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WIN A FAMILY PASS TO THE FASOURI WATERPARK INSIDE Cyprus Size of the banking sector under scrutiny 3

World Joy, protests as Libyans vote in historic election 9

Property The towering new Shard looms over city of London 23

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LIVING

The very long road to justice The Mari blast: still impacting lives a year on

F

ROM THE relatives of the victims awaiting justice to the national guardsmen suffering from PTSD to villagers with damaged homes and the rest of the island paying Europe’s most expensive electricity, the ramifications of the July 11, 2011 Mari blast are still impacting life in Cyprus.

A year ago this coming Wednesday, just before dawn 98 containers holding munitions at the Evangelos Florakis naval base exploded. Thirteen fire fighters and sailors were killed and 60 others were injured.

The explosion almost destroyed the nearby Vassilikos power plant. A little further away in Mari the blast caused extensive damage to buildings and homes.

Georgos Petrakis, a farmer from Mari told the Sunday Mail during the week the real damage had been the 13 deaths. “All of this can be fixed,” he said, gesturing to where parts of his roof and kitchen fell in on the day of the explosion.

Although they are grateful that no one from the village was killed, many residents are still waiting for compensation from the state.

Some of the work they did carry out was shoddy, others say.

Mari may have been the only residential area seriously hit and almost on the mend, but the wider ramifications have impacted the whole island and are likely to do so for years to come.

Much of the focus this last year has been on the widespread anger over the crippling cost of electricity bills after the near destruction of the main power plant at Vassilikos.

The damage to consumers included initially sporadic supply for weeks, followed by a special ‘Mari surcharge’ to cover the cost of renting generators, which will remain in force for the foreseeable future and given Cyprus the dubious honour of having the most expensive electricity in Europe, which has caused untold financial misery to hundreds of thousands of people.

Meanwhile, it has taken the courts a year to get around to bringing those responsible to justice. Only two days ago the latest hearing was postponed yet again.

FULL REPORT PAGES 4-6

Runners or ‘mozos’ being chased by bulls during the first bull run of the Sanfermines 2012, in Pamplona, northern Spain, yesterday. Sanfermines is a week-long festival celebrated to honour San Fermin, the town’s patron saint (EPA)

2 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home Weather

Nicosia Troodos

38

29

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31

35

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35

TODAY: Mostly clear along the coasts, but thickening afternoon cloud inland and over over the mountains may bring rain. Temperatures will reach 38C inland, 35C in the south and east, 31C in the west and 29C over higher ground OUTLOOK: Remaining slightly unsettled, with temperatures set to drop slightly in line with the seasonal average

The new Smartphone app means airline and airport staff can no longer fob you off when it comes to your rights

YESTERDAY

Nicosia Larnaca Limassol Paphos Paralimni Prodromos

max/min temp 39 - 23 35 - 23 34 - 22 31 - 22 36 - 24 30 - 20

SUNRISE: 05.39am

Humidity 19% 41% 58% 75% 34% 42%

SUNSET: 20.04 pm

Sunday Mail Established 1945. Number 21,274 NICOSIA 24 Vass. Voulgaroctonou, P.O. Box 21144, 1502 Nicosia Tel: 22-818585, Fax: 22-676385 email: mail@cyprus-mail.com LIMASSOL 5A Nicolaou, Pentadromos Centre, Thessaloniki St, Tel: 25-761117, Fax: 25-761141 email: cyprusmail@cytanet.com.cy LARNACA Tel: 24-652243, Fax: 24-659982 PAPHOS 62 Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, Office 2, 8046 Paphos, Tel: 26 911383 Fax : 26 221049 email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

New app to help deal with uncaring airlines Know your rights on the spot when stranded at airports PASSENGERS stranded at airports or awaiting missing luggage may now use a smartphone application to check their rights immediately and on the spot.

Just in time for the summer holidays, the European Commission has launched an application for smartphones which covers air and rail transport and works on four mobile platforms: Apple iPhone and iPad, Google Android, RIM Blackberry and Microsoft Windows Phone 7.

The app is available in 22 EU languages. It currently covers air and rail transport

and will be extended to bus / coach and marine travel in 2013 when these rights come into force. European Commission Vice President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport said: “How many of us have stood in an airport and felt the frustration of people telling you that you have no rights when you know you have!

With this application millions of travellers can have easy access to the right information about their passenger rights when they most need it, when unexpected situations arise.”

When a journey does not

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good to know that rail and air companies are obliged to provide transparent information on pricing and assist passengers with reduced mobility.

If you feel that your rights have not been respected, the app also provides information on who to contact in order to complain.

During a large-scale emergency, such as experienced following the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis in 2010, the app may also display travel information and advice from the European Commission.

The application is part of the Commission’s Your passenger rights at hand campaign.

Tuna cans more than a little fishy

L L

Complete Service

go as expected, it is often a stressful experience. Whether a flight is cancelled, a package holiday hotel is not as advertised or a train time is changed – the situation is much easier to deal with if the passenger knows his or her entitlements.

For each potential problem, the app explains the passenger’s rights. For example, if a flight is cancelled and the passenger is consequently denied boarding, he or she may be entitled to compensation of between €125 and €600.

If your luggage is damaged as a result of an accident, you may also be entitled to compensation. It is also

A 44-YEAR-OLD Spaniard was yesterday remanded in custody for eight days in connection with possession of over a kilo of cocaine stored in factorysealed tuna cans.

The man was arrested by police while allegedly trying to find buyers for the drugs in a bar in Limassol.

Officers later searched his hotel room and found 10 factory-sealed and labelled tuna cans in the

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF LARNACA Probate Jurisdiction Application Number 135/2012 In the matter of the estate of Anthony Noel Davis deceased, holder of UK passport number 707466081, late of Oroklini in the District of Larnaca.

STATUTORY ADVERTISEMENT PURSUANT TO ORDER 32 OF THE PROBATE PROCEDURE AND INHERITANCE RULES OF 1955 Notice is given that, after the expiration of eight days, application will be made in the Principal Probate Registry of Larnaca for the Grant of Probate to the Will of the late Anthony Noel Davis, late of Oroklini in the District of Larnaca. Any person wishing to object to the issue of the Grant of Probate are required to file a Caveat at the above District Court within 7 days of this publication.

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fridge containing 1.3 kilos of cocaine. The suspect allegedly admitted to bringing the drugs to Cyprus to sell.

Drug squad deputy chief Nicos Nicolaou said it was an unprecedented case due to the professional way the drugs had been packaged.

Police are trying to determine whether the man has come to Cyprus before and if he has any associates on the island. Cypriot authorities have notified Interpol and Europol of the arrest.

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3 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

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Size of island’s banking sector under scrutiny Would they be asked to sell loan portfolios, dump overseas subsidiaries, cut lending?

By George Psyllides ALTHOUGH there is nothing official yet, one of the issues Cyprus’ lenders would be looking to address is the large size of the banking sector compared to the island’s GDP. Cyprus’ Central Bank Governor Panicos Demetriades has already signalled that authorities would be looking into the matter with the help of experts and the International Monetary Fund, which along with the ECB and the EU, make up the so-called troika of lenders currently putting together the island’s bailout.

“It is a fact … that the banking sector is very large compared with the size of the Cypriot economy,” Demetriades said in a speech at the end of last month. Including cooperative banks, the sector is eight times the GDP – 5.5 times if only domestic lenders and coops are included.

In the next few months, the Central Bank of Cyprus, with the help of experts, will carry out an “in-depth examination” to determine the best size of the sector and the best structure, Demetriades said.

The International Financing Review (IFR), reported recently that Cyprus’ bailout could result in consolidation

of the industry and a partial merger of the two biggest banks – Popular (CPB) and Bank of Cyprus (BoC). Quoting Michalis Sarris, chairman of CPB, IFR said this was a kind of thing that is done when the situation is calm.

“It’s hard to do when there is so much uncertainty,” Sarris told IFR. “I think co-operation makes sense in a number of areas,” he said. “We’re all active in a number of countries such as the UK, Serbia, Ukraine and Greece. I think there could be synergies there that could save capital and reduce costs.”

BoC has not said anything on the matter yet, presumably because there is nothing concrete. Both lenders have asked for state assistance to cover shortfalls in their capital, battered by their exposure to Greek debt – CPB needs at least €1.8 billion while BoC said it needs €500 million in temporary assistance.

But analysts remain cautious, pointing out at the absence of a plan at this point.

Would they be asked to sell their loan portfolios, dump overseas subsidiaries, cut lending or reduce deposits?

Marios Demetriades, fund manager at Piraeus Bank, suggested that some of the expansion undertaken by the two big banks abroad did not

really make sense.

Regulators may now force them to focus on the core operations and get rid of overseas assets, although at this time, it could be at a loss.

It does not mean it must be done immediately, Demetriades said. But cutting overseas operations would mean the head office would not need the same number of staff to support them.

Admittedly, banks are overstaffed, but according to Demetriades, they will try to avoid layoffs. Popular has already said it would not replace retiring staff, a policy that BoC also appears to be following.

Both lenders have shut down branches and staff at Popular, which is now state-controlled, will see their wages cut by an average 12.5 per cent.

BoC has not said anything about wage cuts yet but the figure floating in the hallways is 15 per cent. Merging the two lenders could raise other issues related to competition.

Financial analyst Alecos Sergides also believes that a merger would have the opposite result.

“How can you speak of cutting down the size and speak of merger,” he asked. Sergides said the biggest problem faced by the banks is their excessive loan exposure – not only in Cyprus. And the main

BoC has been quiet on issues such as reported partial mergers and wage cuts for staff problem are the banks’ loans in Greece. Together, the two lenders have a private and business portfolio of around €23 billion, with ever increasing non-performing loans due to the bad state of Greece’s economy.

The CB Governor said his aim is to detach the Cypriot banking sector from Greece by turning the branches there into subsidiaries. “Greece will not accept this, unless they are adequately capitalised,” said Piraeus’ Demetriades.

That would mean Cyprus putting up more billions to satisfy Greece’s Central Bank.

Difficult as it may be, if it does go through it would mean at least that if things in Greece worsen, the risk for Cypriot banks would end there.

Second murder in two days as man knifed A 36-YEAR-OLD Romanian man was apparently knifed to death in Paphos yesterday, in what was the second murder on the island in two days.

Konstantin Daniel, was found in a bad state at 5am outside the apartment block where he lives on Evagoras Pallikarides Avenue.

He was rushed to hospital but died a while later, police said.

“The 36-year-old had wounds on the head and various parts of his body

and it is believed that a sharp instrument was used, possibly a knife,” Paphos police spokesman Nicos Tsiappis said.

Tsiappis said police are looking into all possibilities regarding the motive.

Reports said one of the leads officers are investigating is the possibility of the victim having financial differences with a compatriot.

This was the second murder on the

island in two days.

A court in Limassol yesterday remanded a 74-year-old in custody in connection with shooting an Iranian asylum seeker in the face following an argument over the victim’s teenage son.

Reports said the argument was over the suspect reprimanding the Iranian’s 14-year-old son when he saw him stomping on his air conditioning compressor.

4 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Mari - One year on

Mari villagers had a very lucky escape ‘The damage is those that died, all of this can be fixed’

By Natalie Hami

A

YEAR since the Mari explosion, the small community of mainly elderly refugees are still living with the effects of that fateful day, but they remain eternally grateful that no one from the village lost their lives.

One elderly lady was hit in the face by a door, others suffered serious damage to their farms, while others saw doors and windows fly off shattering glass everywhere. But they are all fully aware that the damage was miniscule compared to the deaths and pain suffered by the families of those that

died in the blast.

“I was hit and I went to hospital for two weeks,” said Maria Prokopi, an elderly resident of the village who explained that she managed to break her left cheek but does not remember anything else. “No one has come here to see me, no one was interested,” she added.

Prokopi also said that to this day she still gets dizzy spells because of the blow she took.

“I fixed two doors as I had the money,” said Georgios Hadjikakkou, a grocer, referring to the doors at the store, which he said cost €1,900 to fix. “The door at home hasn’t been fixed...... those who had connec-

tions managed to get them fixed,” he added. Hadjikakkou said that he had got no compensation for any of the work he did nor did anyone come to fix anything. “The minister said fix them and we’ll give you the money so I fixed them with the intention that I would get the money,” he said.

According to many of the residents officials came round very soon after the blast to calculate the damages and get all the paperwork in order. However since then they have barely made an appearance.

Georgos Petrakis, a farmer, said that parts of their kitchen and roof fell. He also said that under the

Georgos Petrakis’ house was damaged in the blast but has now been fixed pressure of the blast, the glass covering the entire front door shattered and the door caved in, buckling under the pressure. Again like most people he says he was only compensated for some of it. He explained how his son got tossed upwards from his bed in nearby Zygi. “He got thrown upwards in his bed and he’s a big, broad man, these are workers that we’re talking about, not small men,” said Petrakis.

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His seven-year-old granddaughter Angeliki walked me through the house explaining how the drinks stand behind the front door fell, breaking all the bottles and tossing shards of glass all over the floor.

She said that her young aunt, who still lives in the family home and works as a hairdresser, jumped up from her bed when she heard the noise and as she went to leave the room got bashed in the shoulder by her bedroom door. Despite the damage Petrakis is sanguine. “The damage is those that died, all of this can be fixed.”

Dina Hadjoula was one of the lucky ones who happened to be up early and had most of her windows and doors open: “Thank God I didn’t have much (damage)......I got up early and opened the windows and doors so the wave came in one door and went out through the other.” She added that there was some damage to a few things but she had been compensated.

Others felt that where labour was offered by the state, the workmanship was shoddy and simply had

Maria Prokopi (above) broke her cheek in the blast a patched-up feel about it: “The work that they did was patchy, that’s what you would call it,” said Liana Hadjikakkou, Georgios’ wife.

Another resident, Socrates Ignatiou, showed me the repair work done on his property.

“They replaced two of my doors but look they don’t open properly,” he said demonstrating how the newly fitted aluminium doors drag along the floor when they are opened.

Christodoulos Kneknas, a cattle farmer, tells a different story saying the state was by their side as soon as the blast happened. “The state came and dealt with it...from the first moment they were with us,” he said, adding that he had to replace a few doors but he was compensated.

THE traumatic after effects of that early morning have stayed with one National Guardsman to this day, impacting his daily life on some level.

This man, who preferred to remain anonymous, was hit by a window at the naval base and flung to the ground. However the psychological effects of that morning have stayed with him.

“It wasn’t until two days after that I realised I’d suffered psychologically….I have that syndrome that soldiers get when they come back from war,” he said. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, that he has seen a doctor for, at his own expense, and continues to see. He is also taking medication.

“I still have nightmares and I can’t be stressed,” he explained, adding that even the sound of a car overtaking him or a door slamming suddenly startles him.

On the morning of the blast he was on duty when he heard the noise of the explosion. “I was hit by a window but I didn’t realise till afterwards that that’s what it was,” he said, adding though that he got up and was walking around and talking normally. “I was functioning mechanically,” he said.

Once he was released from duty at lunchtime of the same day he went to the doctor.

According to the National Guardsman he still works the same duties and hours he did before the blast.

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Mari compensation agreed so far €2.945 million compensation for the wives and children of those that were killed. €200,000 to the widow of petty officer Michalis Irakleous, Non Commissioned Officer in the Naval Command Base (the pension that he would have got). €440,000 has been given out to those who suffered damage to their properties in the surrounding villages. An official at the Limassol District Office said more was yet to be given out but could not confirm how much more. €101,000 is yet to be allocated by the Cyprus Agricultural Insurance Organisation to farmers in Mari for damage to their farms. According to an official they should be receiving this money by mid-July.

5 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Mari - One year on

Thirteen crosses for those killed in the explosion a year ago. Below: President Demetris Christofias at the Polyviou inquiry

A long road to justice Just before 6.00am on July 11 last year, 98 containers holding munitions at Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari exploded. Thirteen fire fighters and sailors were killed, and 60 were injured.

A sonic boom from the explosion hit and severely damaged the nearby Vassilikos power plant, which generated over half of the island’s electricity. In the immediate vicinity the ground shook

By Poly Pantelides

A

T CYPRUS Larnaca Fire Station 1 a marble plaque names the six fire fighters killed almost a year ago at the naval base explosion near Mari.

Among those named is Panayiotis Theofilou, whose family is suing the state for over €2 million in damages. Families of some of the other 12 victims have also gone to the courts in their search for justice. These private cases come on top of a plethora of public inquiries and a state prosecution which all, to varying degrees, seek to apportion responsibility for the tragedy.

The state prosecution ordered by Attorney-general Petros Clerides has indicted former ministers, army chiefs and civil servants for their role in the blast, while a public inquiry into political responsibility led by lawyer Polys Polyviou pointed the finger directly at President Demetris Christofias.

Meanwhile parliament launched two investigations of its own and called for Christofias’ resignation.

And when Clerides announced he was not going to indict Christofias, some families, including Theofilou’s, went directly to the Supreme Court to try to lift his immunity.

At the centre of these cases and inquiries was the government decision to store the 98 containers holding munitions at Evangelos Florakis naval base at Mari for more than two years.

The containers had lain out in the open since early 2009 when Cyprus - obliged by a UN Security Council resolution - was forced to

and the blast caused extensive damage to buildings as roofs collapsed and windows broke.

It soon emerged that the munitions, confiscated under a UN Security Council resolution from a ship sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009, had been improperly stored and left dangerously exposed to the sweltering Cyprus heat for more than two years.

confiscate a cargo from a ship sailing from Iran to Syria as it entered Cypriot waters.

The deadly munitions had been left at the base where they were first placed after the ship was unloaded. The defence ministry decided against building a protective shed to avoid spending money on materials that might be sold. Even the labels cautioning against exposure to the sun were removed.

Concerns about the safety of the explosives were raised periodically but were not acted on.

Within hours of the explosion, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas and national guard chief Petros Tsalikidis resigned. Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou quickly followed suit.

The cabinet appointed lawyer Polys Polyviou to lead a public investigation into political responsibility behind the blast. He held public hearings in September and

by October published his report.

But when Polyviou concluded that Christofias and his then ministers of defence and foreign affairs were responsible for the blast, the government rejected his findings as unsubstantiated.

In November, all opposition parties passed a (non-binding) resolution in Parliament demanding Christofias’ resignation.

“The saddest realisation for me was the difficulty we have as a society to engage in a productive dialogue and so learn from our mistakes rather than hurl abuse at each other,” said social anthropologist Yiannis Papadakis, an associate professor at the University of Cyprus this week.

“The political parties, for exam-

ple, focused on the blame the Polyviou report placed on the president and ignored the heavy accusations of rife patronage in which they are all implicated,” Papadakis said.

During the inquiry Polyviou had asked politicians and state officials

Within hours of the explosion, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas and national guard chief Petros Tsalikidis resigned, swiftly followed by Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou.

Mass protests followed as the public demanded that those responsible for one of Cyprus’ worst tragedies since the 1974 invasion be brought to justice. One year on, they are still waiting.

to explain exactly what they did and did not do, and why. In each and every case respondents insisted they bore no responsibility.

Some said that their “opinion was not asked for” (for example Kyprianou and ex national guard deputy

commander Savvas Argyrou).

The defence ministry’s permanent secretary up until late 2010 said he would have “got both the ministry and [himself] in trouble by taking non-politically approved action”.

Christofias said he was clueless: “I had told my cabinet… the president felt like a cheated husband who was the last to know.”

For Cyprus, it was an extraordinary sight. Day after day, top officials and politicians ran the gauntlet of grieving relatives and TV cameras as they were questioned in public on actions they had taken, and, far more crucially, those they had failed to take.

On a table just two metres away from them, stood framed photographs of some of the men killed in the explosion, a poignant reminder of the ultimate price of state incompetence.

Christofias’ refusal to accept Polyviou’s conclusion that, as president, he bore the ultimate responsibility was widely criticised.

“I feel that the reaction of President Christofias not to accept the responsibility that the Polyviou report placed on him delegitimised him in the eyes of a large section of the population, but more importantly it delegitimised any notion of justice in Cyprus,” Papadakis said.

“Why should anyone accept the verdict of any institution of the judiciary which is supposed to be a system independent of the government, if the president himself chose to ignore the independent committee he appointed?”

TURN TO PAGE 6

6 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Mari - One year on

‘Small miracle’ at a price Power cuts were kept to a minimum despite crippling damage to power plant

By Jacqueline Agathocleous HEN it comes to the ramifications of the Mari blast on the island’s power supply, much of the focus this last year has been on the widespread anger over the crippling cost of electricity bills after the near destruction of Cyprus’ main power plant at Vassilikos.

In the wake of the explosion, electricity bills - already among the highest in the EU - became the most expensive among all 27 member states.

Acknowledgement of the efficient hard work carried out by electricity authority (EAC) engineers to rebuild Vassilikos and ensure a constant power supply under difficult circumstances has come a distant second to consumer resentment over bills.

Not surprisingly, this positive aspect of the whole tragedy is one the government has been eager to stress. Just last Monday on a visit to Vassilikos, Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis hailed the EAC for the “small miracle” of reconstructing damaged units at the plant and for keeping the power supply going.

But this optimism is a far cry from July 11 last year when shortly before 6 am the sonic boom from the explosion at the nearby naval base at Mari hit the Vassilikos power plant. The shockwave twisted and ripped metal sheets off the walls of the main building and caused parts of the roof to cave in. The guard on duty at the entrance suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital.

Several employees working the morning shift were treated for light injuries.

The building was pelted by flying shrapnel – mostly pieces of pipe and metal shards – believed to have been ejected from the munitions that exploded at the base, just 300m away. A fire broke out inside the administration building but was quickly put out. Other small outbreaks of fire occurred in the fields surrounding the building

W

but were also extinguished by firefighters. Luckily, the fuel tanks at the site escaped the flames.

The force of the shockwave was such that it crushed the roofs of cars that were parked there.

Inside, extensive damage was caused to equipment. Units 1, 2 and 3 were virtually destroyed, while Units 4 and 5 were also badly damaged.

The effects were immediate. In Nicosia alone, the fire department received around 50 calls from people trapped in elevators, banks and shops were forced to close as power cuts shut down computers. Powerhungry desalination plants were taken offline – leading in turn to water cuts for 12 hours a day.

In the middle of the scorching heat, people were forced to be frugal with their energy consumption, while enduring regular two-hour cuts throughout the day.

The elderly, people suffering breathing problems, babies and pregnant women probably suffered the most.

Immediately after the blast, the EAC appealed to the public to keep electrical consumption at a minimum, and avoid using air-conditioning units in particular.

The maximum output of the two remaining power stations at Moni and Dhekelia was a mere 690 mw.

Demand for that time of year was in the region of 1,200mw.

The blast brought an onslaught of additional costs for both the EAC and consumers with the EAC forced to rent generators, buy power from the Turkish Cypriots and pay for extra fuel costs, among others.

Part of these was covered by the ‘Mari surcharge’, a 6.96 per cent surcharge on electricity bills (recently reduced to 5.75 per cent).

Nearly a year later repair work at Vassilikos has ensured Unit 5 will be producing 220MW by August now that two gas turbines have been connected. Unit 4 is also expected to be partly functional in August. Together, the units - which suffered the least damage from the blast - will yield 450MW. Unit 3 will be restored by the end of the year and units 1 and 2 by May 2013. To

Vassiliko immediately after the blast last July 11 (above), and last week (Christos Theodorides)

make up the shortfall temporary power units have been set up to increase production at the ageing facilities. Electricity is no longer being bought from the north.

In March, the EAC announced it had signed a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank for €130 million to help get the Vassilikos station up and running again.

This was in addition to a state guarantee agreement to the EAC, which saw the semigovernment organisation secure a bank overdraft of approximately €30 million.

Attempts to receive funding from the EU Solidarity Fund failed as the explosion was not a result of natural causes.

In January, insurance companies accepted liability claims for the costs of restoring the power station and interim payments by insurers started. Insurance payments would

not be a lump sum but rather gradual payments for the cost of repairs.

The final cost was estimated in the region of €300m to€350m.

It emerged that repairing the damaged power station would entail the largest single insurance payout in Cypriot history, with the largest one up to that point being some €15 million for the destroyed Pittas factory.

While there is still a long way to go, the power station is on the mend.

For Stelios Stylianou, the EAC’s general manager, the progress is a source of real pride.

“The job that was done was huge with co-ordination and planning undertaken exclusively by EAC members,” he said this week. “I feel the need to say how proud I am of the EAC staff.”

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Deadline for receiving applications: 12 noon Monday 16 July 2012

(Continued from page 5) Polyviou’s report was nonbinding and his investigation was not a criminal one. In a criminal case, the court has much stricter criteria to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The police handed over their criminal investigation to Clerides in October and in January he announced he would indict two former ministers (Kyprianou and Papacostas) and six (later dropped to five) army and fire service officers. They have been charged with causing the deaths of the 13 men by want of precaution and of homicide by gross negligence. Clerides said there were no legal grounds to indict Christofias, regardless of his immunity.

The Supreme Court recently threw out three applications aiming to eventually lift Christofias’ immunity as “unfounded”.

But the lawyers of some of the relatives said they would use Polyviou’s report to prosecute Christofias when his term expires next

year and he is no longer protected with immunity.

The lawyers said there was a legal dispute between them and the attorneygeneral over the interpretation of an article of the Constitution stating that the president cannot be prosecuted except for high treason or committing an offence involving dishonesty and moral turpitude, which the lawyers said includes manslaughter.

The court said the issue of interpretation could only arise if and when the attorney-general decided to prosecute the president, a move Clerides has rejected.

Families have also sued the state for over €2 million in damages. The family of captain Andreas Ioannides, the navy commander who died in the blast, names Christofias and former ministers Papacostas and Kyprianou. The lawyers argue that Christofias’ actions or inactions in relation to Mari were not done in his official capacity: he was acting in his personal capacity, the

argument goes.

Meanwhile, the state’s criminal case against Kyprianou, Papacostas et al has been subject to numerous delays and postponements.

The status of another of the accused, former national guard chief and Greek national Petros Tsalikidis has also been a cause of delays. Attempts to extradite him from Greece to stand trial here were dropped. Instead, he has been charged in Greece where he will stand trial.

For the relatives and the public at large, justice has not yet been served, and all indications are that such an outcome is a long way off, if it comes at all.

But for Papadakis, the fact that a trial is taking place at all is a significant development.

“This was the first time that ministers and high officials have been taken to court and from now on, officials should have realised, they are not immune from prosecution,” he said.

7 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Home

A serene night with a sense of purpose

By Stefanos Evripidou I GOT a first sense that this was an event like no other when the buses organised to transfer all officials and guests to the opening ceremony of the Cyprus EU presidency left on time.

As a result, I missed my bus.

With invitation in hand I wandered the car park of the GSP Stadium in Nicosia begging organisers to let me hitch a ride on another of the many buses leaving for the ancient amphitheatre with police escort.

Showing pity, they pointed me in the direction of Bus No. 4. I sat at the back, passing on my way the Cypriot ambassador to the EU in Brussels, the Auditor-general and the Child Commissioner, not quite sure if I would be received more as fourth estate or fifth column.

On arrival at the majestic Curium, Cypriot and British bases police lined the closed roads leading up to the amphitheatre. Inside, each guest was given a bum cushion with presidency logo which doubled up as a bag with shoulder strap, along with a transpar-

ent toaster with a sketch of the amphitheatre on it.

The welcome breeze, ancient surroundings, glowing amber of the setting sun and sound of travelling waves crashing to shore gave the evening an element of serene purpose.

Minutes before the start, the President and First Lady arrived along with the heads of the European Commission and Council and College of Commissioners. Heads didn’t really turn however until the eye-catching Danish Prime Minister turned up and walked down the archaic steps of the amphitheatre in a bright fuchsia dress, a stark yet pleasing contrast to the darker, paler, pastel colours of the 500 attendees.

The evening progressed with short speeches in between short pieces from the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra followed by a multimedia performance including visuals, poetry, dance and song.

After the show, as the nearfull moon made its presence known, guests mingled with officials at the reception held just above the amphitheatre.

Health Minister and potential presidential candidate for

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in the moonlight

FUNERAL With deep sorrow we announce the death of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother

George Christophides (From Nicosia) Who passed away on Friday at the age of 96.

The funeral service will take place on Wednesday, July 11 at 5:00 p.m. at Constantinou & Elenis church, in Nicosia.

The family will receive condolences at the church from 4.30 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.

