SUNDAY MAIL

SLIDING HOMES

HISTORY ALIVE INSIDE

Owners of Armou’s collapsing houses fear onset of winter

A novel programme gives visitors a true taste of the past

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Pages 4-5

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October 21, 2012

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Bank wrote off huge AKEL debt Bank of Cyprus has written off total of ¤9.5m in debts owed

by AKEL companies By a Staff Reporter

A

DEBT of €6.5m owed by the AKEL-controlled Delta Trading company was written off by the Bank of Cyprus in 2006, bringing to €9.5 million the total loans the party controlled firms have not had to repay the bank.

The latest revelation follows an earlier one in August when Politis newspaper revealed that the Bank of Cyprus had written off a debt of nearly €3m owed by another AKELcontrolled company, Tamasos Enterprises Ltd. Delta Trading company was set up in 1965 and was part of a network of AKEL-controlled companies that had business dealings with the former Soviet Union, which offered the party much needed financial assistance.

Following the fall of the regimes in the Eastern Bloc, Delta, as well as most of the ‘party’ companies began to accumulate big debts. Furthermore, they were owed some US$7m by the former Soviet Union from the export

of products of which $5.2m were assigned to the government and the rest were receivables for the Bank of Cyprus.

Delta found itself on the brink of bankruptcy.

On September 6, 2006, an agreement was made between then Bank of Cyprus manager (now finance minister) Vassos Shiarly, on behalf of the bank and Antonis Papanicolaou, director of Delta Trading Ltd, and AKEL secretariat member in charge of economic affairs, Venizelos Zanettou, whereby the assets of Delta Trading Ltd were transferred to Delta (Distributors) Ltd. It also provided for the forced sale of a plot of land (owned

by Delta Trading) in Limassol, the writing off of €6.5m owed to the bank and the subsequent removal of all personal guarantors from the loan agreement.

More specifically, it was agreed that Delta Trading Ltd had reserves of CYP£90,000 and around £60,000 receivables. The bank and Delta appointed the director of Delta Trading as the liquidator with

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Demonstrators hold placards during a protest march in central London yesterday.

Thousands of anti-austerity protesters marched to protest against public spending cuts enacted by a government fighting off accusations that it is run by an upper-class elite that ignores the plight of recession-hit voters STORY PAGE 8

LA police explore Manson Family role in a dozen cold cases

By Mary Slosson DETECTIVES are looking at the possible role of the Manson Family in a dozen unsolved killings from four decades ago, and believe old audio tapes from a bankruptcy case hold a key to the cold cases, a police official said.

The so-called Manson Family cult, a collection of runaways and outcasts known for their high-profile spree of at least nine killings in 1969, was brought together by a charismatic ex-convict, Charles Manson.

The 12 unsolved killings police are looking into had “similar circumstances, the same time period” as those committed by Manson’s followers, Los Angeles police spokes-

man Commander Andrew Smith said.

“We think there’s a chance that they may be related to the Manson Family,” he added.

In 1969, Manson became one of the 20th century’s most infamous US criminals when he incited his mostly young, female followers to murder in what prosecutors said was part of a twisted plan to incite

a race war between whites and blacks.

Among the victims was actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski, who was stabbed 16 times by members of the cult in the early morning hours of August 9, 1969. Manson, now 77, is serving a life sentence.

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2 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

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Bank of Cyprus wrote off huge AKEL debt

Weather

Nicosia

26

Troodos 17

27 Larnaca

Paphos

Limassol

8 28

27

TODAY: Temperatures will be lower than yesterday’s and rain and thunderstorms are likely inland, over the mountains and on southern and western coasts. Temperatures will reach 26C inland, 27C in the south and east, 27C in the west and 17C over higher ground

OUTLOOK: Temperatures will continue to fall with rain and thunderstorms in Nicosia, the mountains, Larnaca and Paphos on Monday and Tuesday

YESTERDAY

Nicosia Larnaca Limassol Paphos Paralimni Prodromos

max/min temp 32 - 18 29 - 20 30 - 18 30 - 18 28 - 17 19 - 8

Humidity 42% 54% 44% 65% 45% 54%

SUNRISE: 06.58 am

SUNSET: 18.04 pm

Sunday Mail Established 1945. Number 21,354 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

OFFSHORE C O M PA N I E S

L L

AKEL companies incurred debts after fall of Soviet Union (Continued from front page) instructions to sell all stock/ reserves and collect all money owed to the company.

From the CYP£150,000, the bank would receive £124,000, £16,000 would go to the company to pay off other obligations (salaries, social insurance etc) and the remaining £10,000 would be the liquidator’s fee. The bank also agreed to grant Papanicolaou (the liquidator) an interest free loan of £124,000 so that he could pay off the bank immediately.

The stock was transferred to the new company Delta (Distributors) Ltd of which Papanicolaou was later the sole owner.

The plot of land, that was part of the agreement, was valued at £400,000 and it was agreed that from the sale, part would be used to pay the capital gains tax of this and other sales of land, and the rest would go against the debt of Delta Trading towards the Bank of Cyprus.

All this was the result of a decision taken by the board of directors of the Bank of Cyprus in May 2006 to find a ‘solution’ for the indebted company.

The way in which the Delta Trading Ltd. was stripped of its assets just prior to its official bankruptcy has angered other creditors. One has taken legal action and sent a letter to the Official Receiver disputing the amount of the reserves citing the 2005 audited accounts of the company that listed assets and receivables of much higher value. He also claimed that the company was the owner of collectable items such as coins, stamps and works of art that were not listed in the assets. According to the law, in case of liquidation all creditors should be treated equally, but this is for the courts to decide.

There is another issue though. The current finance

Vassos Shiarly signed the deal writing off the ¤6.5m debt minister, Shiarly, and AKEL’s Zanettou signed an agreement whereby the assets of Delta Trading Ltd were transferred just before its official liquidation to the new company Delta (Distributors) Ltd leaving the bank with a loss of €6.5m and other creditors with no chance of collecting any of the money owed to them. A second issue that arises is how Zanettou, negotiated, agreed and signed the deal with the Bank of Cyprus for the company’s bankruptcy since he had no legal connection to

the company.

Could the answer be the fact that the real owner of the company was none other than AKEL? AKEL has never admitted that as a party it has any connection with companies and businesses in general. In fact in a recent interview in Politis, its General Secretary Andros Kyprianou said: “We own companies? If you mean that AKEL members are directors in companies, well, yes, but AKEL does not own any companies.”

In absolute ‘legal’ terms this may be correct. As sev-

eral present and ex members of AKEL have said the party has a network of party businesses that on paper belong to AKEL members but the decisions and actions are controlled by the party.

Proof of this is an internal Bank of Cyprus memo, published on September 9 in Politis where it refers to the writing off of a €2.7m debt of another AKEL-controlled company, Tamasos Hotel Enterprises, and states that “The four guarantees/ors, according to them, were given following orders from their party AKEL, and it was a political decision since they are party officials.”

In the case of Delta Trading all owners are (or were) members of AKEL like ex Larnaca MP Doros Christodoulides, Vera Christodoulidou (sister of the MP), Doros Seraphim (ex-Omonia president and PRINTCO director), Skevi Koukouma, MP, and several other AKEL officials.

Even the plot of land that found its way into the assets of the company was part a donation made by the late Ezekias Papaioannou, a former AKEL general secretary. This plot belonged to his wife and his will gave it to Delta Trading Company.

Political parties are not legal entities and as such cannot be shareholders in companies. For AKEL it is not compatible with its ideology either. On the other hand the party is a huge organisation with paid personnel and other expenses and is in need of funds. Apart from fund raising events, donations from members and party supporters, a considerable percentage of its revenue came from businesses it owned.

This was especially the case during the Cold War, when AKEL companies generated large amounts of money from privileged trade with the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries.

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Girl’s attacker freed after political intervention, MP charges AKEL MP Irene Charalambidou yesterday said she was shocked to hear a man who admitted to sexually assaulting a young girl had been released by police, following an intervention from an unnamed politician.

“It is with great alarm that we heard that a person who allegedly admitted to a sexual crime against a minor - where the perpetrator had a relationship of trust and was part of the victim’s family - was released from custody, when the customary procedure is to send him to court to be remanded so as to avert further contact with the victim or the

victim’s family,” said Charalambidou.

She said this was to avoid the risk of evidence being destroyed or the family being threatened by the suspect.

Charalambidou said her party was aware of details, which she would not release in order to protect the victim.

“We do not want to believe information that for such a serious crime, interventions were made by political persons, resulting in the necessary procedures not being followed,” she said.

“At the moment, the victim and any other minor are exposed to the perpetrator, who is moving around freely in

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danger of repeating the crime he allegedly admitted to,” she added.

Charalambidou said she was expecting the police, child commissioner and all other related departments to immediately intervene.

“Society and the lawmaking authority also need to react straight away and offer further means to deal with crimes against minors,” she said. “We are repeating our plea for swift approval of the law proposal we submitted for crimes against minors and legally regulating checking mechanisms for paedophiles.”

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3 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

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Bulk of troika funds for the banks

By Jacqueline Agathocleous

CB governor calls for end to debate on state debt

CENTRAL BANK (CB) Governor Panicos Demetriades yesterday said that Cyprus’ debt was manageable and that the bulk of assistance from international lenders would go into recapitalising the island’s banks.

“However big the amount demanded for the banks’ recapitalisation, the country’s debt is manageable for the simple reason that the new loan we will get from our partners in Europe and the Support Mechanism and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be mainly for the banks’ recapitalisation,” said Demetriades.

He was speaking after he met with President Demetris Christofias to discuss the current state of the banking system, ahead of the lenders’ (the troika) return to the island.

It was reported on Friday that

the troika - European Central Bank, European Commission and IMF - would be arriving on the island tomorrow though the government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday would not confirm the date yesterday.

Demetriades called for an end to public debates on whether the state debt was viable, describing the loan from the troika as “an investment we are making as a country; as taxpaying citizens, from which we should logically get something in return too”.

But even if the returns are negative, he added, the public debt would become manageable again once the banks were privatised.

Demetriades confirmed that Cyprus was seeking direct recapitalisation, through the new European Stability Mechanism (ESM) that was unveiled last week. The

ESM, a €500 billion rescue mechanism for the 17 eurozone countries, will be used to lend to distressed eurozone sovereigns in return for strict fiscal and structural reforms, aimed at putting economies that have lost investor trust back on track.

Asked yesterday how much Cypriot banks needed, Demetriades said he could not comment on something that was under discussion at the European Central Bank’s governing council.

He pointed out that while recapitalisation was necessary, this did not automatically mean that the banking system would automatically start picking up.

But he added, “Once this procedure begins, we will enter the final leg of the journey, where we will start seeing light at the end of the tunnel”.

Demetriades said the banks needed to recover, through reforming the banking system, ring fencing Cypriot banks’ operations in Greece - “we definitely need to reduce the risk that comes from there” - and improving supervision over the island’s banks.

Demetriades said he exchanged views with Christofias in their meeting, on the state of the banking system as well as troika’s imminent return to Cyprus.

He referred to the CB’s decision to appoint an independent foreign agency to investigate what went wrong with Cyprus’s banks and led them to seek support from the state. He said the results of the investigation could be tabled at the House, if this was requested.

“We believe this investigation will help apportion the blame on

those who led our banking system to this difficult situation,” said Demetriades. “The situation may be difficult, but the CB is working towards exiting this crisis as soon as possible. We do not view the troika as our enemy, but our ally, who will help solve the problems faced by the Cypriot economy today.”

In the afternoon, Demetriades relayed the CB positions on the banking system to the party leaders and presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, referring to a proposal for all co-ops to fall under the umbrella of the Central Bank, Demetriades said the matter was very delicate. “I am convinced we will conclude on a formula that will ensure the cooperative movement’s autonomy and independence, while at the same time improving supervision and essentially the cooperative movement’s credibility,” said the governor.

Seminar offers fascinating glimpse into how travellers viewed Cyprus down the years

By Jacqueline Agathocleous SCIENTISTS from nine different countries arrived in Athens on Thursday to study a collection of over 2,000 books and more than 600 atlases and maps depicting Cyprus from the 15th century until the present.

The collected works were presented by the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation, which plans to hold biannual conferences for scientists to come and examine valuable collections of geographical history, and assist research in various topics.

To mark Cyprus taking over presidency of the EU Council, its inaugural conference - “Cyprus on the Crossroads of Travellers and Mapmakers from the 15th to 20th Century” - which wrapped up yesterday was dedicated to Cyprus and Sylvia Ioannou’s precious collection.

“Twenty-eight speakers from nine countries arrived, each representing a different science; I think it says a lot that the conference has attracted such a variety of scientists,” the foundation’s manager, Artemis Skoutari, told the Sunday Mail yesterday.

Visitors included scientists from France, Germany, the US, the UK, Israel and Romania, as well as from Greece and Cyprus.

“There are also a lot of young people here, which means youths are showing an interest in the sciences.”

She said the foundation’s chairman announced yesterday that the foundation planned to offer three scholarships for students interested in acquiring a post graduate degree, provided it is based on Cyprus.

“It could be any subject, as long as it is related to Cyprus,” Skoutari explained, adding that this was a good opportunity to project Cyprus’ cultural heritage abroad.

The Sylvia Ioannou Foundation, which is based in Lichtenstein, is owner of a rich collection of books, maps and manuscripts on Cyprus and the Mediterranean.

The aim of its conference – held in co-operation with the University of the Aegean and the University of Cyprus’ department of history and archaeology – was to highlight “the treasure trove of historical documents devoted to Cyprus” and to study their origins and transformations.

The collection includes travellers’ testimonies, cartographical and geographical accounts, topographical and pictorial imprints of Cyprus, dating as far back as the 15th century.

According to the foundation’s website, “The core of the collection is printed descriptions of the island, published from the very dawn of European printing, in 1475, through to 1964, when the island, for the first time in its long, and often sad, history achieved self-rule.”

While many of the items were acquired in the full glare of publicity, as a private collection, many other treasures and rarities of the collection have never been fully unveiled to the public.

The foundation has been established with the guiding principle of opening the collection to public access; a website has been established as an introduction to the many items in the collection - www.sylviaioannoufoundation. org

One of hundreds of maps belonging to the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation (above). Illustration of Limassol from Malta and Cyprus

by Gladys Peto, published in 1928 (left) Sylvia Ioannou, who is Cypriot, started collecting manuscripts and rare books relating to Cyprus in the late 1970s, her aim being to salvage and preserve the island’s printed heritage.

She has acquired books on Cyprus’ archaeology, history, politics, as well as a collection of travellers’ accounts, dating from the 15th century until present.

In 2009, Sylvia established the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation to ensure that this valuable archive would now be accessible not simply to the owner but to researchers the world over.

4 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home Appeal for food and clothes for those living in extreme poverty THE NON-governmental organisation Future Worlds Center (FWC) yesterday called on members of the public to provide help in collecting food and clothes for families who are living in extreme poverty and in need of urgent assistance.

The families need basic food such as: rice, pasta, bulgar wheat, oil, salt, longlife milk, pulses, tinned food, and not-easily perishable vegetables and fruit like onions, potatoes and apples. They also need basic hygiene products such as nappies, sanitary pads, shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper.

Clothes for the whole family are welcome. There is a particular need for children’s clothes, ages 3 to 18.

FWC will be able to arrange for a pick-up if a significant amount of goods is collected at one location.

“We know that these are difficult times for every one of us, but every little helps,” said the press release.

The centre’s office is open daily between 9am and 5pm and can be found at Promitheos 5 on the fifth floor, opposite Kapatae’s gallery in central Nicosia.

For further information, call 22873820 or email danae@futureworldscenter.org

Owners of sliding fear the onset of Promised help for Armou homeowners fails to materialise as houses slip further

By Bejay Browne

D

ESPITE the promise of help from the Paphos district office seven months ago, residents of a small housing development which is rapidly sliding down a hillside in Armou, say nothing has been done.

The Sunday Mail first highlighted the dire plight of the homeowners in March.

The six houses which make up the development in the picturesque village are still moving down the hillside and are likely to collapse completely if rains are heavy this winter. One of the houses has already been deemed unfit for habitation and has been condemned.

A number of the homeowners have issued court proceedings against the developer.

All of the houses, which were

only built in 2004, have serious structural problems, from slanting floors, to the partial collapse of stairs, walls, swimming pools and patio areas.

Outside drains are exposed in one garden and retaining walls have split.

The estate was constructed on land locals had long been warned was unsafe.

One of the access roads to the development is currently impassable and although a second road was repaired, large cracks have again appeared.

The developer responsible for the estate is JNM, but despite repeated efforts, the Sunday Mail has been unable to contact them.

Geoff and Maggie Higgs, owners of one of the stricken homes, were forced to leave their ‘dream home’ a few months ago as they no longer felt safe. They are currently lodging with friends in the

UK. Only two homes are now occupied, one by Simon Phillips, his wife and two children. The Higgs’ daughter, Sian Sparrow, her husband and two children are renting a house next to theirs to keep an eye on her parents’ property.

The Sparrows had previously been renting the house on the estate which has now been condemned.

“We moved into the initial property in April 2011, and nearly a year later during the terrible weather, we noticed massive cracks appearing in the house and the outside areas. The house was also at a noticeable slant. Everything happened so quickly, the condition of the house deteriorated massively in just a couple of weeks,” Jason Sparrow told the Sunday Mail: The family was forced to leave the property, which was declared unfit for habitation but decided to move into another house on the estate.

“We were told by a surveyor that the current house we are renting - which is Number 5 on the estate - would be ‘the last one to go’,” Sparrow said.

Until recently, according to the couple, the property had remained relatively unaffected by the shifting land. But, they pointed out that following just two days of recent rain, cracks had appeared in the swimming pool.

Another homeowner, Graham Slyper, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease last November and is currently based in the UK. He says he had been hoping to spend the remainder of his life at his home in Armou, but he believes the likelihood of this happening now is slim.

Speaking whilst visiting his property on a trip from the UK a few weeks ago, he said: “the cracks in my house have opened up further in the last few days of rain. They were measuring about 6cms and now they are about 9cm. The pool has cracked, and I’ve got the pool people here trying to stop the water leaking out of

Simon Phillips kneels next to a two metre hole at his house it.”

“It’s terrifying; we are all worried about what is happening,” said Maggie Higgs who was also on a visit from the UK. Permanent resident Phillips said he was particularly worried with winter approaching.

“None of us are able to sleep properly and we’re fearful our homes may collapse,” he said.

“We have been told when it rains if we have a winter like last year, we could see the whole development go in a matter of hours. This is a beautiful village and a fantastic spot but it’s turned into a nightmare.”

A report by the president of Paphos architects and

civil engineers’ association, Chrysostomos Italos was completed in June and has been handed over to the legal advisers of the homeowners.

Italos places the blame firmly on the developer.

Italos visited the site again last week. “I inspected the entire estate and the site is moving. Something has to be done. I am waiting for the district office to take action and protect the area,” he said.

“I am very concerned that if we have a bad winter, the houses will collapse.”

Italos has suggested a number of measures which if implemented quickly could still save the development.

These included a drainage

5 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Home

homes winter

Massive cracks in Simon Phillips’ house (above and right)

Shattered dreams: Geoff and Maggie Higgs, Graham Syper,Simon Phillips and daughter in front of collapsed road

system and an underground system to take away water and special supports.

“It will be very expensive and I would not suggest the owners do it, and it’s not their responsibility. The entire area needs to be made safe, not just individual houses. The developer or the government must carry out these works.”

Tragically for the residents, it appears as if the area where their houses were built, just below the church in the picturesque village, was wellknown among locals as being unsafe.

“Everyone in the village knows that below the church isn’t a safe place to build.

When I was a small boy, I was told to be careful of this area and not to go there in bad weather,” Armou mukhtar, Panikos Hadjitheoris previously told the Sunday Mail.

Evagoros Andreou, of the Paphos district office planning permits department has visited the housing estate and sent the developer a number of letters.

“We recently met with him and I can’t make any further comment as we are still examining the situation,” he said.

He said he and members of the geological department

the works were carried out according to the permits,” he said.

More disturbingly, the district office could even act against the homeowners, as they are living in properties which do not have certificates - even thought they are not responsible - and this is against the law, he said.

Italos offered a glimmer of hope though.

“In some other areas I know of, the district office has carried out the repairs themselves and then taken the developer to court to claim the money back. I am hoping that the district office of Paphos will do this with the developer responsible for the site in Armou.”

The homeowners pointed out that the problem is steadily worsening, with houses above the development also

I’m not far away from having to tell my children that we don’t have a home.

I carry that weight around with me would visit the estate again next week. “I cannot give any further information yet as to what action we will take, but it will be in accordance with parameters indicated by the law.”

According to Italos, the district office can take a number of different steps.

“As the development has still not been signed off and is still in the developer’s name, they will be asked to verify that all

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slipping down the hillside.

The group is understandably angry, upset and under immense stress.

“We sold everything in England to come here for a dream life, but the reality is I’m not far away from having to tell my children that we don’t have a home. I carry that weight around with me. I don’t know what I would do if we couldn’t live here anymore,” said Phillips.

Geoff Higgs added: “When you get to 67 years of age, you’ve worked all of your life, paid off your mortgage, sold up, come to Cyprus, been advised by lawyers, paid money for your property and it’s been snatched away from you, it’s too stressful and agonising to express.”

“If nothing is done, soon we will literally be homeless,” his wife added.

6 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

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A true taste of history A novel programme offers visitors a genuine understanding of Cyprus’ past

By Zoe Christodoulides OR THOSE visitors to Cyprus who want a genuine sense of the history and culture of the island - even down to the way food tasted hundreds of years ago - help is now at hand.

An organised tour, initiated by the local Cornaro Institute (founded by the Cyprus College of Art) and the Distance Learning Centre in the School of English at the University of Sheffield, will allow visitors to dig deep into Cyprus’ Medieval and Renaissance past as experts guide them through the culture, food and history of Cyprus.

The project, ‘Othello’s Island’, is planned for this coming March and the programme is open to all - tourists and locals alike - with no previous experience or knowledge of the subject is necessary.

“While we’ll be learning about an exciting period in history we will also have plenty of fun with the subject,” says director of the Cyprus College of Art, Michael Paraskos. With the college having founded the Cornaro Institute in 2010, it is aptly named after the last Venetian Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro. Based in Larnaca, it provides studio space for artists from around the world, while helping overseas institutions to organise study trips on the island through a variety of informal courses.

The upcoming occasion will involve classes at the Cornaro Institute with expeditions planned to towns and villages around the island.

The project is a collaboration between Paraskos and James Fitzmaurice, a professor within the School of English at Sheffield University specialising in literature and the works of Shakespeare.

With Shakespeare’s Othello set in Cyprus, connections were immediately drawn, and the idea for a rather unconventional trip initiated.

“We thought it would be a nice idea to offer people the opportunity to see just how very much the history of the island has to offer. Not many people realise that there was a time lasting almost 400 years when the island was ruled by the French and Venetians. They built gothic cathedrals, vast palaces and created a culture that had an effect all over Europe including foreign art and literature,” explains Paraskos.

“We aim to give visitors a really deep feel of the cultural history

F

Gothic cathedrals, such as Saint Nicholas in Famagusta (above), are part of the Lusignan experience visitors will learn about along with traditional crafts like lace-making. Below right: Othello’s Tower

of the place. But rather than just worming through books to understand it all, this is about getting out and getting a feel of a place; its churches, its monuments, its people.”

In addition to talks and discussions, visitors will abandon the classroom to visit past centres of action, guided by experts from leading universities in Britain and America.

“And it’s not just about the looks of the place but the feel of the place,” emphasises Paraskos.

So-called material culture, or the relationship between artefacts and social relations, has become quite the buzzword of late.

The idea is for people to understand that what they see affects cultural attitudes and social relations. “Fitzmaurice has a real vision for people to feel what’s out there, like going to Lefkara and touching the lace to see what sensations and ideas it evokes,” says Paraskos.

With sensory phenomena coming into play, the study tour will also be placing a great deal of emphasis on the food of the island and the history behind it. While the local cuisine is often revered for the use of delicious ingredients, few are actually acquainted with the tales and traditions behind a given dish. Part of the experience will involve tasting food in a similar fashion to the way it was enjoyed hundreds of years ago.

