CYPRUS MAIL
Refugee fury at double standards
State liquidators are claiming jurisdiction over a bankrupt Greek Cypriot’s land in the north after previously telling him it was worthless trying towards paying his debtes. Clinical Pathologist Dr. Mike Tymvios then entered into a controversial land swap with a Turkish Cypriot who owns property in the south, something he thought would end his 8-year-old bankruptcy. Tymvios, who gave a press conference yesterday to explain his position, was declared officially bankrupt in 2000 even though he says he has property worth nearly €200 million in the north. He already had a case for compensation against Turkey at the ECHR when he resorted to the Turkish Cypriot property commission. A decision by the ECHR on whether the property commission constitutes an adequate means of friendly settlement is still pending. If the ECHR finds in favour of the friendly settlement the decision will affect all Greek Cypriot refugee applications before the European Court and throw into doubt the future of the Guardianship of Turkish Cypriot properties in the south. In an attempt to stave off a negative decision, the Official Receiver who is administrating the liquidation of Tymvios’ estate told the ECHR in a letter last month that the Greek Cypriot refugee did not have the right to dispose of property within his bankrupt estate. Official Receiver Spyros Kokkinos said Tymvios could be accused of fraud by intentionally making any newly acquired property unavailable to his creditors. However, Tymvios countered with the letter to the ECHR last week, saying the only reason he was declared bankrupt in the first place was because the Cyprus courts considered his property in the north to be worthless. Also, the Official Receiver had never claimed Trusteeship of the property in the north, he said.
CYPRUS MAIL
Row erupts over Tymvios case during press conference
Tensions rose between journalists at the news conference given by Mike Tymvios yesterday when one reporter effectively told him to “suck it up” like other refugees who couldn’t affort to sent their children to college abroad. The television reporter was then lambasted by another journalist who asked him if he was aware of the real reasons why Mike Tymvios felt compelled to resort to the property commission in the north. Several took an aggressive tone with Tymvios intoning by their questions that he was selling his country out.
CYPRUS MAIL
Tassos team lashes out over health rumours
Members of the Papadopoulos campaign team yesterday were at pains to quash rumours that suggested that he has been taken seriously ill. Chrysemily Psiloyeni from the Papadopoulos campaign team yesterday rejected the rumours of ill health, describing them as “immoral, unacceptably unethical and condemnable in the strongest way.”
CYPRUS MAIL
Developers in the north pray for Tassos win
The property market in the north is just as anxious for the outcome of the presidential elections with those involved expressing varying preferences as to whom they want as president. It is no secret that there has been a drop in the north’s property market over the past few months. Financial consultant Ayse Donmezer says the urrent decline partly stems from investors’ mismanagement of the good times. This led to the supply of property outstripping demand. Significantly, the property market is hampered by the uncertaintly brought on by the imminent presidential elections. The elected president will affect the property market accordingly, since it is he who will shape perceptions of the possibility of a solution. Estate agents in Karpasia agree that a re-election of Papadopoulos would revitalise the lagging economy of the property market. Estate agent Guray Haksever explained that after the Annan Plan fell through, foreigners, especially Europeans, bought land irrespective of whether it was owned by a Turkish Cypriot or a Greek Cypriot. “They did not care because they did not think that there would be any other opportunities for a solution. Now potential buyers are wary of the results of the elecitons. They’d rather wait and see what happens.” Haksever went on to say that he hoped Papadopoulos would win again. Estate agent Mustafa Genc agreed that it was important that Papadopoulos remains in power. “Should someone else win the elections, there will be moves for a solution and this will undoubtedly have negative repercussions on our job.” Constructors are another group who are holding back because of the elections. However, in contrast with the real estate agents, contractors seem to want a peace process to flower.
CYPRUS MAIL
Top lawyer calls for Truth Commission
Human rights lawyer Achileas Demetriades yesterday called on all the presidential candidates to give their views on the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, similar to the one which operated in South Africa post-apartheid. Demetriades sent out an open letter to the candidates suggesting that the time was ripe for a public debate on an issue which has cause much pain on both sides. The lawyer argued that one way of making sure the families of the 1,912 people still missing in Cyprus was to offer amnesty from criminal prosecution in exchange for information on illegal killings that took place between the two communities from 1963 to 1974.
FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE
MEP tells Cypriots to take 'direct action' against the British
A British MEP has told local villagers that they should consider a campaign of direct action against the sovereign base administration in Cyprus. Chris Davies, accompanied by presidential candidate Marios Matsakis, met with villagers in the sovereign base areas last week. In a press release on his website, Mr Davies called for "an end to the arrangements that put 8,000 Cypriots under British military jurisdiction without elected representation." Speaking to the Famagusta Gazette, Mr. Matsakis added, “It is a ridiculous situation when around 8,000 EU citizens are living outside the EU in their own country.” Mr. Davies claims if the same situation existed in Britain and citizens living close to the American air bases came under the control of the Pentagon, there would be an outcry. He said: "There would be mass protests if conditions like this existed in the UK. Cypriot villagers should consider non-violent civil resistance in a bid to draw attention to the current arrangements." Mr. Davies added, "I am interested to know why politicians in Cyprus have raised the issue so rarely that hardly anyone in Britain has any idea at all about the situation." Mr Matsakis said who ever wins the presidential elections this month must start to address the situation of the British bases in Cyprus.
Tuesday, February 12
CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
“President”: solution will come through negotiations
The solution of the Cyprus problem will emerge through political negotiations and not through discussions by experts or at committee level, Papadopoulos said here today. He also said that meeting Talat to talk would be a deviation from the UN agreement of July 2006. “A meeting between the leaders of the two communities, without prior preparation through the subcommittees, will not accelerate the political settlement,” Papadopoulos said, addressing a public gathering of political parties. He said that such a meeting would only confirm and make official the big gap between the two communities and the existing deadlock, adding that he has explained these thoughts to Talat. He pointed out that an encounter and a chat with Talat would be “a deviation from the July agreement which stipulates clearly the various stages of the negotiating process – a study of certain issues by the committees concerned, within a defined time table, and depending on the progress achieved on the issues under discussion, the leaders of the two communities will meet for the political negotiation.” On attempts to upgrade the status of the Turkish Cypriot regime, Papadopoulos said that moves to bring about partition or recognition of a separate state have failed.
CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
“President”: Cyprus-Russia share common views on Kosovo
Cyprus’ position on a possible unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo is based on principles, Papadopoulos stressed here today, adding that Nicosia and Moscow share common positions on the Kosovo issue. Invited to comment on statements by first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergei Ivanov on Kosovo, Papadopoulos said that Ivanov had pointed out that a UDI by Kosovo is “an unorthodox and bad idea and that this would set a precedent which could affect other issues. He did not say it would by necessity affect Cyprus.” “Cyprus and Russia have maintained a position of principle on Kosovo,” Papadopoulos said, answering press questions. He added that Cyprus’ EU partners understand Nicosia’s stance on Kosovo. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he expressed the conviction that the government, through its declarations and actions, has convinced the international community that it has all the necessary “political will, the willingness and the readiness to begin a serious dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side in the framework of the Gambari process which was agreed under UN auspices and was signed by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat”. Papadopoulos was also asked about the recommencement of the route between the port of Famagusta and Latakia, Syria. “The government has done all it could and even more than that to end this illegal route. We will continue our efforts”, he concluded.
CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
Compensation to Tymvios would set a precedent, says Papadopoulos
Any compensation, paid by the government, for one man’s property in the northern Turkish part of Cyprus would set a precedent and be unfair to others, Papadopoulos said. His remarks came in response to earlier statements by Greek Cypriot Mike Tymvios who expects in the coming weeks the European Court of Human Rights to endorse an out of court friendly settlement he has agreed on with Turkey, with regard to his property. “Had the government paid compensation to Mr Tymvios, for his property in Turkish occupied Cyprus, it would have set a precedent and been unfair to the rest of the people who own property in the occupied areas as well,” he said. Responding to questions, he stressed that the government does not consider properties in ‘occupied’ Cyprus as “lost” and consequently it would not begin paying out damages. Such a move would not be practically or financially feasible, given the value of the properties in that part of the country, even if the value was estimated at prices that applied in 1974, he pointed out. “I do not see why one man should be exempt from this and receive compensation from the government,” he added.
CYPRUS MAIL
Trade union schizophrenia adds a touch of absurdity
“The contribution of the right-wing trade union federation, SEK to the election campaign introduced a much-needed touch of absurdity to the turgid exchanges about the return of the Annan plan. Here was the island’s second biggest union federation, urging its members to vote against Christofias, the only candidate that could be described as a champion of the proletariat, the interest of which, SEK is supposed to protect and promote... We have heard many silly things during this election campaign, but SEK’s call to its members to vote against the candidate, who always champions the interests of the workers, is by far the silliest. Are we to assume that SEK would prefer to see a president who pursues neo-liberal economic policies, advocated by the EU?”
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