The bereaved: wife: Mona Christophidou children: Christakis & Felicity Christophide Stelios & Marina Chrsitophide grandchildren: Giorgos, Philippos, Alexandros, Leonidas, Selina and others relatives In lieu of flowers donations will be made to the “MANA”association

AKEL Stavros Malas could be seen chatting away all statesman-like to Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Sensing an opportunity, I took my bite-size souvlaki in pitta and glass of wine as close to the Danish PM as possible in the hope she might start a conversation. She didn’t.

Some murmurs were heard that the ceremony was too long, too modern, didn’t focus enough on true Cypriot performances, offered no insight into traditional Cypriot culture.

For me, it was a well-organised event that avoided the kind of kitsch that has seen a startled Aphrodite pop out of a scallop shell.

Standing out from the crowd: Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt in fuchsia

8 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home

Women thieves on the increase Growing poverty a major factor in increased role of women in Paphos robberies

By Bejay Browne

G

ROWING numbers of women are taking part in robberies in Paphos adding to the overall increase in thefts in the town.

Police recently arrested an 18year-old woman, who admitted committing a string of robberies where she stole jewellery, clothing and footwear for personal use.

A 26-year-old woman is under investigation for breaking into a house in Paphos and stealing various items while another 23-yearold Cypriot woman was remanded in custody in connection with a robbery in Inia.

It is a phenomenon that police expect to rise as the recession continues to spread.

“There have been a number of burglaries involving women in Paphos over the last eighteen months. They are often those who are driven to acts of criminality by a poor economy or a downturn in their personal fortunes. We may see this phenomena get worse before it gets better,” said a member of the Paphos police force who did not wish to be named.

Deputy Mayor of Paphos, Makis Roussis agreed that growing pov-

erty was the major reason women were turning to crime, particularly in Paphos which has been especially hard hit by the recession.

“There are many families living in conditions of poverty. They don’t have money even to buy food for their children,” Roussis said.

“Incidents of burglary have increased dramatically. The fact that more women are acting in this way is because they are sensitive and undergo the pressure of survival of the family more intensely.”

One non-Cypriot Paphos resident admits she has been tempted to steal from a local supermarket to feed her family.

“I know stealing is wrong and I’ve never done it before but my husband is out of work and I have two small children to feed and clothe,” said the 27-year-old mother who did not wish to be named. “I have a part time job but it’s impossible to live off my wages. Sometimes I cry at night because I’m so worried about how I will feed my children and how we will survive.”

Her husband has been promised work in September, and the family is hoping they will be able to struggle on until then.

Shopowners are among those bearing the brunt of the increase in thefts. “We have had a few thefts

Shopkeepers have noticed more and more women stealing food from the shop and these cases have increased over the last twelve months,” said the owner of a popular Paphos women’s clothes shop.

The shop owner, who did not wished to be named, says that one particular customer, a Cypriot woman in her 60s, is a regular visitor to the shop, and staff believe she is responsible for the theft of a number of items.

“This lady is very flamboyant and friendly but a few times after

she has left we have realised that items are missing. The most recent incident was a couple of months ago when a large handbag disappeared.”

Though the boutique owner is losing much-needed revenue, she has some sympathy. “Times are hard and we have to empathise with these women,” she said. “We need to take temptation away and make it harder for them to take items; otherwise it’s like encourag-

ing them to steal.”

The Sunday Mail contacted a variety of other outlets in Paphos including kiosks, food and clothing stores and electrical shops. Overall, most said they believed cases of theft had increased over the last 18 months adding that a number of women, including teenagers, had been caught stealing.

“We didn’t call the police when we realised that a women had stolen biscuits and coffee from our shop,” one kiosk owner said. “We would report her though if she comes back to steal from us again, but this time, we just gave her a warning.”

The deputy mayor stressed that the municipality recognised the need for intervention and have established a ‘Social Market’ where poor families can obtain food and other items for free.

“We take donations of goods (foodstuffs) during the week and on Thursdays we make up the parcels with whatever has been given.

We always include the basics,” a spokesperson for the Paphos social welfare said.

“We have a list of families and individuals in Paphos who are struggling and we call them to come and collect their parcels. The people whom we are helping are of all different nationalities,” she said.

But Roussis said the municipality can only give limited help. “If this situation continues, the municipality cannot do a great deal to influence such a large and complicated problem,” he said.

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9 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

World

Syria fighting spills into Lebanon

Libyans vote in historic election

By Oliver Holmes SYRIA’S conflict spilled further into Lebanon yesterday when mortar fire from government forces crashed into villages in the north, killing two women and a man after rebels crossed the border for refuge, residents said.

In contrast with Turkey, which openly harbours rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Lebanon was not expected to respond militarily and has played down the effect of regular clashes along the frontier.

But rebels have used north Lebanon as a base and Assad’s forces have at times bombed villages and even crossed the border in pursuit of militants, threatening to inflame tensions in Lebanon given a long history of Syrian domination there.

Residents of Lebanon’s Wadi Khaled region said several mortar bombs hit farm buildings five to 20 km from the border at around 2 a.m. At midday villagers reported more explosions and said they heard gunfire close to the border.

There was no immediate response from the prime minister or the foreign ministry, both of whom have expressed fears that Lebanon could be dragged into the conflict.

The first free national poll in 60 years

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Hadeel Al Shalchi

Joy: Libyans gather in the street to celebrate the election

CROWDS of joyful Libyans, some with tears in their eyes, parted with the legacy of Muammar Gaddafi yesterday as they voted in the first free national election in 60 years.

But in the eastern city of Benghazi, cradle of last year’s uprising and now seeking more autonomy from the interim government, protesters stormed polling stations and burned hundreds of ballot papers.

Libyans are choosing a 200member assembly which will elect a prime minister and cabinet before laying the ground for full parliamentary elections next year under a new constitution.

Candidates with Islamic agendas dominate the field of more than 3,700 hopefuls, suggesting Libya will be the next Arab Spring country - after Egypt and Tunisia - to see religious parties secure a grip on power.

In Benghazi, witnesses said protesters stormed a polling station just after voting start-

ed and publicly burnt hundreds of ballot slips in a bid to undermine the election’s credibility.

One local election commission worker said two other polling stations in Benghazi had also had their ballots boxes looted.

At one polling station hit by the protests, a man was shot in the arm, local election official Ismail Al-Mjbali told Reuters. Blood from the attack stained the floor and the man had been taken to hospital, Mjbali said.

In the capital Tripoli, voting was smooth. A loud cry of ‘Allahu akbar’ (‘God is greatest’) went up inside a polling station there as the first woman cast her vote in a converted school building abuzz with the chatter of queueing locals.

“I can’t describe the feeling. We paid the price, I have two martyrs in my family. I am certain the future will be good, Libya will be successful,” Zainab Masri, a 50-yearold teacher, said of her first experience of voting.

“I am a Libyan citizen in free Libya,” said Mahmud Mo-

hammed Al-Bizamti. “I came today to be able to vote in a democratic way. Today is like a wedding for us.”

Many easterners, whose region is home to the bulk of Libya’s oil sector, are angry that the east has been allotted only 60 seats in the assembly compared to 102 for the west.

On Friday, armed groups in the east shut off Libya’s oil exports to press their demands for greater representation in the new national assembly. At least three major oil-exporting terminals were affected.

While analysts say it is hard to predict the political makeup of the new assembly, parties and candidates professing an attachment to Islamic values dominate and very few are running on an exclusively secular ticket.

The Justice and Construction offshoot of Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood is tipped to do well, as is al-Watan, the party of former CIA detainee and Islamist insurgent Abdel Hakim Belhadj.

Polls closed at 8 p.m but meaninful partial results are not due until today.

10 July 8 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

World

Afghanistan made major An average two-months’ rain fell in a few hours in Krasnodar American ally

Floods kill 99 in Russia

By Vladimir Soldatkin AT least 99 people were killed in floods and landslides in southern Russia after two months’ average rainfall fell in a few hours overnight, police and emergency officials said yesterday.

Some of the victims were electrocuted while others were swept into the sea.

Many of the dead were elderly people who had been sleeping and drowned.

Others survived by climbing on to rooftops after the torrential rain hit thousands of homes, flooded railways and roads, and halted oil shipments from the port of Novorossiisk.

Most of the victims died in

or around Krymsk , a town about 300 km northwest of Sochi, the Black Sea resort where Russia will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

“There are lots of overturned cars, even huge trucks. Brick fences are washed away,” local resident Vladimir Anosov said by telephone from the village of Novoukrainsky near Krymsk.

“People are on the street, they are at a loss what to do. Helicopters are flying overhead, they are evacuating people from the flooded areas. The floods are really, really huge. Police advise people to choose different routes,” he said.

Novorossiisk, Russia’s largest Black Sea port,

halted crude oil shipments, a spokesman for oil pipeline operator Transneft said.

The port also suspended grain exports.

Police put the death toll in the Krymsk area alone at 88 and said two had been killed in Novorossiisk and nine in the coastal resort town of Gelendzhik.

“Police are beefing up their presence to prevent mass looting,” police spokesman Igor Zhelyabin said.

“The floods hit at night when people were asleep.

You can’t do anything about that.

Many people in Gelendzhik were hit by electric shocks and some of them were washed away into the sea.”

Streets flooded, with people scrambling for high ground

WASHINGTON declared Afghanistan a major non-NATO ally yesterday, a largely symbolic status reinforcing its message to Afghans that they will not be abandoned as the war winds down.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the decision, made by President Barack Obama, during her unannounced visit to Kabul where she met President Hamid Karzai on the eve of a major donors’ conference in Tokyo which will draw pledges for aid.

The status upgrade may help Afghanistan have greater access to US training as the Afghan army takes more responsibility for the country’s security ahead of the 2014 withdrawal of most NATO combat troops.

London police make 7th arrest in terrorism probe

The national threat level is at ‘substantial’ - but one level lower than it has been for most of the time since the July 7, 2005 suicide bomb attacks in London which killed 52 people

By Tim Castle POLICE investigating a potential terrorist attack said they had arrested a seventh person, a 22-year-old woman, in east London yesterday.

Police are on high alert ahead of the London Olympics but said the latest arrest and those of a woman and five men in London earlier this week were not linked to the Games.

All seven suspects have been held on “suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”, police said.

Britain has spent millions of pounds beefing up security in preparation for the Olympics.

Security chiefs have said

repeatedly that they have no information that the Olympics are being targeted, but Jonathan Evans, head of the domestic intelligence agency MI5, has said the Games present an attractive target.

In a separate operation this week police arrested seven men on suspicion of terrorism after weapons were found in a vehicle stopped on a motorway in Yorkshire, northern England.

A police source said that in that case too, there was nothing to suggest any link with the Olympics, which start on July 27.

In both cases security sources have said the suspects were linked to militant Islamism, but that it remained unclear what was planned. The London sus-

pects were arrested when their plotting was at an early stage, the sources added.

In a sign of heightened vigilance ahead of the Games, armed police closed the M6 motorway near Birmingham, in the Midlands, for four hours on Thursday after a man was reported acting suspiciously on a coach heading to London.

It later emerged the alert was caused by a passenger using an electronic cigarette.

Security authorities have assessed the national threat level at ‘substantial’ - meaning that an attack is a strong possibility - but that is one level lower than it has been for most of the time since the July 7, 2005 suicide bomb attacks in London which killed 52 people.

11 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

World

The God particle

The ‘God’ particle was first posited in 1964 by six physicists, including Briton Peter Higgs (right).

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN (below)

Scientists at the CERN research centre this week found a new subatomic particle that could be the Higgs boson, the universe’s basic building block. The discovery has taken them nearer to understanding how the Big Bang at the dawn of time gave rise to stars, planets and life What is the Higgs boson?

The Higgs is the last missing piece of the Standard Model, the theory that describes the basic building blocks of the universe. The other 11 particles predicted by the model have been found and finding the Higgs would validate the model. Ruling it out or finding something more exotic would force a rethink on how the universe is put together.

Scientists believe that in the first billionth of a second after the Big Bang, the universe was a gigantic soup of particles racing around at the speed of light without any mass to speak of. It was through their interaction with the Higgs field that they gained mass and eventually formed the universe.

The Higgs field is a theoretical and invisible energy field that pervades the whole cosmos. Some particles, like the photons that make up light, are not affected by it and therefore have no mass. Others are not so lucky and find it drags on them as porridge drags on a spoon.

Picture George Clooney (the particle) walking down a street with a gaggle of photographers (the Higgs field) clustered around him.

An average guy on the same street (a photon) gets no attention from the paparazzi and gets on with his

day. The Higgs particle is the signature of the field - an eyelash of one of the photographers.

The particle is theoretical, first posited in 1964 by six physicists, including Briton Peter Higgs.

The search for it only began in earnest in the 1980s, first in Fermilab’s now mothballed Tevatron particle collider near Chicago and later in a similar machine at CERN, but most intensively since 2010 with the start-up of the European centre’s Large Hadron Collider.

What is the Standard Model?

The Standard Model is to physics what the theory of evolution is to biology. It is the best explanation physicists have of how the building blocks of the universe are put together. It describes 12 fundamental particles, governed by four basic forces.

But the universe is a big place and the Standard Model only explains a small part of it. Scientists have spotted a gap between what we can see and what must be out there. That gap must be filled by something we don’t fully understand, which they have dubbed

‘dark matter’. Galaxies are also hurtling away from each other faster than the forces we know about suggest they should. This gap is filled by ‘dark energy’. This poorly understood pair are believed to make up a whopping 96 per cent of the mass and energy of the cosmos.

Confirming the Standard Model, or perhaps modifying it, would be a step towards the holy grail of physics - a ‘theory of everything’ that encompasses dark matter, dark energy and the force of gravity, which the Standard Model also does not explain. It could also shed light on even more esoteric ideas, such as the possibility of parallel universes.

CERN spokesman James Gillies has said that just as Albert Einstein’s theories enveloped and built on the work of Isaac Newton, the work being done by the thousands of physicists at CERN has the potential to do the same to Einstein’s work.

What is the Hadron Collider?

The Large Hadron Collider is the world’s biggest and most powerful particle accelerator, a 27-km looped pipe that sits in a tunnel 100 metres underground on the Swiss/French border. It cost three billion euros to build.

Two beams of protons are fired in opposite directions around it before smashing into each other to create many millions of particle

collisions every second in a recreation of the conditions a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, when the Higgs field is believed to have ‘switched on’.

The vast amount of data produced is examined by banks of computers. Of all the trillions of collisions, very few are just right for revealing the Higgs particle. That makes the hunt for the Higgs slow, and progress incremental.

What is the threshold for proof?

To claim this week’s discovery, scientists have set themselves a target for certainty that they call “5 sigma”. This means that there is a probability of less than one in a million that their conclusions from the data harvested from the particle accelerator are the result of a statistical fluke.

The two teams hunting for the Higgs at CERN, called Atlas and CMS, now have twice the amount of data that allowed them to claim ‘tantalising glimpses’ of the Higgs at the end of last year and this pushed their results beyond that threshold.

12 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion

Paying for decades of reckless populism INSPECTORS of the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF - known as the troika – came, met all the key people, listened, gathered information and left. A few members of the delegation stayed, presumably to obtain additional data, but the full team will be back, a week on Monday, with the troika’s terms and conditions for the bailout.

There would be consultations – perhaps some negotiations as well but not of the never-ending type that thrive in Cyprus – with the target of finalising the bailout terms and conditions by the end of July and having the agreement approved in August. It will have taken the troika less than a month to identify the deep-rooted problems of the economy and the banking sector, estimate the loan requirements and draft the package of reforms that would eliminate the imbalances of the economy that would enable the state to repay its loan.

The speed and efficiency with which the troika’s technocrats work

must have come as a big culture shock to Cyprus’ decision-averse officials who are accustomed to having countless inconclusive meetings before coming up with ineffective decisions aimed at keeping everyone happy, in the name of social consensus. Not even the continuous downgrades and Cyprus’ exclusion from the markets could instil a sense of urgency in the government regarding the need for tough and speedy decisions. On the contrary, President Christofias avoided taking decisions by paying lip service to the need for consensus through dialogue with the social partners (union bosses) who never agreed to anything.

Astonishingly, Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly brought up the nonsense about the consensus-building that surrendered the running of the economy for decades to selfserving union bosses, at his meeting with the delegation of the troika.

“We highlighted the need that they be particularly careful concerning issues of social and political cohe-

Cyprus Mail

sion,” he said on Wednesday. Was he suggesting that the troika officials became locked into months of dialogue with union bosses for the sake of social cohesion?

This was what the union bosses demanded at Thursday’s meeting, the PEO boss saying he expected the troika “to respect the Cypriot tradition of social dialogue and collective bargaining.” They also told the troika that they would never accept the abolition of CoLA, which was a ‘red line’ for the union movement. They have been accustomed to dictating their terms for so long they cannot handle the idea they are no longer in the position to do so.

We need to understand as a society - several politicians have been talking like the union bosses, mouthing off against austerity measures - that we are in no position to dictate terms and set ‘red

lines’ as we have been doing in the Cyprus problem talks. We are the weak side that has appealed for financial help because our state has run out of money and our banks cannot re-capitalise. Yesterday, talk of the much-touted Russian loan was back in the news, but even Russia made it clear that there would be consultations with the EU before a loan was given.

The truth is we are in a desperate position. The state has run out of money and it is now raiding the coffers of semi-governmental organisations to repay loans of a few hundreds of millions in the next few weeks. There is even talk that there would be no money to pay public employees by the end of August. A country in such a desperately weak position can neither draw ‘red lines’ nor reject the proposals of those who will save it from financial collapse, as Christofias suggested on Friday.

There may be a few days of negotiations over the bailout terms, but in the end we will have no choice

but to accept the troika’s austerity measures which will be tough and unpopular. What would be the alternative? A bankrupt state, unable to meets it financial obligations, and banks unable to operate because of inadequate capital. The troika is here because we invited it and we invited it because we, as a society, have proved spectacularly incapable of running our economy and our banks with even a modicum of prudence and a sense of responsibility.

We will now pay for the decades of reckless populism, financial profligacy, greed and corruption, not to mention the illusion that we could live beyond our means forever. Unfortunately pay-back time has now arrived and the bill will be staggeringly high.

The next few years will be very difficult for all of us, but we have nobody else to blame but ourselves that the troika will be running our economy. At least, we can be sure it would do the job much better than we ever did.

Letters to the Editor

Huge difference between what’s being said and what’s being done on Syria On June 26, Foreign Minister, Ms Kozakou-Marcoullis, stated that Cyprus is geared up with its European partners to evacuate refugees from Syria.

She also asserted: “We have taken the decision not to send back to Syria any of the asylum seekers ‘or illegal immigrants who are here, until the situation is more clear”.

But the above statement seems to reflect a different reality to what we come across on a daily basis here at the Future Worlds Center.

At the moment, there are approximately 70 Syrians locked behind bars in detention centres all over Cyprus, including asylum seekers whose cases are still pending and irregular migrants.

None of the two categories of people are currently being returned to Syria, and as a result people have been kept in confinement, often indefinitely, for long

periods of time reaching one year.

Only a few days ago, a couple from Syria was arrested in the early hours of the morning, separated from their two young children age 4 and 7, and sent to two separate detention centres in Nicosia.

The Cypriot government was strongly criticised in the recent report of Amnesty International for keeping a large number of Syrians in detention and treating them like criminals, including people who have escaped the bloodshed in Syria and came to Cyprus to find a safe haven.

The interior ministry responded by stating clearly that detention in Cyprus is only used as a last resort.

The question needing an answer at this point is how the Cypriot authorities can justify keeping dozens of Syrians in detention centres while it is not in the government’s agenda to return people

to Syria. The detention of Syrians goes beyond the need to react to a humanitarian crisis.

For Syrians outside detention the situation is just as dire; although there has not been an influx of Syrian asylum seekers in Cyprus and there has not been a significant rise in the number of asylum applications, the asylum cases that are pending have been put on hold, and no decisions have been issued in 2012.

As a result, individuals and families from Syria are now kept in constant limbo.

Amongst these are also Syrians who have no legal status in the country and are rendered to destitution and despair with no access to work, healthcare, or financial assistance.

At the same time, Syrians who have been legally residing and working in Cyprus have found themselves isolated from their

families, struggling for months to facilitate their transfer to Cyprus, but to no avail.

The refusal of the Cypriot authorities to provide visas for their wives and children leaves them with no other option but to expose their families to the dangers of smuggling in order to bring them to a place where they can be safe.

In light of the continued bloodshed in Syria and the urgent need for the European states to react to the Syrian people’s plight, it remains unclear how the Cypriot authorities plan to stand on the frontline of the evacuation process of people from Syria while they seem to be unable to respond to their very basic responsibility to protect the Syrian people amongst us.

Future Worlds Center, Humanitarian Affairs Unit

Teacher doesn’t know best Was the presidency opening ceremony the Cypriot version of Eurovision Song Contest?

Derek Smith will have to forgive me if I am not keen for teachers to have the final say on which school exam pupils should sit (Sunday Mail, July 1).

When Britain had CSEs and O Levels teachers would pre-select pupils for particular exams, sometimes years in advance.

In my own case it was six years beforehand, with the headmaster of my primary school deciding which secondary school a pupil would go to based on highly spurious grounds.

In my case he simply asked me where my brothers had gone to school. When I told him he replied: “So you’ll be going to the Secondary Modern School too then.”

Unfortunately Secondary Modern only did CSEs, so no matter how good I was I had no chance of sitting O Levels and no direct route into university. That lost me precious time, but hard work when I left school resulted in me eventually gaining a PhD from one of Britain’s top universities. So much for teachers knowing what they are talking about!

Dr Michael Paraskos, FRSA, Director Cyprus College of Art, Lemba

Judging from the last part of the broadcast of the opening ceremony of the EU presidency, I conclude that I was lucky to miss the speeches.

My reaction to the hour I watched was incredulity coupled with laughter.

A bunch of women wearing something like head scarves (why?) moved in a way which was neither artistic nor meaningful.

At some stage they resembled a group of lesbians (which may be a modern touch?) but this

was counteracted by a heterosexual couple who took centre stage.

The male protagonist was Greek (the European element?) and was obviously new to the scene as he had to rely on reading a script for most of his performance.

They performed for an hour where most of the songs were in Greek with what seemed to be a few arbitrary words in English thrown in, well, at least that’s how it seemed to me as a fellow European.

Was the whole point to stage a Cypriot version of Eurovision Songs Contest?

As the CyBC cameras revealed, two-thirds of the Curium amphitheatre was empty.

Thus, most of the invited Europeans seem to have decided not to attend; who wants to guess why?

Plus, this was probably not shown on any other TV channel.

Annette Chrysostomou, Nicosia

What a load of old drivel Women don’t have what it takes to be fire-fighters’ (Cyprus Mail June 30).

What a load of drivel.

Having been a fire-fighter for 35 years I feel adequately qualified to make this statement. Mr Trangolas is clearly out of touch in this modern world of firefighting and to say that women, I assume he means all women, are not able to do the job smacks of workplace male domination.

His comments about what fire-fighters are to carry, uniform, helmet and shoes, this is the standard fire-fighters protective clothing not an addition, such a weak argument.

Best you, between coffees, dream up some other reasons if you want to be taken seriously and I for one doubt if you can.

If you have a bad bunch of apples, male or female, not able to come up to a minimum physical or trade knowledge standards then the correct course of action is to apply remedial training over a set period and if the person does not reach that standard then discharge that person.. oh sorry the unions would not let you. Your problem so don’t go down the road that females should not be fire-fighters.

I know plenty that would give you a run for your money and some of your fatty male fire-fighters.

PL, Nicosia

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13 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Opinion

Keeping ‘Europe at work’ The Danish EU presidency proved that EU co-operation functions even in the most difficult of times Comment Nicolai Wammen

D

ARK clouds hung over Europe on January 1, 2012, the day we took over the EU presidency from Poland.

The EU was in the midst of a crisis.

Just a few weeks earlier, the EU heads of state or government had reached agreement on the content of the Fiscal Compact at a summit in Brussels. However, the UK and the Czech Republic chose to remain outside the compact. This triggered a good deal of murmuring about the first signs of a split in EU co-operation – a so-called “two-speed Europe” – which in reality could end up jeopardising the entire co-operation project in the EU. We decided from the outset that our primary role as holder of the EU presidency would be to act as a bridge-builder. We needed to build bridges between the different positions in the council. Build bridges between the euro area countries and the countries outside the single currency. And build bridges between the European institutions.

Our approach was that the machinery of the EU should be put to work. The co-operation had to show that even in times of numerous and diverse challenges the EU was still able to deliver results that demonstrated the value of European co-operation. This did not necessarily entail coming up with new, grand and gilt-edged plans, as this is not what is needed right now, but instead delivering tangible results benefiting citizens and businesses in Europe.

We therefore formulated a presidency programme entitled “Europe at work”. Europe would need to roll up its sleeves and get down to work for Europeans, among other things to ensure that more jobs were created in Europe.

In the programme, we defined four fundamental priorities for our presidency: a responsible Europe, a dynamic Europe, a green Europe and a safe Europe. These were headings that encapsulated the challenges that Europe faced, and which Europe would need to prioritise during a period of time characterised by economic crisis and global shifts of power.

Have we solved all the EU’s problems? No. Have we brought Europe forward? Yes. We have delivered a professional, collaborating and transparent presidency. And we have

delivered results on, among other things, strengthened economic and financial supervision, capital requirements for banks, the big energy efficiency directive, candidate status for Serbia and opening of accession negotiations with Montenegro.

The agreement we reached regarding the so-called “two-pack” plays a key role, as it strengthens euro area co-operation and brings to completion the reform of EU economic governance. On top of this is the Fiscal Compact, which was adopted at the European Council in March. The Fiscal Compact undoubtedly represents a milestone in European co-operation. Member states have committed themselves to introducing national legislation that ensures their respective national budgets remain in balance, thus keeping their economy in order. This is something in which we all have an interest, as it will enable us to secure a stable economic development in Europe.

During our presidency, the debate about consolidation of the public finances and promotion of growth has, however, often been presented to the public in very black and white terms, with a tendency towards portraying Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande as opponents, each in their own corner. But this is a false portrayal. The one does not make sense without the other, which is why we need a combination of both.

No one in Europe is against growth. The challenge lies in creating growth without the continent falling deeper into debt. It is a question of ensuring responsible growth, and it is this approach we brought to the negotiating table.

We were therefore pleased that we could conclude our presidency by securing agreement in the European Council on 28-29 June on the adoption of a Compact for Growth and Jobs.

This growth package represents the culmination of the Danish EU presidency’s efforts to promote growth and employment in the EU. Throughout the presidency, we also worked tirelessly to modernise the common driver for growth - the Single Market. The results we have achieved have reduced the administrative burdens on European businesses.

Considerable effort has also been put into the negotiations regarding the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020. Even though these negotiations will not be finally concluded until during the Cyprus presidency, the Danish presidency has worked hard to ensure that the Multiannual Financial Framework prioritises areas such as education, innovation and research; areas that can contrib-

There is a tendency to portray Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande as opponents

‘The challenge lies in creating growth without the continent falling deeper into debt’ ute to fostering future growth and prosperity in Europe.

It is no secret that the Danish presidency has assigned high priority to the green agenda.

And in some areas our ambitions exceeded what some countries were prepared to accept.

However, we fought tenaciously for our case, because Europe will need to keep its position as standard bearer for the environment and climate agenda. There are quite simply several million potential jobs within green growth, and these are jobs that Europe can not afford to lose in a competitive global market.

One of our greatest results was achieved within the green agenda. We reached agreement with the European Parliament on the Energy Efficiency Directive; an agreement that can create several hundred thousand jobs in Europe and reduce energy consumption by approximately 17 per cent by 2020. Added to this is the adoption of the EU’s Energy Roadmap 2050, in which the EU has sent a strong message to the markets and investors about our long-term commitment to renewable en-

ergy and energy efficiency. This is something which I believe the Danish presidency can be proud of.

Citizens’ rights are and will remain one of the cornerstones that European co-operation must safeguard and continue to promote – also in the rest of the world.

We were able to secure the adoption of historic sanctions against the regimes in Iran and Syria, which emphasises the EU’s wish to put pressure on the parties to seek negotiated solutions.

We succeeded also in securing the decision to grant Serbia candidate status in the EU as well as deciding to open accession negotiations with Montenegro. This is important in our continued efforts for a stable development in the Balkans and for a stable Europe.

However, membership of the EU does not follow automatically. There is still a large reform process ahead for both countries on their way towards the EU. Altogether, the Danish presidency achieved more than 250 concrete results, a number of which I have here tried to highlight and explain. These results demonstrate that EU cooperation functions even in the most difficult of times.