Then there’s a whole load of exciting trivia that the organisers wish people to become better acquainted with.

“Who would have known that the table fork was introduced to Europe by King of Cyprus Peter II? Or that Cyprus was the main producer of sugar in Medieval Europe?” says Paraskos.

With a trip that focuses on the riches of the island’s past, visitors are now given the chance to quite literally tuck right into its colourful historical flavours.

The occasion is also supported by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Larnaca Municipality who have stepped in to lend a helping hand for this special expedition.

‘Othello’s Island’ costs 300 pounds sterling per person including tuition, study trips and site entrance fees. Participants coming from abroad are required to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, but help will be available from project staff. Application by 15 January 2012. Tel: +44 114 235 1538. Email: j.fitzmaurice@sheffield.ac.uk

Interview waiver now available Developers oppose new property tax and for some applicants for US visas property seizures on non-performing loans THE US embassy in Nicosia, in an effort to make it easier to travel to the United States to work, study and visit, will begin a programme to waive in-person interviews for some applicants, it said yesterday.

Certain first-time and renewal applicants can submit their applications without reporting for an interview, though a consular officer may decide that an interview is necessary to complete the case.

“We want to find ways to make the application process simpler,” said Steve Royster, the US Consul in Nicosia, “and when we can make the decision without having to interview the applicant we can process visa applications more quickly and get travellers on their way to the US.”

First-time applicants who are under age 14 and whose parents have valid US visas, as well as first time applicants over age 79 can apply without appearing in person if they deposit or deliver an application packet to the embassy, with a return envelope with enough postage to receive their documents back in the mail. Applicants can also renew their visas if they meet certain criteria.

Interested applicants should visit http:// go.usa.gov/YKuR for complete details.

Students, exchange visitors and journalists should visit http://cyprus.usembassy.gov for the documents that they must include.

Applicants seeking to apply without appearing in person must be careful to submit a complete application packet.

DEVELOPERS yesterday expressed their opposition to a proposed tax on large houses, currently being considered by the government as part the island’s bailout adjustment programme.

The developers said Cyprus could raise property taxes at a time when it was trying hard to attract foreign investors.

‘ESPECIALLY UNFAIR’ In a written statement, the developers association considers “especially unfair” a proposal to introduce a tax on homes larger than 300 square metres.

The state can increase its revenues by taxing the thousands of properties,

which are not even on file.

Developers also voiced their opposition to a proposal by the island’s international lenders - the troika - for foreclosure procedures on property used as collateral on non-performing loans to be expedited to 18 months.

This should not be done in less than between seven and 10 years, they said.

Developers propose that banks should be allowed to give loan extensions that would suit the borrowers’ current capabilities.

The association also recommends speeding up examination and approval of permits for large projects and also provision of tax breaks to encourage investment.

7 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Home

Weddings boost Peyia’s coffers Rise in pricier hotel weddings provide greater funds for Peyia municipality

By Bejay Browne CASH strapped Peyia has brought in over â‚Ź200,000 from civil weddings so far this year, adding a welcome boost to the municipality coffers.

According to municipal weddings ofďŹ cer Maria Yiangou, the much needed cash injection was due to an increase in the number of civil weddings taking place at local hotels. The cost for this service is close to three times that of a civil wedding held just at the municipality.

Yiangou told the Sunday Mail: “So far this year we have had around 600 civil weddings in Peyia. “Although this is about the same number as last year, more of them have taken place at local hotels, which has increased the revenue.â€? The total until now is â‚Ź220,000.

According to Yiangou, there is a substantial price difference between having a civil ceremony at the municipality and holding one in at a hotel .

The cost of a civil wedding at Peyia municipality is â‚Ź282 euros, while a wedding at a hotel costs â‚Ź600.

The marriage ofďŹ cer said wedding season in Cyprus runs from March until October and in spite of the economic crisis, couples

Around 600 civil weddings have been held in Peyia so far this year exchanging nuptials in Peyia are prepared to fork out for the wedding they want. “More couples this year have chosen to get married at hotels; I think this is because they are staying there, some have children and it’s easier. Even though the

cost is higher, they don’t seem to mind,� said Yiangou.

She added that although she is present at the event only to carry out the ceremony, she had noticed that many couples were holding their wedding receptions at the

hotels as well. “Most of the couples getting married are tourists – around 90 per cent are British.�

She said that a number of Russian couples had also chosen Peyia to get married this year. “We are seeing that the Russians are starting to come now and this is one of the markets we hope to expand,� Yiangou added.

Peyia municipality is active abroad in promoting their civil marriage services, and this year will participate in wedding exhibitions in London and Birmingham.

They also want to highlight the service in other countries. “We are thinking of Russia and Israel in particular,� said Yiangou.

According to the weddings ofďŹ cer, the bookings for ceremonies next year are showing a 20 per cent decrease on this year.

However Yiangou said it was still early days. “I’m expecting the numbers for 2013 to be the same as this year,� she said.

According to Yiangou, there are now only two ofďŹ cers permitted to conduct civil marriages, whereas before members of the council had also been doing these duties. “It has helped us to cut costs,â€? said Yiangou.

In addition, marriage ofďŹ cers are also being given a reduced fee by the municipality, in a bid to increase proďŹ ts, according to local councilor Linda Leblanc. “We have introduced a number of costcutting measures to help us operate more efďŹ ciently,â€? said Leblanc.

The municipality has introduced a number of austerity measures this year, due to a lack of revenue caused by a backlog of unpaid taxes, according to the councillor. These included the cancellation of the annual Peyia municipal festival.

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8 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

World

Thousands take part in UK austerity demonstrations

Manson Family linked to further murders

Unions say economic plans of government have failed

(Continued from front page) If police can tie the Manson Family to any unsolved cases, it would confirm long-standing suspicions that they committed more killings.

The revelations about the number of unsolved cases investigators are pursuing comes amid a legal battle between the Los Angeles Police Department and an attorney for Manson follower Charles ‘Tex’ Watson, who is serving a life prison sentence in California.

Los Angeles police, who have gone to court seeking to obtain eight hours of recorded discussions between Watson and his late attorney Bill Boyd, have disclosed few details on the cold cases, including the names of victims or dates of the killings.

The tapes, made more than 40 years ago, have resurfaced as a part of a bankruptcy case involving Boyd’s now-defunct Texas law firm.

In May, US Bankruptcy Judge Brenda Rhoades in Texas granted the request for the tapes, but an appeal is pending.

“We’re just trying to obtain these tapes to see if they will shed light on these and other cases,” Smith said.

Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck had said in a March letter to a US Department of Justice trustee that the LAPD “has information that Mr Watson discussed additional unsolved murders committed by followers of Charles Manson”.

By Isla Binnie THOUSANDS of British protesters marched through central London yesterday against public spending cuts and tax rises enacted by a government fighting accusations it is run by an upper-class elite that ignores the plight of recession-hit voters.

Blowing horns and whistles, protesters filed past the Houses of Parliament behind a banner declaring ‘Austerity is Failing’, calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to do more to revive Britain’s struggling economy.

The march comes at a time when Cameron’s Conservative-led coalition is reeling from the resignation on Friday of a senior minister accused of calling police “plebs”, a class-laden insult for working people.

Cameron’s party has faced a barrage of negative headlines over the departure of Andrew Mitchell - the ‘Chief Whip’ or party enforcer - four weeks after he swore at police guarding the gates to Cameron’s Downing Street office.

A separate row involving finance minister George Osborne, who sat in a first class

Children, dressed as public sector workers, hold placards before the start of a protest march in central London train carriage with a standard class ticket before paying for an upgrade, added ammunition to critics who say the Conservatives are privileged and out-of-touch.

“Who Do They Think They Are?” asked the Daily Mail newspaper in a front page headline, while the Financial Times said the bad news over Mitchell and Osborne capped a “dismal week for the Tories”,

the centre-right party that is trailing in the polls.

Demonstrators waved banners saying ‘No Cuts’, ‘Tax the Rich, Teach the Poor’ and ‘Plebs of the World Unite’, poking fun at Mitchell’s resignation.

Others handed out leaflets decorated with Wild Weststyle ‘Wanted’ posters bearing Cameron’s picture and the message: “Running a govern-

ment by and for millionaires”.

Nurses, cleaners, librarians and ambulance drivers were among tens of thousands who joined the march and a rally in London’s central Hyde Park, in one of the biggest antiausterity protests this year.

Marches also took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Glasgow, Scotland.

Trade union leaders are trying to use the rally to pile more

pressure on Cameron, telling protesters the government’s economic plan has failed and only prolonged Britain’s recession.

“Austerity isn’t working. It is hammering the poorest and the most vulnerable,” Brendan Barber, head of the Trades Union Congress, an umbrella group which represents 54 unions, said in a speech at the rally.

Obama accuses rival of suffering ‘Romnesia’

By Margaret Chadbourn and Jeff Mason US President Barack Obama turned his rival’s name into an ailment on Friday night, accusing Mitt Romney of suffering from ‘Romnesia”’for emphasising moderate positions rather than the conservative ones he put forward in the Republican primary race.

Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has closed a gap in opinion polls with the Democratic incumbent after giving a strong performance in the first presidential debate on October 3, when he sounded a moderate note on healthcare reform and the need for government regulation - highlights of Obama’s platform.

After a lackluster showing in that debate, Obama has delivered fiery retorts since, both in the second debate on October 16 - which many observers say Obama won - and on the campaign trail, with the election looming on November 6.

Obama told a crowd of about 9,000 in the election battleground state of Virginia that Romney has been backtracking on his conservative-

Opinion polls predict a very tight election between the two on November 6 leaning promises.

“He’s forgetting what his own positions are, and he’s betting that you will, too. I mean, he’s changing up so much and backtracking and sidestepping, we’ve gotta ... name this condition that he’s going through,” Obama said.

“I think it’s called Romnesia,” he said to hoots and applause from the crowd.

Romney responded at an oceanfront rally with a crowd of about 8,500 people in Daytona Beach, Florida, saying: “They’ve been reduced to petty attacks and silly word games.”

“Just watch it, the Obama campaign has become the incredible shrinking campaign.

This is a big country with big opportunities and great chal-

lenges, and they keep on talking about smaller and smaller things,” Romney added, saying Obama has “no agenda for a second term.”

The Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll had Obama ahead by 3 percentage points much of this week. Obama was again on top by 46 percent to 43 percent in Friday’s version of the online poll.

Although Obama has lost his large lead in polls in several swing states since the first debate, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist poll issued on Friday showed the Democrat ahead in Iowa by 8 percentage points and in Wisconsin by 6 percentage points.

A PPP survey showed Romney ahead by 1 percentage point in Iowa, as polls gave few certainties to the outcomes of the race beyond pointing to a likely tight finish.

A CNN/ORC International poll conducted after the second presidential debate showed 49 percent of likely voters in the battleground state of Florida supporting Romney and 48 percent supporting Obama.

In an election mainly driven by the economy, new state unemployment data issued on Friday could provide momentum for Obama in some of the most important battleground states.

Unemployment fell in September in pivotal states such as Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Iowa. The jobless rate in Virginia held steady at 5.9 percent for a third straight month.

Israel seizes activist ship THE Israeli navy seized an international pro-Palestinian activist ship in the Mediterranean sea yesterday to prevent it breaching its blockade of the Gaza Strip, a military spokeswoman said.

She said no one was hurt when marines boarded the SV Estelle, a three-mast schooner, and that it was rerouted to Israel’s southern port of Ashdod after it ignored orders to turn away from the Hamas-governed Palestinian enclave.

The Estelle was carrying 30 activists from Europe, Canada and Israel, humanitarian cargo such as cement, and goodwill items such as children’s books, a mission spokesman said.

Shipboard activists could not immediately be reached for comment.

Citing a need to stem arms smuggling to Hamas and other Palestinian militants, Israel maintains a tight naval blockade of Gaza. Israel and neighbouring Egypt also limit overland traffic to and from the territory.

Palestinians describe the curbs as collective punishment for Gaza’s 1.6 million residents and their supporters abroad have mounted several attempts to break the blockade by sea. Most were stopped by Israel, and in one May 2010 incident its marines killed nine Turkish activists.

9 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

World

Lebanon on edge after deadly car bomb attack Sunni Muslims protest, burn tyres across country

By Oliver Holmes

A Lebanese protester jumps over burning tyres as demonstrators block a road in the city of Sidon yesterday

PROTESTERS and gunmen blocked roads with burning tyres in Beirut and other cities yesterday as grief and anger over the assassination of a senior intelligence official opposed to the Syrian leadership kept Lebanon on edge.

Lebanese soldiers opened fire on a group who took over a road in the Bekaa valley, wounding two people, witnesses said.

Troops reinforced road junctions and official buildings in the capital but many roads, including the highway to the international airport, were cut by demonstrators.

The protests broke out in reaction to the killing of Brigadier-General Wissam al-Hassan in a car bomb explosion in central Beirut on Friday afternoon.

Politicians accused Syrian President Bashar-al Assad of being behind the attack, deepening fears that the sectarian-tinged civil war in neighbouring Syria is spilling over into Lebanon.

‘Without a doubt, we have more sacrifices coming, but we will not be broken’ Hassan had led an investigation that implicated Syria and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in 2005. Hassan had also helped uncover a bomb plot that led to the arrest and indictment in August of a pro-Assad former Lebanese minister - a setback for Syrian influence in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s religious communities are divided between those that support Assad in Syria’s civil war and

those that back the Sunniled rebels.

In Beirut’s Sunni Muslim areas, where people are opposed to the Alawite Assad, cars mounted with loudspeakers cruised the streets issuing calls for the Lebanese government to resign.

Dozens of gunmen were in the streets and the mood was tense, witnesses said.

Squads of gunmen were also in the streets in the northern, mostly-Sunni city of Tripoli, where pro- and anti-Assad factions clashed earlier this year.

Rallies were also held and roads closed in the eastern Bekaa Valley and in the southern town of Sidon.

Soldiers and police guarded street corners in Beirut’s Ashrafiyeh area, the mainly Christian district where the bomb exploded during rush hour, and at Martyrs’ Square in the centre.

Lebanon’s mufti, the senior Sunni religious figure, announced three days of mourning for Hassan. He will be buried with full honours on Sunday.

The Beirut Star newspa-

per said the perpetrators of the bombing - which killed at least eight people and wounded more than 80 clearly aimed to push Lebanon into a new round of chaotic violence.

“If the goal was to divert attention from the events in Syria, then people should remember this well and head off any attempt to take Lebanon further into tension and civil strife,” it said.

The late Hariri’s son, Saad al-Hariri, accused Syria’s Assad of being behind the bombing. Lebanon’s opposition March 14 bloc called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government, which includes ministers from Hezbollah, to resign.

The head of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, Major-General Ashraf Rifi, described Hassan’s death as a “huge blow” and warned that further attacks were likely.

“We’ve lost a central security pillar,” he told Future Television. “Without a doubt, we have more sacrifices coming in the future. We know that, but we will not be broken.”

10 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Feature

As the film The Master turns the spotlight onto Scientology once more, Joshi Herrmann talks to a former adherent who left the church but can never escape it

A

T THE age when most Brits graduate from university, Martin Padfield was doing hard labour for the Church of Scientology in the Californian desert. He had to wear a black boiler suit in the baking sun all day, and sleep in a room with “dozens of others” by night, all the while being treated as “the scum of the earth” by the church’s elite at the secretive International Base.

“I didn’t know where I was, I had no contacts in the US outside of Scientology, I had no passport, no money and no possessions. Where was I going to go?” Padfield wasn’t the son of lifetime Scientologists, nor was he the victim of a violent abduction. He is the son of an RAF officer from the stockbroker belt and the story of his 31-year misery at the hands of one of the world’s most controversial organisations is a tale of extended naivety and delayed but terrible disappointment. The church, best known for its celebrity members who include Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Agyness Deyn’s new actor husband Giovanni Ribisi, is back in the news this autumn as the subject of a new movie, The Master, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, out in two weeks.

Now living in Crawley, southern England with his non-Scientologist wife and two young daughters, having left the church noisily three years ago, the 50-yearold narrates the story with reserve. Before I meet him, he explains that he wasn’t one of the Scientologist apostates who would rant and rave - he just wants rank-and-file Scientologists to know that their movement is “a dangerous, corrupt and sinister cult”, so some of them can escape as he has done.

It all began when Padfield was 19 with a conversation with a Scientologist builder working for his parents at their home in Hinchley Wood, near Esher.

The builder “seemed to know things I didn’t”, so Padfield took himself up to the Scientology centre on Tottenham Court Road, bought s me books so some a d began his an and H e journey.

He e wa w s says h he was “utt “u ttter erly ly im“utterly

Meet Martin who endured 31 years at the dark heart of Scientology pressed” by the answers L Ron Hubbard’s system of self-help and spiritual guidance offered, and still uses some of the practical methods.

In early 1982, in his second term at Loughborough University, he called his father. “‘Daddy, I’ve decided to join Sea Org’ - I remember the call to this day,” he says.

“There was a long pause at the other end of the phone line. Sea Org line.”

Organisation is an elite unit of tthe most loyal emp full-time employees of the Sc church of Scientology, who billion-y sign billion-year contracts, un wear naval uniforms (owing their founding foun to their on three ships in the Sixties) and perform Scientology’s most important work.

D Despite his “o “obvious disappointment”, Padfield senior didn’t object, and even drove his son to the disused convent near Rottingdean, East Sussex, w where his son’s tr training began.

T The pay was £ £10 a week for d dawn-to - dusk m manual work.

Church leader: Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master

‘It was intense and threatening.

There was always the sense of fear and anxiety’ “On Saturdays we would get three hours CSP [Clean Ship Programme], which is hygiene time, to do your washing. But basically we had no contact with the outside world. It was always cold,” says Padmore.

It wasn’t until his transfer to California two years later, though, that he understood the isolation and exploitation the church could visit upon its employees. The International Base at Gilman Hot Springs, near Hemet, was Scientology’s most notorious facility.

“We arrived in a minibus, in the middle of the night.

I don’t think that was accidental. I knew I was somewhere in California, and that’s it.” Even as a Sea Org member, the life at Hemet was “a culture shock”.

“There was no light-heart-

Older and wiser: Martin Padfield today (above) and in his Sea Org days in his early twenties (right)

edness, there was little laughter or joviality.

“It was intense and threatening - there was always the sense of fear and anxiety - and production targets were ruthless and had to be met.” Padmore worked on the base’s elaborate security apparatus, which consisted of motion sensors, barbed-wire fences and a lookout tower overlooking the entire complex called the Eagle’s Nest. When he dozed off for a few minutes on a night shift, and received a letter from his mother quoting an article criticising the church soon afterwards, he was thrown into the feared Rehabilitation Project Force, which is where the boiler suits and spirit-sapping labour began.

“In practice it is little more than a punishment regime, and some have been on it for years, even decades,” Padmore says. “The schedule is even more gruelling, the targets even more insane, and the punishments for

slacking or missing targets could be brutal.” What Padmore hated most about his nine months in the RPF was the stigma of being “the lowest of the low”. He says RPF members working at Int had to defer to any new recruits joining the base. “You were the scum of the earth.”

An expired visa gave Padfield his reprieve at the age of 23 but he was to spend the next few troubled decades moving in and out of fulltime Scientology. A fling with a fellow Sea Org member saw him thrown out of the order (no sex before marriage at Sea Org), yet he undertook several trips back to America as an active Scientologist for auditing, counselling and hour upon hour of highly personal “security checks”.

Padmore’s final departure in 2009 lost him most of his Scientologist friends, who adhered to the church’s policy of “disconnection” with those who leave the flock.

His 10year-old daughter cries herself to sleep to this day after losing her closest playmate through a disconnection. “I’ve sent countless texts and voicemails pleading with them but they don’t reply to anything,” Padmore says. He still has debts remaining from the nearly £100,000 he spent on courses, donations and materials during his time with the church, and is suspicious of one friend who still maintains contact.

Yesterday he joined a handful of ex-members of the church in nearby East Grinstead to tell his story at an event called “The cult in your backyard”, timed to coincide with Scientology’s annual convention down the road. He wanted to show his old friends “what’s behind the curtain”. And to 19-yearolds from suburbia with questions to ask, it’s a warning served.

11 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

World

12 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion No red lines: we can’t treat the bailout like the Cyprus problem THERE have been convergences among the political parties on the counter-proposals prepared by the finance ministry. Most of these convergences, as was expected, were of a negative nature. They all rejected the troika proposals for the abolition of CoLA, scrapping of the 13th salary, supervision of co-op banks by the Central Bank and the privatisation of semi-governmental organisations. On a more positive, but unrealistic note, they all wanted the memorandum of understanding on terms for a bailout to focus on development, as if this would ever happen.

On other issues such as the extension of the retirement age and cuts in welfare payments there were disagreements, but when it came to drawing the ‘red lines’ the political parties were unanimous, or, to be more precise, they adopted President Christofias’ negative positions.

None of the parties would dare disagree, because they would be publicly crucified by the government and AKEL for supposedly

adopting the anti-worker positions of the troika and serving the interests of big capital.

The parties did not need much persuading to endorse Christofias’ sterile, defiant grandstanding, which was straight out of the Cyprus problem manual of red lines. The last time Christofias went to New York to meet the UN Secretary General, it was reported that he took with him three ‘nos’. He told Ban Ki moon ‘no’ to asphyxiating time-frames, ‘no’ to arbitration and ‘no’ to an international conference. A short while later, the talks ground to a halt helping the Turkish side move closer to its stated objective of partition.

But how clever is to adopt the zero-cost, negative tactics of the Cyprus problem in the talks with the troika? We simply cannot afford the bailout talks to break down like the Cyprus talks, blame the troika’s intransigence and wait for a new president to be elected in the hope that negotiations might resume. Negative grandstand-

Cyprus Mail

ing will have an extremely high cost such as the non-payment of 11th, 12th and 13th salaries to public employees, non-payment of welfare benefits and pensions etc. This will dry up the market much more than the nonpayment of 13th salaries, which is one of our red lines. And how rational is it to risk the bailout for the sake of CoLA that would not be paid for the next four years anyway?

Even DISY, which has shown the most responsible and pragmatic line on the economy, has embraced the red lines drawn by our populist president who went as far as to say that he would be out demonstrating with the unions if the troika insisted on abolishing CoLA. Presidential elections are only four months away and DISY’s Nicos Anastasiades has to embrace the populist agenda of unattainable goals imposed by Christofias and

AKEL, because he does not want to lose any votes.

But as we mentioned above, negotiations with the troika cannot be treated in the same way as talks for a Cyprus solution, because deadlock in the former will have an immediate and very high cost. No red lines should have been drawn, because we are in no position to walk away from the troika talks without an agreement. What will our wise political leadership do if for a bailout all their red lines have to be violated? Will the party leaders join Christofias and the unions to demonstrate against the evil troika? And then what?

The fact is that bailout talks, unlike the Cyprus talks, do feature asphyxiating time-frames (we need to reach a deal before November 12), arbitration (a package of measures will be imposed by the troika and we will be told to take-it-or-leave-it) and an international conference (the Euro group meeting could impose additional measures before giving its approval). But the

politicians are still behaving as if they have the luxury to set unattainable targets and walk away, as defiant heroes, if they fail to achieve them.

None of them has been honest enough to explain to people that this is not an option. Such honesty is too much to expect from politicians who deal in false hopes. Since the first visit of the troika to Cyprus, our politicians have created the impression that we will set the conditions for the billions of euro loan we would receive, implying that if our conditions were not met we would turn it down.

This brazen political dishonesty, which allows unions to cultivate militant opposition to austerity and prolongs uncertainty, must stop. People must be told the hard facts - we are bankrupt; the state and banks desperately need funding of billions; we will have to make big sacrifices in order to secure it, and there is no alternative. Is it so difficult for our leaders to speak honestly to people, for once?

Letters to the Editor Weak-willed governments only think about themselve With reference to your article in Sunday Mail, October 14 regarding the troika and the title deeds issue.

The title deeds should be issued to home owners by the banks and a court order issued against the developers which allows the banks to seize the developers business and personal assets to the value of the loan. If the amount recovered is insufficient to cover the debt owed then they must be declared bankrupt and not allowed to own or be a director of any business until the debt is paid.

It’s about time the people who have done nothing wrong and get unfairly treated by governments and business stood up and said enough is enough, charge the people and companies responsible for the mistakes they make not the home

buyers and the workers, who are struggling and under more financial pressure by the gross incompetence of greedy companies.

