prosecution “for any offence committed by him in the execution of his functions.” Triantafyllides argues that Article 45.3 does not define clearly what the offenses involving dishonesty or moral turpitude are. Neither it is possible to determine, by reference to the penal code or any other law, whether manslaughter and causing death through a negligent act are included. He further suggests that Article 45.5 does not state clearly if “functions” is identical with the term “executive power” as it is defined by the constitution (Articles 47 to 49). Reports said a similar application was also filed yesterday on behalf of the family of navy commander Andreas Ioannides who also died in the blast. The application was referred to the Supreme Court plenum for examination, the reports said. The munitions had been seized from the Monchegorsk, a Syria-bound Cyprus-flagged ship that sailed from Iran. They were confiscated in February 2009 after it was determined they were in breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iran. The containers had been placed at the base, exposed to the elements, until their explosion.
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NYT > Cyprus
NYT > Cyprus
World news about Cyprus, including breaking news and archival articles published in The New York Times.
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01/28/2012 08:00 AM
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Fitch Downgrades Ratings of Italy and Other Countries
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Citing near-term vulnerability, the agency lowered the credit ratings of Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, Slovenia and Spain and indicated there could be further cuts.
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01/14/2012 08:00 AM
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Downgrade of Debt Ratings Underscores Europe’s Woes
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Combined with a snag in talks between Greece and its creditors, the ratings agency Standard & Poor’s action served as a reminder that Europe has found no solution to its debt turmoil.
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12/05/2011 08:00 AM
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For Turkey, Lure of European Union is Fast Fading
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 With Europe roiled by a debt crisis and the tumult of the Arab Spring creating opportunities for Turkey to wield new clout, Turks are weighing walking away from the European Union.
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11/19/2011 08:00 AM
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Cypriot Team on Verge of History
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Apoel Nicosia is unbeaten through four matches in the Champion League's group stage, and it only needs a tie in its next match to be the first Cypriot team to reach the competition's knockout round.
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10/01/2011 08:00 AM
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NATO Leader Worried by Turkey’s Rifts With Cyprus and Israel
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NATO’s secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said Turkey’s tense relations with Cyprus over natural gas exploration and with Israel were “a matter of concern.”
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09/20/2011 08:00 AM
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Drilling Off Cyprus Will Proceed Despite Warnings From Turkey
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In the face of menacing warnings from Turkey on Monday, the Greek Cypriot government said it was proceeding with exploratory drilling for oil and gas off the coast of the disputed island.
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08/06/2011 08:00 AM
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Cyprus Leader Shuffles Cabinet, Seeking Austerity Support
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The president of Cyprus reshuffled his cabinet on Friday, but analysts said the move is unlikely to appease the opposition, whose backing is needed to pass austerity measures.
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07/28/2011 08:00 AM
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Credit Ratings Are Cut for Greece and Cyprus
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Standard & Poor’s cut the rating of Greece further, while Moody’s Investors Service cut Cyprus’s rating.
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11/25/2010 08:00 AM
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Between the European Union and NATO, Many Walls
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The issue of the divided island of Cyprus hinders the dialogue between the two groups, at a time when both are stretched financially and militarily.
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09/27/2010 08:00 AM
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Jewish Activists Set Sail From Cyprus for Gaza, Aiming to Defy Israeli Blockade
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Nine activists from Israel, Britain, Germany and the United States left the port in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus with a small quantity of aid aboard their catamaran.
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08/27/2010 08:00 AM
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Exiled Tycoon Returns to Britain to Face Charges
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 Asil Nadir, who fled Britain in 1993 following the collapse of his business empire, returned to face fraud charges.
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08/22/2010 08:00 AM
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Gaza-Bound Aid Ship Is Delayed
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A Lebanese aid ship destined for Gaza delayed its departure on Saturday after Cyprus refused to allow the ship to sail through its waters or to use its ports, organizers and Lebanese officials said.
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