Even though the crisis is far from over, we have taken the first steps on the path to exit the crisis and introduced rules and mechanisms designed to prevent Europe from being thrust into a similar situation in the future.

With this in mind, I look back with satisfaction on a successful Danish EU presidency.

Nicolai Wammen is the Danish minister for European affairs

Bailout will change lives drastically Comment Loucas Charalambous IT IS a well-known fact that in this country we are incapable of comprehending the scale and seriousness of the problems we face. We are constantly in denial, opening our ears only to those who tell us what we want to hear. This could explain why we so readily accepted shoddiness, incompetence and irresponsible demagoguery.

The current economic tragedy could not have been an exception.

The arrival here of the big team of troika technocrats, that will tell us what measures we have to take to save our economy, has allowed us to display this weakness yet again.

Statements made by the politi-

cians and government officials give a very misleading picture both of the seriousness of the situation and with regard to the measures that will be imposed. The overall impression is that the presence of the troika members is a bit like a visit by tourists who came to see us and, being here, give us some advice which we decide whether to follow or ignore.

This is why citizens are in for a very big shock when in a few weeks they realise the significance of this visit and how it will affect their daily life.

Even the finance minister Vasos Shiarly, who should know better, seems to be in denial. He informed us that the troika team “will focus its attention, mainly, on the problems of the banking sector and would be extremely careful on issues relating to social

cohesion.”

He may as well have said: “Do not worry. There are some problems at the banks which would be looked at by the friends from the troika and they will send us the money needed to tackle them. You have nothing to fear.’

House president Yiannakis Omirou was even more forthright. According to the CyBC, “he sent a strict and very clear message that austerity measures would not be accepted.”

I am very curious to hear what they will tell people in a few weeks when the tax increases and income reductions are imposed. People must be told the truth. The money we will need is beyond our wildest imagination. There is already talk about the banks needing 10 billion euros and the state another 10 billion, a total bigger than our GDP.

The troika (EU, ECB and IMF) which came to check our finances will be lending us money and we have to accept that it will not give us a euro if it does not impose terms that will secure the repayment of loan plus interest within a specified time period. For this to happen, not only would the budget deficits have to disappear (last year it was a billion in deficit), but there would have to be big surpluses so that we can make loan repayments.

This is not a game. This is a very serious situation that cannot be confronted with Omirou’s heroic word-games. The demagoguery must stop and the people told the truth. And the truth is that everybody will be affected by what will happen.

For example, if the income tax threshold is brought down to

€10,000 (something I consider possible) all citizens with an income higher that €19,500 (the current threshold) would have to pay additional income tax of €1,900 per year, in the best-case scenario.

Those with an annual income of between €10,000 and €19,500 (who now pay no income tax) would pay, on average, €950 per year. This is just a small indication of what we will suffer in the coming years.

The decisions will be taken by those who will lend us the money.

Neither Shiarly, nor Omirou with his ridiculous “strict and very clear messages”, nor any other of our politicians will have a say in this.

The first thing that must happen now is to call an end to the populism, lies and demagoguery, which put us in the mess we are in today.

14 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion

From boom to bust in five years Our civil service will not escape troika austerity measures that are set to impoverish the majority of our citizens for the next 30 years Comment Hermes Solomon

T

HE capital has never looked prettier. I have never before seen so many clearly marked double yellows and zebra striped kerbstones highlighted by fresh macadam, newly planted flower beds with 24/7 irrigation and recently refurbished shop/residential blocks on major routes leading to the presidential palace or the House of Reps, situated on a street aptly named, Nechrou (the dead).

Painting over the cracks might suffice to fool some of the people some of the time, but we who live here all of the time know the truth about the Cyprus economy no matter how vaingloriously our president indulges EU dignitaries/delegates at tax payers’ expense during this forthcoming six months.

But will he succeed in pulling the wool over the EU troika’s 30 pair of eyes as they try to ascertain the true economic state of the island then enforce specific austerity measures in exchange for loaning us that 10 or more billion euro bailout?

I see no reason why not given our politicians, property developers, banks, civil and legal services continued success in lulling citizens into a false sense of security by doing nothing about anything for a living, and by whose collective capacity for artfulness, which has become renowned worldwide, took this country from boom to bust in just five years.

The ‘bitsada’ (derived from a Congolese tribal dialect word for ‘muck’) has finally hit the fan, and although our president persistently cries, ‘Oumguyia’, (Tarzan’s cry when swinging through the jungle on judiciously hung vines), our president is

not quite that fictional feral child raised by the Mangani “great apes”, who experiences civilisation only to reject it and return to the wild as an heroic adventurer, but the son of a coffee shop owner come builder from the village of Dikomo, a village which sits throne-like in the hills and where, as an adolescent, he dreamt while surveying the capital beneath his shoeless and soiled feet, of ruling Cyprus as the only pseudo communist leader of a truly capitalist state.

But instead of swinging victoriously through a political jungle of his own making, our president now sits glumly with his Jane (Elsi) entertaining Europe’s ‘in crowd’, while those of his polit bureau, (although no chimpanzees appear in the original Tarzan novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs) prattle on as to where to lay the blame for the rising of the sun and the waning of the moon during this past four and a half years of government fiascoes.

I am not one to spy then snitch on my neighbours, but a friend happens to live across the road from several government department offices and has seen through his 10x50mm Admiral, coated optic, Japanese binoculars purchased from Boots the Chemist on Parliament Street in the city of Nottingham some 25 years ago, that a head of one such government department has arrived for work in his flash motor at 10am and left for home at 1.30pm every working day this past three years.

I was told by a highly placed civil servant relation that that particular department head had been officially reprimanded a year ago, although his job was as secure as Fort Knox and he could not otherwise but be permitted to carry on regardless.

Fortunately for taxpayers, the man retires very soon and will have to rely on his part-time job as a TV personality to supplement the shortfall in his six figure salary, his pension barely covering a third of that salary, notwithstanding a fatuously fat retirement bonus for holding the record of having worked the least number of hours for the highest pay of any former government employee.

Greening the roundabout outside the presidential palace for the EU presidency The above gives me cause to wonder just what percentage of the civil service actually merits any income at all - a service that is built like a pyramid selling scheme - a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants jobs with a secure income, primarily for enrolling friends or family into the scheme (cronyism), rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public – a self perpetuating scheme that has grown uncontrollably in size to become the ruin (as much as the banks) of Cyprus this last four years.

Blessed and supported by all past and above all, this present president, who treats it as if it were his own ‘Stasi’ Schild und Schwert der Partei (Shield and Sword of the Party), our civil service will not escape troika austerity measures that are set to impoverish the majority of our citizens for the next 30 years. Dur-

ing this time, Cyprus, along with all EU member states, will lose their autonomy to be ruled under one flag by a single government and God (currency), speaking a single language with one and the same voice, certain in the knowledge that that language will not be Greek, and the voice will not be that of our beloved, hill-billy president, who had the gall to quote Platonic dialogue during his Council of Minister’s opening speech last Wednesday, intimating that he hoped to leave his post as president of that council in a better state than he found it. Given his past four and a half year performance as president of the Cyprus Republic, God help Europe!

We cannot claim that our president, politicians, top civil servants and bank board executives are paid peanuts, so just why do they persist in behaving like monkeys?

Blair’s return: better to ask for a job than plot for one Comment Sarah Sands HOW permissible is it to want a job badly? In the Church of England, displays of professional ambition are regrettable. You are called to serve and must accept the top job with humility rather than a high five.

The same applies at the BBC. Any lobbying must be behind the scenes. You can only fight your case in public if it is comically satirical, such as the application by the journalist Quentin Letts.

Those who are not admirers of Britain’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair have fastened on his upfront admission that he would like his old job back as evidence that he is totally cuckoo.

Yet optimism and self-belief are Blair’s professional weapons. He is a man with a sense of personal destiny, who awoke one night to tell his wife: “If John [Smith] dies, I will be leader, not Gordon.” And lo it came to pass that he became prime minister under the nose of Gordon Brown and kept the job for a decade, despite his chancellor’s very many attempts to snatch it back.

So when Blair says that he is look-

ing for another big job, I would not dismiss it as the ramblings of a fantasist. I would suggest that he is up to something.

Tony Blair is an Atlanticist and his style now is post-presidential.

Owing to the nature of his work, he has more visible security than Britain’s present Prime Minister David Cameron and travels in the Middle East with a cavalcade.

Another Americanism he has picked up is that it is OK to declare ambition, even against the odds. It is part of Barack Obama’s mythology that he set his sights on the presidency as a junior senator.

Indeed, open ambition is more admired than disguised and insecure

plotting. I have been reading The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Volume 4 by Robert Caro. Johnson’s crablike hopes are contrasted in the early chapters with Jack Kennedy’s easeful grasp of power.

For example, Johnson was tormented over whether to run for president because of the risk of humiliating failure.

Unwilling to admit to the existence of a campaign, he even shut down his campaign headquarters.

Amusingly, nobody remembered to cancel the posters “Lyndon B Johnson for President”, which were spotted by the press outside. Another guiding feature about Johnson was his initial error in accepting the job

of vice president on the calculation that “power is where power goes”.

He discovered that a title without influence or information is useless.

His real power was that he was a “ heartbeat away” from the presidency. His destiny depended on the death of JF Kennedy.

Tony Blair has been attacked for being rich while also requiring a job.

The combination is what makes him so interesting. He does not need a job. He is wealthy and occupied. But he remains ambitious for leadership. And as Thomas Jefferson said: “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal.”

15 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Opinion

Public enterprises belong to the past

uotes of the week

The EAC, CyTA and Cyprus Airways are pricey dinosaurs Comment Theodore Panayotou

I

F YOU scratch beneath the surface of public sector deficits, economic distortions and loss of competitiveness you will find some defunct, inefficient or overcharging public enterprise or semi-government organisation misallocating resources in the name of national interest.

There is no denying the contribution of some of these organisations in the past and even recently when they were raided to cover holes in the public budget. Most of them over time, however, have grown into living dinosaurs which are lumbering aimlessly around unable to carry their own weight. They have become part of what has euphemistically come to be known as the wider public sector, creating tens of thousands of additional quasi-public sector jobs for the privileged and dozens of positions on boards of directors for dishing out among the political parties.

Considering their inefficiencies in resource allocation and use and the high cost of their services, their generous salary structure and privileges as well as the power of their unions in blocking any meaningful effort at their rationalisation, there are questions it is natural for the public to ask. Do these organisations exist to serve the public or does the public exist to serve them? They were created to do the former, but many of them have evolved into the latter.

Most public enterprises were created based on British public service prototypes at a time when Cyprus was a British colony, when there was not much of a private sector that had the management, the technology or the capital to establish a private telecommunications, electricity or airline company. Moreover, it was thought that these were areas of “natural monopoly”. Natural monopolies are industries where, because of the lumpiness of initial investment (e.g. the phone line network or the electricity grid), the average costs of service continuously decrease as more customers are served leading to one provider dominating the industry and exploiting the customers through monopolistic practices. To protect the consumer natural monopolies have been brought in the public sector domain as state enterprises whose prices are regulated.

Today we live in an entirely different world. The private sector has better technology, better management and more access to capital than

The electricity authority is one of many holy cows that protect the interests of the few at the expense of the consumer the government does. As to the danger of monopolistic practices, this is exactly what we have been experiencing (high cost and poor service) for years from these very state enterprises which were supposed to protect us. For example, we are now paying 17 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity while our competitors in fellow EU members Bulgaria pay 6 cents, Romania 8 cents and Poland 9 cents. Should we blame the consumers if, far from feeling protected, they feel exploited by those who were supposed to protect them from exploitation?

In the 21st century the issue of the “natural monopoly” has been solved with the creation of contested markets in the production of the service while its distribution is done through a shared infrastructure. In countries that do not appeal to their being a special case (island, landlocked, too small, too big) to justify inefficiencies there are competing providers of electricity that sell to a national grid.

Another argument was that the state needed revenues and these enterprises could generate revenues for the state by overcharging the customer (a form of indirect taxation) at a time when the tax system was undeveloped (only rudimentary income tax and company tax existed and there was no value added tax 50 years ago). Today, our tax system is well developed and the state should not need state enterprises for public revenues.

Moreover, with a few exceptions state enterprises have become a burden for the state budget and the taxpayer who pays twice: first for the high cost of service and second for the taxes needed to bailout inefficient or moribund state enterprises. Cyprus Airways is a case in point.

Yet another argument has

been that state enterprises are established in strategic sectors for reasons of projection of power, national security, national branding, or national pride. Any nation worth its salt must have its own national airline and must be state-owned, if for nothing else in order to treat politicians, and senior government officials with deference and respect! The average citizen, who does not receive privileged treatment when flying the national carrier, is wondering how much should he be paying for the national pride he feels for having a highly inefficient and bankrupt national airline.

As to national security how secure can citizens feel for having all their electricity needs supplied at high cost by a national electricity authority which in its wisdom located two thirds (with more on the way) of its electricity generating capacity in a single location without concern for the vulnerability of putting almost all of one’s eggs in one basket. This was aptly demonstrated by both its failure to do anything about the danger posed by hundreds of tons of explosives in its proximity and the failure to diversify after the Mari disaster both its energy sources and the location of its operations.

Even money-making public enterprises (it is hard these days to think of more than one that is truly profitable) manage to maintain their profitability by overcharging us for their services. Where they were forced to surrender part of their monopoly power while maintaining a dominant position (e.g. mobile telephony), we enjoy better service at a more reasonable price.

It is therefore high time that we ask “Could it be that state enterprises have outlived their raison d’être” and the state should move quickly to divest itself before the con-

tagion that began with Eurocypria and spread to Cyprus Airways, engulf the electricity authority and spread to the telecommunications authority? If we are not brave enough to ask this existential question then the troika should ask it, if it hasn’t already.

We have too many holy cows in Cyprus and we draw too many red lines to preserve the status quo which serves the interests of the few at the expense of the interests of the many. On our own, we are unlikely to let go of our statist mentality that keeps feeding the colonial-turnedinto-holy-cow inheritance of state enterprises, even as one after another are becoming dinosaurs.

The troika should ask the questions for us. Does any of our state enterprises produce sufficiently high value, not just for themselves and their employees, but first and foremost for the citizens/customers to justify their cost, both financial and social (distortions)? Can we get the same service at lower cost and without the adverse effects on the budget and our competitiveness? If yes, can they be made more efficient, by opening them up to more competition and engaging them in strategic alliances with big European players instead of protecting them and directly or indirectly subsidising them?

If not, can they be sold to strategic investors while protecting the legitimate rights of their employees and their customers?

These actions by themselves would generate a new momentum and confidence in our economic environment and convince people that the troika does mean business, the business of fundamental reforms and not the business of propping up the status quo with funds in exchange for cosmetic changes. At last the role, if any, of the state enterprises and the other semigovernment organisations must be clearly defined and the value they produce for the citizen/customer must be measured and compared to their costs and the available alternatives.

No citizen/customer should be forced to pay more than the lowest-cost alternative for a product or service of a given quality on account of preserving the institutional fossils of yesteryear.

Dr Theodore Panayotou, the Cyprus International Institute of Management director and Professor of Economics and the Environment at Harvard University, served as consultant to the UN and to the US, Chinese and Russian governments.

He was recognised for his contribution to the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. theo@ciim.ac.cy

“The constant thought it must take to be thin would be a full-time job in itself” Vice chairman of West Ham United Karren Brady (below) says she has come to terms with her shape and has stopped denying herself the things that she likes

“I went twice, but gave up. I thought I might as well be talking to my dog” Socialite Tamara Ecclestone when asked whether she had ever had therapy

“Blair might be the £20 million man but he needs telling that one doesn’t wear brown shoes with a blue suit” Eric Benson, of Hull, in a letter to the Daily Mail “The public are more likely to be robbed by the financial services industry than by burglars or muggers.

The difference is that criminal theft is usually a single event. Robbery by financial institutions continues every week for decades” Labour MP Paul Flynn.

“Someone did once bow to me and my mother immediately told them off” Viscount Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret “The only bank we can count on these days is the sperm bank” Writer Kathy Lette (below)

“Filming love scenes is like doing a Benny Hill sketch. I think it is important to remember that naked bodies are first and foremost funny” Actress Olivia Williams “Tourists! If in London for the Olympics be aware our taxi drivers do NOT accept tips. A simple kiss on the hand is the traditional thank you” A “helpful” Tweet from broadcaster Danny Baker

“Getting old is a fascinating thing. The older you get, the older you want to get” Rolling Stone Keith Richards (left) “A rotten, thieving bank” Labour MP John Mann’s description of Barclays Bank “I don’t think it is a bulldog spirit at all, I think it is a kind of slightly shrivelled, cowering view of the world” Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, has no time for Euroscepticism

“A cantankerous old buffer” Judge John Bevan QC to a man who appeared before him for calling a railway station worker a “Welsh maggot”.

“Don’t rush when you eat.

Always laugh at mealtimes. Don’t eat with ugly people. And only eat the fat from birds” An unnamed French dietician’s advice to TV’s Jeremy Clarkson

16 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

News Review

Troika trawls the island’s finances Troika here OFFICIALS from Cyprus’ potential rescue creditors began arriving on Monday on a fact-finding mission that will lead to talks on the terms of a bailout, a week after the government officially requested EU assistance. The ‘troika’ is made up of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The delegation was looking into the country’s banks as well as the government’s fiscal needs.

EU presidency “JUDGE CYPRUS on its achievements at the end of its six-month EU presidency,” was the plea from Deputy Minister for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis on Monday on the second day of Cyprus’ EU presidency. Presenting the priorities of the presidency to reporters in Brussels, Mavroyiannis said the Cyprus presidency will function “as a truly European presidency, without any hidden agenda”.

Citizen’s prize THE European Citizen’s Prize of 2012 has been awarded jointly to a Turkish Cypriot and a Greek Cypriot man who both suffered horribly in 1974 but went on to promote intercommunal peace.

Petros Souppouris and Huseyin Akansoy were nominated by AKEL MEP Takis Hadjigeorgiou who explained how the two men had “joined forces to organise and take part in joint events to convey the message that the pain caused by the bloody events are common to all Cypriots and must not become a tool for the development of extreme nationalism.”

Extradition

An increasing percentage of civil servants President of the EU: Christofias in Brussels this week (CNA) are getting month were on Monday led to the Ko- cent, compared with 11 per cent in April. Cyprus could secure another interstate prison in Piraeus, after the Cyp- The unemployment rate in the 27 mem- loan: “The effort to secure the loan conout early ridallos riot authorities’ request to have them ber states stood at 10.3 per cent in May, tinues and we hope to get loans to put extradited to the island was examined compared to 10.2 per cent in April and us in a better negotiating position with the troika.” a Greek court. The two men, aged 41 9.5 per cent in May 2011. amid fears by After meeting the troika, he said the and 29, were arrested on Saturday aftercorporate tax rate was something all noon in Athens by the Greek anti-terror agree on. As for CoLA, AKEL inafter local authorities had Euthat their squad, ‘Bank’s bailout’ parties sists on the need for it to continue but ropean arrest warrants and an Interpol THE Securities and Exchange commis- with a fairer distribution. retirement Red Notice issued. sion (SEC) has launched an investigation into the Bank of Cyprus (BoC) after the lender requested temporary state ‘Small miracle’ State borrows bonuses assistance apparently without informing COMMERCE Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis its shareholders.

THE government will borrow €250 milMonday congratulated the ElectricThe SEC wants to know if the lender lion through the sale of three-month will be on ity Authority (EAC) for the “small mira- deliberately misled shareholders by treasury bills to at least three semi-state cle” of reinstating much of the Vassilikos withholding information it was obliged organisations, it emerged on Thursday, taxed, power station, devastated last year by to disclose. mainly to refinance existing debt maturthe Mari naval base blast. Sylikiotis vising on July 16. ited Vassilikos - the island’s main power The finance ministry announced the despite station - to mark the connection of a ‘Cyprus publicity’ transaction on Wednesday, saying it had 75MW gas turbine with a second 75MW come to an agreement with institutional turbine expected to have got on the HOUSE President Yiannakis Omirou investors. repeated gas grid by Friday. Both turbines are part of said on Tuesday that visits by EU offiThe moves were criticised by the opcials throughout Cyprus’ presidency was position who said they had been assured Vassilikos’ Unit 5. “the greatest publicity possible” for the that the state had covered its financing government Cyprus problem. needs for 2012 through the €2.5 billion “Parliamentary representatives of EU loan from Russia.

Record high assurances member states will be here - a country THE number of unemployed people in where 37 per cent of its European soil increased to 10.8 per cent in May, is under military occupation by Turkey, that will not Cyprus Jumping ship compared to 10.7 per cent last April, ac- an EU accession candidate. You undercording to data released Monday by Eu- stand that this is the greatest publicity AN INCREASING percentage of civil servants are getting out early amid fears The same data show that unem- possible,” Omirou said. happen rostat. that their retirement bonuses will be ployment reached a record high in the

THE TWO Greek nationals suspected of murdering five men in Ayia Napa last

eurozone, the highest since its inception, with levels in May reaching 11.1 per

QUOTES OF THE WEEK “We have been preparing for years. The entire government ent and civil service, and the political leadership, the local authoriorities and, more importantly, y, the citizens of Cyprus, have been mobilised for the preparation of an efficient and successful presidency; a presidency that will highlight the role of our country as a constructive partner and a reliable member of the EU” Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis “Our youth will provide uss with two precious years off their lives. These years willll not be lost, because they will be given for a holy cause, forr our country, our family, and the he survival of our people” Defence Minister Demetris etris Eliades on National Guard ard duties

“Of course, cour don’t worry that communist will cause the com damage to the Union. The communist will try for a comm better bet Union, for more social justice, always taking into account the t institutions of the European Union. I E won’t create a revoluw tition, don’t worry” President Christofias Pr in his h speech taking over ove the presidency of the EU E

“CoLA is successful in our country, for years it was seen as a blessing. We clarified that we don’t want to see a distortion or abolition of CoLA” Glafcos Hadjipetrou head of public workers union PASYDY

“We h have a duty and responsibility towards all respo members of the public to memb protect protec them against any criminal crimina act. Are we going to allow people to just kill each other, because it has ot to do with w private interests?”

Justice Minister Loucas Louca

“In protest and as an act of minimal self-respect, we have decided not to attend the ceremony” Green Party’s Eleni Chrysostomou about the EU presidential ceremony in Curium

“Realising they will never be a world power, the Cypriots have decided to settle for being a world nuisance” Diplomats feelings on the Cypriot Presidency expressed by George Mikes (1912-1987)

“For the coming six months, not only are you in the Union, you are the Union” President of the European Council Herman Von Rompuy

Akamas fires IT WAS praise all round for the fire services and the forestry department for the handling of three separate fires, which threatened the Akamas and nearby villages on Tuesday.

The largest blaze which started at 9am on Tuesday morning destroyed over two square kilometres of land near Neo Chorio.

Drugs lacking THALASSAEMIA patients are forced to pick up drugs for their treatment on a daily basis because the state pharmacies are in short supply, said the Pancyprian Thalassaemia Association (PTA) on Wednesday.

The association called on the state to take immediate steps to ensure thalassaemia patients receive the necessary treatment, noting that the current situation was causing “unprecedented disruption” to their lives while putting their health at risk.

Another loan RULING AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said on Thursday he still hoped

taxed, despite repeated government assurances that will not happen.

According to Louis Droushiotis, head of the Personal Emoluments and Pensions Directorate at the Treasury, many civil servants are being scared away by rumours that their lump-sum retirement bonus is going to be taxed.

The government’s request for an EU bailout and the advent of the troika is expected to continue this trend, he said.

EU v Russia CYPRUS’ president played up his close ties with Russia on Thursday, saying he was hoping to secure more financial support from Moscow as well as from the European Union as he bids to keep the island economy from collapsing.

Demetris Christofias, who was educated in Moscow and is the EU’s only communist head of state or government, dismissed suggestions that his tight relations with Russia could damage his ties within Europe and said it was perfectly normal for a country to look to all its allies for help.

“We need money to develop our economy and we need money to recapitalise our banks,” he told Brussels-based reporters. “The Russians, as good friends of Cyprus, want to take care of us,” said Christofias.

17 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Coffeeshop

Clash of the Troikans: Kyproulla strikes back HOPES the arrival of the troika would have introduced a small element of sanity to the Kyproulla loony bin proved excessively optimistic.

Insanity remained at the normal high levels throughout the week as the guys who run our political pantomime re-defined the relationship between lender and borrower which existed ever since man stumbled on the idea of loans, a several thousand years ago; there are references to usury in the Old Testament.

In all those thousands of years, the person needing money would accept the conditions set by the lender and the more desperate he was, the tougher the terms he was willing to accept.

The philosophy of this practice never changed, even though laws were passed to protect the people who borrowed, by making usury illegal and regulating interest rates.

In Kyproulla this week, the wise members of our ruling elite changed the whole philosophy of borrowing money, with a brilliant new theory whereby the party asking for the loan dictates the terms on which the loan is be given.

It does not matter how desperate you are for a loan or how big it will be, because our new theory allows us to set the terms. So all week our wise leaders were setting our conditions for agreeing to take a loan of a few billion euros from the EFSF. The message was clear – either the troika accepts our terms or we will not take a cent of the billions it so desperately wants to lend us.

THE TONE was set by finance minister Vassos Shiarly, who at times seems too sensible and too in touch with reality to be a member of Tof ’s government of clueless fantasists.

At other times, however, he utters the type of nonsense that his comrade boss would approve of.

On Wednesday he made clear to the Troikans “the need that they be particularly careful concerning issues of social and political cohesion.” After all, “Cyprus has secured a healthy economy for many years, with industrial peace and we want this social cohesion to continue.”

The industrial peace and social cohesions was achieved by giving everyone annual pay-rises in the region of 8 per cent over the last 20 years. With such pay rises how could there not be industrial peace and social cohesion?

The healthy economy, or the Cyprus economic miracle as we like to call it, was secured by living beyond our means, on borrowed money for decades.

We managed to hide some of the borrowing by plundering the Social Insurance Fund, to which the state owes a paltry €7 billion, an amount that is not included in the public debt calculation. If it were it would take our public debt to well over 100 per cent of GDP, an emphatic sign of the healthy economy.

UNION BOSSES, who have been running the economy since the election of the comrade, also set conditions when they met the Troikans. Messrs Hadjimourmouris, Moiseos and

Kyritsis wasted no time in informing them that abolition of CoLA was a red line.

Making its abolition a condition for the loan would force the union bosses to reject the offer of the loan. Another condition was that “social dialogue” with the “social partners” must be safeguarded, because this ensured industrial peace.

It did not matter that the cost of industrial peace was the bankruptcy of the state and the unaffordable cost of living.

As Hadjimourmouris said: “All our rights and benefits (of the public parasites)are the result of years of social dialogue and they just cannot be wiped away.”

This is the best argument for abolishing social dialogue.

A dialogue that bestowed so many privileges on a group of lazy, unmotivated, unproductive workers at the expense of the poor taxpayer should not just be abolished it should be made a criminal offence.

THE POLITICIANS also had to set conditions for the loan.

House president and socialist windbag Yiannakis Omirou told the Troikans the parties would not accept “one-sided austerity measures and iron discipline, without provisions for development measures and the creation of jobs.”

Bash-patriotic, DIKO chief Marios Garoyian explained to the Troikans that public finances were bad because “a country under occupation has high defence costs.” He also told them that the bailout agreement “must not be marked by tough austerity because such measures deepen recession and increase unemployment.”

AKEL chief, comrade Andros showed that he is capable of self-mockery when he stated that his party had undertaken to submit its proposals on tackling the problems of the economy to the troika. I apologise for claiming Andros did not have a sense of humour.

The party leaders would have been reassured by the note of defiance sounded by comrade Tof at a news conference he gave with his “friend Jose Manuel” on Friday. Raising his voice he heroically declared that the government would not say ‘yes’ to everything the hated troika proposed.

IN SUMMARY, we would grant the wish of the EU to give us a loan of about six billion on the following conditions – no tough austerity measures; no abolition of CoLA; no adverse effects on social cohesion; all proposed measures to be approved by the social partners through social dialogue; no workers rights and benefits wiped out; no job cuts.

And most importantly, the loan should be big enough so that after paying for the re-capitalisation of the banks and settling the debts of the government there would be a substantial amount left over for development projects and job creation.