Weak-willed governments only think about themselves and how their decisions will affect their re-election chances.

I am fed up with hearing about the plight of CEO and directors of banks, stock managers, companies who take no responsibility for their actions but still get enormous salaries and bonuses each year.

PS has anyone seen in the news about any government in Europe taking a two digit percentage drop in their salaries and expenses? I do not think so, are they above such things or exempt from austerity measures by EU law?

Roy Webster, Oroklini

Name and shame pump cheats You published a letter from me on August 5 this year about fuel costs, within which I pointed out that as in the UK, fuel scams and outright theft and dishonesty was rampant here too in Cyprus.

This story would obviously run and run unless the government was prepared to step in and really clamp down on the regular and blatant greed. Your front page headline story on October 13 sadly confirmed not only what we all know, but that unbelievably, there is no legal framework to prevent this behaviour - or punish it.

If this easily worked technique were something new and astonishing, the absence of legislation would be understandable.

“We will” said the hapless Commerce Minister, “move fast in the next few months” (note: months, not weeks) and he was referring to the imposition of fines to discourage the profiteering by companies and petrol stations.

But he cannot be unaware these sly tactics have been widely practised for a very long time. So yet again, disgracefully, this government has to play catch up to protect the consumer.

Meanwhile at least let us immediately see the public naming and shaming of the companies and petrol retailers whose brazen avarice is ripping us off.

Clive Turner, Kamares

Hurry to the EAC and buy a padlock for your meter Readers and anybody they know should take note of my current experience with EAC and our apparent responsibility for protecting access to the insecure power supply boxes outside every home. Following a storm last week I was unable to restore power and called in a registered electrician.

The problem was quickly identified in the house and power restored but the electrician informed me that one of the seals in the external power box was missing and that I should report the matter to EAC. I did so immediately and three days later two ‘technicians’ attended.

They discovered that two ‘fuses’ had been replaced with higher voltage fuses and rectified the matter by replacing the fuses with two of correct amperage.

We have been the only occupiers of the house where we have lived for nine years and I could offer no explanation other than the possibility that the supply had been accessed without our knowledge when a house

was built next door but with no evidence to prove that.

There was certainly no gain to us by changing the fuses. I now learn that despite the fact that I was the one who reported the fact, one which had clearly not been noticed by the bi-monthly meter reader, I am required to pay €227 - not a penalty it seems but an attendance charge.

When I attended the EAC offices to protest the charge I learned an unadvertised fact that EAC will provide approved padlocks for €15.20 to which they have a master key.

My advice must be to beat a path to their door as soon as possible to get one. I am now attempting to persuade the EAC that the size of the ‘charge’ is grossly inappropriate for the ‘crime’ I have apparently committed.

I have also learned that an identical event occurred at a charity shop in Paphos recently.

Rod James, Kissonerga, Paphos

Bowled over by inaccurate reports I refer to the recent press about KOA, the Cyprus Sport Organisation. I have had many dealings with KOA in my capacity as a member of the body which is responsible for administering the sport of lawn bowls in Cyprus.

In my experience at a working level the KOA staff are very helpful and committed to the development of sport in Cyprus.

There are of course frustrations and I believe this is partly because, as I have recently discovered, the KOA charter is constrained by the law to a greater extent than any other National sporting authority in the world.

It is disappointing to learn that at least some of our lawmakers do not know what bowls is. For

their information bowls, or more correctly lawn bowls, is played in about 50 countries around the world and Cyprus has one of the largest lawn bowls facilities in Europe at the Athena Beach Hotel in Paphos.

That facility has hosted a number of international events and is a top destination for lawn bowling holidays.

A survey in 2008 indicated that lawn bowling tourism generated revenue in excess of €3 million in a 12 month period.

Whilst the venue is an attraction, the visitors also enjoy the competition provided by the local lawn bowling community which gives its time freely for these occasions.

The Athena Beach Hotel in conjunction with

Bowls Cyprus is hosting the Champion of Champions event in October 2012 – this is the first time Cyprus has hosted this prestigious event and it is one of the premier events in the annual lawn bowling calendar.

Cyprus can be proud of its lawn bowling achievements which include a bronze medal at the 2011 Atlantic Championships (held in Cyprus) and a creditable 5th place in the Mixed Rinks competition at the 2011 European Championships in Portugal.

If any of your readers wish to learn more about lawn bowls in Cyprus, they should visit our web site atbowlscyprus.net.

Martin McMillan Chairman, Bowls Cyprus

Being overrun by stray cats Am I the only one that believes the country is being overrun by stray cats?

I am fed up with not being able to leave my windows open at night without having to worry about strays climbing in, which they have done on many occasions. I blame the supposedly well meaning (I have another name for them) people that feed these animals allowing them to survive, and breed like cats (not rabbits, they are more difficult to breed).

There is also nothing more off-putting than sitting outside at a restaurant and being surrounded by the damn things.

It is about time municipalities rounded up these strays and offered them for adoption, but if no one wants them, have them humanely put to sleep after a week or so. To finance the operation, cat licences should become mandatory so that any domestic cat will have to wear an official ID tag, so that it is not rounded up with the strays.

Martin Rodger, Nicosia

Searching for...

I am writing a book on the Port Elizabeth - Avontuur narrow gauge railway, built in 19021906. The engineer supervising this project was Christian Bernsdorff Bodtker, who had two sons - Victor and Cecil.

The two brothers were living at Hanover Square in London England in 1912. I am anxious to contact descendents of either of these two men with a view to possibly identifying Christian Bodtker in some old photographs I have dated 1902 to 1904. Please contact me through mail@cyprusmail.com Warren F. Morris, SA

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13 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Opinion

A great opportunity lost Troika obstinacy and politicians’ populism means a second bailout is now inevitable Comment Theodore Panayotou

P

ROCRASTINATION and delay upon delay in taking measures have brought us to the current predicament of empty coffers and last-minute negotiations with the parties, the social partners, and the troika. Everybody should realise that any measures agreed upon now will be tougher and the price we will have to pay higher than if we had responded a year or two earlier.

As if this wasn’t bad enough we are being served measures by the troika that have been proven to deepen the recession when they were tried elsewhere. The painful Greek experience should have alerted us to the need for the troika’s austerity measures to be counterbalanced by measures that will stimulate demand and economic activity, will lower cost and raise productivity, and generally recover the lost competitiveness of the Cyprus economy.

Unfortunately, and, this is the saddest part of this saga, neither the government nor the opposition parties have made a correct diagnosis of the causes of our current misfortune and its impending aggravation by the troika’s bitter medicine. Instead of proposing additional measures aiming to lower costs, raise productivity and competitiveness, they tinker with the measures proposed by the troika to lower the burden on certain groups and in the process they have created even stronger disincentives against productivity and competitiveness. Thus one more great opportunity has been lost in the land of lost opportunities, whether we are talking about the economy or the Cyprus problem.

We can now predict with a high degree of accuracy that we are heading for a haircut and a second Memorandum of Understanding for a bailout. First, the post-bailout public revenues are wishfully optimistic and grossly overestimated while the costs are underestimated.

The reasons are both technical and political.

Technically, the relevant income and price elasticities of demand have not been incorporated in the calculation of the first bailout demand and economic activity and hence the resulting public revenues. In lay terms, when you increase the tax rates you lower demand and profits and the economic activity will be inevitably curtailed and part of it will be driven underground into the black economy. You cannot be assuming that your public revenues will expand proportionately with the higher tax rates. Arthur Laffer demonstrated three decades ago that higher tax rates may even lead to lower revenues.

Similarly, cutting wages, benefits and other

spending will not lead to the savings that have been estimated because of induced higher unemployment, welfare and retirement expenditure and other social spending which is certain to become necessary.

Politically, overestimating both the additional tax revenues from tax hikes and the savings from the wage and spending cuts serves both the government and the opposition well since it lowers the need for more drastic measures that would be politically unpalatable to the voters in the midst of election campaigns.

Hence, the conspiracy of silence we are witnessing after the posturing of the past few months, in the interest of facing the troika with unity and consent.

The troika, of course, is unlikely to buy our watered-down and temporary counter-measures with their over-optimistic projections as they don’t guarantee that they will get their money back. But this is not to say that the measures the troika has proposed are perfect.

Necessary they are; sufficient they are not.

They will also be proven wrong and over-optimistic. The troika has demonstrated an incorrigibility that is astounding.

They are obviously refusing to learn from their experience in Greece and Portugal, even in the face of compelling evidence that their extreme austerity measures of fiscal correction, while necessary, led to deeper recession and the need for bigger loans.

Recently, during the IMF meetings in Tokyo the troika admitted that they used the wrong fiscal multiplier in their first bailout agreement with Greece and, as a result, they projected a zero growth in 2012 and a positive growth in 2013, while Greece is now expected to end up with a growth of minus 6 per cent in 2012 and minus 4 per cent in 2013.

Yet, that lesson has not convinced them of the dire necessity to structure their austerity measures either in Greece, the second time around, and in Cyprus at present in such a way as to become incentives for raising productivity in the public sector and boosting competitiveness in the private sector. Nor have they bothered to bundle their fiscal consolidation measures with measures to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship to create jobs and new sources of revenue.

The troika’s stubborn insistence to focus exclusively on the symptoms of our economic malaise and to ignore or misdiagnose the root causes of the problem is akin to professional malpractice in medicine with analogous disastrous consequences for the “patient” but not analogous liabilities for the “physician”.

The latter has a readymade explanation: the patient failed to take the prescribed medicine properly and therefore a more powerful medicine with more discipline must be prescribed a la Greece. Thus, the haircut of our unsustainable debt in the wake of the first bailout and a second bailout request are not far-off.

The government and the opposition had ample chance to study the measures proposed by the troika and analyse the experience of

A man with Greek flag walks through a line of Greek riot police at an anti-austerity march in central Athens earlier this week Greece with similar (incomplete) measures as well as other cases of troika malpractice and to counter these with more effective measures or to restructure and supplement the troika measures with productivity and competitiveness boosting measures.

They chose instead to water down the troika’s measures in order to minimise the short term impact on their constituencies and to excel in populism to win additional voters without much concern about the long-term effects, which will manifest themselves after the elections.

The final measures that will be agreed next week with the troika will be essentially those originally proposed by the troika with minor cosmetic changes and some lip service paid to our concerns. They will be the “perfect” meas-

ures for the next six months (the extent of our forward planning), as they will enable us to get the loan we badly need; their deleterious effects will unfold themselves gradually and surely and there will be enough blame to go around.

This is what happens when you let politicians and unions negotiate with the accountants of your creditors economic recovery measures which are the province of highly qualified macroeconomists. Even the creditors cannot ensure that they will get their money back since instead of boosting economic growth by making the economy more productive and competitive they do the reverse.

It is logical to ask: what are you proposing?

Having done this, innumerable times, in words and print without much effect, I am reluctant to go into it again. But there are some simple things that could have been done. First we could have gone beyond the apparent symptoms and made a scientific diagnosis as to the root causes of our predicament. Second, we could have learned from the experience of Greece. Yes, we were different but increasingly we look the same and with the troika measures and our own wrongheaded countermeasures, in a year’s time we will look identical. Yet we insist on learning the hard way.

Third, we could have challenged the troika to show us how we can possibly recover and resume growth with our dismal public sector productivity (which is fed by the institutional delinking of wages from productivity) and our ever sliding international competitiveness (which is driven by lack of innovation and dormant entrepreneurship). Lastly, we could have gone back to rediscover how we managed to recover from the loss of three quarters of our economy and most of our productive base following the Turkish invasion and produce an economic miracle. Certainly it wasn’t with the opportunistic economic model, the bubbles, the levelling of incentives and the reckless spending.

Having deliberately allowed things to reach here, we are now completely out of money and time. We are reduced to begging for economic salvation, and beggars cannot be choosers. We have already allowed all opportunities to pass us by untapped and given up all our options to have a real say in our destiny. We deserve what we will soon be served with. I want, but I cannot, in good conscience, be optimistic. Our only hope is that our good old friend, serendipity, once again gets us out of the tight spot we got ourselves in.

Dr Theodore Panayotou is director of the Cyprus International Institute of Management (CIIM) and professor of economics and the environment at Harvard University. He served as consultant to the UN and to governments in the US, China, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Cyprus. He has published and was recognised for his contribution to the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007

Lillikas’ astonishing plan to save us from bankruptcy Comment Loucas Charalambous PREOCCUPIED with the developments of the recently declared war on the troika by our politicians and unionists, we almost forgot presidential candidate Giorgos Lillikas’ proposal for the exploitation of natural gas with the aim of saving us from bankruptcy.

I do not know how many readers know about this groundbreaking proposal, but I would urge everyone to find some time to read it. In a nutshell, Lillikas proposes the establishment of a state company for hydrocarbons which would raise vast amounts of capital from abroad by issuing and selling bonds.

The state, which would be the owner of the company, would then deposit this capital in Cypriot banks for a maximum interest of 1 per cent. Banks would then lend this money with an interest of not more than 3 per cent, for development projects, housing needs and to small businesses. Also worth noting is Lillikas suggestion that the state company was listed on stock exchanges abroad, “thus placing Cyprus on the international energy map”.

If a first year economics student saw this proposal he or she would not need long to deduce that Lillikas has taken leave of his senses. You have to reside in a world of fantasy, to believe that there would be even one investor abroad that

would be so stupid as to invest his money in the bonds of a pseudo-company, which does not conduct any business but expects to have revenue, after at least seven years, as long as market conditions and other factors were favourable.

For the sake of argument however, we will assume that Lillikas’ imaginative proposal was implemented. Let’s assume that enough foolish investors were found abroad and they bought the state company’s bonds - though no matter how foolish they were, there is no way they would buy the bonds at an interest rate lower than 7 per cent for such a risky investment - and they bought bonds worth €5 billion.

The government takes the money and deposits it in the

Bank of Cyprus and Popular Bank for a rate of one per cent.

Note how profitable the state company would by pursuing Lillikas’ business logic. It would pay foreign investors 7 per cent and collect 1 per cent. In other words, it would be paying €350 million in interest every year and collect €50 million.

The only thing Lillikas did not tell us is who would be paying the annual deficit of €300 million. Would our bankrupt state impose new taxes to raise €300 million per year in order to pay the international investors?

Why not, someone could say, as with Lillikas’ proposal “the lack of liquidity plaguing our banks would be tackled and there would be a fall in bank interest rates”.

Regardless of my reserva-

tions, I must admit that the presidential candidate’s astonishing inspiration comes at a time when it is most needed by the country. I propose we also inform the troika not to come to Cyprus again because we do not need it. Why bring the troika here and subject ourselves to unnecessary sacrifices, when we can be saved by a single move? With cheap loans there would be such a scale of development in Cyprus all our problems would be solved and the painful sacrifices would be unnecessary.

I believe that Lillikas should be proposed as a candidate for the next Nobel prize for economics. And if they refuse to give us the Nobel for economics they could always award us the one for stupidity.

14 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion

Where’s the common sense?

Giving the EU the Nobel peace prize is at best premature Comment Hermes Solomon

“S

OME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron and the last a punisher.

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by government which we might expect in a country without government, our calamities are heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise, etc.”

The above two paragraphs open Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense, an anti- colonial power polemic composed between 1775/76, which not only established him as a truly revolutionary thinker, but as the American Revolution’s fiercest political theorist.

Thomas Paine was born in Thetford, England in 1737, the son of a staymaker (thatched roofs). He had little schooling and worked at a number of jobs, including tax collector, a position he lost due to agitating for an increase in excisemen’s pay. Persuaded by Benjamin

Franklin, he emigrated to America in 1774, where he began his American Crisis series of thirteen pamphlets and published the incalculably influential, Common Sense.

Today’s EU politicians have built their palaces on the inflationary taxation of workers, obliged ever since their respective countries joined the EU, to finance two governments and two administrations - their own along with burgeoning Brussels - a not dissimilar model to the one endured by American colonists prior to winning their independence from the British crown.

EU citizens must also fork out hundreds of millions for the recurring six monthly presidency of the Council of Ministers of Europe, permitting politicians, today’s princes, to pamper themselves pertinently and permanently.

Under the EU’s ‘peace loving’ umbrella, and due to our indifference towards their manoeuvrings, these federalists, who wanted to reconstruct the notion of the Carolingian Empire which dominated 9th century Europe, founded the EU on the November 1, 1993, and not 60 years ago as suggested by Nobel prize givers!

Of course, there are advantages to what they created - the single market and easier travel, making the south of France, Paphos, Pissouri and Tuscany more accessible.

But they also built an appallingly designed single currency (wantonly lending uncollateralised billions to impoverished member states) a mish-mash of an agricultural policy and a rapacious bureaucracy determined to stifle the nation state in the name of utopian, unachievable, continent-wide homogeneity.

And at every turn, those driving it looked for ways to outwit the democratic will.

Giving the EU a peace prize is at best premature, when Greek protesters don Nazi uniforms and Spanish youth unemployment stands at 50 per cent, while the present president of the European Council of Ministers, or if you prefer, King of Kellaki, cries out for in-

Greek protestors don Nazi uniforms at a demonstration against the visit of Angela Merkel to Athens vestment and growth as if it were a panacea for our economic, and his political, woes. What he doesn’t say is where the money will come from having emptied treasury coffers during his first year in power, and thereafter, survived on non-reimbursable loans - paying interest only! Running ‘closed shops’ and marching in the streets will leave him open to ridicule as soon as austerity measures are imposed.

Attitudes are changing fast. We are renouncing ‘growth’ and learning to save for a rainy day. But this banking and politically caused recession requires more than a Noah’s Ark to survive it. Just wait until the troika compels our banks to declare 90 day non-performing loans then watch spiteful sparks truly fly.

“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive

of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organising its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…etc.”

The above is taken from the American Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies, first announced in Congress on July 4, 1776.

The EU comprises 27 states, 28 with the addition of Croatia in 2013, and 33 when Montenegro, Iceland, Macedonia, Serbia and

Turkey complete negotiations to join.

God save this Behemoth from her follies - not to increase, but decrease the number of states belittled after furnishing the means by which they suffer.

Almost one in five of the EU’s 500 million citizens exist on less than 850 euros per month when the cost of living here has doubled since entering the EU in 2004.

Stop blaming our civil servants for the mess we find ourselves in when it is the fault of profligate bankers and less than useless governments. Civil servants are no more responsible for this mess than the perpetually sick, pensioners or children. No matter how many cuts are imposed, the rich will still grow richer and the poor, poorer. Is this the EU dream? It has certainly become the reality.

Sieg heil, Brüssel Belgien! The higher we fly, the greater the fall.

And what grows up, must also, one day, grow down. It is time and our duty to throw off such (useless) government, and provide new guards for our future security.

Common sense requires it! The troika’s perpetual austerity packages will ensure it!

Savile scandal puts focus on new BBC DG Comment Roy Greenslade JOURNALISTS should beware of being too wise after the event.

Everyone in Britain is rushing to tell stories about Jimmy Savile now that it’s not only safe, but - and I use this word advisedly - fashionable to do so. The only people with a right to tell tales are those who suffered at his hands when they were young and vulnerable.

Their voices need to be heard.

The disgraceful truth of his serial abuse must emerge.

So the police inquiry, even though the villain has departed the stage, is necessary for their peace of mind.

At last, they can talk without fear and, given the passing

of the years, without undue embarrassment. It was impossible to watch and listen to the witnesses speaking on the recent ITV documentary, whether maintaining their anonymity or not, without realising what a cathartic exercise it was for them. For the BBC, however, it has been a nightmare from which it cannot seem to wake.

Its new director-general, George Entwistle, has hardly covered himself in glory in his first major test. Decisiveness was required and he was found wanting. Why did he initially fail to order an inquiry into Newsnight’s decision not to screen its investigation?

It is essential to explain just what happened about that shelved investigation.

If the content of the investigation was known elsewhere within the organisation, why was it thought appropriate to broadcast the Savile tribute programmes at Christmas? So it was good news

Disgraceful truth about Jimmy Savile must emerge that Entwistle belatedly decided there should by an inquiry into the Newsnight issue separately from the one into the broader matter of the BBC’s “culture and practices” in times past. He was also right to issue a “profound and heartfelt apology” to Savile’s victims.

Thankfully, Entwistle understood the flaw in holding

internal inquiries. Few people would have confidence in the BBC clearing itself of culpability.

Imagine the outcry from that section of rival media that consistently seek to undermine the BBC should the Corporation have declared itself to be squeaky clean?

If the choice of Dame Janet Smith, a former High Court judge, to lead the inquiry looking at the past was sensible, the selection of Nick Pollard, a former head of a competitor, Sky News, was inspired. I think both will be seen as credible leaders and obviate the need for any Leveson-style tribunal.

Pollard’s inquiry will begin right away while Smith’s will await the outcome of the current police investigation.

That is essential because it is possible that criminal charges may follow should living people be identified as having collaborated with Savile.

Though I was initially in

favour of the call by Labour leader Ed Miliband for a single inquiry to consider all the accusations against Savile at the BBC, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Broadmoor, Duncroft Approved School and the Haut de la Garenne children’s home in Jersey - I later realised it wouldn’t be such a good idea. The Leveson inquiry itself illustrates the reason. It was set up because of phone hacking at the News of the World but, because of the criminal inquiry into that matter, it could not deal with hacking.

With a police investigation under way into Savile’s activities, it would be counterproductive to have a public inquiry running alongside it.

If there were other people involved with Savile in child abuse, it is for the police to root them out and, if necessary, to prosecute.

What is really at issue for the BBC is trust. Confronted by such a squalid business such

as this, it cannot afford to be anything less than completely transparent. There must be a hunting down of those who claim to have heard the Savile rumours in order that they can explain why nothing was done.

Everyone who worked with Savile must be interviewed, though several have already spoken to newspapers.

What we need to know is whether anyone ever covered up for Savile and whether he acted alone.

My hunch is that Savile, crazy as a fox, fooled everyone throughout his life. If he didn’t, if anyone at the BBC was culpable, then heads must roll. It is fair to say that Entwistle’s own credibility rests on the outcome of these inquiries.

There must be no more mistakes.

Roy Greenslade is professor of journalism, City University London, and writes a blog for the Guardian

15 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Opinion Good reasons why a single currency needs a banking union

uotes of the week

Comment Phedon Nicolaides

T

HE OPPONENTS of the euro have often argued that it has been doomed right from the start because of serious structural faults. The supporters have counter argued that the faults can be fixed.

At its meeting last Thursday in Brussels, the European Council agreed on what may be one of the most important fixes: the creation of a true banking union with a Single Supervisory Authority (SSA) to oversee the eurozone’s 6,000 banks. But, this is only an agreement of principle. It will still take some time for the SSA to become fully operational.

The critics of the euro do have a point here. The single currency should have been coupled with a unified system for regulating financial institutions from the outset. Instead, the EU has so far relied on a patchwork of national regulations and supervisory authorities. The experience of the past four years has taught us that there are at least four reasons why a single currency should go together with a single banking system.

First, as the European Central Bank explained when it launched its programme of unlimited purchasing of government bonds, monetary policy is rendered ineffective when the banking system does not function properly and seamlessly across countries. Because the financial crisis has crippled whole national banking networks, it has impeded the transmission mechanisms of monetary policy.

Second, banking problems soon become sovereign problems. Weakened banks turn to debt-laden governments for financial assistance. This worsens public debt and deficit and constrains the conduct of fiscal policy which is the only policy instrument that eurozone governments have at their disposal. That is why a banking union also has to have a common deposit insurance and a common rescue fund, just like in the United States.

Third, a bigger market has a correspondingly bigger capacity to absorb the losses of any single bank. Take for example, the two largest Cypriot banks which are in trouble. They are small fry by international standards. But even relatively small banks can cause disproportionately larger problems in a small market such as that of Cyprus.

Fourth, national supervisors naturally focus on their own markets ignoring both the impact of their decisions on other markets and the effect of the decisions of others. A single European regulator should consider all of these inter-related effects and, hopefully, do a much better job at detecting and preventing risky cross-border operations.

All these reasons provide strong support for the creation of truly unified financial and banking markets to complement the single currency. But there should be no illusion that the eurozone problems are over.

The excessive indebtedness of some countries such as Greece remains. And the banking union itself will not make the euro-

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy addresses a news conference at the end of the European Union leaders summit in Brussels

The tortuous road to a true banking union zone economy grow faster and generate jobs for the millions of unemployed workers. So economic, budgetary and labour market reforms are still needed to make economies more flexible, raise their productivity and reduce the waste of the public sector.

The press communique that was released after the summit in Brussels reveals that the road to full banking union is unlikely to be smooth. Member states may have agreed on the principle of establishing a Single Supervisory Authority but there is no consensus on to how it will be done.

Paragraphs 3-6 of the communique state: “The process towards deeper economic and monetary union should build on the EU’s institutional and legal framework and be characterised by openness and transparency towards Member States which do not use the single currency … We need to move towards an integrated financial framework, open to the extent possible to all Member States wishing to participate. … It is important to ensure a level playing field between those Member States which take part in the SSM and those which do not….”

Then, paragraph 12 says something that at first glance appears out of place: “An integrated budgetary framework is part of an economic and monetary union. In that context, further mechanisms, including an appropriate fiscal capacity, will be explored for the euro area.

The process of exploration will be unrelated to the preparation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework.”

These statements are addressed to Britain and are intended to allay its fears. Britain has the largest financial centre in Europe and naturally it is concerned that the establishment of a banking union among the 17 members of the eurozone will create a rival financial area.

As the eurozone enlarges with

the entry of new members, its attractiveness to global financial institutions will increase too. Britain does not want to be shut out of the decision-making processes of the banking union.

That is why the communique refers to openness, transparency and level playing field.

Britain also has other grievances. It has already said that it wants the EU to introduce two budgets - one for the EU as a whole and another one to fund the operations of the eurozone.

But all of the European leaders, including the British prime minister, apparently agreed on Thursday night that developments in the eurozone would have no impact on the negotiations concerning the budget of the EU for the period 2014-20, which is covered by the socalled Multiannual Financial Framework. It is doubtful that Mr Cameron has given up on his idea of two budgets. Perhaps he thinks that he still has an ace up his sleeve because the decision to adopt the next Multiannual Financial Framework must be taken by unanimity and Britain has already threatened to use its veto.

While the road to banking union will not be smooth, the creation of the banking union is not the end of the road either.

Paragraph 13 of the communique forewarns that the EU will explore “the idea of the euro area Member States entering into individual arrangements of a contractual nature with the EU institutions on the reforms they commit to undertake and on their implementation ….”

There cannot be a clearer indication that the eurozone will also have in the future some kind of fiscal union.

As I wrote in previous articles in this newspaper, a true economic and monetary union needs to have what economists call “automatic stabilisers”.

These are mechanisms for income transfers from expanding to contracting regions so that

market fluctuations across regions are smoothed out. Automatic stabilisers usually take the form of federal taxes and federal social insurance. The regions that grow rapidly pay more tax to and receive less social insurance from the federal government. Conversely, the regions that experience lower productivity or suffer from an adverse economic shock pay less tax and receive more social insurance. Inter-regional transfers facilitate adjustment between regions and countries that have a common currency and which, as a result, can no longer resort to exchange rate depreciation for regaining competitiveness.

The rich eurozone countries are opposed to any proposal for such transfer mechanisms.

Perhaps we will never get them in Europe. But perhaps we may have to wait until the next crisis before politicians in those countries realise why they are useful.

In the meantime, the eurozone will have to make do with rules that stress fiscal prudence and budgetary rectitude. These rules are needed too. The speaker of the Cypriot House of Representatives declared on Friday that the troika must take into account the suffering caused by the invasion of 1974 and the loss of 70 per cent of productive resources.

It is as if the invasion can justify the bloated public sector and its privileges and all the other policies that make the economy less competitive. I can only conclude that reforms and fiscal prudence imposed by outsiders are not necessarily against our own interests. If we cannot put our own house in order, then others will do it for us and we should be thankful.

Phedon Nicolaides is Jan Tinbergen professor and director of economic studies at the College of Europe, Bruges in Belgium

“Honestly, some people were coming out for a meal and going home with half a toilet. Bonkers”.

Jamie Oliver disclosing that some customers steal handles and flushers from lavatories in his restaurants

phobe. I can’t get on a sunbed without swabbing it down first. The idea of lying on someone else’s sweat makes my skin crawl”.

Tamara Ecclestone, daughter of Formula One billionaire Bernie Ecclestone “I would not pay tuppence for a cupcake, and the absurdity of the wedding cake is a very good reason for not marrying”.

Art expert Brian Sewell, who was nevertheless addicted to the BBC TV programme The Great British Bake Off

“If we are looking to establish some rules for modern manners, the abolition of the haphazard, stressful and frequently unpleasant habit of pecking strangers on the cheek must be the number one priority. Is it to be mwah, or mwah mwah, or mwah, mwah, mwah?”

Broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray

“For me the great glory of heterosexual conflict is that violence is not an option. One has to be more inventive. Sticks and stones are the weapons of the barbarian”.

Entertainer Frank Skinner on arguments between couples

“You have caught me in the middle of a maelstrom of senility”.

Actor Timothy Spall on failing to remember the name of a colleague when quizzed about him “I became completely drunk with power, because I can’t mend anything, or even put the ironing board up properly”.

Actress Dame Judi Dench on how much she enjoyed playing with gadgets in her role in James Bond films

“I am issuing a call to arms to the media the world over to hold the feet of Government officials and ministers like me to the fire”.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, saying that journalists’ “unique role” is to expose waste, incompetence and corruption “Like all feminists -I just want women to be treated as equals instead of sequels”.

Writer Kathy Lette

“I am obsessive compulsive and a real germo-

“What a bunch of wrinklies! It would be a better idea to charge £1,000 for seats at the back of the Rolling Stones’ concert” Hugh Bebb, of Sunburyon-Thames, in a letter to The Daily Telegraph

16 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

News Review

More than 1,000 schoolchildren taking part in a Guiness Record breaking attempt in Nicosia on Monday about the importance of road safety

Money worries and an eco army Hotels closing ALMOST half of hotel units in Paphos will close for the winter season, according to the head of the local branch of the hotels association PASYXE. Themis Philippides said around 44 per cent of the hotel units in Paphos are expected to close this winter. He said this amounted to between 12,000 and 12,500 beds.

Philippides added that Paphos was once established as a leading ‘year round’ tourist destination, but that now more and more hotel units are being forced to close as each winter passes.

1,000 helmets OVER ONE thousand children donned protective cycle helmets in Nicosia at the same time on Monday to break a Guinness World Record for road safety.

The fifth and sixth form primary school children joined forces with the police and telecommunications authority (CyTA) to break the record under the banner: “1,000 helmets for 1,000 children– Helmets Save Lives!” In total, 1,196 children from all districts of Cyprus (including occupied Rizokarpaso) gathered at the Police Road Safety Park in Nicosia wearing the protective helmets donated by CyTA in the presence of a representative of Guinness World Records, who officially noted the new record.

to asylum seekers, and other loopholes in the system.” According to the Green Party MP, under the new scheme, asylum seekers would no longer be included in the law regarding state aid.

Arrivals up The government is looking to overhaul the state aid system, which costs taxpayers millions each year in wasted funds

€1m for peace EASYJET founder and Cypriot philanthropist Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou on Monday honoured his promise to give €1 million to select business partnerships from the island’s two communities, handing over the last cheques worth €250,000 to the latest winners of his award. Over the last four years each of 20 joint ventures comprising one Greek Cypriot and one Turkish Cypriot entrepreneur have received €50,000 each in cash – a total of €1 million pledged to peace on the island. At a packed prize ceremony held at Limassol’s Stelios House (a listed neoclassical building belonging to the HajiIoannou family for the last six decades), the five winning partnerships in the Stelios Award for Business Co-operation in Cyprus were given €50,000 each by HajiIoannou.

TOURISM ARRIVALS saw an increase of 10.2 per cent in September, compared to the same month last year, following a massive jump in Russian arrivals. According to the statistical service, tourist arrivals have been following an upward trend since May, based on a year-on-year analysis.

For the period between January and September 2012, tourist arrivals reached 2,064,118 compared to 1,974,147 in the corresponding period in 2011, marking a 4.6 per cent increase overall. Last month’s 10.2 per cent saw arrivals increase from 304,260 in September 2011 to 335,352 this September.

New minister FORMER Chief Medical Officer at the health ministry, Androulla Agrotou, was on Monday appointed as minister to replace presidential candidate Stavros Malas. During a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Demetris Christofias said the appointment of Agrotou had increased the number of women in the cabinet to four, for the first time in the island’s history.

Christofias thanked Malas for his service as health minister, saying he had done substantial work and made radical changes. Addressing the new minister Christofias said he expected her active participation and contribution toward resolving the curtowards

QUOTES

Aid overhaul

“What the politicians have failed to achieve in the last 38 years, the entrepreneurs are now achieving by themselves” EasyJet founder and Cypriot philanthropist Sir Stelios HajiIoannou (right)

THE government is looking to overhaul the state aid system, which costs taxpayers millions each year in wasted funds, it emerged on Monday. Speaking after discussion of the matter at the House Finance Committee, Green party MP Giorgos Perdikis said the state has pledged to submit to the parties a new plan, “which they hope would resolve the problem with the high allowances paid

“Who makes energy policy in Cyprus: the EAC C or the government?”

Environment Commissioner Charalambos Theopemptou

rent issues in the health sector.

Vehicles seized PAPHIANS were left gobsmacked on Tuesday by the sight of court bailiffs seizing seven vehicles belonging to the government at the behest of people owed money by the state for land appropriations it has yet to pay. The application for the writs was filed by owners of land earmarked for the construction of the Paphos to Polis highway that has been put on hold by the cash-strapped state.

Bailiffs seized three vehicles belonging to the district’s public works department, one each from the forestry department and the land registry and two belonging to the electromechanical services.

Molecular school THE Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics’ (CING) School of Molecular Medicine is officially open in what has been deemed a “historic” first for Cypriot medicine. Describing the venture as “an investment for Cyprus”, CING director, Dr Philippos Patsalis said apart from a medical and research centre, the institute was now also an academic centre.

Also present was American molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist James Watson, who along with Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA in 1953.

Patsalis said Watson’s presence was a special honour, which gave the School prestige and substance, offering international scope to CING’s effort.

‘All but dead’ A MULTI-MILLION investment deal

OF THE WEEK “We are at the 11th hour. Do we “W have time to negotiate (with the ha troika)? The government has to tro answer that. I hope time has not an run out” ru DISY deputy Averof Neophytou D “What happened in the last 48 hours [negotiating on the economy] should have happened in the last two months” DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou D “In contrast with the teacher-like “I attitude of older people, which at youths cannot or do not want yo to understand, the simple and friendly approach is more reliable fri and convincing” an Justice Minister Loucas Louca Ju on road safety

“My wife headed off with her child, as if she was a dog or a lifeless object, with no empathy from hospital staff” Christodoulos Constantinou, the father of a seven-year-old girl who was almost blinded by a dentist “I do not believe the troika is coming here to harm the economy. If this is the message some people want to give it is not the case” Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly “We believe that electoral considerations ahead of the presidential poll… have contributed to policy inertia” S&P ratings agency

with a Chinese company to develop the old Larnaca airport is all but dead in the water, MPs said on Tuesday. After reviewing a relevant report by the Accountant-general, deputies of the House Watchdog Committee described the agreement as “legally flimsy”. Committee chairman Giorgos Georgiou (DISY) told newsmen later that the overriding impression from the briefing is that the “entire process for selecting the financial operator... did not meet the general principles of the EU acquis with regard to public contracts, that is to say, transparency and equal treatment.”

Eco army CYPRUS HAS won plaudits from a widely circulated European newsletter on diplomacy and defence for its eco-friendly army camps. The Europe Diplomacy & Defence newsletter applauded Cyprus for developing the first military installation in Europe to receive certification for implementing the EU’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). “While most Ministries of Defence in Europe remain insensitive to environmental issues, Cyprus is currently showing proof of its concern to ensure defence activity can be compatible with energy efficiency and rational use of resources,” said the newsletter.

S&P downgrade FOLLOWING Moody’s, ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has also downgraded Cyprus further into junk status citing “policy inertia” due to the presidential elections and faster than expected deterioration of the banks’ domestic loan books. S&P said it lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the Republic of Cyprus to ‘B’ from ‘BB’ while affirming its short-term sovereign credit rating at ‘B’. It said the downgrade reflected its view that Cyprus’ creditworthiness has deteriorated since the last downgrade on August 2 as the government has not yet negotiated a support package.

Slashed shoes THE DUMPING of old stocks of unworn shoes by a well-known shoe company caused havoc and confusion on Ledra Street on Thursday. The Ecco store at the bottom of Ledra Street was getting rid of old stock, some 12 to 15 years old, by dumping it in a skip outside the store.

When passersby caught wind of what was happening and went to pick up the old stock, to their shock and fury, they discovered all the unworn shoes had been slashed down the middle. A shop assistant explained that the soles of the shoes were manufactured many years ago using synthetic material known as polyurethane (PU), which in its old form is now deemed dangerous.

17 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Coffeeshop

Why are the evil Troikans after caring co-ops? resistance campaign against the change of the regulatory framework of co-ops, currently supervised by a committee made up of Chlorakiotis and representatives of co-op banks.

W

HAT is it about the coop banks and the co-op movement that cause every single politician to be overcome with cheap sentimentality? Why do the politicians become emotional and protective when referring to the co-ops, as if they were talking about children with special needs in a Radiomarathon TV show?

I would really like to know what quality of SPE Aradippou or SPE Astromeriti pulls the heart-strings of our politicians and makes their eyes water. This sentimentality was on show in the past week when the whole political establishment united to proclaim their commitment to defend the co-op banks from the evil designs of the terrible Troikans.

After Tuesday’s emotional House commerce committee meeting which decided to send a letter to the comrade and the party leaders, urging them to defend the ‘independence’ of the co-op banks, deputies paid moving tributes to the movement.

AKEL’s Costas Costa said the coop movement, from its creation, “supported the ordinary man and his needs, supported the economy in very difficult times and kept the country standing, always with a human face and approach.”

For DISY’s Lefteris Christoforou, the co-op movement not only served “the ordinary citizen, the ordinary man and the socio-economic system but was also an example and model of sound administration.” DIKO’s Angelos Votsis sent a clear message to the troublesome Troikans - “hands off the co-ops”.

The co-ops have become universal a sacred cow, but with a human face.

WE WERE a bit disappointed to hear our normally refreshingly insensitive Archbishop Chrys also get emotional and nostalgic about the sacred cow. “The troika needs to respect the co-op movement, because if our people survived in the difficult days, that we older folk lived through, it is thanks to the co-ops,” he said, before recounting his childhood memories of co-op virtue.

He also repeated the message, “hands off the co-ops” which have taken on the role of a virgin bride some nasty playboy is trying to seduce before the wedding. What is all the fuss about?

The Troikans have not demanded the closure of the co-ops, their sale to big capital or the removal of their human face. All they asked for was that these people-centred agents of social good came under the direct supervision of the Central Bank because despite their human face, they operate just like banks.

So why are our wise politicians so determined for the sacred cows of the banking sector not to come under Central Bank supervision, and have drawn a red line? Co-

Co-op movement members have done an excellent job supervising the co-ops so why change it?

Everyone knows we Kyproullans are tougher than Germans when it comes to self-regulation.

ops have been “models of sound administration” and should have nothing to fear.

IT IS NOT so much the supervision everyone fears. The governor of the Central Bank Professor Panicos is a loyal AKEL man who has publicly declared that co-ops were wonderful and would be very reluctant to turn the screw on them.

What everyone is terrified of is that to come under CB supervision, the co-ops’ loan portfolios and capital adequacy would have to be investigated and they fear that the movement could be in a worse mess than the commercial banks and need several billion euros to rescue.

A perfectly reasonable hypothesis, when we consider that co-ops are controlled by AKEL and to a lesser extent by DIKO and the unions. We all know what happens to businesses run by the rusfeti-peddling incompetents of the party/union nomenclature and their apparatchiks. When politicians talks about the human face of co-ops, what do they mean?

Is it that the co-ops do not pursue bad debts, and allow non-performing loans to pile up without bothering with re-possessions? Do they give loans that the borrower does not have to repay, because of the lender’s human face?

Then there are the many hundreds of millions of Cyprus government bonds that co-ops hold and cannot use as part of their capital base, because these are currently rated junk.

Cyprus government bonds are not considered junk, when they are held by the co-op movement because it is a “socio-economic institution with anthropocentric orientation”.

AN INDICATION of how professionally the co-ops are run was given when the Troikans were here in July and tried to arrange a meeting with the head of the Co-operative Central Bank - Erotokritos Chlorakiotis - which is the supervisory authority for co-ops.

Chlorakiotis, a DIKO man who has been the co-op supervisor for about 20 years, said he could not meet them because he was ill; they then asked to meet his second in command who said he was ill as well, also suffering from troikitis.

As soon as the Troikans left, Chlorakiotis made an immediate recovery and embarked on a brave

HATS OFF to the CEO of Hellenic Bank Makis Keravnos, who managed to wrangle a salary increase for himself this year, after having persuaded all his subordinates to agree to a wage freeze.

Keravnos, who was briefly touted as a possible presidential candidate, has redefined the principle of ‘leadership by example’, securing himself a total pay rise of 17 per cent over this year and the next. His annual salary will rise from €295,000 to €320,000 and next year increase to €345,000.

The greedy Makis, who was appointed Hellenic’s CEO without any experience of banking in 2005 (only in Kyproulla could this happen), demanded the pay increase, presumably citing the respectable profits recorded by the bank in the first six months of this year. Interestingly, last year’s losses of €30 million, did not result in a pay cut for the greedy CEO, who felt 295 grand a year was not an adequate reward for him.

I would love to see how he will handle the issue of pay cuts that will almost certainly be imposed on bank employees next year. Hellenic might not need a state bailout, but it has an abundance of non-performing loans both in Greece and Cyprus.

MAKIS’ pay rise is another cause for being disappointed with the Archbishop. Chrys imposed pay cuts on the clergy and has been telling his flock that everyone has to make sacrifices. How could the Church, Hellenic’s main shareholder, not only exempt Makis from making any sacrifices, but also sanction a 50 grand pay increase?

A tough nut like Chrys should never have tolerated his CEO’s greediness, which apart from being provocative, is un-Christian.

On a more positive note, with 25 extra grand in his pocket Makis will now be able to afford a more expensive hair-dye than the carrot colour he has been using on the little hair he has left. He might even be able to pay for the services of a professional hair colourist now.

PERMANENT Rep at the UN Nicos Emiliou has put in a request to the foreign ministry to pay the school fees of his partner’s son, now that he is in New York. Although the foreign ministry recommended that Emiliou was given the 23 grand he was demanding, the Public Administration and Personnel department turned it down because he was not eligible for it.

According to the government reg-

The co-op movement has “supported the ordinary man and his needs, supported the economy in very difficult times and kept the country standing, always with a human face and approach” ulations the state pays school fees only for its diplomatic personnel’s children. Emiliou has now lodged a complaint with the ombudswoman, arguing that an exception should have been made for him. If he still fails to get the money from the taxpayer, our establishment will organise a money-raising campaign, because we cannot have a top diplomat paying for the education of his partner’s kid out of his own pocket. It is an outrage.

LAST SUNDAY the three main presidential candidates were given a questionnaire on social issues,

by Politis, and asked to give ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.

AKEL’s young, socially sensitive candidate Stavros Malas turned out the biggest reactionary of the three, opposing the legalisation of abortion (it must be illegal), prostitution, marijuana and the legal recognition of gay partnerships. It beggars belief that a selfproclaimed progressive party like AKEL back such a reactionary?

The DISY Fuhrer, on the other hand, turned out the most liberal of the lot, even saying ‘yes’ to the legalisation of marijuana, but ‘under conditions’. He has won the dope smokers’ vote, but gave ammunition to boring, puritanical commie youths to attack him.

“It is immoral to hear a party leader.... to claim that decriminalisation of marijuana would help users,” said AKEL youth wing EDON in a statement accusing cool-dude Nik of wanting “half-stoned youth, with heads bowed, who would allow him to impose his anti-popular policies”.

So if Edonites are not out on the streets fighting against the antipopular policies that their beloved comrade leader will impose over the next couple of weeks, we will assume that they have all been smoking marijuana and are too stoned to resist.

SOMEONE might have thought that the comrade was stoned after hearing what he said in Brussels on Friday. He denied his government

was dragging its feet on a bailout and said “we wanted to sign the memorandum as soon as possible”.

A week earlier he told unions bosses that if CoLA was abolished he would be out on the streets protesting with them, but now he wants to sign the anti-popular measures ASAP. Had he lost his desire to resist the troika’s anti-popular measures because he was half-stoned?

Of course not. The government has completely run out of money and will not be able to pay anyone at the end of November. All of a sudden he is eager to sign the anti-popular measures, which are being agreed by e-mail and phone. This was why, a day after the party representatives agreed specific pay-cuts for public parasites, the government announced even bigger cuts, incurring the wrath of Hadjiklamouris.

It was simply following the orders of the troika, which has made it clear that its representatives would come to Kyproulla, once the bailout terms are agreed, so that the signatures could be put on the memorandum of understanding.

THRILLED to see that DISY deputy Stella Kyriakidou has picked up our stories about the police ‘associates’ used to trap prostitutes, by having sex with them, and asked the minister of justice to brief the legislature about the procedures followed.

Phil carried a very interesting article on the matter, pointing out that, the recruitment of associates, was a recent development. In the past cops acted as the paying customer, but this meant they would also have to appear in court as the main prosecution witness, which caused problems for married cops. Some wives just could not accept their hubby was having sex because it was his duty.

A CYBC opinion poll on the presidential elections found that a second round of voting would be needed to decide the winner which means there are still 126 days left before our comrade leader does the first good thing for the country in his five-year term - leave office.

18 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

World in pictures

Felix Baumgartner jumping out of his capsule 38 km above the Earth as he became the first man to break the sound barrier in a record-shattering freefall jump (AFP)

Dancers during a rehearsal of the Show Me revue in the Friedrichstadt-palast, Berlin

(AFP)

A shoe is glued to a statue of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, at the museum of Maaret al-Numan (AFP)

Circus workers protest in front of the Italian parliament while parliament talks about the use of animals in circus (AFP)

An artist applies a final coat of varnish to an idol of Hindu Godess Durga on the last day of ‘Pitrupaksh’ - days for offering prayers to ancestors - in Mumbai (AFP)

Afghan women wait with their children to receive a polio vaccination in Herat (AFP)

Tourists walk with plastic bags to protect their shoes on a flooded St Mark’s square, Venice during the first high tides (AFP)

A Mapuche, Chile’s largest indigenous group, participates in a protest in Santiago to demand their ancestral lands (AFP)

Cambodian people pray for the late former King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh (AFP)

19 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Lifestyle

Dazed & Confused’s latest cover girl Iris Apfel, 91, proves that on planet fashion age is just a number. Karen Dacre salutes her style - and those spherical specs STYLE icon. Now there’s an irritating little phrase.

Once saved for only the very best - Grace Kelly, Steve McQueen, Audrey Hepburn, to name a few the term is no longer used to describe the attributes of a unique, earth shatteringly definitive purveyor of fashion but rather those of a blow-dried celebrity in possession of more designer dresses than sense.

At 91 years old, Iris Apfel is an exception. Instantly recognisable by her signature spherical specs, Apfel is a living legend whose popularity in fashion circles increases every time she toasts another birthday. As do her credentials as a style icon.

Among her list of recent achievements is a collaboration with make-up brand Mac and a collection with Jimmy Choo. A former muse of Ralph Lauren, Apfel stars alongside Anna Wintour in the documentary Bill Cunningham New York. Next year she is set to be the subject of her own documentary by filmmaker Albert Maysles. And as the cover “girl” of this month’s Dazed and Confused, Apfel is resplendent in the magazine’s Art Special.

Affectionately known as the oldest teenager in the world, Apfel’s unforgettable outfit choices have won her a place in the hearts of fashion editors and style bloggers around the world while her dry New York wit makes her a must on every guest list.

But who on earth is she?