And if the Troikans cannot meet these very reasonable conditions in their bailout terms they can stick their loan up their backside. And this is no joke. We may be a bankrupt country, desperate for cash, but we still have our pride.

DURING their five days in Kyproulla the Troikans had meetings with ministry officials, party leaders, deputies, union bosses, ministers, business leaders and bankers.

These are the incompetent losers responsible for the economic miracle of the last 20 years which led to the collapse of the economy.

Could the hopeless losers and kleptocrats, who caused the disaster, be relied on to put things right now? Would the shareholders of a company that was brought to the brink of bankruptcy keep the same management team to lead it out of the abyss, the team had put it in?

In the rational world no, but in the insane world of Kyproulla, the answer is yes as was illustrated by the banks.

The smart-asses that managed to reduce the Bank of Cyprus to begging for state help remain in charge. At the Popular Bank which is much deeper in the merde, the CEO was removed, but the rest of the executives who turned a blind eye while the bank was being destroyed have been promoted.

At least the bankers are showing a bit more humility than the politicians, avoiding uttering big words in public or setting conditions for accepting money from the troika.

THE GOVERNOR of the Central Bank, Professor Panicos, meanwhile has been turning the screw on the head honchos of the banks, as part of the government’s campaign to make us believe that they are exclusively to blame for entry into the support mechanism.

Reports in the press suggested that the government, now that it is the owner of Popular Bank, was considering sacking its chairman Michalis Sarris. The Gov had written to Sarris urging him not to give interviews because he was causing harm to the country.

Governor Panicos also asked B of C CEO, Andreas Eliades and several members of the board to submit their resignations but they refused.

After a seven-hour meeting of the B of C board, it was decided that Eliades and the directors would step down if the Central Bank investigation proved they were responsible for “mistakes and omissions” in performing their duties.

Is there really a need for an investigation when the proof is there for all to see?

The Bank’s board and CEO bought €2.3 billion worth of Greek bonds when the Greek economy was in free-fall; they bought a bank in Russia which

Public parasites boss Hadjimourmouris was ready for battle with the evil Troikans on Thursday, armed with his little book of red lines they cannot sell for a fifth of the price they paid for it three years ago, they oversaw the bank’s share price go from €5, three years ago to 25 cents. And to cap it all the bank now needs half billion euro for its re-capitalisation which would dilute the shareholding by 50 per cent.

I think this is more than adequate, concrete proof the lamentable failure of the B of C leadership.

THE BLAMELESS comrade, meanwhile, has instructed Shiarly to raid the coffers of the semi-governmental organisations for money to pay off government debts, because he was told by the EFSF that we will be getting no dosh before signing bailout terms.

In short, there are zero euros in state coffers, despite the comrade’s assurance that “the economy is doing well.” So well, that if he does not sign bailout terms pretty soon, there will be no money to pay public parasites in August.

SOME GOOD news was reported in Mother Russia. The finance minister finally confirmed that a request for a €5 billion loan had been received from Kyproulla.

But he gave no indication that there would be a positive response.

In fact he said that there would

be consultations with the EU in relation to the loan, for the simple reason that Mother Russia, despite its genuine affection for Kyproulla, would like guarantees that she would be repaid. But how would we repay Moscow if our surpluses would be going towards repaying the bailout loan?

Now if our politicians told the Troikans that we would only accept the bailout, on condition that we did not have to repay the loan, perhaps Mother Russia would give us the five billion we asked for.

WHAT a shame that our money problems and the bailout overshadowed our comrade’s finest hour. He is now in charge of the EU, striving to realize his objective of a better Europe.

He is the first communist ever to be in charge of the Union, and focused his speech to the European Parliament on slamming “market lawlessness and austerity policies”. Cyprus’s presidency he said “will attempt to bring together fiscal discipline with development and social cohesion. This is something, which I would like to believe is new.

Let’s try it.”

We tried it in Cyprus and it was a resounding success, as the troika will testify. After all, fiscal discipline has always been the comrade’s greatest strength.

18 July 8, 8 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

World in pictures

The famous canned meat spam is celebrating its 75th anniversary, its name a hybrid of the words spiced and ham (AFP)

Young swimmers make their way past a lifesize cardboard cutout of Queen Elizabeth poolside as VIPs and members of the media were given the opportunity to get into the pool on the last day of the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials in Nebraska (AFP)

Vandenberg Air Force Base Hot Shot fire fighter Chris Loung wipes sweat from his face while cutting a fire line in Colorado (AFP)

Indian artists at a self defence training programme in New Delhi (AFP)

An Israeli child plays in a fountain in Tel Aviv as temperatures in the city continued to rise

(AFP)

Protesters spray champagne as they demonstrate against what they describe as a ‘close relationship between bankers and politicians’ outside Portculis House in London (AFP)

Ukrainian opposition activists clash with riot police during a protest in Kiev against a new language law (AFP)

Muslim Shiite women look at lit lanterns during celebrations for the Shaabaniya which commemorates the birth of Imam al-Mahdi, the 12th holiest figure for them (AFP)

Models for Giorgio Armani Prive during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collections in Paris (AFP)

19 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Lifestyle

ASOS boss Nick Robertson unveils his plans for world domination to Rosamund ut his twenty something employees w ill still get Friday afternoons off Urwin - but will

A

SOS’ HQ is the fashion equivalent alent of Willy Wonka’s nka’s chocolate factory. ctory.

The office, which is rapidly pidly taking over an old Carreras reras cigarette factory in London’s Mornington Crescent, cent, is lined with rails weighed ghed down with variegated party frocks, printed trousers sers and leather jackets. There ere are mood boards, stylists, ts, studios for shoots, even na catwalk.

And somewhere in this his sea of stylish twenty somemethings you’ll find Nick Robertson, the salt-and-peppepper-haired co-founder and CEO of the company. Of his young staff, the 44-year-old r-old tells me: “I employ a thousand twenty somethings gs in the building, who love their fashion, love their internet, rnet, love their social media… … all the energy is here. I’ve got the easiest strategy job b in the world because I’m just delivering what they want to see and do.”

He is keen to keep them sweet: they have “doss s Fridays” in the summer where employees can leave at 3pm and there’s a free bar in n the canteen on the last Friday riday

‘We’re sitting here drinking mint tea, wearing our nice clothes and it’s very easy to pick apart somebody else’s ethics in their country’ of the month.

When I’ve met him in the past, Robertson has made me think of a well dressed car salesman. But today he looks dapper, dressed headto-toe in items from the site including a Paul Smith shirt, Ralph Lauren socks and ASOS brogues.

That mix is an indication of ASOS’ evolution since its launch in 2000 - shrugging off the tackier, Heat-inspired elements to become a serious fashion player, while still aiming at the teen to twenty something. Its own label once consisted of red carpet replicas. Now it’s worn by Michelle Obama.

The ASOS phenomenon has gone global too: it shipped to 160 countries in the last quarter, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

There are seven country specific sites already, with more to follow in a year when ASOS has built the technology for a multilingual site, which will include Russian, Mandarin and Arabic.

Robertson’s dream is to cater for his customer’s entire wardrobe, so he is happy to sell clothes from other brands and boutiques, vintage and even let customers sell items onsite themselves:

Celebrity support: Michelle Obama, Eva Longoria, Jesse J, Rooney Mara, Paloma Faith and Beyoncé in ASOS

As seen on everyone “[Our customer] is not loyal to anything, she has her favourites - some high street and some premium, some eBay and some secondhand – why wouldn’t we try to replicate that under one roof?” The strategy is paying off. As its bricks and mortar rivals struggle, ASOS last month reported a jump in pre-tax profits from £15.7 million to £30.3 million, with sales up 46 per cent at £495 million.

Robertson, who now lives in Wimbledon, grew up in Surrey, the son of a wealthy ad man. Fashion was in the blood - his great-grandfather was Austin Reed: “We used to go up as a family every year to Regent Street for a dinner. We had the discount code - I got my first suit from there.”

After A-levels (two Ds and an F), he went into marketing himself, initially joining Young & Rubicam.

After eight years in the industry, he set up product placement company Entertainment Marketing with Quentin Griffiths. ASOS was spun out of that in 2000, with investment from his brother, entrepreneur Nigel Robertson, and Nigel’s friends.

When the site launched

Sampling the goods: Nick Robertson in a Paul Smith shirt from his ASOS site

it sold anything seen on screen, from Jamie Oliver’s pestle and mortar to a Bagpuss stuffed toy. But it only had one buyer, Lorri Penn, whose interest was fashion, so they soon focused on clothes. Robertson owes Penn a lot: she also sent him on a blind date with her friend Jan. They married in 2004 and have two daughters of four and three.

There have been hiccups - and one full-blown nightmare - for ASOS. The site launched in June 2000, just

as the internet bubble went pop. It floated in October 2001, just after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. And then, in 2005, came the Buncefield explosion in Hertfordshire, which destroyed all its stock as it waited in the warehouse to be sent out before Christmas. Robertson himself sat at a machine hitting “refund, refund”. There were 18,000 in total.

I ask if he ever wanted to give up. He chuckles. “The [problems] are with grow-

ing a physical business. The office gets bigger every year, people’s jobs get twice the size every two years. Amazon have done it - but they started with $600 million in the bank, we started with £2 million.”

I’d hazard a guess Robertson votes Tory. For most of the interview he is at pains to be diplomatic (with occasional slips into chief executive speak) but when I ask about the ethics of his industry - most of ASOS’ garments are made overseas -

he gets on his soapbox.

“We’re sitting here drinking mint tea, wearing our nice clothes and it’s very easy to pick apart somebody else’s ethics in their country,” he says defensively. “I absolutely get that as a business we have a duty to [be] responsible. But… is ripping away the income from a village in India whose nearest school is 25 miles away… responsible?”

He reels off the ways ASOS makes sure its suppliers are maintaining decent working conditions (with factory checks and the like) but sticks to his line: “We’ve got to give every member of the global community an opportunity to earn some money, because that’s how they’re going to get themselves out of [poverty].”

Robertson’s ambitions remain undimmed. Where does he see ASOS going?

“We always say: ‘If Elle had a shop, that would be a threat to us’, so let’s not wait for that to happen, let’s change ASOS into that. It’s almost ‘can we be the Elle for the twenty somethings of the next generation?’ where they get inspired, they get styled, they get informed, they can share and - by the way - shop.”

20

SUNDAY MAIL

Lifestyle

Nike, Adidas lead suppl battle for gold U

.S. market leader Nike and German rival Adidas are locked in their own Olympic battle to boost athletes’ performance and squeeze maximum value out of next month’s Games in London.

The Games provide a showcase for new fashions and advances in technology which sportswear suppliers hope will drive sales at a time of economic turmoil in many of their markets.

Unlike soccer’s World Cup, Olympic venues carry no perimeter advertising, making the suppliers of kit and shoes the most visible brands when the eyes of the world are on the Games.

“This puts the likes of Nike, Adidas and Puma firmly in the spotlight in the most emotionally-charged moments,” said Danny Townsend, president EMEA and South Asia at brand analysis company Repucom.

“Endorsement deals with athletes who are likely to gain substantial coverage, such as Usain Bolt or Jessica Ennis, pack an immense punch,” he added.

“Our projections from the Beijing Games indicate around 3.6 billion people worldwide saw at least some TV coverage which gives a strong indicator to the power of this presence. This level of brand exposure is a potent force in driving sales.”

Jamaican triple gold medallist Bolt is the poster boy for Germany’s Puma, the third largest sporting goods company behind local rival Adidas.

“The Olympics is probably the biggest platform you can

have as a sport brand. With Usain Bolt running the 100 metres, 200 metres and relays, the whole world will focus on that on TV,” Puma CEO Franz Koch said.

Adidas has invested heavily to be the official sportwear partner of the Games, with tens of thousands of volunteers and Olympic officials to wear its familiar three-stripe outfits.

That comes on top of a longstanding deal to provide the kit for a British team which includes heptathlete medal hope Ennis, the photogenic face of the host nation’s squad.

“We’re kitting out 5,000 athletes and 84,000 volunteers with three million pieces of apparel,” Adidas Olympics head Simon Cartwright said at the firm’s headquarters in the small German town of Herzogenaurach, which is also home to Puma.

Adidas estimates the interest generated by the Games will bring it an extra 100 million pounds ($157 million) of sales in the UK, helping it on its way to overtake rival Nike as market leader there.

Cartwright says the situation is similar to that in Beijing, when the Games helped it to top the market there in 2008.

“Adidas has got its foot on the accelerator. They’ve thrown down the gauntlet to Nike because they want to take market leadership in the UK. Nike is more focused on Rio (2016),” said a manager in the sports sponsoring industry.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Nike remains the global market leader, with annual sales

The Jamaica kit has been designed by Bob Marley’s daughter Cedella

As the Olympic Games are beam wearing is as close to advertising for who will come out on top rep

of almost $21 billion against $17 billion for Adidas. Puma, formed in 1948 after brothers fell out at Adidas, is a distant third with sales of $3.8 billion.

The top two seem to be pulling away despite the Bolt factor.

Nike’s sales jumped 15 per cent in the quarter to endFebruary, while Adidas reported a 14 per cent rise in the first three months of the year.

Puma managed only a six per cent increase, trailing its larger rivals in Europe, China and

the United States.

Nike, which sponsors the US Olympic team, says the Games give it the chance to build a buzz around its products.

“Its like a concept car model - we get to debut these innovations on the world’s best athletes, then commercialise the opportunity by providing those technologies to athletes everywhere,” said Nike UK head of PR and communications Ryan Greenwood.

For its part, Adidas has

made 41 different shoes that will be worn by athletes competing in 25 disciplines.

The one thing they all have in common is their weight, they are on average 25 per cent lighter than the equivalent shoes worn in Beijing.

“Every 100 grammes saved in weight is equivalent to one per cent better performance,” Cartwright said.

The group has also created what it calls the lightest ever sprint spike, at 99 grammes.

“It’s so advanced we can’t make that many of them,” Cartwright said.

Nike too is promoting ultralight shoes and a running

uniform featuring special patches which reduce the aerodynamic drag on an athlete, an idea taken from the dimples that help golf balls to

For its part, Adid different shoes tha athletes competing fly further.

After exhaustive wind tunnel testing, it claims it can cut up to .023 seconds off times in

The Games provide a showcase for new technolgies including lighter shoes but no advertising

Endorsement deals with athletes who are likely to gain substantial coverage pack an immense punch

21

L • July 8, 2012

The Team GB Adidas kit has been designed by Stella McCartney

liers’

Adidas will be kitting out 5,000 athletes and 84,000 volunteers with three million pieces of apparel

med around the world what the athletes are g as sports brands get. There is tight competition port Victoria Bryan and Keith Weir the 100 metres - what it says can be the difference between winning a medal and missing out.

Behind Puma, Japan’s Asics

das has made 41 at will be worn by g in 25 disciplines is the number four in the sector and positions itself as a supplier of premium products for everyone from elite mara-

thon runners down to regular joggers.

The company plans to open a new flagship store on London’s Oxford Street just before the Games begin on July 27.

Below those four are a cluster of smaller suppliers, including some from fast growing nations like Russia and China.

Russia’s privately owned Bosco is the kit supplier to the Spanish team and has opened a store in the new shopping centre on the edge of the Olympic park.

China’s Li Ning Co Ltd. came to prominence at Beijing in 2008 when its eponymous

founder, a former Olympic gymnast, had the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron.

However, growing competition from Nike and Adidas in China is squeezing it and other local producers.

Li Ning suffered a setback this month when it issued a profit warning and its shares fell to a 6-1/2 year low. China’s ANTA Sports Products Ltd has also said it faces a challenging year because of rising costs and intense competition.

“It would take a monumental shift in the global sports apparel environment to im-

pact on the dominance of Nike and Adidas,” said Repucom’s Townsend.

“I think where we could see the real jostling in the coming years is in the second tier, below the big two,” he added.

The Games are not just about the performance, they are also about making sure athletes look good and the top brands have been working with big name designers for this year’s Games.

By an odd coincidence, Adidas and Puma have opted for daughters of famous musicians.

Adidas has had a long partnership with Stella McCart-

ney, whose father Paul McCartney is expected to perform at the opening ceremony.

Cedella Marley, daughter of reggae icon Bob Marley, has designed the Jamaican kit for Puma.

“Each of our teams have a unique design,” Cartwright said, explaining how Adidas has tried to incorporate national symbols into the kits for countries like Germany, France and Australia.

“The young Germans are a bit happier to wave the flag and be more patriotic so we have an eagle design.”

While the Team GB kits has divided opinion in the UK,

with some seeing them as too blue, Cartwright shrugs off the critics. “It was in the media for two days,” indicating how any publicity is good publicity.

Puma meanwhile plundered the history books to draw inspiration for its running vests for the Jamaican team.

The yellow vests will feature the faces of Arthur Wint, who in London in 1948 became the first Jamaican to win a gold medal, and team mate Herb McKenley, who finished second behind him.

“We want to hear people say, ‘Ooh, what’s that?’ We want to be different, unusual,” Puma CEO Koch said.

Puma icon: Usain Bolt has done a lot to raise the profile of the brand

22 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Property LEGAL ISSUES WITH GEORGE COUCOUNIS

Breach of contract by employer - contractor AN employer who refuses to execute the contract he entered into with a contractor before the latter starts work is committing a breach of the agreement and therefore he is liable to pay damages to be assessed on the basis of the profit which the contractor would have made. The measure of damages is related to the amount which would have restored the contractor, being the innocent party, to the position he would have been in had the agreement been executed. In this respect, what is taken into account are the reasonably estimated damages that may arise at the time of the making of the agreement as a result of the breach and the contractor is not entitled to be compensated for damages dealing with the breach. The legal principle of restoration aims at the recovery of the profit the contractor could have made if he was allowed to execute and complete the works in the normal course of things.

The aforesaid issue may arise when the main contractor as employer, after the project is awarded to him, decides to co-operate with other sub-contractors at a lower price or not to proceed with the project. In such a case, it is important to identify whether there was a binding agreement between the contractor as employer and the subcontractor so that liability can be attributed to him for damages. Breach of the agreement by the employer makes him liable to pay damages according to the profit margin the parties knew or ought to have known at the time of making the agreement that the sub-contractor would have made. The legal aspect of the issue is similar to the one which applies in accordance with the contract law and it was recently examined by the Supreme Court. It was held that the damages payable are based on the general principle that governs contracts and applies also to building or

contracting agreements.

The essence is that damages aim to put the party whose rights were violated in the position he would have been if his rights were met. When the employer commits a breach of his agreement with a contractor before the latter starts any works, the compensation can be assessed on the basis of the profit the contractor would have made in normal circumstances. There is also the option for the contractor to claim damages on the basis of the expenditure incurred instead of the profit expected to be made. It is up to him to choose which remedy to claim being the innocent party and he may include any expenses which he incurred prior to entering into the agreement in view of it.

According to the court, the contractor did not base his claim on the profit or the benefit the employer made following his agreements with the new subcontractors, but on the loss of profit. Where the loss or damage of the contractor cannot be proved, the court must make its best effort to assess the damages. As long as the contractor proves that he has an actionable right for damages against the employer, the fact that it is difficult to assess them cannot be an obstacle to award him with damages.

The employer, being innocent, cannot expect to gain profit due to the difficulty to prove or assess the damages. In the particular case, the profit lost was five per cent and it was taken into account that the contractor did not incur any expenses and he did not buy any machinery or other materials, except that he lost the profit because he did not execute the works.

George Coucounis is a lawyer specialising in the Immovable Property Law, based in Larnaca, Tel: 24 818288, coucounis.law@ cytanet.com.cy, www.coucounislaw.com

WHAT YOU GET FOR

The name of the game is cash flow With all in a sale facing same problem, beware dodgy deals

By Antonis Loizou FRICS WE ARE the recipients of numerous letters from small and medium size developers and private individuals complaining about the mortgage/ finance situation that they are experiencing with financing institutions. On the one hand, there are limited sales with developers struggling to make ends meet and on the other hand financiers try to get hold of the larger percentage of a sale’s income, so that their mortgage balance is reduced. Both positions are understandable, but the buyer is in the middle. Correct developers should offer their buyers a mortgage release (waiver), but upon their request to provide such a release, some financiers demand to collect practically the whole amount, notwithstanding the amount needed for completion and other developer’s expenses, such as common payments, property taxes due up to that date etc. Unfortunately during these difficult times developers/owners and financiers do not try to work together and each party wants to keep as much a part ot the sale proceeds as much as possible. What a huge mistake, since developers, owners

and financiers are all in the same boat. Financiers are suspicious of the declared sales price, since developers, knowing that the financiers will require a large percentage of the sales price, sometimes under-declare the sales price, or even do not ask for a mortgage release (if the buyer happens not to ask for it). This is not a healthy situation at all and if this happens on a large scale, the problem will appear at the end when the time comes for transfer. We are not saying that only the developers are unreasonable, but financiers on some occasions are as well. So, for a sale of €2.5m the financiers demand 70 per cent of the sales price to provide a mortgage release, notwithstanding the fact that the developer needs 50 per cent of the sales price to build the building, as well as other expenses. So at the end the deal was lost to the dismay of all parties (developer/bank/buyer).

We repeat that it must be realised that developers/ financiers are now in the same boat and although it is understandable the financiers are suspicious of developers/ clients and on the apportionment of sales price, there must be a rethink by all. Giving a slug to

€125,000

How much: €129,900 What you get: This two-bedroom, one-bathroom penthouse in Kapparis, Famagusta includes a communal pool as well as being fully furnished.

From: www.buysellcyprus.com, Tel: 26 200000

the developer, provided that he was correct in his dealings so far, will encourage him to sell (even at his loss) but keep him going with the developments (since this is the only way to repay). Non financing to even wealthy buyers is another problem hence an increasing number of sales are done on a cash basis placing pressure on both (seller/buyer). It is easy for a financier to say “if the developer does not write off the mortgage I will not allow the transfers”, but in practice it is quite difficult. Pieris Estates during the era of the 1980s with 500 units sold but blocked in mortgage took the buyers/banks 35 years to clear, whereas, for small countries such as ours this sort of thing gets out of proportion with bad publicity for all concerned. Whoever tries to play the “clever player”, we are afraid, it will be a lost game. Honesty and clarity are now what is required by the parties involved and although the problems that both have are understandable, it must be understood that no-one will get his own way. The major problem is, of course, mistrust (with due credit on behalf of the financiers) but this mistrust works against everybody.

This situation produces all sorts of illegalities/irregularities. We came across this most shocking experience.

The seller produced two sales contracts duly stamped and signed. One was produced to the bank for say €100 and the other to the Lands Office for €200 (with a note that the first to be withdrawn). So everybody happy? This bank got its 50 per cent of the contract price i.e. €50, the developer got his €200 - €50 = €150 and the buyer had a sales contract for €200 (as per correct sales price) deposited at the Lands Office.

On a sale the seller must take into account his due property taxes, the common expenses, commission paid to the agent etc. So a sale for an X price does not mean that it all goes into the pocket of the seller/ developer. We even have the phenomenon of the developers/sellers colluding with the buyer for the same purpose. What sort of logic is there? If this situation carries on there will be triangular mafia type deals including the developer and the buyer.

Antonis Loizou & Associates Ltd – Real Estate Valuers & Estate Agents, www. aloizou.com.cy, ala-HQ@ aloizou.com.cy

Compiled by Natalie Hami

How much: €127,000 What you get: This one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Ayios Athanasios, Limassol boasts 50m² of covered space and 16m² of veranda. It also comes with underground parking.

From: www.kaimarconsulting.com, Tel: 25 318712

How much: €125,000 What you get: This two-bedroom, one-bathroom ground floor apartment in Pervolia, Larnaca includes a communal pool and air conditioning throughout.

From: www.cyprusprop.com, Tel: 99 537985

23 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY AY MAIL

Shard looms over London Londoners say tower offers nothing to locals while media criticise ‘oligarchitecture’

By Maria Golovnina

R

ISING like a gleaming splinter of glass into a grey sky, London’s tallest building, which opened this week, is designed to mirror a dynamic city living ahead of its time.

But for Londoners dwelling in its shadow, the futuristic new skyscraper known as the Shard is more a reflection of their own unease at the city’s fast-changing and confusing identity.

Still an empty shell and yet to secure any office tenants, the giant Qatarifunded spire, the highest in western Europe, also stands as a powerful symbol of tough and unpredictable economic times.

Towering 310 metres over the south bank of the River Thames, the Shard already dominates London like no other building, its spire sometimes obscured by cloud in the British capital’s often overcast skies.

The 95-storey Shard, so called because of its resemblance to a gigantic glass splinter, has yet to be finished but this week marked the completion of its physical exterior. A delegation of Qatar royals flew in to oversee the coming of age of their £1.5 billion creation.

London’s skyscrapers are modest compared with those of other financial centres in the Americas, Middle East and Asia. Even the Shard remains lower than New York’s Empire State Building, completed more than 80 years ago, and it falls well short of half the height of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai.

Moscow’s Federation Tower, like the Shard not yet finished, will be the highest in Europe at 360 metres.

But once completed next year, the Shard will boast some of Europe’s highest and most expensive flats, their bedrooms and kitchens offering views over a skyline where facades of bygone eras sit alongside the steel and chrome of a new London.

The squalor and extreme poverty of Victorian London, described by novelist Charles Dickens 150 years ago, are long gone. Yet the Shard stands close to some of the city’s most deprived areas where unemployment and crime remain rife as Britain endures its second recession of the financial crisis.

For some Londoners, its hulking mass next to Lon-

Stunning view: Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf as seen from the 69th floor of the Shard don Bridge railway station is intimidating, with many scoffing at its flashiness as an example of wasteful spending at a time of economic and social uncertainty.

“There is nothing g for al people in it. Some e local of the apartments att e top are goin ng the going to sell for millions of pounds in an ea where there area is a lot of poverty,” d Lee, an office said rker in her fifworker s who lives ties ar the Shard. near “II can see it m from everyhere. where.

The st time best is when it’s ning and raining e the mist

goes right all the way up and covers it, and you can’t see it. That’s the best time.”

Rouhman Choudhury, who helps to run local council housing estates, agreed.

“It’s just monstrous,” he said,, p pointing at the Shard’s silhouette llooming over a collection of rundown buildings buildings.

“There are similar situations in other parts of London too where you coun estates with have council poverty a and high unemployment. This doesn’t he the commuseem to help nity in any way. We don’t even know what’s inside.” m British media have given it a chilly welcome, with call some calling it an exam-

Window cleaners at work on the Shard (left) this week

ple of the new “oligarchitecture” dominating London. Others see it simply as an eyesore, saying it has ruined views over the mediaeval Tower of London and Baroque St Paul’s Cathedral which once dominated the skyline.

The Shard is just one of several skyscrapers now sprouting across London with nicknames that reflect the silhouettes they cast on the skyline. But with a financial crisis having blown in since architects first came up with designs for the ‘Walkie Talkie’ and the ‘Cheese Grater’, lettings have been muted.

Work has halted at the Pinnacle skyscraper on

Bishopsgate, which will remain a stump in the ground until a major slice is let.

And developers of a neighbouring tower at 100 Bishopsgate say they will only begin once a large tenant is signed up.

“The skyscraper both encapsulates and extends the ways in which London is becoming more unequal and dangerously dependent on hot money,” the left-leaning Guardian daily wrote on June 25.

“So, the Shard: it’s expensive. It’s off-limits. It’s largely owned by people who don’t live here. And it is the perfect metaphor for what our capital is becoming.”

Designed by Italian Renzo Piano – who has called it a “vertical city”, the Shard is expected to draw rich customers from all over the world but so far it has signed only one pre-let deal with the five-star 195-room Shangri-La Hotel and spa, which will occupy floors 34 to 52 of the 87-storey tower.

Insiders shrug off concerns about finding tenants during the recession. “They are in talks. But nothing has been signed yet,” said a person with knowledge of negotiations. “On tenants you will start hearing any time now, onwards.”

Liz Peace, chief executive

of the British Property Federation, said the political and economic uncertainty arising from the Arab Spring and the euro zone crisis had driven up foreign interest in investing in prime London property.

“Everybody with money to spend wants to be in London ... If you’re a sovereign wealth fund with lots of gas money, you can afford not to require a return next year or the year after,” she said. “People either love it or hate it, but I don’t see why you shouldn’t have iconic skyscrapers in London just because we have lots of lower-rise historic buildings.”

Overseas buyers have invested £15.8 billion in London offices since 2010, 64 per cent of the total. Middle Eastern investors accounted for 11 per cent, or £2.8 billion. And foreign ownership of the City financial district stands at 52 per cent.

But the next wave of investors do not appear to be putting so much money into skyscrapers. Ken Shuttleworth, the architect who led the team behind the Gherkin while at Foster + Partners, said no plans for London skyscrapers were crossing his desk.

“In the current economic climate, we are basically only working on skyscrapers in the Far East,” he said.

Curiously, a January report by Barclays Capital pointed to a correlation between new skyscrapers and hard financial times, saying construction of the Empire State Building and some other landmarks coincided with economic crises.

Shuttleworth, however also said that the British capital, like any other city, had to evolve. “It’s not a museum, it’s basically a living, working organism,” he said.

Shuttleworth drew comparisons between London and the French capital where almost all skyscrapers stand outside the historic centre, including the Defense financial district.

“You can’t say it’s got to be like it used be in mediaeval times because that’s not feasible. Otherwise you end up with Paris, where nothing really happens in middle of Paris and everyone has to go and work out in La Defense,” he said.

But what would Dickens say? “I think he would be astonished. Absolutely astonished,” said Shuttleworth. “I’m sure if he was here, he’d write a book about the Shard.”

24 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Business & Jobs

Bank culture change As Barclays’ CEO departs, Britain must look to shareholders and boards to ensure banks cease their bad behaviour

By Patience Wheatcroft ANKING, like most spheres of life, has never been populated entirely by angels. More than a century before Gordon Gekko strode into Wall Street, declaring that “Greed is right, greed works”, Anthony Trollope had viciously satirised the world of finance in his novel The Way We Live Now. In that tale of the crooked financier Augustus Melmotte, one character observes: “Men reconcile themselves to swindling.

Though they themselves mean to be honest, dishonesty of itself is no longer odious to them.” It has been

B

demonstrated all too often that the chance to make a great deal of money has the ability to soften people’s perceptions of what might be perceived as odious. In investment banking, the sums involved have become huge: it seems that they have been so enticing for some as to become the sole determinant of behaviour.

Goldman Sachs, the widely perceived embodiment of Gekko’s philosophy, was fined $550 million by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in 2010 for misleading investors. If the organisation seemed relatively sanguine about the penalty for what it termed a “mistake”, it may have been because it had just booked profits

of almost $13.4 billion for 2009. The average earnings at Goldman that year were $498,000. Even those on well below the average might have found their nostrils failing to twitch very sensitively at the odd whiff of dubious behaviour.

The term “investment banking” is now more ironic than descriptive of what goes on in these giant organisations. The transaction that earned Goldman its then record-breaking fine involved the sale of complicated mortgage derivatives, of the sort that made a major contribution to the financial crisis in 2008. It was far removed from the concept of raising investment for businesses that want capital in order

Ernst & Young Cyprus Ltd appoints new member of the Board of Directors We are pleased to announce that as from 1 July 2012, Mr. Savvas Pentaris, FCA, CFA, has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of Ernst & Young Cyprus Ltd.

Currencies USD GBP CHF JPY AUD CAD SEK

06-July-2012

1,2347 0,7952 1,1965 98,52 1,1960 1,2447 8,5480

1,2421 0,8000 1,2061 99,31 1,2199 1,2696 8,7190

29-June-2012

1,2535 0,8031 1,1964 99,29 1,2266 1,2785 8,6818

1,2610 0,8079 1,2060 100,08 1,2511 1,3041 8,8554

Michael Douglas in Wall Street as Gordon Gekko, the archetypal capitalist predator to create jobs and grow.

That crucial role, the raison d’être of the merchant banks which were the forerunners of today’s investment banks, has now been overtaken in many of the houses by the creation of ever more sophisticated financial instruments and frantic trading activity. It is not without reason that critics of these organisations refer to them as “casino banks”.

Barclay’s Bob Diamond was an investment banker.

Perhaps he should never have been chief executive of the entire business but, after the furore of recent days in Britain, it was clear he could not remain so.

Betting is legal in Britain and it may be as legitimate for people to place a bet on the pricing of an interest rate swap as on a roulette wheel. But “casino banks” play with countries’ financial stability; their remuneration structures encourage the sort of problem gambling that would send sensible individuals off to Gamblers Anonymous. Even the chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Lord Turner, has dismissed some of their activities as “socially useless”.

Now, perhaps belatedly, the scale of disquiet is such

22-June-2012

1,2518 0,8018 1,1964 100,50 1,2357 1,2773 8,7148

1,2593 0,8066 1,2060 101,30 1,2604 1,3028 8,8891

1wk 1mth 2mth 3mth 6mth 1yr

USD 0,20 0,25 0,34 0,46 0,74 1,07

as to raise questions over their continued existence.

The British government is already pledged to implement the Vickers Committee’s recommendations for ring-fencing investment banking from the basic banking businesses that provide the financial backbone of the country.

There remain areas of fuzziness about how the perimeters of the fence will be determined but the biggest question mark now is over the timetable.

The British government has remained insistent that the deadline should be 2019 but most banks have already been making preparations for the change and pressure is going to mount for it to be brought forward.

RING FENCE The main driver for the change has been the determination that the retail banks and the taxpayer should be isolated from any losses incurred by the gambling arms. But while the retail banks have not been paragons of morality in the past, there is also a pressing argument for ensuring that the culture that appears to prevail in the investment banks does not pervade the retail business.

EUR 0,27 0,31 0,39 0,55 0,86 1,18

GBP 0,56 0,61 0,70 0,88 1,16 1,66

CHF 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,18 0,38

The ring fence will probably only be a temporary step before we return to the Glass-Steagall era of total separation of retail and investment banks, but if the fence is worth having, then it is worth erecting it quickly.

The regulators who will patrol that fence are being restructured and given new remits and powers. It would be wrong, however, to assume that even the toughest regulatory regime will be able to eradicate behaviour which may be condoned, albeit tacitly, by the organisation itself. Hence the emphasis on the need for a culture of compliance - which in many investment banks is little short of a need for cultural change.

Regulators cannot bring that about, boards must.

Non-executive directors have to look at their organisations and ask whether they really feel comfortable with their business and the way it is conducted.

Having been, for 18 months, a non-executive director of Barclays, I know the difficulties inherent in that role.

A non-executive can never know what is going on in every part of the business and it may well be that, eventually, we will have to

JPY 0,12 0,14 0,16 0,20 0,34 0,55

LIBOR RATES (London Interbank Borrowing Rates) AS AT 09/07/2012

CAD 1,04 1,11 1,20 1,31 1,57 2,05

AUD 3,71 3,81 3,88 4,00 4,24 4,56

25 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Business & Jobs

is vital

Luxembourg is top for investor protection The insurance company maintains a register of all assets and how they are invested, which is monitored by the CAA. All policyholder assets are deposited with a custodian bank.

The bank is required to ring-fence clients’ securities (eg investment funds, shares, bonds etc) i.e. they are off its balance sheet. If the bank fails, these securities remain in segregated client accounts.

The bank is bound by the regulator’s legal powers to protect the assets on behalf of investors.

One hundred per cent of the policyholder’s securities are protected. Cash deposits are not securities and so are not segregated, but cash held in monetary funds is treated as securities and so are protected.

Investment Bill Blevins Bill Blevins is Managing Director of Blevins Franks International. Tel: 26-912315

Forced to resign: Barclays Bob Diamond concede that some businesses are not too big to fail but too big, in the long term, to succeed. But what nonexecutives can and must do is to ensure that in their top team they have people of the highest calibre in whom they have complete trust.

Without that trust, the nonexecutives leave themselves and the business in a precarious position.

Shareholders too have a role. They need to consider whether they really wish to continue putting their funds at the disposal of the gamblers. While at times the returns may have looked good, they are anything but reliable. The willingness of institutions to hand capital to the bankers on a “heads you win, tails we lose” basis is one of the

mysteries of the modern financial world.

There are those who see any calls to rein in the investment banks as a potential threat to Britain’s economy. Their cry is that if we do not leave the bankers free to make their millions as they see fit, they will go elsewhere and take their wealth-creating machines with them.

But much of the wealth they claimed to have created turned out to be illusory, only the jackpots that landed in their pockets being immune to the vast writeoffs that were required. So the question now is not whether Britain can afford to lose them but whether the country can afford to let them carry on as they have.

THE banking crisis in 2008 undermined the financial strength of institutions such as banks and insurance companies, and people are now once again concerned about the safety of their savings. The only certain way for investors to achieve security from institutional failure is through a state controlled investor protection regime.

Luxembourg stands out among EU member states with its exceptionally strong culture of investor protection. It has a regime which provides maximum security to investors without limit.

The Grand Duchy is in the top 10 financial centres worldwide. It is the second largest investment funds centre after the US and the leading private banking centre in the eurozone.

Its financial centre is founded on a modern regulatory framework, which is continuously updated. It has attracted banks, insurance companies and investment fund promoters from across the world. It has a flourishing insurance market with all the principal players having a presence and making use of the freedom to offer cross border services in the EU. Many of its institutions specialise in unit linked life assurance, an increasingly popular vehicle for wealth management.

Luxembourg has built a reputation for investor protection, tax certainty, anti money laundering practice and banking confidentiality.

Historically many high net worth individuals used offshore financial centres for confidentiality and tax mitigation.

However, apart from a lack of regulation and investor protection, they have also been under attack from European and international bodies, with the result

Financial privacy

Investor protection in Luxembourg that investors who use them are placing their assets at risk for no real or sustainable benefits.

In contrast, Luxembourg’s regulations are governed by EU directives that require strict financial controls and supervision to provide investors with a secure onshore regime that can still offers tax benefits.

Investor protection

Luxembourg’s investor protection is unique within Europe. The cornerstone of this regime is the legal requirement that all clients’ assets must be held by an independent custodian bank approved by the state regulator, the Commissariat aux Assurances (CAA). This arrangement involving the CAA, custodian bank and insurance company is known as the “Triangle of Security”.

These are the key points:The regime ensures that the legal separation of clients’ assets from the insurance company’s shareholders and creditors, so investors are protected from exposure to the company’s credit risk.

Luxembourg law provides absolute confidentiality. Institutions are legally forbidden from divulging client information to third parties (except in relation to criminal activities). Individual financial privacy remains important for many high net worth individuals.

As part of the EU, Luxembourg participates in the EU Savings Tax Directive on savings income, but it applies a withholding tax rather than automatic exchange of information. This situation will only change if Switzerland ends its banking secrecy.

Over the years Luxembourg has finely tuned its financial services industry into one offering unparalleled investor protection, client confidentiality and legitimate tax planning opportunities. Many British expatriates have already taken advantage of Luxembourg’s favourable arrangements.

A consultation with an experienced tax and wealth management adviser such as Blevins Franks can help with structures suitable for your individual circumstances.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www. blevinsfranks.com

26 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser

ADVERTISER helps you find what you’re looking for

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Nicosia - email: classified@cyprus-mail.com Limassol - email: limassol@cyprus-mail.com Paphos - email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

JOB WANTED

/ Friday / Saturday 25368265 / 99559322

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385

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RUSSIAN LADY graduated from university with perfect English and computer skills, with EU passport, driving licence, is looking for office job in Paphos and Limassol area. Tel 97685260, email gala2lina@yahoo.com *****************************

Paphos Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday 99916331 / 99399240 Details of meetings are available on www.aa-europe.net *****************************

DOES SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING CAUSE YOU A PROBLEM? Al - Anon is for family and friends of those with a drinking problem. Call Nicosia 99 877205 for more information and details of meetings. *****************************

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GREEK LESSONS for children and adults: reading; writing; speaking. Information: 99905862 (Larnaca) PRIVATE TUITION - Experienced, UK-qualified teacher and tutor offers full / part time private home tuition in Maths, English, Science, Geography, History, Business Studies and Economics, from KS3 to iGCSE, AS and A2 levels. Telephone 26642781 or 99318796. ****************************

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CASTLE AUCTIONS – Auction & Sale Rooms in Kolossi, Limassol. Next auction: SAT 14TH JULY at 5pm and includes; New furniture, power tools & wood laithe, beds, sofas, fridges, washing machines, gym equipment, collectables and much more. Tel: 7000 78 89, find us on Facebook or www.castle-auctions. com

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TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE GREEK ORTHODOX: The European Union Parliament is pressuring the Turkish Government to restore Saint Sophia Cathedral from a museum into a Greek Orthodox Church. However the Parliament has set a requirement of 1,000,000 signatures on a petition before it makes this conversation a prerequisite for Turkey’s admission into the European Union. You are requested to cast your vote by logging on to a link at www. hagiasophiablog.com. This is an opportunity for each of you to have an impact on world events. Get as many Greek Orthodox, other Orthodox and Christian friends of yours to sign the petition and make history. *****************************

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EIGHTSMILEYS OFFERS SUP (STAND UP PADDLE) LESSONS, RENTALS & SALES. A great way to release tension and stress at the same time exercise your body, made for all ages and genders. Find out more information on www.sup.com.cy facebook: Eightsmileys Kitesurfsup or call on 99355191 CLINICAL PILATES. Personalised Clinical Pilates by Physiotherapists in Nicosia.

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“Clinical pilates” is a modified form of therapeutic exercise used by physiotherapists to assist in the rehabilitation and prevention of musculoskeletal injury especially lower back pain, sacro-iliac pain and neck pain. More info on 22446988. *****************************

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FOR SALE 2 male English cocker spaniel puppies, born 18th March, golden colour, with an excellent pedigree, vaccinated, microchip with registration number, lovely natured, DNA tested parents.For information look at www.costopa.net or call 99884578 Anna ( Nicosia)

Limassol Tuesday / Wednesday

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Meeting at the following locations/days. Call to speak to an AA member.

Ayia Napa Monday 97798043

SERVICES PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses. Special offers now available. For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) rickyscleaningservices@gmail. com UPHOLSTERY, RUG, BLINDS + CURTAIN CLEANING Rugs from 20€ - Carpets from 38€ - Fabric Suites form 85€ - Leather Suites from 95€ - Mattresses from 25€. Curtains, Roman blinds, Vertical Blinds need to be surveyed.

Collection Service available.

For a free quotation call Mark on 70006766 All areas DO YOU WANT A SHINY LOOKING FLOOR? Full repair & restoration of chipped, scratched, dull and stained, Marble, Terrazzo, Stone & Ceramic tiled floors and surfaces. Professional cleaning, repair & sealing of internal/ external ceramic tiles & grout lines. For a free professional consultation & demonstration contact Mark at Premier on 70006766 or 96333961 All areas SWIFT SERVICE AND REPAIRS air-cons, commercial and domestic fridges and freezers, ice machines, cool rooms, supply and fit air-cons VRV S. Call Nik on 99579602 Limassol K.D.FLYSCREENS LTD We manufacture top quality sliding screens, opening doors and roller systems. We also do repairs. For a FREE QUOTE please contact Phone: 99119582 Website: www.kdflyscreens.com *****************************

DOG AND CAT sitting service available by English lady.

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Reasonable rates. References available. Call Janet 99025925 KEEP YOUR HOME COOLER THIS SUMMER by having Windowfilm professionaly fitted. Stops up to 86% of heat from entering your home!

Windowfilm increases privacy, blocks harmful uv-rays which cause fading, reduces glare and saves energy costs on air-con. Also keeps your home warmer in winter. Call Ian on 99979671 K.D.FLYSCREENS LTD We manufacture top quality sliding screens, opening doors and roller systems. We also do repairs. For a FREE QUOTE please contact Phone: 99119582 Website: www.kdflyscreens.com WE UNDERTAKE REFURBISHING of houses or holiday homes, construction of pergolas, undertaking of plumbing, house painting, garden work. For information call JIMMYS: 96587137, MELIS: 96547879 JURIDICAL SERVICES Contracts, sales agreements, conveyancing, wills, administration of estates, general litigation, power of attorney, land registry matters, companies, translations, immigration etc... And all legal matters.

Call: Natalia Michealidou – jurist, Paphos Tel: 26 933159 – 99523231 (office hours)

FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS OWNER RETURNING TO UK. Washing machine still under guarantee €250. Floor standing water cooler nearly new €85, under counter fridge nearly new €100, solid oak light dining table and 6 rattan chairs €250. Contact 99176231 FOR SALE 2.4 metre Satellite Dish for sale. Good condition. reasonable offer accepted. Buyer Collects. Tel 24632691 or 96512257.

CLOTHES STOCKS AND SHOP FITTINGS FOR SALE. Excellent women’s brands for sale including Italian, Spanish and French clothes and shoes. Also women’s dummies and modern wall fittings (clothes rails.) Selling at very low prices for clearance. Tel: 99168943

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

2 BEDROOM ATLAS MOBILE HOME FOR SALE. Granite kitchen surfaces tiled floors in W.C., Shower room and kitchen €9,900.

Contact <sandymathie@ hotmail.com> or mobile 99416918

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND PLOT IN GEROSKIPOU, just 5 minutes from the Paphos centre, with magnificent sea views of the whole of Paphos, 640 square metres, attached to a green area, premium piece of land, €210.000, Tel 99403261 (owners) LIMASSOL LAND FOR SALE Residential piece of land of 985sqm in the village of Pareklisia. Partial sea views, near to electricity and water supplies. €135.000 D.C. (Cyprus) Real Estate Tel: 99 330 908 PLOT IN LEFKARA, LARNACA FOR SALE For Sale Plot in the centre of Lefkara Village 670sqm, high build factor, near all shops, and amenities €210.000 negotiable Tel: 99 330 908 LAND TERSTEFANOU LARNACA Terstefanou, Larnaca.

7.5 skales/donums on road, with electricity and water, near residential area, 1 km from where the new golf courses are being built. Perfect for residential or commercial use. €900.000 tel: 99 330 908 FOR SALE OR RENT - Kato Paphos – full moon bar, fully furnished and equipped, large flat screen TV’s + projector, fits 120 people comfortably, incredible opportunity for ready business!

Please call: 99493579 FOR SALE factory with showroom, 1050m2, in private land, in kokkinotrimithia industrial zone. Tel. 99849195.

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES DUTY FREE VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLE, 10 seat mini-bus, model 1999 2461 cc, diesel, a/c, manual, white colour, electric lock, power steering, many extra, in good general condition. Price negotiable. Contact number 22315896.

DUTY FREE MAZDA 6, saloon, model 2000, 20 hp, a/c, automatic, metallic black colour.

Good general condition. Price negotiable. Contact number:

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 26 Employment Miscellaneous 26 Pets 26 Lessons 26 Health & Fitness 26 Personal 26 Services 26 For Sale Miscellaneous 26 For Sale Land/ Property Business 26 For Sale Motor vehicles 26 Wanted 27 To Let Nicosia 27 To Let Limassol 30 To Let Larnaca 30 To Let Paphos 30 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -To Let Athens -Land For Sale Bulgaria -For Sale Limassol 32 For Sale Nicosia 32 For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 32 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras -For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads 33

abbreviations bdrm c/h a/c s/pool f/f apt pm pw sw nw st rd p/s c/l swb r/cass e/w

bedroom central heating air conditioning swimming pool fully furnished apartment per month per week south west north west street road power steering central locking short wheel base radio cassette electric windows

Please note tel nos. that begin with: 22 = Nicosia 23 = Paralimni/Protaras 24 = Larnaca 25 = Limassol 26 = Paphos

27 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES 22315896. ****************************

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA approx area Lakadamia to Kapedes and Kalo Chorio) alan.tye@birdlifecyprus.org. cy, 22455072, 99089083.

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA MAZDA RX8 2004 Black,(high power 247) electric locks, a/c ,fog lights, MD player, CD changer, TV/DVD, navigator, factory adjustable suspension soft/hard-up/down. 6+1 speed, body kit, MOT. The condition of the car is excellent. CALL 96871551 ****************************

FOR SALE BMW 320i CONVERTIBLE, 2008, colour platinum bronze, 18’’ alloys, being leather, cruise control, front and rear parking sesonrs, lights-rain sensors, wind deflector, 45000 km, excellent condition, €30,900. For information call 99405122. *****************************

WANTED TO RENT FLAT OR HOUSE TO RENT, 2-3 bedrooms, veranda/terrace or garden, prefer furnished, SW of Nicosia (in

*****************************

ACROPOLIS RESIDENTIAL AREA, luxury two bedroom top floor apartment, fully fitted kitchen, open-space dining/ sitting area, bathroom, guest WC, large veranda, c/h, a/c, solar heating, broadband internet, satellite TV, covered parking, furnished or unfurnished. Rent €800/month, Call 22312255, 99557457 APARTMENT STUDIO 3rd floor very big veranda, a/c, covered parking, store room, solar heater, all the electrical appliances in Aglanzia Nicosia near University and near Lidl €460 PANICOS STAVRINOU estate agent r.n 497 Licences number 166/E tel 99666703 email yemo@cytanet.com.cy TO LET, SELL OR DEVELOP a beautiful house; entirely independent, of yellow stone 365 sq m surrounded by gardens, at 7 Damonos Str., corner with Leondiou Str, - Nicosia (nr: Kaimakli) of 4 bedrooms, sitting, dining, reception hall, 2 conservatories, service room, 2 w/c’s, pathroom and kitchen, 3 verandas, laundry, garage and inside parking; an extra site is also available. Rent: €1000 p/m. Sale €690,000. TEl: 99-334728, 22-336108, 99-464600, 22338837, 99-660643

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

CORNER HOUSE, view, 2 years, Strovolos, Kosta Theodorou, 3 bed, 3 wc double basin, vintage character, stones (saloon & wc), full granites, fire place, provision (electrical blinds & extra room with kitchen and wc), air-conditions, storage address Nafsika 5, for sale or rent 1.350eur tel:99423083

TO LET 3 bedroom flat completely renovated in Strovolos. 135sqm, quiet family owned building recently painted. c/h, a/c, storage room. Stainless steel appliances, washing machine.

Sky satellite TV. €650/month Call 99 330 908.

FOR RENT 1 bedr apartment, separate kitchen, bathroom, very clean in good condition.

Near the centre of Nicosia.

Suitable for I person. Call Michael tel 22377141 TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT IN ENGOMI near Cyprus college and Intercollege. Separate kitchen, one and a half bathrooms and air-conditions.

Equip with stove, fridge and washing machine. Available immediately. For more information please contact Anthi at 99-537463 ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT, in small quiet building, new, very spacious, fully furnished and air conditioned. Very good location between Strovolos and Engomi, close to The European University (Cyprus College) and all amenities. Covered parking. Rent €495/m. Please call 99695382

English-Painter & Decorator Fully Qualified 30 years’ Experience SUMMER OFFER 30% OFF ALL AREAS • External & Internal painting • Damp Damage Repairs • Spritze Repairs • Free Estimates + very clean work • All areas. All types of woodwork stained and preserved • All work guaranteed

Tel. Tony on 99176557

ATPEX Fencing & Decking Specialist For all your Garden and Security Fencing ♦ Quality approved workmanship ♦ 15 years experience + guaranteed work ♦ English workers ♦ also garden gates ♦ sheds ♦ chain link fencing ♦ free estimates ♦ all types of fencing & decking

Tel. ATPEX fencing 99176557

CHILDCARE From a Cypriot - with 20 years experience in a kindergarten - looking after infants and children at her house in Nicosia

For information call 99781943

TO LET 3 bdrm flat Kaimakli area near Frederic. Tel. 99606665.

NICOSIA FLAT FOR RENT 3 bedroom flat completely renovated in Strovolos. 135sqm, quiet family owned building recently painted. c/h, a/c, storage room. Stainless steel appliances, washing machine.

Sky satellite TV. €650/month Call 99 330 908. ****************************** LUXURY HOUSES:

1. 5 bedrs detached house, 550sq.m, built in 2 big plots of land, big garden with grass, big swimming pool with extra fence for children and big covered patio with bbq area, big SECRETARY WANTED FULL/PART TIME JOB CityCell Communications ltd. Internet service Language: English Russian Greek preferable Expert in Microsoft office & computers.

Single, hard working, responsible, long term. email your cv with personal photo & contact www.citycellwifi.com info@citycellhotspot.com

TO LET NICOSIA reception areas with marble floor, fire place and bar, big kitchen with all electrical appliances and sitting room with fire place, maid’s room, floor heating, full a/c, blinds on the windows, master bedroom with en suite bathroom and shower, big bathroom for the other 3 bedrooms and extra shower in the 5th bedroom.

Available end of July - Strovolos €2500 (H5ST10001-R), (photos in the website).

2. 3 bedrs luxury ground floor renovated semi detached house,210sq.m, with central heating, air conditions, solid parquet floor, fire place, big kitchen with all the electric appliances, 2 wc curtains, big veranda, big patio on the back with bbq area, 2 covered parkings in a quiet neighborhood close to the Embassies –Engomi €1000 (H3ENG0002-R), (photos in the website) 3. 3 bedrs luxury terracedhouse,

TO LET NICOSIA 210sq.m, central heating, full a/c, marble floor in the sitting areas and solid parquet floor the stairs and bedrooms,4wc,3 bathrooms the 2 en suite ,big verandas, electrical appliances in the kitchen,3 covered parking, roof garden access, in a quiet neighborhood on Mon Parnas Hill.

Engomi €1000 (H3ENG0004-R), (photos in the website).

4. 3 bedr luxry detached house with 1 bedr flat in the basement, floor heating with gass a/c units, big kitchen with electrical appliances, 4 wc, 3 bathrooms, big garden with small pebbles, 2 covered parking, in a quiet area in a dead end. Can be rented furnished or not. AVAILABLE in August – Makedonitissa €1700 (H4MAK0027-R), (photos in the website).

5. 4 bedr+ attic room with shower and wc luxury detached house with separate maid’s room, central heating,

28 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA a/c, separate office room, sitting and dining areas, big kitchen with dining room and big family room opening to the big garden with grass and bbq area, 2 covered parking, behind General flooring shop – Makedonitissa €3000 (H4MAK0025-R), (Photos on the website).

6. 3 bedr + big attic room which can be used as a bedroom/office, detached house, central heating, full a/c,3wc, 2 bathrooms, big sitting and dining room, separate kitchen with all the electrical appliances, small garden and patio with bbq area, covered parking, near Apollonion hospital. Available end of July – Makedonitissa €1200 (H4MAK0016-R), (photos in the website) 7. 4 bedrs and sitting room upstairs luxury detached house, 380sq.m,room for the maid, central heating, full a/c, marble and parquet floor, big sitting and dining areas, office space, big verandas around the house, covered parking,3 bathrooms,4wc in a quiet area off Eleonon street, near Pizza Hut. AVAILABLE middle of July – Strovolos €1700 (H4ST10041-R), (photos in the website).

8. 4 bedr luxury detached house, 350sq.m, central heating, full a/c, office space, separate maid’s room, big storage room, solid parquet floor in the bedrooms, 2 covered parking, swimming pool, garden with trees, veranda with bbq area, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances,

TO LET NICOSIA big sitting and dining areas, very near to English School, off Athalassas Avenue €2300 (H4ST10036-R), (photos on the website).

9. 4 bedr detached house with central heating, a/c units, separate big kitchen with el. appliances, small garden at the back, covered parking, 3wc,2 bathrooms, near the French ambassador residence – Strovolos €1000 (H4ST10038-R), (Photos on the website).

10. 4 bedr new luxury finished top quality detached house, 290sq.m, central heating, full a/c, master bedroom with ensuite shower/jacuzzi, guest bedroom with shower, main bathroom with jacuzzi, 4wc, fully expensive furnished with 3 LCD televisions, kitchen with very expensive electrical appliances and family room, garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area,2 covered parking’s, alarm system, pressure system, - Strovolos €3000 (H4STI0039-R), (Photos on the website).

11. 3 bedr + big attic room with shower and wc luxury new house,210sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 4wc, blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, small garden, covered parking near Alpha Mega supermarket - Strovolos €1400 (H4ST1007-R), (photos in the website).

12. 5 bedr new luxury finished detached house with separate maid’s room, one of the bedrooms with shower and wc and can be used as guest room,4 wc, solid parquet

TO LET NICOSIA floor all the house, separate family room with fire place, big sitting room, separate dining room, big kitchen with breakfast area, big outside patio with tiles and bbq area,2 covered parking, electrical appliances in the kitchen, in a very quiet neighborhood close to CYBC station.

Can be rented furnished or not. – Platy Aglantzias €3000 (H5PAG0001-R), (Photos on the website).

13. 4 bedr+ separate maid’s room luxury finished semi detached house with central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining areas, big kitchen with family room, full expensive electrical appliances in the kitchen(Miele), 4wc, blinds on windows, big back yard with tiled and bbq area, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood with easy access to the French school – Aglantzia €1400 (H4AGZ0008-R), (photos in the website).