Born in Queens, New York, in 1921, Apfel was the only child of Samuel Barron and his Russian wife Sadye. A bright young thing with a keen eye, she spent her early days surveying the shelves of her mother’s clothing business before beginning a shortlived career in fashion journalism at trade

The big Apfel

World’s oldest teenager: Iris Apfel models this season’s Comme des Garcons collection in the latest issue of Dazed & Confused (left). Above: dressed for cocktails earlier this year

Womenswear magazine W Daily. two years after In 1950, tw Carl Apfel, she marrying Ca launched Old Ol World Weavers, a textile business that would go on to become one of the most iconic in American history. But it wasn’t un until 2005 when the Metropolitan MuMetr seum chose cho 83-year-old Apfel - and an her wardrobe - tto star in a major ex exhibition that the world would w learn her name.

Enchanted by the Ench wardrobe of one of war New Ne York’s bestdressed citid zens, the musez um showcased the most exquisite of Apfel’s finery in a show titled Rara Avis: The R Irreverent Iris Irr Apfel.

The exhibiApf tion marked a first m for the Met, which had never before prone filed a living woman li who was not a designer. It was visited by more than tha 150,000 visitors. As a result, Apfel became the hot topic of t choice for every fashion bible on e earth.

Here, in a culture weighed down weig with the fetishism of youth, was a woman who wh was growing old disgracefully with disgr all the confidence of a 25-year-old. The fashion world couldn’t get enough.

“I think it’s hysterical,” says Apfel in her Dazed and Confused interview.

“My husband and I laugh about it all the time, because I’m not doing anything different than 70 years ago and all of a sudden I’m so hot and cool and whatever the hell the kids say I am. It’s fun but it hasn’t gone to my head.”

Apfel’s reluctance to take herself or the industry that’s so hell-bent on placing her on a pedestal too seriously is key to her appeal. While today’s society is saturated with celebrities who consider being photographed in the hottest designer dress essential to their life force, Apfel takes a decidedly blasé approach. “Fashion is not my trade and it’s not my life. I don’t live to get dressed. I think getting dressed is wonderful but there’s a whole big world outside of the closet.”

Now there’s something we can all drink to.

Hepburn to Harry Potter: Hollywood costumes in UK show

By Stephen Eisenhammer FROM Charlie Chaplin to Marilyn Monroe, more than 130 silver screen costumes covering a century of cinema are on display at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in an exhibition that celebrates the role of the designer in film-making.

Hollywood Costume, which opened yesterday and runs until January 27, offers a chance to see many of the most famous movie get-ups on public display for the first time.

“This is the first exhibition on

this scope and scale”, Keith Lodwick, one of the exhibition’s curators said.

“We really wanted to raise the profile of the costume designer,” he said, explaining that their job “is not all about the glamorous clothing”.

Instead the costume “has to fit exactly with the concept of what the director would like to do”.

The exhibition presents some of the most memorable syntheses of costume and character, including Audrey Hepburn’s black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s designed

by Hubert De Givenchy and Charlie Chaplin’s cane and bowler hat

which he designed himself.

“Some costumes live beyond the film. Someone may not have seen the Charlie Chaplin film, but they would probably recognise his silhouette. That’s costume design”, Lodwick said.

The exhibition is a movie buff’s dream. One journalist stood frozen to the spot in front of Indiana Jones’ muddy leather outfit from The Raiders of the Lost Ark costume, staring at the action hero’s whip in mid-crack.

“Don’t mind me, I’m having a moment”, she said.

The result of five years of sourcing and negotiating, the exhi-

bition consists of three rooms which trace the creative process involved in costume design.

The third room, named simply “the finale”, is a spectacle of Hollywood heroes and femme fatales, from Batman to Harry Potter through Marilyn Monroe’s blowing dress and Uma Thurman’s yellow Kill Bill tracksuit.

“It’s just meant to blow your mind”, Deborah Landis, the guest curator and designer of Indiana Jone’s costume, told reporters.

A costume worn by US actor Tobey Maguire in the 2002 movie Spider-Man

20 SUNDAY MAIL

Reportage

THE Allotments on the roof, cash prizes for employees and one day a week volunteering… Stephen Robinson takes a tour of Googletopia

HERE is a reassuringly retro noticeboard in the basement of Google’s new East London ‘Campus’ where the young tech entrepreneurs of the future exchange jobs news and hawk their skills. Handwritten notes from founders of putative startups are pinned to the corkboard, seeking the services of the new generation of young people schooled in jobs that didn’t exist when they were born. If you don’t know what a ‘full stack developer’ is, you are probably over 40, and unlikely to find gainful employment here. A young woman called Vicky has gone so far as to pin up a self-drawn sketch of her pretty face along with a declaration of her willingness to try anything, of a technical nature.

The Google Campus, just off Shoreditch’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’, has been open for only six months but already seems established. It is not really a campus at all, but an old office building, fashionably minimalist in its décor. More than 4,000 would-be tech entrepreneurs

T

Recruited (from top left): former Newsnight editor Peter Barron, Rachel Whetstone, Sarah Hunter and Google UK CEO Matt Brittin

have signed up, and so gained the right to sip exceptionally good coffee and pretentious blends of tea in the Campus café. Most are London-based, but increasingly they travel from the provinces, and more recently from Eastern Europe, to schmooze with like-minded aspirational types. “In terms of technology startups and tech activity, London has lacked the density of San Francisco,” explains the Campus head, Ezequiel Vidra. “The idea was to provide a space for people to meet, to work and exchange ideas.” Google bought and fitted out the building and gave over four of the six storeys to East London micro-tech hub companies who provide desks and Wi-Fi. But really the draw is not the quality of the hot drinks, or the table football, or even the networking opportunities. The draw is the Google name itself, which has a special kind of magic in the ephemeral world

of tech startups. Although it has only been going 14 years - quite an age, of course, for any technology company - it is worth a staggering £155 billion. Its Mountain View HQ in California is a mecca for people who understand that the future is networked; and Britain has its own powerful outpost in the capital, Google UK, in Belgrave House, Victoria, where more than 1,500 acolytes have been sworn into the Googleverse. The company relentlessly seeks to expand its empire - purchasing YouTube, setting up its own TV channel, mapping every inch of the planet. Britain is Google’s largest market after the US, and Google UK is a hub for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Like a sponge the company is soaking up the best employees the UK has to offer. So should we be scared, or should we all be begging Google for a job?

Vidra is a characteristically cosmopolitan member of Google’s London staff. Born

More than 4,000 would-be tech entrepreneurs have signed up to meet other like-minded aspirational types

in Argentina, raised in Israel, educated in the States, he fine-tuned the idea of the Campus during his “20 per cent time”. The notion that one-fifth of the working week should be devoted to matters other than your core job has been a tenet of Google office life ever since the company was founded in Silicon Valley in 1998. Some staff use their 20 per cent to work on “outreach” schemes with schools or universities, organise mass cycle rides in support of various causes, or help curate science events at museums. A quarter of Google’s London staff have volunteered to spend time at the Campus mentoring the future stars of the tech world.

As one member of staff puts it, Google bosses like their staff to have a ‘hinterland’, perhaps because they are fed up with the geeky image of those who work for tech companies.

Few would quibble with such good works. Setting up a new media hub for impoverished but motivated future entrepreneurs seems an entirely sensible and worthy project for a company like Google with its famous ‘Don’t be evil’ corporate slogan and bulging cash reserves. “I don’t talk numbers,” says Vidra when I ask how much the Campus has cost, “but it’s millions.”

Google’s benevolent tentacles spread widely around the UK: the company donates substantially to the Science Museum, and to Bletchley Park, where £550,000 bought Alan Turing’s papers for the nation and the restoration of some of the dilapidated huts where the German Enigma codes were broken during the Second World War. Critics of the company point out it can well afford to hand out vast amounts of feel good cash because it pays virtually no corporation tax to the British government - it is formally registered in Ireland, which has much lower rates. In the last financial quarter, Google’s

UK revenues, which amount to 11 per cent of its global revenues, were £730 million, yet last year it paid only £6 million in UK corporation tax. And it was striking that at the Labour conference, Ed Miliband took aim at millionaires, bankers, Rupert Murdoch’s ailing newspaper empire, but not at Google, which aggregates and places adverts against what remains of the global, deadtree media industry.

Others are wary of the faintly culty, northern Californian ethos of the company.

Staff refer to each other as ‘Googlers’, while, in an echo of boarding school lingo, new hires are known as ‘Nooglers’.

The benefits are sensational, including delicious free dinners in the staff canteen, gym membership, massages, and, of course, options on Google’s buoyant stock. There is a ‘peer bonus’ system, whereby staff can nominate colleagues for a cash payment for doing particularly well on a project.

“It’s a small cash amount,” says one member of staff, “but it’s nice.” Women having babies are granted six months’ maternity leave at full salary - much better than most media or tech companies - and are paid a special baby bonus of a few hundred pounds for takeaways, nappies and pampering luxuries during the first few weeks of motherhood.

You aren’t going to thrive at Google if you don’t embrace the mission and adore the product; there is an im-

plicit obligation to be evangelical about the company.

A potential employee will be interviewed by up to eight managers from different departments, any one of whom is empowered to veto the appointment, in the manner of deploying the black ball at a gentlemen’s club. “There is a lot of emphasis on cultural fit. Volunteering will be a plus,” says one member of staff. Once in, you are subject to weekly feedback from your line manager, and quarterly assessments against spe-

The company rele expand its empire - p setting up its own TV every inch o cific targets you set yourself.

Staff post their diaries on an open page so everyone knows where everyone else is at any time, and when they are available. After two successive poor quarterly assessments you might be shown the door, though Google is apparently good at corrective intervention in many cases.

It is earnest, and though its ethos is declared to be transparent and selfconsciously informal, Google can also be bossy. In the lobby of the Cam-

21 • October 21, 2012 20 012 12

COMPLEX

GOOGLE BY NUMBERS The Google Campus, just off Shoreditch’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’

pus there is a sign reminding members that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises, or within 25 metres of the building. This impertinent assertion of Google’s control over a stretch of London’s public highway is significant for it has echoes of the company’s biggest public relations fiasco.

Two years ago it emerged that in addition to taking controversial pictures of people’s homes, Google’s Street View mapping cars were sucking in all sorts of private data from

entlessly seeks to purchasing YouTube, V channel, mapping of the planet householders’ Wi-Fi networks.

Google initially said it was an entirely inadvertent mistake, though evidence subsequently emerged showing that senior managers had known about it at the time. Google then said all the information had been destroyed, but it turned out it had not been, so the Information Commissioner’s Office was forced to reopen its investigation, which is still officially pending.

“Google is incredibly frivolous with civil liberties and pri-

vacy,” says Robert Halfon, the Conservative MP for Harlow, who has raised his concerns in the Commons. He warns that Google’s obsession with mining for ever more detailed data about the individual, coupled with its overly cosy relationship with government and the regulator, means Britons are living in a “privatised surveillance society”. Halfon concedes he has a conflicted view of Google. He uses it all the time, loves his Chromebook laptop, and finds all the staff he meets highly intelligent, well-mannered, informed, though occasionally disingenuous, particularly over the Street View data grab. His anger about the way our privacy is invaded is directed more at politicians for their failure to confront and contain Google.

Google is astute in cherrypicking the best-connected political operatives from all parties to work on the other side of the fence. Rachel Whetstone, with her impeccable Tory contacts from her days in Conservative Central Office and as wife to David Cameron’s former blue-sky thinker Steve Hilton, went to Google HQ as head of global communications and public policy. Sarah Hunter, a former senior adviser in Tony Blair’s private office, became head of UK corporate affairs in 2009.

Halfon notes that “the Camerons” are particularly close to Google, which explains why David Cameron and George Osborne have met with top

Google executives at least seven times between them since the 2010 general election.

In the midst of the Street View row, Google hired Stephen McCartney, a senior official in the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is supposed to enforce data protection laws. The ICO says he had no direct role in the Google investigation, though Halfon is sceptical of this claim. He says most of the problem is that the ICO lacks full powers to restrain Google, and that a politically craven quango, as he sees it, lacks the political will to defend privacy.

The truth is that Google is much better at defending its

interests than those who are supposed to curb its excesses because it hires the best people, and rewards them to stay. Peter Barron, who was headhunted from his role as BBC Newsnight editor four years ago to join the Google press team, is perplexed by talk of privacy violations when I tackle him in a glass-sided meeting room at the company’s Central St Giles office over lunch from the canteen.

(My roasted beetroot and barley salad with pesto was sensational.) The office is a riot of primary colours, separated by doors designed, for some reason, to look as though you are on a submarine. We eat in the ‘Carrot’ meeting room,

so glass panels are decorated with images of the vegetable.

Googlers are given a say in how offices should be decorated, and often the overall effect makes you feel you are back at school. Nothing is allowed to feel ‘officey’: sofas are flamboyant and strangely shaped; at the Google office in Victoria, a real Routemaster serves as a meeting room; on the roof of the Centre Point office there are allotment boxes, so that during downtime, Googlers can tend beans and organic herbs; celebrities are welcome to drop by, from the Queen, to Jamie Oliver, to the Scissor Sisters, who performed an impromptu song.

Barron was a somewhat sardonic television journalist when we briefly collaborated, several years ago, on a campaign to defend the individual’s privacy against the surveillance state. Now he is an enthusiastic Googler, imbued with the culture of the digital age. The main threat to Google’s continued good health he says is complacency and he emphasises, about the Street View fiasco, that Google never, ever sells personal information to a third party. “We learned a painful lesson with the Wi-Fi data incident. That did damage our reputation, and we’ve changed our processes as a result.”

Of Google’s corporate structuring to avoid UK tax, he makes the perfectly reasonable point that as a publicly listed company, it has an obligation to shareholders to arrange its affairs as efficiently as possible while remaining within the law in all jurisdictions.

Google remains largely dependent on a no-charging model, paid for by search advertising. Some interpreted its purchase of YouTube in 2006 as a move towards an eventual reinvention as a media company (it recently launched Google TV), but executives deny this, insisting Google

1996 The year Google started as a research project at Stanford University £155 billion What the company is now worth £1 billion The price of YouTube when Google bought it in 2006 1 billion + The number of searches per day 620 million users per day 1,500 employees in the Victoria offices alone 6 months since the Google Campus was created 4,000+ Entrepreneurs signed up for the Google Campus 20 per cent Time an employee should devote to something other than work £550,000 of Google cash was used to buy Alan Turing’s papers and to restore Bletchley Park 11 per cent of Google’s revenues came from the UK during the second quarter of 2012 £730 million What that 11 per cent was worth 25m The distance surrounding the offices within which employees can’t smoke 2005 The year Google Maps was introduced is and will remain a technology company. It remains to be seen whether Google can sustain its revenue model. It finds itself in a deadly fight with other ‘free’ services such as Twitter and Facebook, with whom it is engaged in an arms race to monetise the data they can harvest from their customers, and the more personal the information is, the more valuable.

But should its ever increasing expansion be challenged by a vigorous regulator, or by innovative geeks, possibly lurking and networking at this very moment in the café of the Google Campus off Old Street, then Google will either go the same way as all the other vanished tech companies of the 2000s or, more likely, it will give the vigorous regulator a brilliant job with enviable perks and make the innovative geek an offer he can’t refuse.

22 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Property LEGAL ISSUES WITH GEORGE COUCOUNIS

Cancelling the registration of a memo

The growth of malls has changed the high street shopping experience in all towns

Shop rents, vacancies Empty storefronts in all towns are set to increase in number

By Antonis Loizou FRICS SHOPS are the recent victim of bad business and reducing sales turnover.

It is evident, even by walking around the very central commercial areas in all towns, that approximately 30 per cent of them are vacant, and this percentage tends to increase as time passes. From a survey that we have carried out on a particular high street in Nicosia, we were informed that out of the 70 per cent remaining let most if not all of them have secured a 20 per cent rental reduction from their 2008 level, whereas another 30 per cent (of the 70 per cent) either do not pay the rent regularly and/or are considering shutting down. Of course this reduction in commercial outlets is not only the result of the financial situation, but also the competition that the traditional shopping areas have from the new malls.

If we are to take Nicosia as an example, in addition to the 30,000m² of The Mall of Cyprus another is now being built in western Nicosia of around 60,000m² in retail space. These two malls together cover the existing retail capacity of the capital whereas all are trying to get a share of the same buyer’s cake which again is reducing.

Spending power is diminishing and the future seems that the lower spending capacity will be reduced

from their 20 per cent (from 2008) level to another 20 per cent during 2013 (a reduction of 40 per cent having a double commercial/retail space at the same time).

What is also interesting is that a good percentage of the Mall shops which were let at rates higher than the top commercial areas of the towns seem not to make ends meet.

Not only has spending power been reduced, but overheads, especially electricity have doubled.

The trend of shop outlets is now to have lower cost gift shops, lower priced fashion products, whereas internet shopping has its role to play towards the reduction in demand among shoppers. Most products are now available on the internet and with the refund/return for dissatisfied clients, it makes shopping through this route easier and at times cheaper.

So what is important now for shop owners/landlords is not so much the rental level they require, but as priority for the landlord the ability of the tenant to pay regularly whatever the rent is. Unfortunate retailers who paid key-money to secure a shop in particular locations now have zero goodwill payment (an added unfortunate loss). So if we are to take Nicosia’s Makarios avenue with key money of €150,000/shop, now it is worth next to nothing.

This very depressing situation of-

WHAT YOU GET FOR

fers the opportunity for some shopkeepers to secure lower rents, but on the other hand at an increased risk, whereas the post Troika period (after 2013) with the austerity measures will make things worse. We could not believe that a chain of kebab shops (the lowest priced food in Cyprus) now has to close six of its 18 outlets and reduce quantity to target the €2/ portion market. Yes it may be good for slimming (on a light note) but it is an indication of things to come.

In the 1980s the lower budget Ayia Napa Swedish tourists’ favourite food was jacket potatoes wrapped in a silver paper, which cost at the time but at today’s price €1/each (big potato with a slice of butter in the middle).

At that time we (locals) thought how poor can one be to live on this? Little did we know that after 34 years we would have reached almost this state!!

Residential rentals are not in such a bad state, but they have definitely being affected with an average 20 per cent reduction (from 2008 levels) whereas young people tend to stay for a longer period of time with their parents (or sharing with friends) rather than otherwise.

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

THE registration of a court judgment over the immovable property of the judgment debtor is a measure of execution aiming to ensure payment of the debt. The right of registration is safeguarded by law, and effected by depositing and registering the judgment as an encumbrance memo upon the immovable property of the debtor through the District Land Registry Office. The registration secures the judgment creditor in priority against other debts and his property is subject to sale for the satisfaction of the judgment.

The existence of a previous encumbrance or mortgage is not affected by the registration of the judgment, since the time of registration defines the rights of each creditor. In the event the debt is paid, the creditor is obliged to withdraw his memo by giving a relevant written notice to the Land Registry, otherwise he will be accountable to the debtor and to any other creditor for any damage they may suffer as a result of keeping the registration. There is a provision in the law stating the creditor, who has registered the judgment, may lose his rights in the event he does not proceed with its execution; therefore, if he does not show any interest, he may lose his security. When a property burdened with more than one memo is sold and the first judgment is satisfied leaving a balance, it will be used to satisfy the debts of the other secured creditors in priority.

There is also a provision in the law for the cancellation of a memo when it constitutes abuse with regard to the rights of the debtor and it is up to him to claim its cancellation through the court.

The issue was recently examined by the District Court of Famagusta in an application by a debtor claiming the cancellation of a memo burdening his immovable property. He alleged that the registration of the judgment over his property was excessive and in abuse of his ownership rights and that it was

unreasonable for the memo to remain registered over his property. Alternatively, he claimed the registration to be limited over part of his property. The debtor also claimed that the registration of the judgment related to a debt lower than the value of his whole immovable property and thus, it exceeded the reasonable and acceptable limit in the exercise of the rights of the creditor. On the other hand, the creditor alleged in the event the memo over the whole property of the debtor was limited or cancelled, it would have been risky for the creditor and he would have suffered irreparable damage and injustice, since there were many encumbrances burdening the property of the debtor. Thus, his claim would have been left uncovered and there would be a possibility not to recover his money.

The court stated the registration of a judgment as an encumbrance over the immovable property of a debtor is a measure of enforcing the judgment. The registration is used as security for the repayment of the judgment debt, giving the right to the judgment creditor to apply for the sale of the property in public auction. It added that the possibility given to the creditor through a memo does not seem to be directly connected with the value of the property burdened. The issue remains open for the court to intervene when, upon the merits of a case, it finds the recognised right for the registration of a judgment as a memo is used in an abusive manner. The court decided the application should have been dismissed, since the debtor did not disclose that his properties were already burdened with previous encumbrances for debts over their value and therefore, the registration could not be considered excessive.

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

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23 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Property

Cities can get greener by 2030 Means chance to include parks, trees in city plans says new UN report

By Alister Doyle THE world’s urban areas will more than double in size by 2030, presenting an opportunity to build greener and healthier cities, a UN study has showed.

Simple planning measures such as more parks, trees or roof gardens could make cities less polluted and help protect plants and animals, especially in emerging nations led by China and India where city growth will be fastest, it said.

“Rich biodiversity can exist in cities and is extremely critical to people’s health and well-being,” wrote Thomas Elmqvist of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, scientific editor of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook.

The world’s urban population is expected to surge from just over 3.5 billion now to 4.9 billion by 2030, according to the assessment by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

At the same time, the area to be covered by cities will expand by 150 per cent, it said.

“Most of this growth is expected to happen in small and medium-sized cities, not in megacities,” according to the report, issued to coincide with a UN meeting on biodiversity in Hyderabad, India.

More green spaces in cities can filter dust and pollution and soak up heattrapping carbon dioxide.

Some studies have shown that the presence of trees can help reduce asthma and allergies for children living nearby, it said.

And the study said that cities were also home to a wide range of animals and plants.

More than 65 per cent of Poland’s bird species are

even small urban gardens in providing habitat for native pollinators such as bees, which have declined alarmingly in recent years,” the study added.

And it pointed to real estate arguments for a greener city.

In the United States “city parks increase the value of nearby residential properties by an average of five per cent; excellent parks can provide a 15 per cent increase,” it said.

Expansion of cities would often displace farms

For the next 40 years urban growth will consume land three times the size of France In South Africa, Table Mountain national park, rich in wildlife, is surrounded by the Cape Town municipality found in Warsaw. In South Africa, Table Mountain national park, rich in wildlife, is surrounded by the Cape Town municipality. In the United States, Saguaro national park is just outside Tucson.

“Sustainable urban development that supports valuable ecosystems presents a major opportunity for improving lives and livelihoods,” said Achim Steiner, head of the UN Environment Programme.

More tree cover in cities can help cool them in summers, meaning less need for air conditioning, it said.

“Recent studies highlight the importance of

People visit a stand during the Barcelona Meeting Point real estate fair. Spanish households and companies defaulted on their debts in record numbers in August, hurting the country’s lenders and highlighting the need for an aid package to help the economy out of recession. A property crash left banks with billions of euros in bad debt from real estate developers on their balance sheets but the problems have spread to small businesses and other sectors

More than 65 per cent of Poland’s bird species are found in Warsaw

nearby, meaning that agriculture would have to shift elsewhere. That in turn would require care that new farmland did not, for instance, lead to damaging deforestation.

“For the next 40 years urban growth will consume land approximately three times the size of France... this is often the most prime agricultural land,” Elmqvist said.

Many existing cities are trying to get greener. In Bogota, Colombia, residents exercised more after city authorities introduced measures such as closing some roads on weekends and improving bus transport.

In Mexico City, a ‘Green Roof Program’ aims to create 10,000m² of new roof gardens every year.

24 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Business & Jobs

Government’s growth A tough plan too little too late rewards Pay has doubled in five

Comment

By Luke Pachymuthu and Manash Goswami

Costas Apostolides HE GOVERNMENT announced a €300 mln growth package ten days ago in an attempt to convince that it has developed a comprehensive policy for prompting economic growth, reducing unemployment and helping small business. It should be considered as a positive sign that finally there has been some thought about growth, but the package is insufficient and modelled on bringing modest relief to some sectors rather than acting as an effective stimulant for growth.

In order to consider the possible impact of this package it is important to understand the causes of the present recession (2012, 2009) and the stagnation in between. The initial recession was caused by the first wave of the international financial crisis which hit Cyprus’ overseas markets, particularly the UK which was dominant in the key real estate and tourism markets (around 50 per cent of both), and had a knock on effect on the rest of the economy. At first, Cyprus avoided the contagion of toxic bonds, but the recession caused the banks to raise interest rates to maintain revenues, even though the European Central Bank was reducing its interest rates. Government revenues fell primarily owing to the collapse in the construction sector thereby wiping out the surpluses of 2008, yet the government irrationally chose that point in time to increase social benefits, taking the country into a one billion euro budget deficit. The credit rating agencies began to downgrade Cyprus, forcing the government to consider economies, and the psychology of the people changed from buying luxury cars and enormous houses, to one of let’s wait and see. Then the Greek crisis came upon us and that created the still unknown, but very significant, banking crisis that is the major course of concern today.

In short there has been a major failure of monetary policy, which has two aspects, first it is killing businesses which are finding it difficult to get loans, and even if they succeed they then face very high interest rates. An estimate by a Cyprus European parliament member claims the high costs alone are costing business and consumers €1.9 billion a year. That seems too high and a rough estimate suggests about half that may be reflective of the unjustifiable costs of interest charges, but I am not aware of the methodology used. Consumer confidence is falling as shown by the lack of growth in private consumption and retail sales (-2 per cent), and the growth

T

Currencies USD GBP CHF JPY AUD CAD SEK

19-Oct-2012

1,3034 0,8115 1,2037 103,23 1,2486 1,2749 8,4925

1,3112 0,8164 1,2133 104,06 1,2736 1,3004 8,6624

HAT jobs offer the highest pay? Investment banking is up there. So is specialist surgery.

But consider this. Slightly over twenty years ago, Johnathan Roberts started work on an oil rig at $5 an hour. Today, the newly appointed operations manager of Norway’s Standard Drilling makes about half a million dollars a year.

Even accounting for inflation, it’s a huge jump for the 45-year-old American. Salaries on oil rigs have soared because of a global boom in offshore drilling.

Managers and workers are scarce in this specialised industry, where the work is intense and the job involves living on a platform in remote seas for weeks. For new players in Asia, where the energy demands of booming economies are driving a foray into offshore drilling, the costs and availability of skilled workers will be a big restraining factor.

“The amount of money they are making an hour is just mind-boggling now, just five years ago they were making just half that,” said Roberts, who moved to Singapore this year from Texas. He said his pay more than doubled in 1999 when the industry faced a labour shortage like the one that appears to be emerging.

The increasing demand for oil and gas is pushing energy companies to explore frontier areas like the Arctic and new offshore zones given that output from accessible fields is declining. Global oil demand has risen 14 per cent in total to 88 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2011 from 2001, according to the BP annual statistical review. Rapidly growing economies have accounted for much of the increase - consumption in China doubled in the same period to 9.76 million bpd.

Energy and mining offer good salaries, said Wyn James,

W The growth package includes ¤61.4m for the construction sector of household deposits in banks (which reflects caution). Then there is the uncertainty with respect to how the banking crisis will be solved.

The €300 mln package has little relevance to the above stated causes of the recession. According to the government spokesman it aims at creating jobs, and boosting the construction, housing and energy sectors. If all the package is seen as “investment” it is less than 10 per cent of the 2011 level public sector investment and does not come close to covering the fall in investment since 2008 (€1bln). It is not clear what the implementation period is for the package, but assuming three years, then the impact on investment is marginal. Furthermore in terms of general government capital expenditure, it would represent an increase of about 3 per cent in capital investment in any one year. Therefore, with respect to investment and public sector capital expenditure the package is useful but not sufficient to give a growth push to the economy.

The €300 mln package is to be provided to the following subsectors: (1) €200 mln support for SME’s (cash, loan subsidies).

(2) €61.4 mln to construction (€20 mln interest rate subsidies for housing projects, purchase or refurbishment; €39.4 mln for development works, town planning and sewerage works; and €2 mln for village projects, less than €200,000 each.

(3) €9.5 mln for encouragement of employment.

(4) €17 mln for the energy sector.

(5) €8.1 mln for university research.

(6) €1 mln for tourism.

(7) €3 mln creation of business incubators.

In addition to the above, the govern-

12-Oct-2012

1,2892 0,8043 1,2044 100,88 1,2464 1,2526 8,5803

1,2969 0,8091 1,2140 101,69 1,2713 1,2777 8,7519

ment has extended the incentives for buying immovable property by either foregoing the Lands and Surveys registry payments for transfers or reducing them by 50 per cent (where normal VAT is paid). This is a useful reduction in costs for households, but hardly stimulating.

The €300 mln will be provided over a three year period; therefore, its impact will be limited though useful. To be fair the government has introduced other measures to encourage growth such as a reduction of VAT to 5 per cent for house purchases for the first home, and subsidies for employing the unemployed, but as with the present package the efforts are scattered, limited and somewhat sporadic, and therefore lack impact.

It is hoped that the package will be funded by €200 mln expected to be raised from the Second Licensing Round for exploration for natural gas/ oil in the Cyprus Economic Zone, plus a loan of €100 mln from the European Investment Bank (not yet listed as “under consideration” on the EIB website).

Applications have been made for nine exploration licences giving an average of €22 mln per block, which seems optimistic.

Overall it’s a useful package, but over three years too little and too late, and likely to be too bureaucratic which means delays in implementation and subsequently its impact on growth. Furthermore it does not address the causes of the recession, and does not influence monetary policy in general.

Costas Apostolides is Chairman of EMS Economic Management Ltd costas.a@highwaycommunications. com

05-Oct-2012

1,2978 0,8014 1,2067 101,61 1,2547 1,2629 8,5258

1,3056 0,8062 1,2164 102,42 1,2798 1,2882 8,6963

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

USD 0,18 0,21 0,26 0,32 0,57 0,90

EUR 0,03 0,06 0,10 0,14 0,30 0,58

GBP 0,49 0,50 0,51 0,53 0,73 1,13

CHF 0,00 0,01 0,02 0,04 0,14 0,33

a Singapore-based Briton who left a career in banking this year to open Zhen Global, a firm that recruits and places workers in mining and oil extraction.

“What we are seeing now is an acute shortage of people actually with applied skills, from engineering or chemical backgrounds,” James said.

“Even if the skills do exist globally, they don’t necessarily exist in the place that is needed. So what we are doing is we are picking up people from all corners of the world and we are sticking them into projects, whether it’s shortterm or medium-term, but where they can earn reasonable money, live in a different country, live offshore, whatever that may be.”

Deepwater drilling, one of the most difficult but most lucrative parts of the extraction business, has mainly been centred in the Gulf of Mexico.

But in the past decade, Brazil has become a key player, exploring untapped reserves in the Santos basin as far away as 300 km southeast of Sao Paulo, and at depths of over 1,500 metres. That drive is sucking in hundreds of rig operators, drillers, engineers and other technicians.

On the other side of the world, China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) aims to build capacity to produce one million barrels per day of oil equivalent in deep waters offshore China by 2020.

India, Asia’s third-biggest oil consumer, is also expanding into the deep waters of the Bay of Bengal.

There were 540 offshore oil rigs in the world last year and, by the end of 2012, the number should rise by 51 to 591, says Faststream Recruitment, a UK-based firm that specialises in hiring for the shipping, oil and gas industry.

It is the biggest jump for any year in the past decade, said Mark Robertshaw, managing director of Faststream. In 2013, the number will grow by 28 to 619.

The increase would mean more than 11,000 new jobs over the next 12 to 18 months

JPY 0,11 0,14 0,15 0,19 0,31 0,52

LIBOR RATES (London Interbank Borrowing Rates) AS AT 22/10/2012

CAD 1,01 1,08 1,15 1,24 1,54 1,98

AUD 3,28 3,37 3,45 3,55 3,71 4,05

25 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Business & Jobs

life but high Be prepared for the taxing times ahead on the oil rigs years but workers remain scarce

Johnathan Roberts is now saving up for a $2m ranch from a total of 117,000, based on an average need of about 184 jobs on one rig, he said.

“If you consider that over the past 10 years, the annual

number of rigs under contract has grown to average 539 during 2011, it becomes apparent that offshore employment for workers actually housed on

floaters and jackups will spike significantly,” Robertshaw said.

The labour crunch has already seen pay for a roustabout, the least skilled worker on a rig, nearly double in the past five years to $18-$20 an hour. A roughneck, a rank higher, earns about $27-$28, said Roberts, the US rig manager.

“When the rousta gets a raise it doesn’t just stop there,” he said. “It goes all the way to the top.”

A rig operates on 12-hour shifts and typically workers do 14 days and then rotate out for a break for another 14 days.

The schedule puts off many and with salaries in IT and other industries growing, an engineering graduate or technician has other options.

“Skilled labour is becoming difficult to find,” said Scott Kerr, chief executive of Norwegian deepwater drilling company Sevan Drilling.

For rig men like Roberts, the money is not to be sneezed at.

“After clearing taxes, my first check after one week was $167,” he said. “My first apartment was very small, it was a little bitty one bedroom studio.”

Today, Roberts owns a home in a community in Texas that has manicured lawns, landscaped gardens and four golf courses. He is saving to buy a $2 million ranch.

“I didn’t come up with a silver spoon in my mouth, I came up working through the ranks,” he said.

TAXES have been rising across Europe this year, and it looks increasingly like we need to prepare ourselves to pay more tax here in Cyprus too.

Cyprus is on the verge of being the next eurozone country to receive a financial aid package from the troika - the European Central Bank, European Commission and International Monetary Fund.

The bailout fund is expected to exceed €10 billion, more than half the island’s €17 billion output. The troika has submitted draft proposals for the government to save €975 million over the next four years, though the government is reportedly hoping to cut the deficit gap by €1 billion over five years.

It is understood the president is looking at tax rises rather than spending cuts, believing there is room for higher taxes, both direct and indirect.

For a start VAT is likely to increase again.

We also understand that the government is considering reducing the taxable threshold for local property tax from €120,000 to €40,000 and proportionally increasing the tax rates.

We cannot rule out the possibility that it will look to earn more revenue from income taxes, whether from employment or capital. Tax rates here are still comparatively low. Let us look at how Cyprus compares to the other popular destinations for British expatriates.

Looking at tax on investment income, in Cyprus we now pay 15 per cent tax (defence contribution) on bank interest and 20 per cent on dividends. There is still no tax on capital gains from shares and securities.

Investment Bill Blevins Bill Blevins is Managing Director of Blevins Franks International. Tel: 26-912315 In Spain, all “savings income” is grouped together and taxed at between 21 and 27 per cent. In Portugal the fixed rates of tax on bank interest and capital gains increased from 20 per cent to 25 per cent last year (30 per cent if in a tax haven).

In France interest is taxed at 24 per cent, dividends at 21 per cent and capital gains at 19 per cent, plus 15.5 per cent social charges. The government plans to tax this income at the scale rates of income tax, so higher earners will pay more.

INCOME TAX When it comes to the scale rates of income tax, the top rate is 35 per cent in Cyprus with a relatively high tax free threshold of €19,500. In Portugal the top rate is 46.5 per cent; in Spain 52 per cent and in France a new 45 per cent rate is about to be introduced, plus a temporary 75 per cent rate for income over €1 million.

Spain and France also impose wealth taxes and inheritance taxes; taxes which we have so far escaped here in Cyprus.

Cyprus still applies a favourable tax regime for foreign pension income; hopefully this will remain in place.

Besides higher taxes govern-

ments are stepping up efforts against tax evasion. Cyprus is also introducing new measures to this effect.

As reported here in the Sunday Mail, the government is looking to agree a withholding tax deal with Switzerland, similar to the Swiss/UK one due to start in January. Besides imposing withholding taxes on future earnings a retrospective one-off levy will be applied to cover past unpaid tax.

The Cyprus Inland Revenue department will start looking at visible wealth, in this case properties, to see how it compares to information the owner supplied on his tax return. It has asked municipal authorities for financial information on properties worth over €500,000 or which cover more than 400 square metres.

It also looks likely that in future every person employed in Cyprus will have to submit a tax return, even if they earn less than the threshold. Currently only around half of employees submit one.

Expatriates in Cyprus have benefited from a relatively benign tax regime so far.

However times are changing and it is time to pay more attention to tax planning.

Speak to an advisory firm like Blevins Franks to establish the best way to structure your savings and investments to legitimately avoid unnecessary tax.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice.

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

26 October 21, 2011 • SUNDAY MAIL

27 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

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

MISCELLANEOUS

PERSONAL **************************** WE BUY GOLD FOR CASH – BEST PRICES ON THE MARKET, in any condition, any carats. Call us for a quote tel: 99758048 ***************************** WHOEVER HAS UNWANTED CD/DVD, books, decorative items and homeware in good condition can donate it to the Hiv Cyprus Foundation so we can re-sell them at the Gynaikopazaro in Nicosia every first Saturday of the month in support of these families. We can even collect them from your house or if you dont live in Nicosia you can send them via Akis/Travel Express and we can pay the fare.

For further info please contact 99 55 95 94. Thank you! ***************************** 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. ***************************** ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS CYPRUS Is drink costing you more than just money? AA could be the answer.

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

Ayia Napa Monday 97798043 Larnaca Tuesday (Polish spk) 96616589 Thursday 24645523 / 99259264 Limassol Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday / Saturday 25368265 / 99559322 Nicosia Wednesday/Sunday 99013596 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.

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385 ENGLISH LESSONS with qualified teacher, €17 per lesson in student’s home. Nicosia. Contact Katerina 99710226 *****************************

PETS GENTLEMAN , 50’S, tall dark with medium build, not bad looking, home and car owner, would like to meet a nice lady, any nationality, not as important as personality, medium or slim build, be nice if able to drive, please text or call: 99099003 – Paphos area ***************************** WHITE BRITISH MALE 50 would like to meet similar female for friendship, romance, casual relationship. No strings attached.

Call Toney on 95705649 or text any time. ***************************** AUSTRIAN INGENEUR, 50 years, searching for a nice women. Mobile:004917365562 or 00491726293462

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

HEALTH & FITNESS ***************************** CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE, cupping, skin honing, massage. For alleviation of aches, pains, stress and improvement of body tone. Pafos area - call 9922 1851 for appointment ***************************** CLINICAL PILATES. Personalised Clinical Pilates by Physiotherapists in Nicosia. Individual assessment and supervision of exercises. “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. *****************************

LESSONS ***************************** TIME FOR A CAREER CHANGE? Learn how to teach English!

The London Teacher Training College is offering TEFL Certificate courses in Cyprus. For more information call now on 99839307. ***************************** PRIVATE TUITION Experienced, UK-qualified teacher and tutor offers full or part-time private home tuition in Maths, English, the Sciences, Geography, History, Business Studies and Economics to iGCSE, AS and A2 levels. Tel 99318796. *****************************

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

REX is a German Shepherd/boxer cross medium to large size male dog around 1 year old.

Friendly with other dogs , cats and people. At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact Elena on 99520511 mon-frid 10-2pm. *****************************

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

SERVICES ***************************** RENOVATION NEEDED All aspects of renovation on, plumbing, painting, ceramica, art decors and gypsum. All High European Standards Nicosia Area. Information Tel 99816698 or 99832814

VERY HANDSOME MALE GSD MIX, medium sized, around 3 years old. Good temperament.

A kind dog. He is miserable at the shelter. Give him a chance!

At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact Elena on 99520511 mon-frid 10-2pm. *****************************

MIKA is a 4 month old spaniel mix puppy. Black and white colour.

She will be a small sized dog.

Very playful and friendly. ! At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact Elena on 99520511 mon-frid 102pm. *****************************

UPHOLSTERY, RUG, BLINDS + CURTAIN CLEANING Rugs from 20€ - Carpets from 38€ Fabric Suites from 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 ***************************** PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses. Special offers now available. For a quote call Ricky’s Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) rickyscleaningservices@gmail.com ***************************** LOGS FOR SALE olive, carob and eucalyptus. Delivered to your door free 12 euro per 20 kilo bag tel 99682243 or 99588114 By the Tom the log man. ***************************** KEEP YOUR HOME COOLER IN SUMMER AND WARMER IN THE WINTER by having Windowfilm professionaly fitted.

Stops up to 86% of heat from entering/leaving your home!

Windowfilm increases privacy, blocks harmful uv-rays which cause fading, reduces glare and saves energy costs on air-con/ heating. Call Ian on 99979671 ***************************** 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

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

on 99579602 Limassol ***************************** COMPUTER ASSISTANCE. PC repairs &servicing. Fully qualified engineer over 35 years experience. Island wide coverage.

Call Bill 99114617. email:bill@ computass.comadmail ***************************** EXPERIENCED PAINTER at very reasonable prices! Decorative coatings, house painting, sprits and graphiato, varnishing, damp proofing and protection from humidity for walls and ceilings. Free estimates! Call Harry on 97768020 ***************************** 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 *****************************

FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS ***************************** SHOP FITTINGS AND STOCK FOR SALE Greeting and Gifts the card shop in Kissonerga is closing down and has all shop fixtures and fittings for sale including remaining stock. Can deliver. Tel 99850276 ***************************** 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: 99-168943

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND TIMI, PLOTS, a few selected available, seaview, near the 2 golf courses, Venus Rock and airport 60% building factor, €99.000. Half registration fees til the 31.12.12. Tel. 99621914 LARNACA, ALETHRIKO, plots for sale, 525 sqm, 90% building factor, near highway LimassolLarnaca, 5 min from airport, quiet residential area €109.000.

Half registration fees till the 31.12.12. Tel. 99621914 PLOT LOCATED IN MESA GEITONIA, LIMASSOL 617sqm.

100% build. Ideal for the construction of apartment building or 1 or 2 large houses. Price re-

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 27 Employment Miscellaneous 27 Pets 27 Lessons 27 Health & Fitness 27 Personal 27 Services 27 For Sale Miscellaneous 27 For Sale Land/ Property Business 27 For Sale Motor vehicles 28 Wanted 28 To Let Nicosia 28 To Let Limassol 30 To Let Larnaca 31 To Let Paphos 31 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -To Let Athens 33 Land For Sale Bulgaria -For Sale Nicosia 33 For Sale Limassol 33 For Sale Larnaca 33 For Sale Paphos 33 For Sale Ayia Napa 33 For Sale Famagusta Protaras 33 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads 34

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

28 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser FOR SALE B.P./LAND duced to € 360.000 tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/listinglim-0170 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 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 FOR SALE PLOT of 528sqm located in Paphos Municipality in the Agios Paulos area. It offers a large 100% build factor, and is suitable for the construction of a large house or apartment building. Price € 260.000 tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/listingpaf-0007 SALE OF FIVE ADJACENT PLOTS in Paphos.Considered a significant investment opportunity because the plots are located in a central area of Paphos(very close to the central public market).Sale of either all together or independently.

Prices: €220000 – 250000 each.

Call 99494753 TREMITHOUSA, plots for sale in a very quiet area, unobstructed sea and mountain views, 600 – 700 sqm, prices from €170.000 Tel: 99510420 PRIME LAND IS AVAILABLE FOR LONG LEASE IN LIMASSOL. 40,000 sq.m. , zoning Ka7 (80% -45% - 3 stories).

Regular amphitheatrical shape overlooking Ladies Mile. Close

FOR SALE B.P./LAND to New Limassol Hospital with direct access to Limassol – Paphos Highway. Water supply, electricity and telephones are readily available. Suitable for immediate development. Ideal for various health facilities and resorts, holiday centres, commercial and shopping centres, entertainment enterprises etc.

Information: Tel. 22 674338, 99621554 FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554. ***************************** LAND FOR SALE: Drousia: 251m2, BD90%, €50.000; Drymou: 1143m2, BD10% €70.000; Innia: 335m2, BD90% €80.000 (stone house); Lasa: 3679m2 BD90% €300.000; Lasa: 2342m2 BD10% €80.000; Letympou: 669m2 BD10% €85.000; Armou: 4000m2, BD10%, €350.000 (with building permit); Marathounta: 7693m2, BD10%, €150.000; Pegeia: 1942m2, BD10%, €300.000; Stroumpi: 846m2, BD90%, €150.000. 99632096/99588110 WWW.CYLANDIA.EU

WANTED TO RENT FLAT OR HOUSE TO RENT, 2-3 bedrooms, veranda/terrace or garden, prefer furnished, SW of Nicosia (in approx area Lakadamia to Kapedes and Kalo Chorio) alan.tye@birdlifecyprus.org. cy, 22455072, 99089083.

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200XL Custom, as new condition, only 8,500 K, has many extras including pillion seat, luggage rack, saddle bags, electronic fuel gauge, and many more.

All taxes paid. priced to sell €5,500.00. Tel 99 009104 *****************************

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

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. ***************************** ROOM FOR RENT suitable for student or single person / either male or female the address is: 71 Arsinois Str, Strovolos, flat 301. Near Kennedy Ave, Terra Santa School, Phillips Collage.

The place is quiet and clean.

We prefer European students or European citizen. Contact 99961282

***************************** TO LET 2-bedroom, fully detached house, with sitting & dining room, living room, office/study room, 2 bathrooms, 2 verandas, a/c, central heating, solar, covered garage in a quiet neighbourhood in Ayios Andreas, Nicosia – €600/month.

Call: Thanos - 99543533 ***************************** FOR RENT studio Nikis Ave. 430, Ag. Andreas 295, 1 bdrm Platy 480 furnished, Kennedy Ave.

furnished 440, 2 bdrm Lykavito furnished 575, Nikis Ave. furnished 500, Acropolis brand new furnished 550, Ag. Dometios ground floor with garden 600, 3 bdrm Ag. Omologites house ideal for cultural centre/ spa 850, Strovolos 600, 4 bdrm Acropolis ground floor 800, Dasoupolis new independent house 1200. 21 PROPERTY FINDER LTD. A.M. 627, A.A. 108/E 99474839, 99646822 *****************************

FOR RENT 3 B/R apartment fully furnished close to Central Bank.

3 W.C., fully air-conditioned extra storeroom, owned covered parking. Excellent condition.

Information: Tel. 99621554 FOR SALE 1997 JAGUAR XJ6 Only 60,000km! Classic model English racing green Automatic, A/C, ABS, Cruise control White leather interior, CD. Fully serviced Must be seen. If you ever dreamed of owning the world’s most beautiful car at a bargain price now you can. Just €7,997 Call 22663400 2pm-4pm *****************************

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA FOR RENT 3 bedroom flat completely renovated in Strovolos.

JUST RENOVATED 3 bedroom house for rent in Aglandjia. 2 wc’s. Large back yard including an independent extra room with wc and kitchen. Not attached.

Contact 99032795

CARE GIVER WANTED To look after an old lady in a wheelchair.

Contact: 22 428 465

English-Painter & Decorator

SELEC Fencing & Decking Specialist

Fully Qualified 30 years’ Experience

For all your Garden and Security Fencing

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

♦ 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. SELEC fencing 99176557

29 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Advertiser

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

WHOLE FLOOR OFFICE FOR RENT in Ayios Andreas, Nicosia, 240 m2, 8 offices plus conference room, reception area, kitchen and WC, structured cabling, hot and cold aircon, 1800 euros pcm, tel. 99 895649 ***************************** TO LET Lykavitos, off Kallipoleos, 2-Bedr. 3rd floor corner flat. bright, 2 balconies, large, open plan lounge, kitchen with fitted oven-Hobs, AC hot/cold, solar heater, storeroom, parking.Tel: 97-694336, 99-692316. ***************************** FOR RENT – three-bedroom flat in Lykavitos, Nicosia. Open plan fully-equipped kitchen and living area, two bathrooms, air conditioning and central heating. Big veranda. Near the town centre and University of Cyprus.

Contact 99-721911 / 99-454141 ***************************** 3 BEDROOMS flat on second floor in a block of six flats, in a nice position at Strovolos area, fully a/c, c/h, covered parking place for one car, recently painted. Rent €650pm. (furnished if

required). Tel: 97773358. ***************************** 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 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 - Strovolos €2500 (H5ST10001-R), (photos in the website).

2. 3 bedr + office space luxury ground floor house with central heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, big sitting and dining room, separate kitchen fully equipped with family room, big covered veranda, garden with grass, FULLY FURNISHED AND EQUIPPED, covered parking in a quiet area

TO LET NICOSIA opposite Apoel training field.

Available also if needed 1 bedr apartment in the basement with higher rent - ARCHANGELOS €1200 (H4AR0015-R), (photos in the website).