14. 3 bedr luxury house, nicely modern furnished with big sitting and dining areas with bar, central heating, full a/c, big fitted kitchen with TV room, office space, patio area with bbq, covered parking, 3wc, solid parquet floor in bedrooms and granite in the sitting areas, near the MEGA TV

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

station – Archangelos €1300 (H3AR0002-R), (photos in the website).

15. 4 bedr house built in 2 plots,3 bedrs upstairs and one down, big garden with grass, bbq area with kiosk, Central Heating ,full AC,240sq.m,parquet floor,2 showers,3wc,electrical appliances in the kitchen, in a very quiet neighbourhood. Available in aprox. one month from signing contracts. CAN BE RENTED ALSO FURNISHED OR PARTIALLY FURNISHED – Agios Andreas €2000 (H4AAD0006-R), (photos in the website).

16. 3 bedr + office space +separate maid’s room detached luxury house, 450sq.m, recently renovated, with central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining area with parquet floor, TV room with fire place, big kitchen with breakfast area and fitted cooker and oven, 4 wc, roller blinds on all windows, very big verandas and yard, covered parking, in a very quiet neighborhood in the centre of Makedonitissa opposite a playground.

AVAILABLE MID JULY - €1400 (H4MAK0003-R), (photos in the website).

17. 3 bedr+ attic room which can be used for bedroom or

SERMI FINANCIAL CONSULTANT Offers expert advice and viable solutions.

• Loan Restructuring • Negotiations with Banking Institutions • Support on Arbitrations • Legal Advice • Financial Budgets / Accounting Tel: 22 355670, Fax: 22 355671 Email: sermi.fc@cytanet.com.cy

office, luxury semi detached house, with central heating, full a/c, big separate kitchen with cooker and oven, blinds, big patio with tiles and trees on the back and covered veranda on thr front, parking, in a quiet area off 28th October street in the centre of Makedonitissa €1200 (H4MAK0026-R), (photos in the website) 18. New luxury 4 bedr + very big 40sq.m attic room with shower and wc semi detached house, 300 sq.m, central heating, full air condition, big sitting and dining areas, 4 wc, 2 showers,1 bathroom, solar heater, pressure system, covered parking, big back yard with tiles, blinds, cooker, oven and, refrigerator in the kitchen, in a very quiet neighborhood and area – Agios Dometios €1500 (H4ADO0004-R).

19. 3 bedr new modern luxury detached house,180sq.m,central heating, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, cooker and oven in the kitchen, blinds on all windows, off Tseriou Avenue. THE house is unfurnished. Lakatamia €775 (H3LAK0001-R), (photos in the website).

20. 3 bedr+ separate maid’s room semi detached house, 250sq.m, central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining areas, big kitchen with family room, 4wc, 2 bathrooms, 1 shower, 2 covered parking, big verandas and big covered patio with bbq, big covered veranda for the winter on the back, fully furnished and equipped, in a quiet neighborhood very close to all amenities and Apha Mega supermarket - Acropolis €1100 (H4ACS0001-R), (photos in the website).

TO LET NICOSIA 21. 3 bedr detached house partially renovated 240sq.m with central heating, full a/c, separate tv room with fire place, big sitting and dining room, separate kitchen with small family room, 3wc, big verandas and patio with deck and bbq area, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood behind Areteion hospital close to Falcon school - Dasoupoli €1950 (H3DAS0006-R), (photos in the website).

22. 4 bedrs new luxury detached house, 330sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 2 covered parking’s, big kitchen with sitting room and all the electrical appliances, blinds on the windows, 2 bedrs with en suite shower, bathroom with jacuzzi, swimming pool with patio and nice covered bbq area, opposite a green area in a very quiet area Available end of JUNE – Strovolos €3000 (photos in the website).

23. 4 bedr luxury detached house, separate maid’s room, 600 sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 6 wc, 4 bathrooms, big sitting and dining areas opening on to the garden, big kitchen with electrical appliances, built in 2 big plots of land with huge garden with grass, swimming pool, 2 covered parking, in a quiet neighbourhood close to Alpha Mega supermarket Engomi - €3700 (H4PA20005-R), (photos on the website).

24. 4 bedr luxury detached house with expensive finishes, office space, separate maid’s room, 3 of the bedrooms with en suite shower/ bathroom, floor heating, full air condition, white marble floor all the house, fire place, lighting fixtures, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances, swimming pool with

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION On May 21st, 2012 in accordance with Section 14.81.1 C of the Liberian Business Corporation ActDogonLtd (“Company”) with registration number C-37274 doing business at 9 Marikas Kotopouli Street, 3030 Limassol the shareholders have agreed to dissolve the Company.

1. All claims against the assets of the Company must be made in writing and include the claim amount, basis and origination date.

2. The deadline for submitting claims is 23rd November 2012 3. Any claims that are not received by the company prior to the date set forth above will not be recognized.

5. All claims and payments must be sent to P. O Box 53766, 3317 Limassol, Cyprus Dated: March 22nd, 2012.

Camilla Strømstad Liquidation board

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29 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

TO LET NICOSIA bbq area, small garden,2 covered parking’s in a nice neighbourhood with expensive houses near KEMA building – Platy Aglantzias €3500 (H4PAG0004-R), (photos in the website).

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225/96422225/96422226, www.landtouristestates. com *****************************

LUXURY FLATS: 1. 2 bedr luxury fully renovated apartment, storage heaters, 3 a/c, separate big kitchen, big sitting dining room, fully modern furnished and equipped with solid parquet floor off Prodromou street – Engomi €600 (A2ENG0010-R), (photos in the website).

2. 2 bedr new luxury modern, 2 storey apartment with solid parquet floor, floor heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 2 wc, expensive fitted electrical appliances, blinds, covered veranda with very nice view, in a quiet neighbourhood on a modern design building. AVAILABLE 1st of August – Aglantzia €750 (A2AGZ0021-R), (photos on the website).

3. 1 bedr luxury spacious apartment with big sitting room, separate kitchen with electrical appliances, central heating independent with diesel,2

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA a/c, aluminum shutters in the bedrooms, covered veranda, covered parking, storage room, on a small quiet building in a quiet neighborhood – Agios Dometios €450 (A1ADO0004-R), (photos in the website).

4. 3 bedr luxury PENTHOUSE apartment with storage heaters, full a/c, office space, very big veranda 100sq.m with nice view and bbq area with bar, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, 2 bathrooms, 2 storage rooms, covered parking, in a small building near Hilton park and Ippokration hospital – Engomi €1000 (A3ENG0023-R), (photos in the website).

6. 3 bedr luxury apartment with storage heaters, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, electrical appliances in the kitchen, big covered veranda, covered parking, near Ippokration hospital – Engomi €700 (A3ENG0024-R), (photos in the website).

7. 2 bedr brand new luxury finished apartment on a small modern design building with 2 bathrooms, a/c for hot and cold (Mitsubishi), storage heaters can be installed if needed, electrical shutters in the bedrooms, pressure system, water serculation system, solar, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds, covered veranda, 2 COVERED PARKING, storage room, near the centre and near traffic lights of Honda

TO LET NICOSIA showroom. – Agioi Omologites €700 (A2AOM0007-R) 8. 3 bedr new luxury spacious apartment, 150sq.m+big covered veranda, big sitting and dining room, nicely furnished big separate kitchen with cooker and oven, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, big bedrooms, a/c for hot and cold in all the rooms, electrical heating if needed, covered parking and big room on the ground floor with window which can be used for a maid or office, in a very quite neighbourhood in a small building – Agios Dometios €750 (A3ADO0006-R), (photos in the website) 9. 3 bedr new luxury penthouse apartment on the last floor of a 3 storey building, CH ind, full a/c, pressure system, cooker and oven in the kitchen, blinds in the living room, 2 bathrooms, 130sq.m, big veranda with view, covered parking, 200m opposite Akropolis park. AVAILABLE 1st of August – Acropolis €850(A3ACS0039-R), (photos on the website).

10. 2 bedr new luxury finished apartment with a/c for hot and cold, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, big covered veranda,2 bathrooms,2wc,covered parking, storage room, secured entrance building in a very quiet neighborhood – Aglantzia €650 (A2AGZ0022-R), (photos in the website) 11. 1 bedr apartment, 55sq.m, separate kitchen, fully fur-

TO LET NICOSIA nished and equipped with television in good condition,2 AC for hot and cold on Makarios Avenue near Debenhams. Available for short and long term – Nicosia Centre €450 (A1NIC0002-R), (photos in the website).

12. 1 bedr apartment with storage heaters, 2 a/c, big bathroom, NICELY FUNRISHED, covered parking, covered veranda with nice view, in a quiet area near Ippokration hospital – Engomi €500

TO LET NICOSIA (A1ENG0009-R), (photos in the website).

13. New luxury 2 bedr apartment with nice view, 100sq.m, big sitting & dining area, big separate kitchen with cooker and oven, big covered verandah, 2 wc, storage heaters, 2 a/c, electric shutters in the bedrooms, covered parking and storage room on the 11th floor of a small building with 6 flats only 200 meters for Akropolis park and opposite a small neighborhood

TO LET NICOSIA park – Dasoupolis €570 (A2DAS0001-R), (photos in the website).

14. New luxury modern 3 bedr apartment,145sq.m big covered veranda with nice view, a/c in all the rooms, electrical heating, cooker and oven in the kitchen, big sitting and dining room,2 bathrooms, laundry room, covered parking and storage room off Kennedy Avenue behind KPMG offices – Acropolis €900(A3ACS0038-R), (pho-

30 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA tos on the website).

15. 2 bedr brand new luxury finished apartment in a modern luxury building with independent central heating, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 2 wc, aluminum shutters in the bedrooms, cooker, oven, fridge and washing machine in the kitchen, big veranda, electric parking entrance, covered parking and colour intercom.

Price includes cable net service with 10mb and TV satellite channels – Acropolis €700 (A2ACS0004-R), (photos in the website).

16. New luxury 2 bedr apartment with central heating independent, full ac, fully modern nicely furnished and equipped, big covered verandah, 2 wc, covered parking opposite Hilton, off Makarios Avenue close to the centre – Lykavitos €650 (A2LYK0003-R), (photos in the website) 17. Fully renovated luxury 1 bed apartment,60 sq.m, fully furnished and equipped with internet, LCD 32 ‘ TV, in the centre of Nicosia near Debenhams, with 2 a/c for hot and cold. – Nicosia Centre €550 (A1NIC0003-R), (photos in the website).

18. 4 bedr luxury floor apartment,250sq.m, office, maid’s room, central heating ind, full a/c,2 showers, 1 bathroom, 3wc, parquet floor, big kitchen with cooker and oven, big sitting area, roller

TO LET NICOSIA blinds on all the windows, big veranda on a small building off Athalasas Avenue near Alpha Mega supermarket and Areteion hospital – Dasoupolis €1100 (A4DAS002-R), (photos on the website) 19. 2 bedr luxury apartment, 95sq.m, 4 AC for hot and cold, fully newly furnished and equipped, covered verandah, 2 wc, covered parking off Makarios Avenue between Hilton and Debenhams – Nicosia Centre €700.

Can be rented also for 6 months for €1100 per month - (A2NIC0024-R), (photos in the website) 20. 2 bedrs ground floor big apartment.130 sq.m, CH independent, 3 A/C, very big bedrooms with parquet floor, big sitting and dining area, big separate kitchen, fully nicely furnished, on a small 2 storey building off Makarios Avenue behind Hilton hotel walking distance to the centre - Nicosia Centre €550 (A2NIC0002-R), (Photos on the website).

21. 3 bedr spacious apartment, 150sq.m, central heating independent, 3a/c, big sitting room,2 bathrooms,2wc,covered veranda, in a small building with 2 flats only, covered parking, near Hilton Park hotel – Engomi €750 (A3ENG0022-R), (photos in the website).

22. 2 bedr new luxury modern, 2 storey & apartment with

TO LET NICOSIA solid parquet floor, floor heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms,2wc, expensive fitted electrical appliances, blinds, covered veranda with very nice view, in a quiet neighborhood in a modern design building. AVAILABLE 1st of August – Aglantzia €750 (A2AGZ0021-R), (photos in the website).

23. 1 bedr, fully furnished and equipped apartment, 50 sq.m, 2 a/c, for hot and cold, covered verandah, covered parking, off Makarios Avenue between Hilton and DEBENHAMS shop. Available middle July – Nicosia Centre €550 (A1NIC0006-R), (photos in the website).

24. 3 bedr+ separate maid”s room (with shower and wc) luxury apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, big separate kitchen with breakfast area and electrical appliances, big sitting and dining area with solid parquet floor, big covered veranda, blinds, alarm system, 2 parking, in a quiet area off Makarios Avenue near Hilton – Nicosia Centre (A3NIC0023-R), (photos in the website).

25. 2 bedr new luxury finished and FURNISHED ground floor apartment, 80sq.m +120sq.m veranda and garden, separate floor heating, full a/c, 2wc, aluminum shutters outside the windows, pressure system, fully ex-

TO LET LIMASSOL

TO LET NICOSIA pensively fitted with electrical appliances in the kitchen, big covered parking and big storage room, off Athallassa Avenue near English School in a small modern building. AVAILABLE 1st of AUGUST – Strovolos €800 (A2ST10023-R), (photos in the website).

26. 3 bed brand new luxury finished apartment in a small modern design building with 2 bathrooms(one en suite), expensive electrical appliances in the kitchen, double glazed windows with electrical shutter, covered veranda, pressure system, solar heater, central satellite antenna, 2 covered parkings, storage room, security entrance, close to Honda traffic lights walking distance to the centre – Agioi Omologites €850 (A3AOM0009-R), (photos in the website).

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates. com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225 / 96-422225 / 96422226 www.landtouristestates. com ******************************

LIMASSOL FOR RENT IN LIMASSOL opposite THE FOUR SEASONS, 1 bdrm duplex apartment (2nd + 3rd floor) overlooking the sea. Open plan kitchen, large living / dining room.

Leading to large veranda, upstairs, bathroom, double bdrm opening to large veranda. Furnished, solar panels, a/c (hot/cold). Rent €375 per month. Tel. 25378504, 99686661.

****************************

GROUND FLOOR 3 bedroom house, fully furnished, 2 bathrooms, renovated, electrical equipment, fitted kitchen, laundry small room, a/c, rolex windows, big veranda, good price, Apostolos Andreas-Haraki, 99-497576, 99-886775, 99-924444 LIMASSOL, RENT: Office of around 110 m2, with partitions, split units, kitchenette and parking in a peaceful, green yet central area at Helladion House(off. 201), 5 Andrea Kalvou Str. For viewing, please knock on off. 202(2nd flloor). For further details, please call 25-521873 or 25731163 after 8:00pm.

LIMASSOL. Spacious modern 2 bedroom flat, tranquil block, central residential area, sea and mountains views. Full a/c. Solar water heater, power shower. Covered parking.

Real wood flooring. Italian kitchen. New Sony TV DVD. Fully equipped. 99409829 info@idclimassol.org FOR RENT IN CENTRE OF LANIA village a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom modernised old village house. Unfurnished, 425 euro pcm Tel 99305491. ****************************

OFFICE FOR RENT OPPOSITE SEA WITH amazing sea views. 120sqm, 2 bathrooms, kitchen. Security system, cabling and server room ready.

Price € 1400/month negotiable tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/listing-LIM-0103 4

BEDROOM RECENTLY RENOVATED whole floor apartment of 200sqm.. Fully Furnished. Opposite sea, swimming pool, tennis court, and security gate. 3 new bathrooms, new kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

TO LET LIMASSOL 2 Covered parkings. Price € 1500/month. Call 99 330 908 LIMASSOL OFFICE FOR RENT Brand new Office For Rent On Limassol’s most popular high street. Open Plan layout, 190sqm, raised flooring, structured cabling, 2 bathrooms, kitchenette. Price €3600/month negotiable tel.

99 330 908 http://www.cyprusre.com/listing-lim-0155

LARNACA *****************************

APARTMENT 2 bedroom ground floor ,Semi Furnished,all the electrical appliances in Larnaca Dekelia road, near Intercollege Larnaca. Solar heater, a/c €460 PANICOS STAVRINOU estate agent r.n 497 Licences number 166/E tel 99666703 email yemo@cytanet.com.cy FULLY FURNISHED one bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca. Price €370. Tel: 99202543 *****************************

1. K.S.L LETTINGS – APARTMENT FOR RENT Fully Furnished ground floor 2 bedroom apartment, overlooking pool. Beautifully furnished throughout. 350 Euros per calendar month. Larnaca District. Quote TLL884. Tel. (00357) 24815104 2. K.S.L LETTINGS – Properties Required for waiting Long Term Tenants. We desperately require 2/3 & 4 bedroom villa’s with private swimming pools for waiting tenants in the Larnaca District. Please call us for a free valuation. Tel.(00357) 24815104 3. K.S.L LETTINGS – largest range of properties. Over 200 rental properties in the Larnaca district at the most competitive rates! Flexible contracts available. Tel. (00357) 24815104 4. WWW.KSLLETTINGS.COM – VILLA FOR RENT Fully furnished 3 bedroom Villa with a good-sized rear garden & Communal pool, located in the village of Oroklini.

Call for further information quoting Ref. TLL1189. Tel. (00357) 24815104 CALL 24 815 104 TO ENQUIRE OR ARRANGE A VIEWING – NO OBLIGATION OR FEES. VIEW OUR FULL RANGE OF OVER 200 PROPERTIES BY VISITING WWW.KSLLETTINGS.COM UPDATED DAILY. LANDLORDS ADVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY FOR FREE AND GET WORLD WIDE ADVERTISING – NO TENANT NO FEE ! ****************************

PAPHOS Salamis Sport Bar & Restaurant Every Monday & Tuesday Live International Music A tribute to Elvis 60s 70s 80s and much more KARAOKE

(All Irish channels) Wimbledon 2012

Mackenzie Beach Larnaca (behind Flamingo Hotel) Everyone is welcome for food or drink (no extra charge)

For information call 24623761

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UNIVERSAL AREA, 2 bedroom modern furnished town house, communal pool Euro 450 per month Tel 99387842 ANAVARGOS, 3 bedroom detached house, low maintenance garden, communal pool, very close to international school, Unfurnished or furnished, euro 550 per month Tel: 99239262

31 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Advertiser

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

EPISKOPI – PAPHOS, 3 bedroom bungalow, unfurnished, a/con, fire-place, spectacular mountain views, large established garden with irrigation, swimming pool, very quiet location, euro 650 ono – long term Please call Micheal: 99655636 - no agents

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GREAT VALUE STUDIO FLAT FOR RENT, - Large modern studio flat in small residential block, in central Paphos, 5 minutes from town centre, 2 minutes from motorway, and 10 minutes from Kato Paphos. Separate Living area/kitchen and bedroom.

Fully furnished (washing machine etc.) Covered veranda, and undercover designated parking. Only Euro 215/month inc. communal charges. Phone 99-310481. ****************************

AYIOS DEMETRIANOS 3 bedroom villa with swimming pool, large established garden, sea views, unfurnished, very quiet area.

Euro 550 per month - ono.

Call: 99127195 ****************************

BEAUTIFUL, 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT, furnished and fully air-conditioned, situated close to Carrefour €330. And a 1 bed new apt, attractive and spacious, furnished with S.pool, in Chlorakas, 500 meters from the St. George hotel €290. OWNERS, TEL 99403261, 26934650

GREAT VALUE STUDIO FLAT FOR RENT - Large modern studio flat in small residential block, in central Paphos, 5 minutes from town centre, 2 minutes from motorway, and 10 minutes from Kato Paphos. Separate Living area/ kitchen and bedroom. Fully furnished (washing machine etc.) Covered veranda, and undercover designated parking. Only €215/month inc. communal charges. Phone 99310481. *****************************

6

BEDROOM, luxury detached villa in Chlorakas, for rent. Breathtaking, unobscured sea and mountain views. Close to all amenities, located in a cul-de-sac in Melanos area with a private road. 6 bed, 2 bathrooms (+2en suite), utility room, outdoor storage, Jacuzzi, private pool, fully A/C, fitted kitchen, large verandas and landscaped gardens. Long term let or sale by owner, call 99414920

***************************** RENTAL BARGAINS

ANARITA: NEW 3/4 bedroom luxury extra spacious villa with A/C, en-suites, utility and swimming pool. Extensive private garden and parking. From €600.

KATO PAPHOS – 3 bedroom fully furnished villa with A/C, swimming pool, garden and parking. €600 EMBA – 3 bedroom luxury vil-

TO LET PAPHOS la with A/C, garden, parking and good views. €600.

PAPHOS AND SURROUNDING AREAS: 1-2 bedroom NEW Unfurnished/ furnished apartments From €250.

FOR SALE: please call 99 621 875 for many sale opportunities for all categories of properties. ****************************

UNIVERSAL: 1 bedroom fully furnished ground floor apartment with freezer, TV, a/c, leather sofas communal swimming pool, very quiet location, near to school and clinic, the utilities should be on tenants name. €280p/m Please call 99400697. ****************************

1. YEROSKIPOU AREA, euro 380, beautiful 2 bed, first floor apartment, fully furnished, large bathroom, large balcony.

2. YEROSKIPOU AREA, 3 bedroom villa with pool, unfurnished, large garden and ample parking. Main bedroom en-suite, ground floor w/c with cloakroom, separate kitchen area. Euro 500 per month 3. UNIVERSAL, 1 bedroom apartment on ground floor with garden, patio to front, well maintained complex with pool, fully furnished, euro 300 per month ono 4. MESA CHORIO, 2 bedroom apartment , modern furniture, fully equipped, one bedroom

To All Our Customers Relocation Please note that Abbeygate Offices are re-locating as from the 2nd of July 2012 New Address : Shop 1, 21 Mesogi Ave, Mesogi, Pafos 8280 Cyprus (00-357) 268 19175 or e-mail us via: cyprus@abbeygateinsure.com

TO LET PAPHOS en-suite + one bathroom, panoramic views, well maintained complex with pool, euro 400 per month ono MANY MORE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE - CALL : 96753677 ****************************

ONE BEDROOM fully furnished apartment for rent in Kissonerga. Near Cynthiana Beach hotel and close proximity to Coral Bay. Overlooking the sea and 100 metres from beach. AC in bedroom.

Tel: 99-492521/ 99- 673276 ****************************

PROPERTY TO RENT Chloraka: 3 bedroom u/f detached house, enclosed garden, A/C, oven hob extractor, €550 per month REF: JAP3V159 Tombs Of The Kings: 1st floor F/F apartment, 1 bedroom, st TV, A/C, sea views, communal pool €350 per month REF: JAP1A024 Peyia: 2 bedroom F/F apartment A/C, communal pool, Sauna, Gym. €425 per month neg REF: JAP2A191 Emba: 3 bedroom u/f house, A/C, white goods, communal pool, €500 per month REF: JAP3V053 Peyia: 2 bedroom f/f townhouse, sat TV, A/C, flyscreens, Cyta line, commu-

TO LET PAPHOS nal pool, €400 per month neg REF: JAP2T140 Kato paphos: 2 bedroom furn apartment, shutters, A/C, close to bar street. €400 per month REF: JAP2A186 Peyia: 3 bedroom furnished villa, com pool, enclosed gardens, car port, Internet access, nile sat. A/C. €500 per month neg REF: JAP3V193 Trimathousa. 2 bed f/f townhouse, pets allowed, enclosed garden, quiet road, village setting.REF: JAP2T190 Holiday property management/cleans changeover service available. We urgently require properties in all areas for waiting clients.

JOHN ALICE PROPERTIES TEL: 00357 99984681 WEB: WWW.JOHNALICEPROPERTIES.COM ****************************

FOR RENT a selection of 1,2&3 bedroom houses & apartments f/f & u/f. Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the Kings, Tsada & Chloraka.

Please view at our website www.cyprussands.com or call 99329357. Fully registered company in Cyprus. ****************************

PEYIA – 3 bedroom villa with modern quality furniture and finishes. Central heating,

TO LET PAPHOS sky, alarm, infinity pool and stunnning sea and mountain views €700 per month, call : 99389426 ****************************

BRAND NEW APT, opposite Poseidonio Gym, near Carrefour, F/F, a/c, great quality, 1 bdrm, from €340p.m.Tel 99403261 *****************************

MR RENT PAPHOS, THE LEADING PROPERTY RENTAL AGENCY IN PAPHOS OFFICE: 26271858 (00357) IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT WE ARE THE RENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT OFFERING FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENT COLLECTION SERVICE 1. PEYIA €375 luxury modern 2 bedroom apartment.

Beautifully furnished with modern furniture includes Miele kitchen appliances, fly screens, plasma TV with set up showing UK channels.

Close to Peyia village on a great complex with gardens, large c/pool, hot tub, indoor pool, sauna & gym. Undercover parking & storage.

2. UNIVERSAL AREA €450 spacious 2 bedroom townhouse situated in great central location, not on a complex, with enclosed garden & jacuzzi hot tub. Fully fur-

32 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS nished with good furniture.

Private drive for off street parking.

3. KAMARES €600 detached 3 bedroom bungalow, master with ensuite. Situated in the sought after residential area of Tala. Offering a peaceful setting with covered veranda and views of the sea & mountains. Fully furnished with gas central heating and real working fireplace for those winter months. A lovely home with character.

4. TALA €675 unfurnished modern 3 bedroom detached villa offering total privacy & breathtaking sea views. Includes underfloor heating plus real fire. Master with ensuite. Large storage room. Shutters & flyscreens. Covered veranda, garden with mature plants, private pool offering sea views. Off street parking. a beautiful home.

5. LOWER PEYIA €700 unfurnished 3 bedroom bungalow, master with ensuite.

Spacious kitchen & living area. Enclosed garden with well & private pool offering sea views. Rental price includes pool cleaning. Covered veranda, private drive for off street parking. Situated in a quiet residential area.

6. KONIA €700 new to the market this spacious de-

TO LET PAPHOS tached 3 bedroom villa, master with ensuite. Guest wc.

Beautifully furnished with quality modern furniture. Separate modern fitted kitchen plus separate utility room. Shutters to all windows. Roof terrace with sea views. Fully enclosed garden with storage shed, covered barbeque area and private pool offering lovely views.

7. TALA €1300 magnificent modern 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa, furnished with designer modern furniture, though can be available unfurnished if desired. Large modern fitted kitchen with top brand appliances. Includes gas central heating & working fireplace. Beautifully designed & spacious with undercover parking, private pool & sea views. A must to see!

8. ANARITA €1800 amazing 4 bedroom detached villa, this stunning property offers top of the range modern kitchen. Spacious living rooms, all bedrooms with modern en-suites. Landscaped gardens with private pool offering total privacy & covered barbeque area, great for entertaining.

Available fully furnished or unfurnished & includes gas central heating & so much more.

Tel: 97790883 Tel: 99133422

OFFICE/WAREHOUSE FOR RENT 735m² of office space and 1200m² warehousing available for long term rent on Yianni Kranidioti Avenue very close to Carlsberg Brewery.

Easy access to Nicosia-Limassol highway (only 200 metres).

Loading bays for warehouses and parking space for more than 40 cars. Hidden fuel tank plus car mechanics station.

For more information please call 99218866

TO LET PAPHOS office: 26271858 visit our website for many more properties www.mrrentpaphos.net email: info@ mrrent-paphos.net ****************************

RENTAL POINT - PAPHOS PROPERTIES AVAILABLE TO RENT IN THE PAPHOS DISTRICT. JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTIES. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL. CALL 97641764 FOR MORE INFORMATION. LANDLORDS CALL IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT.!!!

1. LOWER PEYIA – 5 bed 2 bath fully furnished villa set in good area. Open plan living area. Separate kitchen with D/W.W/M etc. 2 ground floor bedrooms with bathroom. Stairs to 3 additional bedrooms and bathroom.

Doors out to large roof terrace with views. Outside parking for 3 cars, large swimming pool, BBQ and water feature. Landscaped gardens. A/C. Euros 800.00 a month 2. TRIMITHOUSA 3 bed 2. bath unfurnished apartment/house set in quiet location with views. Open plan living area and dining area. Fully fitted kitchen with appliances . Guest WC. 3 double bedrooms.

Family bathroom. Large balcony, off-street parking.

Euros 400.00 a month.