3. 2 bedr fully renovated semi detached house 120 sq. m, a/c for hot and cold, small yard, FULLY FURNSIHED or not, double glazed windows with aluminum shutters, in a quiet area off Nikis behind Burger King - ACROPOLIS €650 (H2ACS0001-R), (photos in the website).

4. 3 bedr ground floor semi detached house, 170sq.m, central heating, 3 a/c, 2wc, big kitchen with cooker, oven, big front veranda, small yard, in a very quiet neighbourhood near Areteion hospital and Alpha Mega supermaket. Available end of September - Dasoupoli €650 (H3DAS0007-R), (photos in the website).

5. 4 bedr new luxury detached house, separate maid’s room, central heating, full Ac, 260sq.m, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances, blinds on all the windows, 4wc, 2 showers, 1 bathroom, 2 covered parking, big garden with grass in a quiet neighbourhood in a dead end near French Ambassador house - Strovolos €1400 (H4ST10045-R), (photos in the website).

6. 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

TO LET NICOSIA supermarket - STROVOLOS €1200 (H4ST10007-R), (photos in the website).

7. 3 bedr upstairs and one downstairs luxury detached house built in 2 plots of land with big garden and big over floor swimming pool 4 X 10, central heating, full a/c, 2 covered parking, FULLY NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, double glazed windows(PVC), electric shutters on all windows, in a very quiet neighbourhood, in the centre of Latsia near Carrefour - LATSIA €2700 (H4LAT0010-R), (photos in the website).

8. 4 bedr luxury detached house + big separate maid’s room, central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining area, big separate family room with fire place, big kitchen with breakfast area, 4wc, parquet floor all the house, mature garden on the front and back of the house, 3 covered parking, in a quiet area - PARISSINOS €2300 (H4PA20006-R), (photos in the website).

9. 3 bedr upstairs and 2 separate bedroom in the basement luxury detached house(all the bedrooms with en suite bathrooms/ shower), also separate kitchen and sitting room in the basement which has also separate entrance from the house, central heating, full a/c, solid parquet floor all the house, big sitting and dining room with fire place, big fully equipped kitchen with breakfast area and family room, big overfloor, swimming pool with covered patio area with fully equipped bar(bbq, fridge, freezer, cooker),mature garden

TO LET NICOSIA around the house,2 parking places, alarm system near the Cyprus Conference CentrePLATY AGLANTZIAS €3500 (H5PAG0002-R), (photos in the website).

10. 4 bedr semi detached house with central heating, 4 a/c, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, 180sq.m, electrical appliances, small yard, bbq area, off Kostantinoupoleos street near French ambassador residence.- STROVOLOS €900 (H4ST10043-R), (photos in the website).

11. 4 bedr luxury semi detached house with good size garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area, central heating, a/c units, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, 2 covered parking, FULLY FURNISHED AND EQUIPPED, in a quiet area in a dead end close to all amenities and schools.

ANTHOUPOLIS €1300 (H4ANT0002-R), (photos in the website).

12. 2 bedr + attic room luxury house with central heating, full expensive air conditions Daikin, blinds, cooker and oven in the kitchen, in a quiet area near Sampson farm - STROVOLOS €700 (H3ST10013-R), (photos in the website).

13. 3 bedr detached house with extra room for office,250sq.m, central heating independent, 4a/c, big renovated, kitchen with cooker and oven, big sitting and dining room with parquet floor and fire place,1bathroom,1 shower,2wc, 2 covered parking, big verandas surrounded by trees and bushes off 28th October street - Makedonitissa

TO LET NICOSIA €1300 (H4STI0043-R), (photos in the website).

14. 4 bedr luxury detached house + separate maid’s room and playroom in the basement, 2 closed covered parking, central heating, full a/c, big swimming pool and patio around the pool, garden, big sitting and dining room, separate TV room next to the kitchen, office space, big kitchen with cooker, oven and dishwasher in a quiet area near the football stadium - MAKEDONITISSA €2000 (H4MAK0031-R), (photos in the website).

15. 4 bedrs new luxury detached house, all the bedrooms very big and all with big bathroom/ shower, sitting room upstairs, attic room with shower and wc, office space/maid’ s room with shower and wc, central heating, full AC,450sq.m, big sitting and dining areas, big kitchen with sitting area and fitted cooker and oven,6 wc, 2 covered parking’s, big yard with tiles and garden with grass, bbq area in a very quiet neighbourhood near the CYBC ( RIK) station and near a neighbourhood park – Aglantzia €2000(H4AGZ0005-R), (photos in the website).

16. 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

30 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA quiet neighbourhood close to Alpha Mega supermarket Engomi - €3000 (H4PA20005-R), (photos on 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. 3 bedr furnished apartment, 140sq.m, near Cyprus Hilton, kitchen, bathroom and extra guests toilet, large sitting room, opposite a small park, recently renovated independent oil central heating, air conditions, solar heater, covered parking – Acropolis €630 (A3ACS0040-R), (photos in the website).

2. 2 bedr luxury apartment, 3 a/c for hot and cold, covered veranda, NICELY FURNISHED, covered parking on a small building 200 METRES from Akropolis Park. Price includes common expenses – Dasoupolis €620 (A2DAS0027-R), (photos in the website).

3. 2 bedrs luxury big apartment in a small building with 4 apartments only, very big bedrooms with parquet floor, 125sq.m, central heating independent, 3ac,Fully nicely furnished separate kitchen, big sitting and dining area,2wc,covered parking behind Hilton hotel off Kennedy and Makarios close to the centre.– NICOSIA CENTRE €600 (A2NIC0026-R), (photos

TO LET NICOSIA in the website).

4. 2 bedr spacious luxury finished apartment in a small modern building with electrical floor heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, big bedrooms, big sitting and dining room, FULLY NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, big covered veranda, covered parking and storage room, off Kennedy avenue in a quiet area – ACROPOLIS €800 (A2ACS0030-R), (photos in the website).

TO LET NICOSIA the website).

8. 1 BEDR fully renovated apartment, FULLY NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, a/c for hot and cold, in a quiet area near Agios antonios market. - LYKAVITOS €450 (A1LYK0020-R), (photos in the website).

5. 2 bedrs big luxury flat, 110sq. m+big covered veranda, CH ind, 3 a/c, cooker, oven in the kitchen, roller blinds, 2 bathrooms, 2 wc, parquet and granite floor, big bedrooms, big sitting and dining room, covered parking, intercom, on a small building with 6 flats only near Coca Cola factory 2 km from McDonalds in Egomi – Agios Dometios €550 (A2ADO0013-R), (photos in the website).

9. 3 bedr luxury spacious floor apartment on the 4th floor of award winning building,200sq. m+big covered veranda, central heating independent, full built in air conditions, lighting fixtures, curtains and blinds on all windows, big spacious living room with fire place, big kitchen with double cooker, oven and microwave and breakfast area, double glazed windows, all the bedrooms with en suite shower/bath, big satellite dish with sky decoder,2 covered parking and storage room, close to American embassy and other amenities – ENGOMI €1600 (A3ENG0025-R), (photos in the website).

6. 1 bedr new modern luxury apartment, 50sq.m, 2 a/c for hot and cold, nicely modern furnished, 3rd floor, covered parking, 6 year old in a quiet neighborhood off Kantaras street. - STROVOLOS €400 (A1ST10009-R), (photos in the website).

10. 3 bedr ground floor apartment, 200 sq. m, 2wc, big sitting room with fire place, solid parquet floor, a/c for hot and cold in all the rooms, covered parking, near Eleon swimming pool - ENGOMI - €800 (A3ENG0020-R), (photos in the website).

7. New 2 bedr luxury apartment, 90sq.m, storage heaters, 3 a/c, cooker and oven, covered verandah, 2 wc, NICELY FURNISHED, covered parking and storage room of Kyriakou Matsi street near the centre – Agioi Omologites €650 (A2AOM0008-R), (photos in

11. 3 bedr luxury spacious ground floor apartment with separate entrance, big verandas and garden, big sitting and dining room, central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, very big master bedroom, electrical appliances in the kitchen, aluminum shutters on windows,

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

parquet laminate floor all the flat, covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighborhood in a dead end street, off Athalasas Avenue behind Stephanis near English School €800 (A3ST10030-R), (photos in the website).

12. 4 bedr new luxury finished apartment, 160sq.m+35sq.m covered veranda, big sitting and dining room, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, Daikin air-conditions for hot and cold in all the rooms, 2 bedrs with en suite shower/wc, 4wc, 2 covered parking, in a small modern building off Makarios Avenue in a quiet neighbourhood – Nicosia Centre €1400 (A4NIC0001-R), (photos in the website).

13. New luxury 2 bedr apartment, open plan kitchen, 3 a/c for hot and cold, blinds on all the windows, nicely expensive full furnished with real leather sofas, double bed, big dining table, LCD 32”, satellite dish with receiver, internet, very big bedrooms with big and many wardrobes, covered parking and storage room, in a quiet area near BMH – Aglantzia €570 (A2AGZ0001-R), (photos in the website).

14. 3 bedr luxury spacious fully renovated apartment with separate central heating, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 3 wc, parquet floor all the flat, big sitting and dining areas with fire place, big covered veranda, covered parking, blinds, cooker and oven in the kitchen, covered parking, on a small 2 storey

building, walking distance to the centre – Lykavitos €1000 (A3LYK0009-R), (photos in the website).

15. 2 bedrs new luxury apartment, sitting room open plan with kitchen which includes cooker, oven, refrigerator and washing machine, 2 wc, central heating ,full AC, blinds on the windows, very big covered verandas, covered parking and storage room in a dead end off Athalassas avenue near Laiki popular bank and Hellenic bank headquarters. - DASOUPOLI €580 (A2DAS0006-R), (photos in the website).

For many more properties with photos visit our website at w w w. l a n d t o u r i s t e s t a t e s . com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225 / 96-422225 / 96422226 www.landtouristestates.com **************************** 2 BDRM flat in the centre of Nicosia. Rent €450. For information call 99453663, 99663927. ****************************

LIMASSOL ***************************** OFFICE FOR RENT opposite sea with amazing sea views.

120sqm, 2 bathrooms, kitchen. Security system, cabling and server room ready. Price €1300/month tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/listing-LIM0103 BRAND NEW OFFICE FOR

TO LET LIMASSOL RENT on busy shopping street in Limassol 170sqm, raised flooring, ready to be occupied.

Price €3000/month tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/listinglim-0155.

BRAND NEW SHOP FOR RENT on busy shopping street in Limassol 190sqm basement, 150sqm shop area + 75sqm upper floor ready to be occupied. Price € 6000/month tel.

99 330 908 **************************** 2 BEDROOM MAISONETTE, LIMASSOL (Le Meridien area), semi-detached, F/F, hot/cold A/C, wi-fi internet, fly screens, shutters, private garden, parking, communal pool, tennis, quiet area, 4min to beach, #30 bus stop. € 800 p/m. For photos www.acasalimassol.iowners.net, or call 99 385314.

FOR RENT 3 bedroom detached upper house at Apostolos Andreas (Haraki) area, in Limassol. Rent €500. Tel 99497576, 99924444, 99886775 **************************** GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year.

Laminated parke floor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms.

Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775 **************************** 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 *****************************

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31 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

TO LET LARNACA LARNACA **************************** VERY LONG TERM RENT 160 sq m on ground floor. Very clean spacious open plan living. Perfect for expat or retired couple looking for a quiet life in peaceful area. Only one minute walk to Orphanides, Marks and Spencer and St Raphael Clinic.

Own courtyard. Small dog welcome. Sky satellite link. Also suitable for office space. Only English speaking on 99890128 FOR RENT: 2 bedroom apartment.

Quiet block in Drosia, Larnaca.

Fully furnished with new furniture. Freshly painted. Heating/ cooling. Big verandas. Includes parking. Reasonable price, will rent fast! Call 97774512. ***************************** FOR RENT 2 bed, 2 bath, new built apartment, in a quiet scenic location In Alethriko, Larnaca 5 min. to Larnaka, 5 min. to the beach Fully furnished, A/C, communal pool, under covered parking, Long term rent, €350.00 per month For more info pls call 99639378 ***************************** PROTEA APTS LARNACA Residential and holiday apts for rent monthly or weekly Larnaca – Dhekelia road, close to Golden Bay Hotel 1 & 2 bedroom apts, furnished and with low rent with swimming pool, 2 minutes walking distance from the beach, with a new pedestrian crossing in front of the building. Contact us on 99672466, 99404522, and 99078590

TO LET LARNACA ***************************** LARNACA FLAT FOR RENT: Fully-furnished spacious 2-bedroom first floor flat in central location near Metro supermarket, A/C, private parking, intercom system, en-suite bathroom, small block. Phone: 99354789 ***************************** FULLY FURNISHED one bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca. Price €370. Tel: 99202543 ***************************** 1. K.S.L LETTINGS – APARTMENT FOR RENT Fully Furnished 1st floor 2 bedroom apartment. High quality furnishings throughout. 400 Euros per calendar month. Pyla.

Quote TLL1088. 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 Simply Stunning !

Fully furnished 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom Villa with a good sized rear garden & private pool, located in the village of Oroklini. Call for further infor-

Advertiser TO LET LARNACA mation quoting Ref. TLL1415.

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 ***************************** FOR RENT ground floor house in Tremithousa Paphos. Call 99424559 UNIVERSAL AREA For Rent: Short Winter let. 3-6 Months Luxury 2 B/Room en suite Apt, f/f including 2 bathrooms, SKY TV, Ftv card, Nilesat TV, Wi-Fi Internet, Air Con, BBQ area, Com Pool, large patio, ground floor.

Located on a small complex in a quiet location Universal Area 15 Mins walk to Harbour. Rent 375 Euros (incl of Com charges) Mob: 99129750 email: fish.10@ live.co.uk ***************************** CORAL BAY, 6 and 4 bedroom villas for rent, private villas with swimming pools, air – conditioned throughout, furnished or unfurnished, sea views, special price /tel: 99565256 – no agents ***************************** A DELIGHTFUL AND SPACIOUS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

2 bedroom apartment, F/F, top floor, new, located at a peaceful location just 500 from St. George hotel in Choraka, with breathtaking sea views. With walking distance to amenities, part of a beautiful building with swimming pool, list and other amenities. Only €400pm Other apts also available.Call 99403261, 26934650 ***************************** EMBA-Traditional Detached 3 bedroom, F/F, very spacious property, large garden with a variety of fruit trees, fabulous kitchen, €450 TREMITHOUSA-Large Well Presented, U/,F 2 Bedroom Modern, Townhouse ,Enclosed rear garden, €350.

TREMITHOUSA-Beautiful 3 Bedroom Detached Property, U/F, Master En- Suite, Balcony Driveway, Gardens, €600.

TREMITHOUSA- 2 Bedroom, Traditional Village Bungalow, Very Large Court yard , Parking. €280 FULLY FURNISHED PROPERTIES WANTED MORE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 99862922 ***************************** 1. 1 bedroom, fully furnished apartment in Peyia in a small complex in a very quiet area, air condition throughout, spectacular sea and mountain views and communal pool, pets allowed Price: €270 o.n.o 2. 2 bedroom, fully furnished apartment in Peyia in a small complex in a very quiet area, 1 bathroom, air condition throughout, spectacular sea and mountain views and communal pool, close to all amenities, pets allowed Price: €320 o.n.o 3. 2 bedroom, fully furnished apartment in Peyia in a small complex, quiet area, 1 W/C downstairs, 1 bathroom , air condition throughout ,communal pool, balcony, lovely sea and mountain views, close to all amenities, satellite dish, pets allowed, Price: €370 o.n.o 4. 4 bedroom fully furnished detached Villa in Peyia in small complex, private swimming pool , BBQ area and small garden, 1 en-suite bathroom in master bedroom, downstairs bedroom and bathroom, air condition throughout, 2 balco-

nies, very spacious rooms, with additional storage space, lovely sea and mountain views, close to all amenities, satellite dish, pets allowed. Price : €750 o.n.o ALL THE ABOVE PROPERTIES ARE PRIVATELY OWNED PLEASE CALL : 99351008/99563020 ***************************** FLOWRON PROPERTY SERVICES LTD: PROVIDING AN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS: PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR RENT LONG TERM RENTAL. PROPERTIES WANTED: FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WITH KEY HOLDING AND RENT COLLECTIONS OFFERED 1 Tombs King: 3 bed furnished apartment with com to a comfortable standard, large veranda, near to all local amenities Ref: 1034 Price 350 2 Konia: 3 bedroom unfurnished town house with communal pool in nice residential area, near to all local amenities: Ref: 1027 Price 500 3 Yeroskipou: 2 bed furnished Town house , downstairs wc, kitchen, dining/sitting room, upstairs 2 bedroom, family bathroom: Ref: 1169 Price €350 4 Mesogi: Luxury 4 bed unfurnished villa with large living areas, downstairs bedroom with en suite, 3 bedrooms upstairs, Fire place, Modern villa, residential area. Private pool: fully fenced off: pets welcome Ref: 783 Price 750 5 Secret Valley: Large villa fully furnished in modern style, lovely large gardens, Private pool, quiet residential area, near golf area: Ref: 1171 Price €1000 6 Emba: 4 bedroom villa offered furnished, downstairs bedroom, 3 upstairs, en suite, family bathroom, closed garage, private pool, on its own very private no near by villas: Ref 0003 Price €900 7 Tala: 3 bedroom villa offered part furnished with private pool, stunning sea views, property is a family home, central heating, residential Ref: 988 Price €700 8 Mandria: Bed quality furnished large villa with private pool, off street parking, under floor heating, full AC, residential area: Ref: 1175 Price €1100

OFFICE: 120 MARKARIOS AVENUE, PAPHOS. OFFICE: 26600450 MOBILE: 97614070 many properties available on WEB: www.flowron.com Email info@flowron.com ****************************** LONG TERM RENTALS 1. CHLORAKAS 1 bed ground floor furnished apartment with central heating, communal pool and parking, sky TV. €350 pcm including all bills Call 96 545 174 for more info and to arrange a viewing.

2. KISSONERGA 2 bed town house, small garden, off street parking, close to bus and shops.

NO POOL €350 pcm Call 96 545 174 for more info and to arrange a viewing 3. SEA FRONT 2 bed apartment with massive balcony, fully furnished, parking. a/c, comm. pool, on site facilities, walking distance to amenities. €435 pcm Call 96 545 174 for more info and to arrange a viewing 4. PAPHOS 2 bed 2 bathroom house, a/c, ceiling fans, fly screens, storage, satellite TV, private parking, swimming pool, From €390 pcm Call 96 545 174 for more info and to arrange a viewing.

THIS IS JUST A SMALL SELCTION OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND MANY MORE PLEASE CALL EITHER 96 545 174 OR E-MAIL ON ENQUIRIES@ CYPRUSPROPERTYSOLUTIONS.COM LANDLORDS; WE NEED YOUR PROPERTIES NOW. PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT. ****************************** PROPERTY RENTALS From 250 Euros per month. Villas and apartments available.

Also wanted for waiting clients. www.johnalice-properties.com johnalicecy@gmail.com Tel: 00357 99984681 FOR RENT A selection of 1 to 5 bedroom houses & apartments F/F & U/F Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the Kings, Tsada, Timi & Kato Paphos Landlord & Owners please call 99329357 Or please view at are website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus ****************************

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32 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS PEYIA – 3 bedroom villa with modern quality furniture and finishes.

Central heating, 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. KONIA €500 beautifully designed 3 bedroom spacious townhouse, master with ensuite plus guest wc.

Finished to a high standard with modern fitted kitchen & bathrooms. Available unfurnished though includes security alarm system, flyscreens, storage area & blinds. Stunning pool area shared only with 3 other homes. website reference number: RTL_585 2. SEA CAVES €550 we are delighted to offer this detached 2 bedroom villa situated on a corner plot in a quiet residential area offering sea views.

Gated drive for off street parking. Fully enclosed good sized low maintenance garden with private pool offering privacy

TO LET PAPHOS and shaded areas. Available unfurnished or part furnished.

Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_482 3. UNIVERSAL AREA €550situated in a central location close to many amenities this large semi detached house offering 3 bedrooms plus 3.5 bathrooms. Enclosed garden with private pool. Separate utility room/storage room. Large verandas. Solar panels & sky satellite. Available furnished or unfurnished. website reference number: Rtl_425 4. TALA €625 unfurnished modern 3 bedroom detached villa offering total privacy & breathtaking sea views. Includes under floor heating plus real fire.

Master with ensuite. Storage room. Shutters & flyscreens.

Covered veranda, garden with mature plants, private pool offering sea views. Off street parking. A beautiful home. website reference number: RTL_530 5. MANDRIA €750 modern detached 4 bedroom villa, master with ensuite. Fully enclosed low maintenance garden offering private pool. Available unfurnished to include white goods, blackout blinds, curtains, ceiling fans & log burner for those winter months. Immaculate condition. Pets allowed at owners discretion.

Website reference number: RTL_633 offers considered.

6. CHLORAKA €750 spacious modern detached villa situated

TO LET PAPHOS in lower Chloraka opposite orange groves, offering stunning sea views. 3 bedrooms, master with ensuite. Guest wc.

Tastefully decorated and furnished with modern furniture.

Real fireplace for those winter months. Private gated drive.

Surrounding the property is a large landscaped garden with private pool. website reference number: RTL_326 7. KATO PAPHOS €800 large 4 bedroom detached villa situated in the sought after residential area of Limnaria. Walking distance to the beach and the many amenities of Kato Paphos. Spacious living accommodation offering an enclosed garden with c/pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture & solar panels. website reference number: RTL_442 8. TSADA €2000 fantastic 4 bedroom 4 bathroom villa offering breathtaking sea & mountain views from every aspect. Spacious living areas with central heating and real fireplace. Covered veranda leading to private pool with Jacuzzi and large stone built bbq area. Separate storage rooms, utility room & garage.

Available fully furnished or unfurnished. Offers considered. website reference number: RTL_639 Tel: 97790883 office: 26271858 visit our website for many more properties www.mrrentpaphos.net email: info@mrrent-paphos.net ***************************** RENTAL POINT - PAPHOS

TO LET 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 97648440 FOR MORE INFORMATION. LANDLORDS CALL IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT.!!!

1. MESA CHORIO – 2 bed 2 bath fully furnished ground floor

TO LET PAPHOS apartment set on an elevated position on this prestigious development. Open plan living area. Good sized kitchen. 2 double , bedrooms, master with en-suite shower room. Family bathroom. Large patio areas with enclosed gardens and lovely sea views. Covered parking and security gates.. Comm swimming pool, and landscaped gardens. Euros 425.00 a month.

2 bed apartment same complex

TO LET PAPHOS Euros 400.00 a month.

2 MESOGI 3 bed 3 bath furnished apartment in handy location close to the shopping areas.

Large open plan living area and dining area.. Fully fitted dining/ kitchen with appliances . Guest WC. Utilty room. 3 double bedrooms one with en-suite. Family bathroom. Balcony & and parking. Euros 500.00 a month. Suit non-drivers!

33 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

TO LET PAPHOS 3. TOMB OF THE KINGS – 3 bed fully furnished apartment in established block. Own entrance via stairway. Open plan living area. Dining kitchen. 3 bedrooms and family bathroom.

A/C, sat TV. Internet available.

Large balcony area. Parking.

Euros 350.00 per month 4. KISSONEGA - 3 bed 2 bath unfurnished villa. Set in enclosed gardens the villa consists of open plan living area. Full itted kitchen. Small utility area. Conservatory room. Ground floor bed room with en-suite. Stairs to two double bedrooms and family bathroom. Pool and off street parking. Euros 600.00 per month 5. STROUMBI – 2 bed fully furnished stone bungalow set in quiet location. Open plan living area with working fireplace. Spacious dining kitchen. 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom with corner bath. Landscaped gardens, swimming pool and covered parking. Realistically priced Euros 500.00 per month or close offers only 6. UNIVERSAL AREA. 2 bed fully furnished apartment. Living area, fitted kitchen. 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom. A/C, Enclosed garden area,comm. Pool and parking.

Euros 375.00 a month or offers.

1 & 2 bed apartments available on Universal starting at 250 euros per month.