3. KATHIKAS – 3 bed,2 bath unfurnished stone bungalow with no immediate neighbours. Open plan living area with fireplace with log burner. Fitted kitchen, utility room. 3 bedrooms, master with en-suite. Family bathroom.

Parking, Swimming pool and landscaped garden areas. Very quiet area. Euros 600.00 a month 4. CHLORAKAS – 2 Bed, 2. bath fully furnished apartments (2 available) in good location close to amenities.

TO LET PAPHOS Open plan living area with dining space. Fitted kitchen, 2 double bedrooms.

Bathroom. Off street parking & comm. Pool. Euros 395.00 a month inclusive of municipal taxes.

5. GOUDI (near Polis) Outstanding 3 bed, 3.5 bath unfurnished villa. Set in a rural setting the property enjoys privacy with no immediate neighbours. Open plan living area, spacious fitted kitchen. Guest WC. Ground floor bedroom with en-suite. Stairs to 2 further double bedroom with ensuite. Breakfast area with hob & fridge and seating space. Doors out to large covered verandah with panoramic views. Full A/C, C/H, garage, over-flow tiled pool, SKY dish. Villa has substantial insulation to walls and floors. Large gardens. Euros 800.00 per month.

6. UNIVERSAL AREA. 2 bed fully furnished apartment.

Living area, fitted kitchen. 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom. A/C, balcony, shutters, comm. Pool and parking. Euros 400.00 a month or offers. 1 & 2 bed apartments available on Universal.

7. TALA - 5 bed, 3.5 bath large fully furnished villa.

Very large property with open plan living area. Fitted kitchen, storage cupboard, guest WC. 2 bedrooms, bathroom on this level with small seating area. Ideal for dual living. Stairs up to 3 double bedroom, en-suite & family bathroom. Heated swimming pool, A/C, C/H. Electric gates and garden areas. Parking for several cars.Euros 1500.00 per month or offers.

8. LOWER PEYIA. 3 bed, 3 bath villa. Set in pretty location. Open plan living area, fitted kitchen. Guest WC. 3 bedrooms one with en-suite. Family bathroom.

Pool, landscaped gardens and parking. Available furnished or unfurnished. Euros 550.00 per month.

TO LET PAPHOS FOR FULL LISTINGS OF A PA R T M E N T S / T O W N HOUSES AND VILLA PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL LANDLORDS/OWNERS PLEASE CALL PLEASE CALL 97648440 or email:- inforentals@aol.com ****************************

REFURBISHED stone-built village house located in Kili Paphos. Consists of 3 large rooms 1 small. Traditional wood burnt fireplace, fully tiled secluded yard and garage. Tel: 99210610.

FOR SALE NICOSIA ed. €850,000 negotiable Call: 99 330 908 ****************************

FOR SALE PENTHOUSE between Armenias Str and Hilton Hotel. 3 bedroom, main bedroom with shower, c/h, fireplace, large verandas. For more information please call: 99467596. ****************************

LIMASSOL ****************************

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PROPERTY FOR SALE NICOSIA ****************************

FLAT FOR SALE/RENT: ‘ITHAKI’ is a small 3 Storey brand new building, only 5 units located in quiet neighbourhood in Strovolos, near Falcon school. ITHAKI has only 2 completed 3 bedroom apartments per floor. And on 3rd floor an independent 3 bedroom penthouse with a roof garden. Italian Kitchen, big verandas, big storeroom and convenient parking. PANICOS STAVRINOU ESTATE AGENT R.N.497 99666703 email yemo@cytanet.com.cy ****************************

FOR SALE - Strovolos - Nicosia, 2 storey 3 bedr semidet/house in a very quiet area, f/f, A/C & C/H., 3 bathrooms & large room with its own bathroom, behind the house. Large Veranda and parking for 3 cars. For Quick sale €290,000 - Owners 96560788 ****************************

FOR SALE is a building with 4 flats, each 3 bedroom.

2 on the ground floor with yards, and 2 on the first floor. 2 on first floor completely renovated. Located in quiet area. Building recently plastered and paint-

SALE LIMASSOL 2 bed flat on beach road; light, airy with balcony. New flooring, a/c units, lift 2nd floor, windows 3 sides, own car space. TITLE DEEDS. €115,000. Tel 99178141 www.homesinternational.info (Les Bois)

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2 BEDROOM FLAT LOCATED IN GERMASOYIA with partial sea views, 85sqm. less than 10 years old with title deeds Price € 135.000 tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/listing-lim-0361 ****************************

PAPHOS ****************************

LUXURY VILLA 550 sq.m in 1250 lot.,5 bed.6 bath. maids en suite, walk in basement, beautiful landscape, double garage, large pool, playground, well, quiet neighborhoot. Price 1.550.000 M. Phone 35799432074,357-99552585 ****************************

BARGAIN UNIVERSAL AREA, 2 bedroom apartment fully furnished to very high standards, including all white goods + linen etc in small complex with communal pool, ready to move in €100.000 o.n.o Tel: 96753677

U SEFUL PHONE NUMBERS POLICE DIVISION HQ

HOSPITALS ........ 1400

Nicosia ........................22 802 020 Limassol ......................25 805 050 Larnaca .......................24 804 040 Paphos ........................26 806 060 Famagusta ..................23 803 030

Nicosia General .............22-801400 Nicosia Makarios ...........22-405000 Limassol Old ................25-305333 Limassol New ................25-801100 Larnaca Old...................24-630312 Larnaca New .................24-630300 Paphos ..........................26-821800 Famagusta ....................23-821211

Drug Law Enforcement Unit ......................................... 1498 (Confidential Information) Rescue Co-ordination Centre ............................. 1441 (Immediate Response Service for Aeronautical or Maritime Accident & Incidents) Game Fund Service: (Wildlife and hunting) Central offices (Nicosia): 22867786, 22-867897 Nicosia: 22-664606, 99-445697 Limassol: 25-343800, 99-445728, Larnaca/Famagusta: 24-805128, 99-634325 Paphos: 26-306211, 99-445679 Forest Fires ..................... 1407

Narcotics Helpline ......... 1410 (Outside hours.............. 22-304160) AIDS Advisory Bureau ................................ 22-302826 Domestic Violence Centre .......................................... 1440 (Emergency Centre for Victims) Drug Info & Poison Control ............... 1401 Cyprus Samaritans ... 77777267 Police Duty Officer ......... 1499 (Confidential Information) Airports Larnaca ..........................77778833 Paphos ...........................77778833

33 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Advertiser

FOR PAPHIAKOS ANIMAL WELFARE SOS HELPLINE, 24 HOUR MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE - CALL 99655581 CONTACT DETAILS FOR PAPHIAKOS. Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare Education/Information Centre, No. 12 Dedalos Building, 8049 Kato Paphos PO Box 61272 8132 Kato Paphos Web. www.cyprusanimalwelfare.com www.facebook/paphiakos Email info@cyprusanimalwelfare.com Larnaca Emergency Service - The contact point for animal emergencies in Larnaca is Maria at the Paphiakos Animal Welfare Charity Shop, telephone 24623494 or 99325897 PAPHIAKOS NEW CHARITYSHOP/T.ROOMS NOW OPEN IN PEYIA. T ROOMS NOW OPEN (next to Peyia Police Station) Volunteers and donations needed please contact Suzanne 99151996 for further information.

STOP, SHOP AND GIVE TO THE ANIMALS! ALL DONATIONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR CHARITY SHOPS!!!!!

NOW OPEN !!!

BOOKSHOP/INFORMATION CENTRE/T-SHOP IN POLIS CONTACT JUDY 99223572 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DETAILS. SEE THE WEBSITE FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION OR TELEPHONE 26953496 PAPHIAKOS & C.C.P. BOOK EXCHANGE SHOP TREMITHOUSA Paphiakos Book Exchange Shop, Tremithousa. Special Tuesday sales held on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. For more information Tel 99771763/99283467 PAPHIAKOS & C.C.P. ANIMAL WELFARE Registered Charity No 1529 Contact our shops and we can take your clutter The Charity Shops are located at: Shop No.1 Agapinoros Street, Kato Paphos Shop No.2 Ap Pavlou Avenue, Kato Paphos Shop No.3 Gr. Afxentiou Avensia Court 3 Larnaca Shop No.4 9 Ayiou Ioanni Street 3061 Limassol Our shops are always happy to receive your unwanted goods!

SORROW IS WHAT PAPHIAKOS IS ALL ABOUT!!! UPDATE PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK FOR THE STORY OF SORROW. EVERY MEMBER OF OUR CLINIC WEPT FOR THIS POOR DOG. PAPHIAKOS ARE DETERMINED THE FUTURE WILL BE BRIGHTER AFTER THE CRUELTY AND TRAUMA. Sorrow is progressing well but will need further surgery. If you can help with donations to assist us to bring Sorrow to full health please contact the clinic on 00357 26946461. www.cyprusanimalwelfare.com PAPHIAKOS CAR BOOT SALE EVERY SATURDAY at the Ambassador Restaurant and outside in the grounds at Paphiakos. Free parking. Sellers from 7am, buyers from 8am. For information & bookings please call MIKE on 96702600.

PAPHIAKOS & C.C.P. ANIMAL WELFARE URGENTLY NEEDS PASTA TO HELP FEED THE DOGS AND SOFT FOOD FOR ALL THE CATS. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE CLINIC. PLEASE SPONSOR AN ANIMAL OR BECOME A MEMBER TO ENSURE PAPHIAKOS CAN CONTINUE WIH THEIR NECESSARY WORK. Telephone Jan 26946461 ex 114 or 97614008

CHEMISTS NICOSIA SUNDAY 08/07/2012 D. Athanasiadou, 132D Athalassa Ave. Tel: 22427707, 22431301 N. Christodoulou, corner Virona & M. Karaolis St. Tel: 22679780, 22622250 (H) O. Solomou, corner Strovolos & Pythonos St, Strovolos. Tel: 22313123, 22375724 (H) M. Proestou, 49 Digeni Akrita Avenue Tel: 22758758, 22311767 A. Koliou, 22A Ayias Paraskevis Engomi, Tel: 22103884, 99383067 LIMASSOL E. Kinnis, 19 Gr. Digheni, Tel: 25582626, 25328874 (H) A. Leonidou, 2 Gladstone St., Tel: 25370440, 25381521 (H) K. Skourou, 43 Panayioti Anagnostopoulou, Kato Polemidia, Tel: 25715991, 25332047 LARNACA K. Evlavis, 69A Arc. Makariou Tel: 24656469, 24662689 (H) N. Aspri, Artemidos Ave. Tel: 24624928, 24622102 (H) PAPHOS M. Taliotou, 57 A. Papagou St. Tel: 26910276, 26932950 (H) PARALIMNI M. Pantelidou, 2 Mapias Sigklitikis, Tel: 23730111, 23823055

NICOSIA MONDAY 09/07/2012 A. Stavrou, 76 D. Akritas St. Tel: 22751679, 22333220 (H) M. Antoniou, 21A Prodromou Ave. Tel: 22664442, 22436752 (H) M. Paranis, 28D Lycavitou St, Makedonitissa. Tel: 22355715, 22354282 (H) D. K. Kokkinou, 124 Limassol Ave. Tel: 22422470, 22428499 (H) E. A. Antoniades, corner Athalassa & 2A Hadjijoseph Ave, Acropolis.

Tel: 22314634, 22491526 (H) LIMASSOL V. Lisiotis, 15 Acathemias Germasoyia Tel: 25311234, 25811818 (H) E. P. Terides, 37 Omonia Ave. Tel: 25567526, 25714469 (H) Y. Tooulia, 28 Nafpliou St. Tel: 25350829, 25715141 (H) LARNACA D. Andreou, 7. 8 Artemidos Ave. Tel: 24656884, 24361084 (H) V. Flouris, St. Lazaros Square. Tel: 24628331, 24667037 (H) PAPHOS G. Ioannou, Tombs of the Kings Rd, Kato Paphos, Tel: 26818397, PARALIMNI I. Pittatzis, 7 Ay. Georgiou St. Tel: 23822577, 23827058 (H)

DOCTORS ON DUTY NICOSIA Pathologist: Doros Polidorou, Tel: 99727817 Gynaeocologist: Pieris Pieri, Tel: 22339169, 22665777, 99665855 Paediatric Surgeon: Eliana Eliadou, Tel: 99384324 Dentist: Panayiota Panayi, Tel: 22385815, 99128773 LIMASSOL Pathologist: Savvas Ioannoui, Tel.: 25372003, 99070777 Surgeon: Tzeris Ioannides, Tel.: 25361580 Neuro-Surgeon: Michalakis Spirou, Tel: 99624939 Paediatric: Andreas Pasias, Tel.: 25586144, 25753330, 99681166 Paediatric Surgeon: Georgios Hadjiconstantas, Tel.: 25730055, 25723914 Kardiologist: Constantinos N. Kyriakou, Tel: 99511589, 25108850 Ophthalmologist: Vasos Pouppis, Tel: 25371191 Doctor: Lampros Theodosiou, Tel: 25581712, 99624372

CHURCHES ALL SAINTS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH (ENGLISH) Sunday Divine Liturgy 8-10am. Followed by Fellowship hour (coffee) Services are now being held at the underground Chapel of All Saints of Cyprus at St. Panteleimonos Church Makedonitissa Archangelos (Engomi) For more info please contact Fr. Joseph Coleman Tel. 99938924 THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF AGIOS ARSENIOS, LIMASSOL (near Tsirion Stadium) The Orthodox Liturgy in English Saturday, 4 February at 8:30 am For information please contact: Father M. Spanou at 99 – 401365 (msspanou@googlemail.com)

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST ANDREW AND ST JOHN THE BAPTIST MESA GEITONIA, LIMASSOL The Orthodox Liturgy in English served fortnightly on Saturdays at 9.00 am. We also hold a Discussion Group every Thursday evening at 7.30 pm For information please call Fr. Christopher Klitou Mobile: 99957144 Fax: 25710318 You can email us at: klitoux@logos.cy.net or visit our website: www.christopherklitou.com

Family oriented evangelical church Contemporary Christian Worship Sunday 10am (Holy Communion - 1st Sunday of the month) Sunday School (Juniors and Teens) Outreach and Evangelism Bible Studies

Tel. 99 293489, 99 279960 Email: immanuel.church.nicosia@gmail.com

DEUTSCHE GOTTESDIENSTE IN ZYPERN

LARNAKA COMMUNITY CHURCH APHRODITE STREET, LARNAKA 10.00 AM MORNING SERVICE and SUNDAY SCHOOL For more details ring Fred 24-365152

Nikosia: Am 1. und 3. Samstag im Monat in der St. Paul’s Cathedral um 18 Uhr Limassol: Am 2. Sonntag im Monat im Gemeindehaus in Germasogeia um 11 Uhr Am 4. Sonntag im Monat in der St. Barnabaskirche um 18 Uhr Paphos: Am 2. Samstag in der Kirche an der Paulussaeule um 16 Uhr Agia Napa: Am 4. Sonntag im Monat im Hof des Klosters um 9.30 Uhr

Open Door Baptist Church

Näheres Informationen durch Pfarrer Dr. Herold, Tel 25-317092 oder im Internet www.ev-kirche-zypern.de

9 Larnakos Street Katholiki Area Limassol Sundays: 9:45, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM Wednesdays: 7:30 PM 25 751193 or 99 758729 www.cbm-odbc.org

GRACE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH Invites you to COME AND EXPERIEBNCE THE LOVE OF GOD WITH US Int. Christian Business Fellowship Meeting Centre Sundays: 10.00am Sunday School 11.00 am Main Service (Dine with us centre services) Wednesdays: Prayer meeting 6pm Address: To Arsinois Str., 1010 Nicosia (Next to Western Union Office to KISA) Contact: 99988900 or 97667932.

VISITORS ESPECIALLY WELCOME!!!

THE REFORMED CHURCH OF LIMASSOL Clear exposition of the Bible in the presence of God, and relevant to our lives.

Our Sunday services start at 10:30 am sharp, and the Wednesday Bible discussion at 7 pm.

International Evangelical Church (Reformed) is located at 352 St. Andrew’s Street. 1½ blocks from Starbucks / Fat Boy, and 1 block from the Municipal Gardens, Zoo. For further information call Steve at 99384742, or email: iee.limassol@gmail.com All are welcome!

NICOSIA CHRISTIAN CENTRE 10 PINDOU STR, ENGOMI, NICOSIA, TEL. 22464375 SERVICES: SUNDAY 10AM, WEDNESDAY 8PM St Barnabas’ Anglican Church 153 Leontiou A Street Limassol www.stbarnabas-cyprus.com Telephone: 25362713 - All welcome HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, PAPHOS GATE, NICOSIA Sunday Masses: Saturdays 6.30 pm, Sundays 8.00am, 9.30am & 6.30pm Weekday Masses: 6.30 pm Monday to Friday Tel: 22662132 Email: holcross@logos.cy.net

GRACE CHURCH, LARNACA 8 Ayiou Neofytou St Sundays 10 a.m.

Also Midweek Meetings Details: Colin 24530700

The Anglican Church of Paphos Ayia Kyriaki (St. Paul by the Pillar) Sunday 8.15am Holy Eucharist 6.00pm Sung Eucharist 4th Sunday 6.00pm Choral Evensong Wednesday 9.00am Holy Eucharist 3rd Wednesday (BCP) St. Stephen’s, Tala st rd 1 & 3 Sunday 11.00 am Holy Eucharist 2nd & 4th Sunday 11.00am Morning Worship St. Luke’s, Prodromi 1st & 5th Sunday 9.30am Morning Worship 2nd , 3rd & 4th Sunday 9.30am Holy Eucharist 1st & 3rd Wednesday 9.30am Holy Eucharist 1st Sunday 6.00 p.m. Peace & Wholeness with Holy Eucharist 4th Sunday every quarter 9.30 am Holy Eucharist from BPC Church Office: 26-953044 Fax: 26-952486 Email: anglicancofp@cytanet.com.cy for directions to each church

St Helena’s Anglican Church, Larnaca St Helena’s Court, Grigoris Afx Sunday Service: Holy Communion 9.30 am ALL WELCOME Tel:24651327 office@sainthelenas.com

International EVANGELICAL CHURCH (Reformed) Limassol 352 St. Andrew’s Street (1½ blocks from Starbucks/Fat Boy) Sunday worship 10:30am Wednesday Bible Discussion 7pm For info: 99384742 ALL ARE WELCOME

34 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Motoring Compiled by Rosie Ogden Legend Loeb wins the gold at X Games RallyCross event SEBASTIEN Loeb struck gold on his first ever visit to the USA, winning the Rallycross event organised as part of the X Games Los Angeles 2012.

After clear wins in his heat and the final in his Citroën DS3 XL, it only took the eight-time World Rally Champion a day to make a name for himself on the other side of the Atlantic!

A few days after winning Rally New Zealand, Loeb headed for California to take part in the X Games.

Competing in his 545hp Citroën DS3 XL, Loeb got his first glimpse of the citycentre circuit designed for the event. Surrounded by concrete barriers and with no run-off areas, the venue witnessed some spectacular crashes during free practice. Toomas Heikkinen and Marcus Grönholm were among those who were caught out, ruling them out of the race.

The competition started with three qualifying heats designed to determine the starting grid for the final. One of the favourites, Travis Pastrana was shunted into the wall at the first corner. Loeb managed to take the lead and win his heat. He set the fastest time overall in the heats, over three seconds ahead of Tanner Foust, the reigning Global RallyCross Champion.

In the space of a few minutes, the Frenchman had gone from being practically unknown in Los Angeles to making a name for himself; suddenly, there were a lot more requests for autographs and photos!

However, Loeb still had to convert his strong showing in the heats into victory in the final, which featured ten cars. After a perfect start, Loeb moved to the front and immediately built up a small lead. The race was interrupted, however, on lap two due to collision which blocked the track. Frustra-

TOYOTA TOP DOG AS FOUR CARMAKERS MAKE THIS YEAR’S TOP TEN

tion was beginning to show among the drivers, several of whom then jumped the restart. The final was therefore started for the third time and the Citroën driver – calm and collected as ever – rocketed out front for the ‘holeshot’ again.

After quickly establishing a lead of a few seconds over Ken Block, Loeb could relax at the front when the American was hit by a puncture. He coasted to victory before then picking up his gold medal on the podium!

“It was a great end to the weekend and obviously, I’m really pleased to win the gold medal, but I must admit I’m finding it hard to really enjoy it when my ‘best enemy’ Marcus Grönholm is in hospital after his crash”, said Loeb.

“We were both very much looking forward to racing against each other here and it’s a shame that it didn’t happen. This was my first RallyCross race but I quickly realised that the start would be crucial. As I was a little faster than the others in free practice, I knew that if I had got away well at the start, I’d be almost certain of winning. I came here hoping I’d win and that’s exactly what happened!

“After having shown off the brilliance of Créative Technologie on roads all around the world, Citroën Racing and Sébastien Loeb have won on a new surface and in a new category,” said a visibly pleased Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal. “As everything was new to us, we made sure we were very thorough in our preparations. Once we were there, we discovered a very – sometimes too – relaxed atmosphere, but we managed to avoid the pitfalls to go and grab the win.

“Congratulations to the team for their hard work, and I’d particularly like to thank Kenneth Hansen for his sound advice as regards strategy.”

Sebastien Loeb is an eight-time World Rally Champion

Holding strong at number one for the second year in a row - and topping green brand lists all over the world - is Toyota

Carmakers score well in Best Green Brands THE demand for good ‘green’ credentials in today’s marketplace is taken particularly seriously in the motor manufacturing business – over the last decade or so most major carmakers have taken huge steps to improve their manufacturing processes, ensure that most car parts are recyclable and that the end product impacts as little as possible on the environment.

This trend is encouraged by the global sustainability ranking ‘Best Global Green Brands’, an annual assessment by the Interbrand consultancy, which also publishes the renowned Best Global Brands Report.

Interbrand analyses the efforts of leading brands in the fields of environmental protection and sustainability as well as the perception of ‘green’ activities by more than 10,000 consumers in the world’s 10 major industrialised countries.

This year, there are four car makers in the top ten (and four more in the top fifty).

Holding strong at number one for the second year in a row - and topping green brand lists all over the world – is Toyota, which “continues to demonstrate unparalleled sustainability leadership”.

Says Interbrand: “overall, environmental sustainability is deeply ingrained in the company’s culture and has been a core management priority since the early 1990’s.

Since then, Toyota’s dedication to sustainability has kept them ahead of the clean vehicle trend and resulted in steady improvements in energy use, water consumption,

At number three, Honda has been a campaign leader in sustainability among carmakers since 1972 waste, and toxic emissions year after year”.

It’s noted that Toyota benefits from “a powerful halo effect generated by the success and long-term visibility of the Prius, which, in many people’s minds, has become synonymous with the term “hybrid.”

At number three, Honda has been a campaign leader in sustainability among carmakers since 1972. It is currently a top green brand across many world markets, including Japan and the U.K. Interbrand comments: “Honda’s manufacturing plants continue to develop methods to diminish waste throughout the product life cycle.

The company also publicises an ecological evaluation of its suppliers and consistently tops lists as the greenest automaker for low emission ratings and non-toxic design measures.

“Honda launches the Fit EV

in 2013 that will support a faster and more enduring battery charge. This launch is to be fortified by the joint venture EV charging pilot project - a collaborative endeavour that will allow energy providers to better manage peak charging hours and encourage adoption of electric cars”.

Volkswagen climbed from sixth place last year to fourth, making it the most environmentally compatible German carmaker as well as Germany’s ‘greenest’ company.

Interbrand explains: “the goal of becoming the world’s most profitable and sustainable automobile company by 2018 is being constantly substantiated: incorporating sustainability into its value chain, increasing fuel efficiency for every new vehicle generation by 10 to 15 per cent, pushing hybrid and electric vehicles and committing to making production facilities 25 per cent greener within

the next 6 years are just some of the initiatives that demonstrate ambitious goals and measurable proof points”.

Interbrand also praises the fact that the Volkswagen Group has invested about €600 million in the expansion of renewable energy, including solar, wind and hydroelectric power, and has appointed a Group Chief Officer for the Environment, Energy and New Business.

The Volkswagen brand is also characterised by ‘Think Blue’, a holistic approach to environmental protection and the efficient use of resources that Volkswagen has launched internationally.

At number ten, BMW has increased awareness about its performance, but Interbrand says the public is ‘not yet fully cognisant of its green practices’.

“BMW has embraced new fuel efficiency goals and sustainability measures”.

The German car giant has developed a factory run by 100 per cent on-site wind power in Germany, installed British Columbia’s first commercial wind turbine in one of its dealerships and built a new BMW factory in China that will “raise standards on environmentally friendly vehicle production”. Through its ‘EfficientDynamics’ initiative, BMW applies green thinking to every stage of product development and has invested in communicating the company’s strides toward fuel efficiency, emission reduction, and water conservation.

Other car makers in the top 50: Ford (15th), Mercedes (16th), Hyundai (17th) and Nissan (21st).

35 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport Tower of London guards Olympic treasure as medals are delivered

Past greats inspire players of today

Coe: it’s such an obvious place for safekeeping

By Paul Majendie

By Sarah Young and Tessa Unsworth THE Tower of London, used

by British monarchs for over 600 years to hoard crowns and jewels, took delivery of its newest treasure this week when 4,700 gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals were handed over for safekeeping.

Flanked by the Yeomen Warders of the Tower in their traditional tunics, and to the fanfare of trumpets, Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), received two heavy-looking, shiny gold medals on a cushion.

Coe, sheltering under an umbrella on a drizzly London evening with Jan du Plessis chairman of Rio Tinto the provider of metal for the medals, disappeared into the vaults of the imposing Jewel House at the mediaeval fortress on the River Thames.

“It’s such an obvious place for us to bring our medals. Where else in the world would you want to take them for safekeeping?” twice Olympic gold medallist Coe said, speaking above the cheering of 150 school children bravely waving flags in the rain.

The Tower, used over the

A Yeoman Warder or ‘Beefeater’ poses for pictures with a London 2012 Olympic Medal at the Tower of London centuries as a royal palace, place of execution and a prison for traitors, still holds Britain’s crown jewels, and sits just up river from where a giant set of interlocking Olympic Rings can be found newly hanging from Tower Bridge.

For the time being, the medals will stay locked up until the first are presented on July 28, in one of the women’s shooting events, followed by 804 further victory ceremonies.

A LOCOG spokesman said they would be gradu-

ally transferred from the Tower to the Olympic sites as needed.

“We’ve delivered almost eight tonnes of metal, gold, silver and copper, from our mines in Salt Lake city, through to the deserts of Mongolia, and these are raw materials that have been transformed into these beautiful, gleaming Olympic medals,” du Plessis said.

Rio Tinto is one of the Olympic sponsors to have been criticised by Green groups, who argue that its environmental record means it

should not be involved in the Games.

But Coe shrugged off concerns about the company.

“Rio Tinto is a great partner. From mine to medal, we’re completely satisfied.

We’re delighted and I think the medals look stunning,” he said.

The medals, crafted at the Royal Mint in south Wales, feature the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, on the front, a design dictated by tradition, and show the Thames weaving through the London Games logo on the

back.

Coe said he was talking to David Beckham, England’s most capped outfield player, who helped bring the Olympic flame from Greece, about a possible role at the Games after he was omitted from the British Olympic football squad.

“David has been one of our longest supporters. He was with us when we set out on the journey, he was there when we hit many of our milestones along the way, of course he’s going to play a role,” Coe said.

‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius named in South African team

Oscar Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades, will become the first double-amputee athlete to compete on the track at an Olympic Games

DOUBLE-AMPUTEE Oscar Pistorius will compete in the individual 400 metres and the 4x400m relay for South Africa at the London Olympics, a member of South Africa’s Olympic federation said on Wednesday.

Pistorius’s inclusion in the relay team meant the double-amputee athlete would also be able to take part in the 400m individual race, Tubby Reddy, chief executive of South Africa’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said.

Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades, will become the first double-amputee athlete to compete on the track at an Olympic Games.

His chance of taking in the 400m individual event looked to have eluded him when he failed to reach a second A qualifying standard time before Sascoc’s cut-off on June 30.

The 25-year-old, known as the ‘Blade Runner’, had achieved the A qualifying time once this season when he clocked 45.20 in South Africa in March but Sascoc required their athletes to achieve the time twice, with one of the

times being at an international meet.

However, Pistorius’s inclusion on the relay team opened up his opportunity to race in the 400m.

“He was named in the Olympic team (in the 4x400m relay) and then the question arose as to whether he was allowed to run the 400m and he can because he is part of the team,” Reddy told Reuters in a telephone interview.

“He has run the individual qualifying time but if he was not part of the relay team then he would not be going to the Olympics,” he added.

Pistorius was, understandably, excited about the chance to represent his country at an Olympic Games.

“Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life. To have been selected to represent Team South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay is a real honour and I’m so pleased years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together,” he said in a statement.

WORLD number one Novak Djokovic had no doubts when asked to pick his alltime Olympic hero - Italian slalom skier Alberto Tomba.

Roger Federer was equally certain about his choice, opting for fellow Swiss tennis player Marc Rosset, who won gold in the men’s singles at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Unable to narrow it down to an individual, Rafal Nadal selected the entire Spanish Olympic team at the Barcelona Games after their 13-gold medal winning return.

To mark the July 27-August 12 London Games, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has asked 35 of the world’s top players to explain what the Olympics meant to them and who inspired them the most.

The glossy volume is also liberally illustrated with intriguing shots of them posing with childhood pictures.

“I’m holding a white tennis ball. You can imagine how long a time ago that was,” said Federer, recalling the tennis club where he practised as a child.

Federer, who met his wife at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was the picture of unbridled joy in Beijing when he and compatriot Stanlislas Wawrinka won the men’s doubles. It clearly meant as much as a grand slam victory.

“We’re not playing for any money, we’re playing for the love of the game,” he said of his Olympic experience.

In the book titled: Inspire, Aspire: celebrating tennis at the Olympics 2012, four-time gold medal winner Michael Johnson is the most popular athlete selected, the American runner picked by Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils.

Next in line comes swimmer Michael Phelps, who was chosen by last year’s Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki.

The globe-trotting players in one of the world’s most glamorous sports may be the envy of many but all of them appear star-struck when it comes to the Olympics.

Used to five-star hotels as they jet around the world in opulent isolation, they revelled in the intimate democracy of the Athletes’ Village.

Nadal can’t wait: “Life in the village is the best experience. For me to be there with all the sports families in the world is something great.”

Johnson’s advice to Murray is pure and simple when it comes to handling the pressure. “Looking back, my advice would be to do everything in your power to make the most of the opportunities to make history in front of the home crowd.”

36 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

Bolt needs to find a way to slay the ‘Beast’

IN BRIEF Gay beats Gatlin in Paris meet TYSON Gay beat fellow American Justin Gatlin in the 100 metres while Kenenisa Bekele’s Olympic hopes were diluted at the Paris Diamond League meeting.

Gay won in 9.99 seconds after Gatlin failed to sustain a good start and finished with a time of 10.03 just three weeks before the start of the London Olympics. Twelve days ago Gay was beaten

by Gatlin at the US trials.

“I took my revenge.

Maybe I made some mistake at the start. I want to win the gold medal (in London),” said Gay. Dejen Gebremeskel led an Ethiopian one-two in the 5,000 metres, clocking a world leading 12:46.81 to beat Hagos Gebrhiwet, who set a junior world record of 12:47.53.

Bekele, however, conceded he would not defend his title in London after being only the fifth Ethiopian to cross the line.

“I won’t compete at the Olympics in the 5,000 metres but I’m not that disappointed because I’ll run the 10,000 metres,” he said.

Referring to the calf problems he has suffered for three years, he added: “What can I do about an injury?”

David Rudisha was one of five athletes to set a world season’s best but the Kenyan failed in his attempt to break his own world record in the 800 metres, clocking 1:41.54, 0.53 outside the mark he set in 2010.

Struggling champ faces date with destiny if he is to be considered greatest of all time

By Dan Jones USAIN Bolt has precisely one month. On Sunday August 5 he will hunker down on the starting line of the 100m final in the Olympic Stadium at Stratford, preparing to make history.

If he crosses the line first, he will become the only man (other than Carl Lewis, in the dirty race of ’88) to retain an Olympic 100m title.

If Bolt breaks his own world record of 9.58 seconds, as most of the watching world wishes him to, he will become the greatest, as well as the fastest sprinter in history.

There is, however, a problem. It goes by the name of Yohan Blake. Bolt’s 22-yearold training partner at the Racers Track Club in Jamaica has brilliantly timed his dash to pre-eminence.

Ever since Bolt torched the record books in both the 100m and 200m finals at the Beijing Games in 2008, it has been assumed that he would repeat the show at London 2012.

But Blake has other ideas.

At the Jamaican national trials last weekend, Blake twice left Bolt in his slipstream. He strolled through the 100m final, 0.11 seconds

ahead of Bolt with a time of 9.75 - making him the fourth fastest man in history - then surged to the line in 19.80 to win the 200m by three-hundredths of a second.

The Bolt of 2008-09 was nowhere to be seen. The Blake of 2012 looked terrific.

Bolt and Blake could scarcely be more different.

The Olympic champion is all limbs and languor. He runs like an ostrich, or an animated willow tree. Even after four years’ ubiquity on advertising boards and magazine covers, it is hard to comprehend that this gangly, good-humoured idler is by some stretch the fastest human being ever measured.

Blake, the world 100m champion after victory in Daegu, where Bolt was disqualified, is a classic sprinter. Square-shouldered and compact, he moves like a meteor, rather than a comet.

He is known as The Beast, a nickname he welcomes since it speaks to his monstrous appetite for training.

He is the coming man now, just as Bolt was in 2008.

There is a very real chance that in London, rather than watching Bolt break the 9.40 barrier in the 100m and revise his 19.19 world 200m

record, we will see Blake rampaging through the field, announcing himself as the new superstar and swiping four lucrative years of broadband ads and fizzydrink sponsorships.

Glen Mills, Bolt and Blake’s trainer, has made light of the older man’s struggles with his faulty start, his rhythm, his strength and his fitness.

And of course, with Bolt, all things are relative. He has been beaten just twice over 100m in the last two years and has run 9.76sec this year - superb by just about anyone’s standards but his.

Nevertheless, a month isn’t long to recalibrate a sprinter who hasn’t seen his peerless best since 2009.

Bolt’s engine is sputtering.

Blake is heading to London young, confident and on a winning streak. Where does all this leave the 100m? Anyone wanting a sub-9.40sec Beijing redux freak show may be disappointed.

On the other hand, the sprinters who line up on August 5 may well comprise the fastest group of men ever assembled, raising the possibility that this could be the closest final ever run.

That, in some ways, is more exciting than a 2008-style cakewalk.

Fast and furious: Usain Bolt has been put in the shade recently by Jamaica team-mate Yohan Blake (top left)

Bulls forward Deng named in British basketball squad

By Tony Jimenez

Trailblazer: Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls became the first Briton to feature in an NBA All-Star Game in February

CHICAGO Bulls forward Luol Deng, who became the first Briton to feature in an NBA All-Star Game in February, has been named in Britain’s London Olympic basketball squad.

“Having someone like Luol Deng in our team... just goes to show there is no limit to what the future generation can aspire to,” chef de mission Andy Hunt told the British Olympic Association website.

“The home support at the basketball arena in the Olympic Park will create the kind of atmosphere that will get the best out of our athletes.

“This is a chance for our basketball players to raise the profile of this exciting and high-tempo sport and inspire youngsters across the UK to take up the sport,” Hunt added.

Kieron Achara, Robert Archibald, Eric Boateng, Dan Clark, Joel Freeland, Kyle Johnson, Andrew Lawrence, Mike Lenzly, Pops Mensa-Bonsu, Nate Reinking and Andrew Sullivan were also chosen in a 12-man squad.

It is only the second time Britain will be represented in basketball at the Olympics,

and the first time since the Games were last hosted in London in 1948.

In other news, the US Olympic basketball team, hit by a recent rash of injuries, may have suffered another blow after NBA top draft pick Anthony Davis sustained a sprained ankle, the New Orleans Hornets said.

“His status to resume workouts is day to day,” New Orleans said in a statement.

Last week, Dwyane Wade (knee surgery) and Chris Bosh (abdominal injury) of the NBA champion Miami Heat withdrew from consideration for the team.

The US team had already been hit by injuries to several leading candidates for the squad, including Deng’s Bulls team-mate Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

The withdrawals of Wade and Bosh had left 16 players in the roster pool for 12 spots on the US team, down from an initial pool of 20.

While the surplus of talent has dwindled for the 2008 Olympic champions, they still will be counted as favourites in the London tournament with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Blake Griffin among the names still on the team list.

Hesjedal quits Tour de France GIRO d’Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal became the latest injured rider to quit the Tour de France yesterday following a series of nasty crashes.

The Canadian had talked up his chances in the three-week race but a leg injury on Friday’s sixth stage has ended the Garmin rider’s participation as he now looks to get fit for the London Olympics at the end of the month.

“It’s very disappointing to leave the Tour this way.

I was in good form and feeling comfortable, just really settling into the first week with an eye on the mountains,” the 31year-old said.

Triple world champion Oscar Freire and Wouter Poels broke ribs and suffered internal injuries in Friday’s crashes but remarkably finished the stage before withdrawing.

Garmin’s Tom Danielson is also in hospital and out of the race along with Davide Vigano and Mikel Astarloza.

37 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Sport

Alonso ends Ferrari drought Prancing Horse on pole again for first time since 2010

By Ian Parkes

By Alan Baldwin SPANIARD Fernando Alonso slid and splashed through atrocious conditions to hand Ferrari their first Formula One pole since 2010 in a raindelayed British Grand Prix qualifying yesterday.

The championship leader, last year’s winner at Silverstone, was joined on the front row by Red Bull’s Australian Mark Webber - also his closest rival in the standings after eight of 20 races.

The pole was the first for the Prancing Horse since Alonso started the Singapore Grand Prix from the top slot on the grid in September 2010, 31 races ago.

“It was tricky conditions for everyone. You have to be calm in some difficult moments,” said the Spaniard, who leads Webber by 20 points overall, of his 21st career pole.

There was however a lingering question mark over whether the double champion had set his fastest lap in the second phase of qualifying under yellow warning flags after Frenchman Romain Grosjean slid his Lotus into the gravel.

“I backed off in the area where they were taking away the car,” Alonso said of the incident.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher qualified third fastest for Mercedes with fellow German Sebastian Vettel, the reigning

Championship leader Fernando Alonso (right) gave Ferrari their first pole in 31 races, while seven-time champ Michael Schumacher was happy with third champion, alongside for Red Bull.

The top four, separated by just four tenths of a second, are all former British Grand Prix winners.

“In a session like this, it’s a huge amount down to the driver to get comfortable in the car. It was nip and tuck with Fernando to get pole,” said Webber.

Heavy rain had earlier forced qualifying to be halted for an hour and a half, with cars slipping and sliding on pools

of standing water.

Alonso had been among those calling for race control to abandon the session.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, the last Briton to win his home race in 2008, qualified eighth while team mate Jenson Button had a nightmare afternoon and should start 16th after grid penalties are applied to others.

“I could not get any heat on the front tyres. I felt it straight out of the pits. I couldn’t get any heat on the fronts and

that is why I could not get a lap time on those tyres,” Button told the BBC. “It is the story of my year, not getting heat on the fronts so I am not too upset. I know I can drive a car in the wet,” added the Briton, a winner in the wet from last place at a restart in Canada last year.

Brazilian Felipe Massa put his Ferrari in fifth place on the grid, his best performance of the season, next to his former team mate and 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen in

a Lotus.

Rain also caused chaos on Friday, with teams getting limited practice laps in very slippery conditions while waterlogged campsites caused huge traffic jams outside the circuit as race fans struggled to find parking.

Organisers had urged up to 30,000 ticket-holders with public parking passes to stay away yesterday to ensure car parks held up for an expected 125,000-strong crowd on race day.

MotoGP champ Stoner takes pole for German Grand Prix REIGNING world champion Casey Stoner again showed his mastery of wet conditions to take pole for today's German MotoGP at Sachsenring.

The Australian had the last word in a frantic last 10 minutes of qualifying once the rain had relented.

Stefan Bradl, Dani Pedrosa, Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow all exchanged quickest laps before joint world championship leader Stoner prevailed.

Spies and Pedrosa made up the front row with Britain's Crutchlow in fourth.

Local favourite Bradl had set the pace in atrocious conditions before the rain stopped with around 15 minutes left and the leading riders headed back out to improve on the earlier modest times.

Stoner later revealed he was forced to use his spare bike, which had a different set-up, but still managed to claim his fourth pole of the

Massa’s thoughts with De Villota

Australian Casey Stoner of the Repsol Honda team, showed his mastery of wet conditions season.

"I was a little bit nervous going out there for the last 10 minutes because I didn't have the best set-up," said the Australian, who moved level with Jorge Lorenzo in the standings after winning

last week's race in Assen .

"I am very happy because I didn't think we had done enough to be honest. I wasn't really happy with the way the bike was feeling in the turns but in the end we ended up with pole posi-

tion."

Spies, who is not renowned for his love of wet conditons, was also pleasantly surprised after his on-board lap timer - which alerts riders to where they are gaining or losing time around

the circuit - became disconnected.

"It was strange," he told BBC Sport. "We have struggled a lot in the rain, and particularly at this circuit, but I had a good feeling yesterday and again today.

"I was a bit lost in the last 10 minutes when my lap-timer quit working, so I was blind-folded really. I just kept trying to push and push and give it some stick, and I got on the front row."

The heavy rain earlier in the session caught out a number of riders, with Michele Pirro, Danilo Petrucci, Mattia Pasini and Hector Barbera all crashing, although none sustained serious injury.

Spaniard Marc Marquez took his sixth pole in eight races this season in the Moto 2 class, while Sandro Cortese pipped British team-mate Danny Kent on his final lap to take his fourth pole of the season in Moto 3

FELIPE Massa has drawn on his own accident hell in offering his support to Maria De Villota.

Marussia test driver De Villota has lost her right eye and is being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge following Tuesday’s crash at Duxford Airfield.

De Villota required around 12 hours of surgery after the incident in which her car went into the tailgate of a support truck.

Massa can have sympathy with De Villota’s plight as it was three years ago he was involved in his own accident which almost cost him his life.

In the Brazilian’s case, a freak scenario saw a spring work loose from the car of compatriot Rubens Barrichello and strike him on the helmet in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa was knocked unconscious, resulting in him ploughing nose first into a barrier in his Ferrari.

Massa then underwent surgery around his left eye and required the insertion of a titanium plate to strengthen his skull.

Whilst Massa made a full recovery, 32-year-old Spaniard De Villota will never race again competitively given the loss of her eye.

But via his Twitter account and referring to his own experiences, Massa said: “My thoughts are for Maria and her family.

“I pray God to help her at this time. Don’t give up Maria and think positive! As I did after my incident!!!!!”

Team-mate Fernando Alonso was one of the first drivers on Tuesday to offer his sympathy, and the double world champion did so again later in the week.

Alonso tweeted: “More support than ever to my colleague Maria De Villota.

Want to give you all the energy in the world. We are close to you!”

Even tennis’ world number two Rafael Nadal joined in the chorus of support as he said: “Maria I hope you recover soon, you must be strong and we hope to see you back as soon as possible.”

The tweets were indicative of the sentiment being offered De Villota, her family and the team as a whole.

Caterham’s Heikki Kovalainen attempted to look on the positive as the Finn said: “The main thing is she is alive.

“It was a freak accident, a terrible accident, but it could have been worse. It is difficult now, but we have to try to look for the positives.”

De Villota, who joined Marussia as a test driver in March, was taking part in her first test for the team, a straightline aero at the old Second World War site.

38 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

FIFA stand by rankings system Ratings can appear to be ‘not logical’

By Martyn Ziegler FIFA have defended their rankings which has placed England fourth in the world and Brazil 11th, but admitted the system may sometimes appear to be “not logical”.

England rose two places after their Euro 2012 campaign with only Spain, Germany and Uruguay ahead of them, but are expected to rise to a highest-ever spot of third next month.

Euro 2012 finalists Italy, who beat England in the quarter-finals, are sixth while Brazil have dropped from fifth to 11th - as 2014 World Cup hosts they do not play any competitive qualifiers so do not gain as many ranking points.

The rankings are important because they determine if teams will be seeded in the draw for the next World Cup.

England rose two places to fourth in the latest rankings despite performing poorly at Euro 2012 FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke told the Press Association: “I know that these rankings are sometimes quite difficult to understand due to the level and numbers of criteria that are taken into account.

“There are teams who are playing more friendly games

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“Brazil are not playing official games, just friendly games as they are already qualified.

“There have been internal meetings and also with the football committee to discuss the ranking of the different nations. We want to be able to explain in an easier way how this ranking is based.”

FIFA’s rankings are based on an international side’s

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39 SUNDAY MAIL • July 8, 2012

Wimbledon

Ice-cool Fed has boyhood hero Sampras in his sights

By Martyn Herman

Swiss maestro ready for more records

By Pritha Sarkar IN case any of Roger Federer’s rivals thought that, at 30, he had lost all his supernatural powers and would never come close to winning a seventh Wimbledon crown, one booming voice reminded the world on Friday - “You’re a genius Roger, genius!”

The ice-cool Swiss barely raised an eyebrow as the male fan’s cry thundered around a roof-covered Centre Court, and in four exhilarating sets he pricked, punctured and punched a mighty hole in champion Novak Djokovic’s defences to reach a record eighth Wimbledon final.

For a man who had “missed being in the finals here the last couple years” and had been written off as a spent force by many critics, there were no over the top celebrations, deafening roars or fist pumps.

There was just a calm acceptance that he now stood three sets away from lifting a record-equalling seventh Challenge Cup, a feat which would draw him level with his boyhood hero Pete Sampras and William Renshaw.

“I’m aware that the tournament’s not over yet. I didn’t break down crying and fall to my knees thinking the tournament is over and I achieved everything I ever wanted,” Federer said as he also eyes a record-extending 17th grand slam trophy.

“I’m very proud to have a shot of equalling Pete.

“Everybody knows what a hero he is to me and how much I admire what he’s been able to achieve in tennis.

“I don’t think he ever lost a grand slam final here at Wimbledon. He won seven out of seven, which is just incredible, particularly in the times he played against all these big servers (such as Goran Ivanisevic and Boris Becker).

Icon: Pistol Pete won seven titles at Wimbledon - a feat Federer can match today “I admired how he stuck around, how he tried to win maybe one more, maybe two more.”

Sticking around is what Federer has done well too since winning his last major at the Australian Open almost 30 months ago.

He has not let his barren spell get to him, always drawing inspiration from how close he has been to breaking up the Djokovic-Rafa Nadal duopoly that has swept the board in the last nine majors.

The Swiss came with one point of stopping Djokovic from reaching the 2010 US Open final, he came within two sets of winning the 2011 French Open crown and again held match points against the Serb at Flushing Meadows in 2011.

Those near-misses kept the fires burning inside the Swiss even when, after contesting seven successive finals, he suddenly discovered that he had been struck off the Wimbledon guest list in the quarter-finals over the past two seasons.

“The first time when I didn’t reach the final is was a bit of a shock when I lost to Ber-

dych,” said the Swiss, who is bidding to become the first 30-something to win the men’s title since Arthur Ashe in 1975.

“It was big news when I lost to Berdych. Last year I played so well in that quarter-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga it was a hard one to sort of accept to lose.

“Not that I started doubting myself after last year’s quarter-finals, but ... you have to wait another year for your chance, and now I am finally back in that final. So it’s great.”

When Federer walks out for his 24th grand slam final, he will face an opponent who has never before experienced a second Sunday at Wimbledon.

If Andy Murray, and his 60million followers, thought the Scot could rely on his 8-7 win-loss record to rattle Federer and end Britain’s 76-year wait for a men’s grand slam champion, the fourth seed might want to read between the lines.

The duo have met twice in grand slams, both in finals, and on each occasion Murray failed to win a set.

Federer is confident he can hold his nerves together for one final tilt.

“I wasn’t nervous at all before the Djokovic match. I was almost a bit surprised I wasn’t more nervous,” said the Swiss, who will also equal Sampras’ 286-week reign at the top of the rankings if he wins today.

“That means I’m in a good place mentally.

“There’s a lot on the line for me. I’m not denying that.

I’ve worked extremely hard since I lost that matchpoint against Novak last year at the U.S. Open. Now I have a chance at world No. 1, at the title again all at once.

“So it’s a big match for me and I hope I can keep my nerves. I’m sure I can.”

Roger Federer, written off by some as a spent force, is playing brilliantly and is confident ahead of his big day

Beaten Tsonga proves a real fighter after low blow

By Toby Davis

Ouch: Tsonga takes a breather after being hit in the groin

FOR a man with a passing resemblance to boxing great Muhammad Ali, France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga proved a consummate fighter as he recovered from a low blow to punch his way off the ropes and push Andy Murray hard in his Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.

The powerfully built Frenchman collapsed on Centre Court as he served for the third set in his 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5 defeat, struck in the groin region by a thumping Murray shot while trying to duck and dive at the net.

Djokovic plays down talk of dip in form

After a lengthy pause, the world number six dragged himself up from the turf to serve out the set and he went mighty close to stretching the contest to a fifth set before eventually being counted out in the fourth.

REVENGE “I will have a revenge one time,” was Tsonga’s lighthearted response to being sent to the canvas midway through the scrap.

The Frenchman had to battle a partisan crowd who rallied behind Murray’s bid to become the first British man to reach

a Wimbledon final since 1938, but he still endeared himself to the home support with his all-action displays and winning smile.

He will not, however, be tuning in to watch the tournament’s final round, when Murray faces Roger Federer this afternoon.

“For me, it’s finish,” said Tsonga after losing in the semi-final for the second year running.

“I will be on holiday. I have a little niece. She’s two years old and I saw her only two times. So I will take some time to enjoy the other part of my life.”

NOVAK Djokovic refused to be downhearted after his Wimbledon title defence ended in semi-final defeat by an inspired Roger Federer on Centre Court on Friday.

The Serb will also lose the world number one ranking he took by beating Rafa Nadal in last year’s final if Federer goes on to claim his seventh Wimbledon crown against Andy Murray.

Despite winning the Australian Open at the start of the year, Djokovic has fallen a little below the stratospheric heights he reached in winning 10 titles in 2011 and looked jaded during a 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 defeat by the Swiss.

However, the Serb preferred to look on the positive side, before jetting off for a holiday.

“Comparing to last year people would say this year is not that great,” Djokovic told reporters. “But look, I won a grand slam, played finals, semi-finals, won a couple of big tournaments, and played a lot of finals.

“So I’m very satisfied with the way it goes. Maybe couple of matches I’m disappointed about. But it’s really difficult to do, to repeat what I have done last year, and I didn’t expect myself to do that.

“I feel good about myself in general. I feel good playing on the major events. Confidence is there. I just need to continue on working hard and hoping for the best.”

Even the prospect of being knocked off his perch by 30-year-old Federer, did not seem to unduly worry Djokovic who said he will not even tune-in for this afternoon’s final.

“Look, if he wins and becomes number one it’s going to be well-deserved,” Djokovic said.

“He’s played fantastic this year. He’s been so consistent.

If he wins, he wins.

“There’s nothing I can do about it. The best player will win this tournament. Now I will cheer for my holidays.”

Djokovic said he would re-charge his batteries and return to the London grasscourts for the Olympics later this month.

“It’s been a long five, six months for me. Didn’t have much rest. Now I’m going to take some time off and really try to keep my mind off tennis,” he said.

“Then of course coming back to Olympics, which I’m looking forward to.”

Novak Djokovic has failed to hit the heights of 2011

40 July 8, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

Alonso ends Ferrari drought at Silverstone 37

FIFA stand by under fire rankings system 38

Serena fights off Radwanska to claim title Emotional American savours fifth crown

History-maker: Andy Murray was overcome with emotion after becoming the first British player in 74 years to reach the men’s singles final at Wimbledon

By Toby Davis

Murray knows only A perfection will do ANDY Murray believes he can confound the British public’s expectations and beat six-time champion Roger Federer to win an historic Wimbledon final.

Victory for Murray today would end a 76year wait for a British successor to Fred Perry as men’s champion.

“I’m probably not expected to win the match, but it is one that, if I play well, I’m capable of winning,” he told BBC Sport.

“His record here has been incredible, so the pressure will be less on me because of who he is.”

Murray beat France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets on Friday to become the first British man since Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin in 1938 to reach the Wimbledon final.

But the Scot’s view is supported by the bookmakers’ odds which make Federer favourite for their meeting after he outplayed world number one Novak Djokovic in the first semi-final earlier in the day.

Despite enjoying an 8-7 lead over Federer in their total previous meetings, the Swiss won in straight sets in the finals of the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open in their only Grand Slam encounters.

Federer has lost only once in seven Wimbledon finals - in a superb five-set battle against Rafael Nadal in 2008 - and, like Murray, is in search of his own piece of history.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion is within one triumph of matching Pete Sampras’ open-era record of seven Wimbledon men’s singles titles, and will also return to the top of the rankings to surpass the American’s record for total weeks at world number one - 286 weeks.

Murray believes some have been premature in writing off the 30-year-old Federer as a fading force in the game after the previous nine Grand Slams were claimed

by the younger Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

“He’s lost some close matches in the Slams the last few years, but he had match points against Novak at the US Open in the last two years in a row,” said Murray.

“I don’t think, if you look at the way he played in his semi, you can’t say he’s past it or because he’s 30 he’s playing worse tennis. I just think the players around have got better.”

Ivan Lendl, who Murray employed as coach in January, lost in four Grand Slam finals as a player before clinching the French Open in 1984 and Murray says that he and the rest of his coaching team will be key in confounding predictions of a Federer win.

“I spoke to Ivan after the match. It was, ‘Good job. You did really well. What time do you want to practise tomorrow?’

That’s it. There’s no time for anything else,” Murray added.

“I’ve learnt from kind of being around him, never get too high, never get too down, which maybe in the past I was. I needed to try and be a bit more stable on the court, not be so emotional.

“My coaches will watch Roger’s matches from this week and from when I played him before but I try not to watch before I play against him.

“I’ve learnt from those matches that I lost against him in the past. If you go too much into detail of things that happened in the past, it’s not always beneficial, because in tennis every day is different.

“So I just need to try to make sure I play a perfect match.”

ICE-COOL FED HAS SAMPRAS IN HIS SIGHTS PAGE 39

MERICAN Serena Williams powered her way to a fifth Wimbledon title with an explosive start and a fighting finish to beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 yesterday.

The 30-year-old, contesting her seventh Wimbledon singles final, blew her nervous opponent off court in the first set but after a short rain interruption was then forced to go toe-to-toe with the Pole before winning the last five games.

After pounding away a backhand winner after just over two hours to end Radwanska’s brave resistance and secure a 14th grand slam singles title, Williams collapsed backwards to the court before climbing through the crowd to celebrate with her family and friends.

“I can’t even describe it,” an emotional Williams, who suffered serious health issues after cutting her foot and was out for a year since winning her fourth title in 2010, said in an on-court interview after collecting the trophy her older sister Venus has also lifted five times.

“I almost didn’t make it a few years ago. I was in hospital but now I’m here again and it was so worth it. I’m so happy.

“Just never give up, you can continue. Thank you, guys in the box today, daddy, mum - I can’t name everyone but thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Victory made her the oldest women’s singles winner since Martina Navratilova won the title in 1990, aged 33.

It looked like being a breeze for Williams as she took the opening five games and romped through the first

Jumping for joy: Serena Williams secured an amazing 14th grand slam singles title set in 36 minutes against a clearly nervous Radwanska, who was contesting her first grand slam final.

Radwanska finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth game to sympathetic applause from the Centre Court crowd.

A short rain delay interrupted the match but when the player returned, Williams moved a break ahead in the second set before Radwanska suddenly came to the party.

With Williams looking anxious, Radwanska broke back to level at 4-4 and then moved 6-5 ahead on serve.

Williams sent a backhand long to give Radwanska two set points and another error allowed the Pole to take the match into a deciding set an achievement in itself after looking completely overwhelmed early on.

As dark clouds closed in on Centre Court, Williams looked in trouble at 1-2 in the final set but she regained her composure, breaking in the

fifth game when Radwanska sent a backhand long and again two games later with a delicate forehand drop shot.

Serving for the match at 5-2 she cracked down yet another ace, her 102nd of the tournament, then powered in another unreturnable serve before finishing off with a backhand winner.

Radwanska, who will rise to number two in the WTA rankings, was almost overcome with emotion at the end.

“I think I had the best two weeks of my life,” Radwanska, who had been suffering with illness before the match, said on court. “She was too good today but I’m just so happy to be here in the final.

“I think it was not my day but I’ll try again next year.”