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

Guest WC with storage area.3 double bedrooms. Master with en-suite bathroom. Family bathroom. Enclosed gardens, pool and off street parking. Realistically priced Euros 550.00 per month. OVNO FOR FULL LISTINGS OF APARTMENTS/TOWNHOUSES 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. ******************************

ATHENS ****************************** TO LET Ambelokipi, off Kifisias Ave. Penthouse, one bedr. flat, renovated, large fitted kitchen, balcony 10 sq.m. Very close to Panormou metro, buses, trolleys to centre, all shops nearby.

Rent: €350. Tel: 97-694336, 22428200. ******************************

7. CORAL BAY - 3 bed, 3.5 bath furnished/unfurnished villa situated very near to the centre and within easy walking of beaches and restaurants. Open plan living area with fully fitted kitchen.

Doors out to garden and pool.

Ground floor bedroom with ensuite. Separate guest WC. Stairs to 2 double bedroom both with en-suite and balcony areas. Private pool, gardens, BBQ area and covered verandahs. Central location.Euros 650.00 per month or close offers.

FOR SALE 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

8. STROUMBI– 3 bed 2.5 bath large unfurnished villa in quiet village area. Spacious open plan living area with feature fireplace and dining space Good sized fitted kitchen and breakfast area.

BARGAIN PRICE DETACHED HOME FOR QUICK SALE with title deeds. Located on a quiet cul de sac in Germasoyia within a short 2 minute drive to the beach and tourist area. 3 bed-

PROPERTY FOR SALE LIMASSOL

FOR SALE NICOSIA room. 325sqm plot, 160sqm house. Price € 385.000 tel. 99 330 908 www.cyprusre.com/ listing-lim-0337

NICOSIA NICOSIA, FLAT FOR SALE: 2 bdrm flat with title deeds, 110 sq.m., fully renovated, best central area, 800m from the European University, excellent view, €99.000. Tel. 99621914.

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 painted. €850,000.

Negotiable Call: 99 330 908 ****************************** HOUSE FOR SALE/RENT new independent 4 bedrooms house located in Kaithea (Latsia) area in Nicosia. The house is build on a plot of 299 sq m, with covered area 147 sq m. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom. Provision for central heating and a/c.

Price for sale: €265.000 incl VAT. Price for rent: €900 monthly.

For further information or to arrange a viewing please contact 99844789 ****************************** 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.

FOR SALE LARNACA LARNACA ARADIPPOU, Larnaca Magnificient Villa fully furnished reduced by thousands to €280,000.

3 - 4 bedrooms, lounge (marble floors), dining/sitting, utility, kitchen, ensuite, bathroom.

Many extras. Walk in condition e-mail: weetotie@cytanet.com. cy or phone 97851329 *****************************

PAPHOS 1. PAPHOS, FLATS FOR SALE OR RENT: Kissonerga, 3 bdrm flat with title deeds, in a block of 4 flats only, fully renovated, 2 baths, 146 sq.m closed area, c/h, a/c, covered parking, excellent view of sea and mountains, half registration fees titll 31.12.12 reduced to €135.000 or rent €450 per month. Tel. 99621914. ***************************** FOR SALE- PAPHOS 1. REGINA GDNS- 2 Bedroom Townhouse set on a luxury complex with 3 communal pools, private parking, private driveway, rear patio, solar panels, TITLE DEEDS. Covered area 92sq. mtrs. Priced to sell at €115,000.

2. FAROS BEACH- 2 Bedroom fully furnished apartment, situated 120m from a popular

FOR SALE PAPHOS

FOR SALE PAPHOS

beach off Tombs of The Kings.

Sea views, solar panels, private parking, spacious balcony, large family bathroom, TITLE DEEDS AVAILABLE. Priced to sell at €138,000.

bedroom en-suite, downstairs bathroom, private 8mx4m pool, to be sold including quality furniture. Covered area 132sq. mtrs on a plot 378sq. mtrs. TITLE DEEDS. Priced to sell at €295,000.

3. ATHENA GARDENS- Beautiful 2 Bedroom fully furnished ground floor apartment in Geroskipou with communal pools, gardens, large patio with roll down canvas sidings (low electricity bills). This property comes with many many extras and it is priced at 25% below value at €140,000. Covered area 96sq. mtrs.

4. UNIVERSAL- 2 Bedroom end of terrace Townhouse, situated close to the new school and bus route, with front garden, rear patio area, and communal pool, this property comes fully furnished and is priced for a quick sale at €98,000. TITLE DEEDS IMMINENT. 5. LIMNARIA GARDENS- 1 Bedroom fully furnished spacious top floor apartment with lounge leading to patio overlooking communal pools on a luxury complex. Shutters all round, heated pool with Jacuzzi, 200m from beach. Priced to sell at €135,000.

6. SECRET VALLEY- Splendid 3 Bedroom detached villa with master bedroom en-suite, enclosed gardens, private pool next to Secret Valley Golf Course and set in a quiet cul-desac. This beautiful villa comes furnished with high quality furnishings and a covered area of 154sq. mtrs. Set on a plot of 408sq. mtrs. Very reasonably priced at €370,000.

7. LOWER PEGIA- 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom detached villa with totally enclosed gardens, workshop and storage units. Master

8. MARATHOUNDA- Superb 4 Bedroom detached villa with a covered area 310sq. mtrs on a beautiful plot of 928sq. mtrs.

Set in an unspoilt area offering marvellous views. All bedrooms en-suite, large lounge with stone carved fire surround and wood burning fire, black granite work surfaces, traditional stone arches, private 8mx4m pool, outbuildings, garage. Many many extras. Price includes all furniture and white goods. TITLE DEEDS. Priced well below the market value at €475,000.

For further details please contact 99874804 or E-mail: rocpropertiescyp@gmail.com ***************************** KISSONERGA – PAPHOS, 3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in quiet edge of village, near all facilities shops etc, 2 bath, a/c, fly screens, fans, 6 mins from the beach, title deeds, €115.000 o.n.o tel: 26 950923/ 99987694 ***************************** FOR SALE special offer, €79,000 first floor apartment in Protaras, fully furnished with 2 bedrooms and a swimming pool. Walking distance to the beach of Ayia Triada and all amenities. Tel: 97 608941.

AYIA NAPA 1. AYIA NAPA, Studio for sale, 38 sqm, furnished and fully renovated, with title deed, in licensed complex, 500m from Nissi Beach €49.000. Tel. 99621914.

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

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION On September 10th, 2012 in accordance with Section 14.81.1 C of the Liberian Business Corporation Act Hinchinbrook Shipping Company (“Company”) with registration number C-113093 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 11th April 2013 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: September 10th, 2012 Camilla Strømstad Liquidation board.

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

34 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

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 STOP, SHOP AND GIVE TO THE ANIMALS! ALL DONATIONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR CHARITY SHOPS! 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 Tel 26910325 Shop No.2 Ap Pavlou Avenue, Kato Paphos Tel 26942894 Shop No.3 Gr. Afxentiou Avensia Court 3 Larnaca 24623494 Shop No.4 9 Ayiou Ioanni Street 3061 Limassol 25561695 Peyia Information Centre & Shop & T Rooms 26622828 Polis Information Centre & Shop & T Rooms 99223572 Book Exchange Shop Trimithousa 99771763 Our shops are always happy to receive your unwanted goods!

NOW YOU CAN HELP BY COLLECTING YOUR ALUMINIUM CANS AND HANDING THEM IN AT ANY PAPHIAKOS CHARITY SHOP OR THE CLINIC. SAVE AN ANIMAL AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!!

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.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR PAPHIAKOS CHARITY NO. 1529 WORLD ANIMAL DAY. On Thursday October 4th Paphiakos will be micro chipping pets for only €20 including all the paperwork.

For further information telephone 26953496.

To celebrate World Animal Day on Thursday October 4th Paphiakos will be offering free spaying/neutering for all feral and unwanted animals as they do throughout the year. Contact 26953496 for further details.

PAPHIAKOS SHELTER OPEN DAY The Open Day will be held on Sunday October 7th between 10am and 3pm. It will be a Family Fun Day out with a lot of different activities. There is car parking, toilets and refreshments on site so enjoy and join in the celebration of animals and what they bring to our lives. Entrance is €2 CHARITY HAIR CUT. On Thursday 4th October 09.30-17.30 without an appointment Andri at Atlantic Bay Hotel (2nd Floor) will be charging €5 for a haircut with all proceeds going to Paphiakos. Telephone Suzanne on 99151996 or Andri on 99604783.

PAPHIAKOS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. Saturday November 24th 9am – 3pm at the Crazy Spoon Restaurant. For further details contact 99151996.

Stalls, Santa’s Grotto, Donkey Rides, Pirate Pat and many more.

CHEMISTS NICOSIA SUNDAY 21/10/2012 A. Hadjiioannou & E. Antoniou, 14C Naxou St, Lycavitos. Tel: 22755999, 22429210, 22429429 (H) M. Spiritou, 109D Tseriou Ave, Strovolos. Tel: 22320553, 22496649 (H) Ch. Scoumpris, 26A+B Byzantiou St, Strovolos. Tel: 22661499, 22370357 (H) S. Stylianou-Kyriakou, Ayiou Pavlou 101, Tel: 22771122, 22590272 A. Demetriou, 5 Armenia St, Acropolis. Tel: 22333670, 22425240 (H) LIMASSOL M. Aristodemou 64 Ayias Fylaxeos Tel: 25366340, 25366244 (H) A. Karamanidou 30 Arch. Makariou Ave., Tel. 25728408, 25727517 (H) C. Pantelas, 97 N. Pattichi St. Tel: 25736646, 25734005 (H) LARNACA L. Papadopoulou, 143 Faneromenis St. Tel: 24654380, 24624699 (H) M. Lambi, corner Makarios & Gr Afxentiou Ave. Tel: 24626447, 24361185(H) PAPHOS A.I. Pistenty, 24 Tombs of the Kings Rd, Kato Paphos. Tel: 26950073, 26950778 (H) PARALIMNI G. Kayias, 6A Sotiras St. Tel: 23827020, 23744353 (H)

NICOSIA MONDAY 22/10/2012 A. Hadjichristodoulou, 56D Kennedy Ave. Tel: 22496994, 22358479 (H) M. E. Koula, 53C Kallipoleos Ave. Tel: 22377056, 22813435 (H) Ch. Tsangarides, 92 A. B Makedonitissis, Strovolos Tel: 22871954, 22319608 (H) T. Malloupa, 187 Gr. Afxentiou, Ayios Dometios. Tel: 22772653, 22337172 (H) H. Christodoulidis, 4 Andrea Awraamidi Tel: 22879747, 22324357 LIMASSOL G. Straggas 70 Saripolou Tel: 25362373, 25398250 or 22337990(H) P. Theodorou 47 Makariou Ave., Tel: 25566411, 25574038 (H) P. Panayiotou, Ayias Fylaxeos 225, Tel: 25770930, 25811860 LARNACA K. Kaymis, 88 Makarios III Ave. Tel: 24637044, 24626339 (H) C. Ioannidou, 14 1st April, Tel: 24650565, 24360974 PAPHOS G. Ioannou, Tombs of the Kings Rd, Kato Paphos, Tel: 26818397, PARALIMNI S. Stylianou, 7A Sotiras Street, Sotira.

Tel: 23812040, 70000440 (H)

DOCTORS ON DUTY NICOSIA Pathologist: Costas Schizas, Tel: 22311077, 99606611 Urologist: Achilleas Corellis, Tel: 70007773, 99562642 Gynaecologist: Aphrodite Elisseou, Tel: 99421050 Paediatric Surgeon: Eliana Eliadou, Tel: 99384324 Dentist: Stavros Sofocleous, Tel: 22519779, 99437361 LIMASSOL Pathologist: Georgios Vasiliou, Tel.: 99649905, 25750343, 25317383 Surgeon: Costakis Christophides, Tel: 25362325.

Neuro-Surgeon: Christos Kyriakides, Tel: 99696706 Paediatric: Maria Pericleous, Tel: 99884855, 25335178 Paediatric Surgeon: Georgios Hadjiconstantas, Tel.: 25730055, 25723914 Ophthalmologist: Andreas Elia, Tel: 25725134, 25353424, 99675811 Doctor: Maro Hadjikyriacou, Tel: 25341814, 25342003

35 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Compiled by Rosie Ogden

Motoring

Ford’s frugal Fiesta wins MPG marathon A Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi has won the 2012 ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon, clocking up 108.78mpg over a 370mile route involving tough, real-world driving in challenging weather conditions.

The annual event is a test of fuel consumption for showroom vehicles, which also demonstrates the financial benefits of simple, smarter driving techniques.

This year’s route through the hills of South Wales and the Cotswolds was made more challenging by a bridge collapse and a traffic light failure along the way.

Ford’s winning team, An-

drew Marriott and Andy Dawson, are both former rally drivers and, beat their nearest rival by over six miles per gallon.

Dawson and Marriott, however, were not the first team to break the magic 100mpg barrier on the day. A few minutes earlier, three-times former winner Mick Linford brought home his Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi eco in what appeared to be an unassailable 102.21mpg – the first time in the history of the event that a vehicle had achieved over 100mpg.

The super-frugal Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which boasts an official combined fuel

consumption of 85.6mpg and emissions of 87g per km CO2, proved that smarter driving can dramatically reduce the cost of running a family car. This year’s run demonstrated a 27 per cent improvement over its official combined fuel consumption figure.

Ford uses ECOnetic technology to ‘significantly assist’ the efficiency of Fiesta and FiestaVan models, by combining Start/Stop technology, combustion and calibration improvements, smart regenerative charging and revised gear ratios.

Event organiser Ross Durkin commented: “This

year’s MPG Marathon will be remembered for the two teams who beat the elusive 100mpg barrier – both superb performances.

“The average improvement over combined cycle figures achieved by the 27 vehicles in this year’s event was a whisker under 16 per cent - impressive by anyone’s standards.

“Manufacturers have done a tremendous job in improving the fuel efficiency of all news cars and vans, but motorists should see their published fuel consumption figures as a target to beat, not the maximum achievable.”

The annual event is a test of fuel consumption for showroom vehicles

Green Car of the Year arrives as Skoda unveil all-new Citigo Marks ‘the start of a new era’ in the company’s 117-year history ŠKODA’s all-new Citigo marks “the start of a new era” in the company’s 117year history. As the Czech manufacturer’s first ever city car, it expands the brand’s value-for-money appeal to a new type of customer.

“Citigo sets new standards of comfort, convenience, environmental considerations and technical sophistication” boasts the blurb, and we got the chance to try the car out last week after the first models arrived in Cyprus.

It’s the first model to wear Škoda’s revised ‘winged arrow’ corporate badge and is unashamedly aimed at younger drivers, families who need a second car and older motorists ‘with an active lifestyle’ (for the latter, read older motorists who prefer a small city runaround that will be cheap to run and get them comfortably from A to B).

Citigo has a bright, spacious cabin: presumably to keep costs low, the doors are not clad in fabric or hard plastic at the top, instead it’s bare paint, which certainly brightens the interior (though on the test drive it took me a while to get used to the bright cherry red splash of colour in my line of sight) but I do wonder whether it’s likely to get scratched with daily wear and tear.

Though the car looks diminutive, it can easily accommodate four adults, and it also has the largest boot in its class - and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

There is a choice of 3 or 5 door configuration and a power output of either 60 or 75PS, plus the option of GreenTech fuel-saving technologies including stop/start and brake energy recuperation.

A newly developed fivespeed manual transmission is standard, though an automatic gearbox is available on selected models. I tried both,

As the Czech manufacturer’s first ever city car, it expands the brand’s value-for-money appeal to a new type of customer and thought the automatic lacked smoothness – I much preferred the manual option. Since we are all watching our pockets these days, a huge selling point will be the fact that Citigo has official combined fuel economy as high as 68.9mpg, and environmentally conscious drivers will appreciate its CO2 emissions: just 96g/km.

The 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is not the sharpest tool in the box, with 0 – 100km/h acceleration at between 13.2 and 15.3 seconds, but then you don’t buy this sort of car if you want lots of oomph. In the safe place I go to test cars I didn’t manage to get it to 100 km/h in the area available for the emergency brake test, but at well over 80km/h it stopped with aplomb.

What you DO get is a neat, manoeuvrable little mo-

The Personal Infotainment Device (PID) will appeal to young buyers tor that feels bigger than it is – and will be kind to your purse. Standard equipment includes ABS, driver and passenger airbags, headthorax side airbag for the front seats and an adjust-

able steering wheel. There’s no remote to the central locking (which I think most of us have become so used to by now that it takes a while to think back to actually inserting a key in the lock!).

‘Citigo sets new standards of comfort, convenience and environmental considerations’ However, all this helps to keep the price down: prices for the 12-car Citigo line-up available in Cyprus begin at €8,900 for the entry level three-door model, with fivedoor cars only another €300.

I suspect that, in the difficult times that certainly lie ahead, these cars will be flying out of the showrooms.

Three trim levels are available: S, SE and Elegance, and can be personalised with a range of factory and dealer-fit options. One highlight, which will undoubtedly appeal to younger buyers, is the Personal Infotainment Device (PID), a dashboardmounted touch-screen which provides Bluetooth, sat-nav, and trip data.

Alasdair Stewart, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK, says “customers are demanding smaller cars and we believe we have one of the best on the market. The Citigo is innovative, full of character, practical and very fuel-efficient. People are going to fall in love with it, as they have with our other models.”

36 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport Japan win has given me so much belief, says Watson First British woman in 24 years to win a WTA singles event looks to future

By Giuseppe Muro

IN BRIEF

HEATHER Watson said this week she is confident she will continue her climb up the tennis rankings with more Tour titles after breaking into the top 50.

Her triumph at the Japan Open last Sunday saw her become the first British woman in 24 years to win a WTA singles event.

Sara Gomer was the last to achieve that feat and that happened four years before Watson was even born.

Watson rose from No.71 to a career-high 50th in the rankings on Monday but the 2009 US Open girls’ champion insists there is more to come. “I can do even better, climb the rankings and get another title or two,” said Watson, who had never previously got past the quarterfinals of a Tour event.

“But I’ve got to focus on the right things and not get too far ahead of myself. I want to set myself reasonable goals. I wanted to get inside the top 50 and, now that I have done it, I have more belief. It has given me more confidence and I’m really looking forward to next year.

“I’ve always believed in myself and earlier in my career I had opportunities to win titles but haven’t taken them or haven’t believed in myself as much.”

Last month, Laura Robson became the first British woman to reach a singles final since Jo Durie in 1990, although the 18-year-old lost in the climax to the Guangzhou International Open in China.

Watson, thanks to her victory in Osaka, has now replaced Robson as the British No1. The pair are close friends but the ever-smiling 20-year-old insisted: “It’s already a rivalry. When we see each other doing well,

Setting the standard: Heather Watson hopes to repeat her maiden Tour triumph

we want to do just as well or even better.

“Laura and I have come through the rankings together - juniors and seniors - and we’re both very competitive. We’re competing all the time, pushing each other, and we achieve good things. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends off the court.

“It was going to be our time sooner or later because we are both playing very well.

Tennis in this country is do-

ing so much better now. I want to inspire the younger generation and show people that they can do it, too.”

A LOT OF WORK Watson knows there is still a lot of work to be done if she is to become a force in the women’s game but with her season over she now has other things on her mind.

“The plan is to do absolutely nothing and rest for the next three weeks,” she

said. “Then I will start my training block here in London and then move to the States. I haven’t decided where I am going to start my season but it’s looking like Auckland.”

She may be unsure of when she will start her season but Watson is well aware of where she needs to improve.

“I think to get to that next level, you have to be aggressive,” she said. “The women’s game is so boom boom and if you don’t take your

first opportunity, they will.”

It was announced also announced this week that Watson will headline ‘Ladies’ Night’ at the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall on December 7.

Watson will partner Tim Henman in a mixed doubles match against British No.3 Anne Keothavong and Mark Philippoussis. “I am so excited to have the chance to play at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time,” said Watson.

Injured Baghdatis retires from Stockholm semi-final TOP SEED Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced to the Stockholm Open final yesterday after Marcos Baghdatis retired with an injury in the deciding set of their semi-final.

The Cypriot, who has been in good form recently, withdrew after taking a medical time-out with Tsonga leading 6-4, 4-6, 5-2.

Baghdatis appeared to pull a muscle at 4-2 in the decider, on a break point on Tsonga’s serve.

It was the Frenchman’s fourth win over Baghdatis in as many meetings.

In the final, world No.7 Tsonga will play Tomas Berdych, after the Czech beat Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-2 .

As for Baghdatis, he now travels to Switzerland where he will feature at the Swiss Indoors Basel injury permitting The Cypriot No. 1 has been successful in Basel over the years, reaching the final on his debut in 2005 eventually losing to Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in four sets.

Two years later, on his second appearance, he made it to the semi-finals, losing to Finn Jarkko Nieminen, while last season he was beaten by a dominant Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

The Cypriot was a break down in the decider before calling it quits

Flintoff backs Pietersen to come back with a bang

New York Yankees head home after Tiger mauling

New Jersey F1 race to be postponed say organisers

KEVIN Pietersen is likely to come out with all guns blazing when he returns to the England squad for next month’s Test series in India, former team mate Andrew Flintoff said.

The South African-born batsman was recalled by England this week after being dropped following a controversial text-message row.

“When Kevin’s got a point to prove he usually proves it with the bat,” retired all-rounder Flintoff told the BBC. “I think (new captain) Alastair Cook might benefit from all this. He might get KP at his best.”

THE New York Yankees headed home after being mauled by the Detroit Tigers, swept from the American League Championship Series in four games.

After leading the American League in wins and setting a team record for homers, the Yankees could not do much of either against the Tigers, who are on their way back to the World Series for the first time in six years where they will face either the St. Louis Cardinals or San Francisco Giants.

“It is extremely difficult,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters after the Tigers won Game Four 8-1. “You work a long time to get to this point every year and to have it end abruptly it is really, really difficult.”

NEXT year’s inaugural Grand Prix of America in New Jersey will be postponed to 2014 because local organisers need more time to prepare, race organisers said.

Organisers said the plan now was for a race in 2014, when the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi is also due to make its debut on the calendar after that year’s Winter Olympics there.

The waterfront Grand Prix of America, with the New York skyline as a backdrop, had been pencilled in for June 16 next year with an asterisk against it.

It would have followed a weekend after the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal as a North American double.

37 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Sport

All Blacks winning streak finally ends in Brisbane draw

Armstrong: ‘we will move forward’

By Corrie MacLaggan

Dan Carter misses last-gasp drop goal for NZ

By Nick Mulvenney NEW Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter missed a drop goal with the last kick of the match as the All Blacks’ winning streak was brought to an end at 16 matches in an 18-18 draw with a dogged Australia side yesterday.

The world champions, chasing a record-equalling 17th straight victory, had a chance to steal the spoils in an extraordinary end to the contest but Carter, who kicked six penalties, steered the ball wide right of the posts.

Australia, whose points came from five Mike Harris penalties and a long-range effort from Kurtley Beale, also had a chance to win the match after time was up, only to be penalised as they went through the phases looking for a penalty of their own.

Rather than kick the ball out to end the match, though, the All Blacks took a scrum and forced their way back into range for Carter’s attempt, a decision that disappointed coach Steve Hansen said showed “huge” character.

“It was probably one of the ugliest games of rugby I’ve seen,” he told reporters.

“We’re really, really disappointed, too many avoidable penalties, too many avoidable mistakes.

“But to play as poorly as we did and still manage to show the character and tenacity to get the draw was pleasing.

It’s not the end of the world but there’s enough pain and hurt in the dressing room to

make sure we learn the lessons from it.”

The All Blacks were uncharacteristically error-prone on what was a greasy surface at Lang Park but the Wallabies were also frustrated at not coming away with the win, despite starting the match as 6-1 underdogs.

“I expect the boys will be pretty disappointed because that’s a game we could have won,” said coach Robbie Deans.

“But put ourself in the position to win their game and to hold that All Blacks side tryless is a significant achievement.”

Captain Nathan Sharpe, playing his last match on Australian soil before retirement, was the heart of a Wallabies team that contributed to the All Blacks error count by putting immense pressure through a spirited performance.

The All Blacks had opened the proceedings with the ‘throat-cutting’ version of the haka in honour of hooker Keven Mealamu’s 100th Test cap but the Wallabies soon made it clear they were not going to play to the visitors’ script.

Fullback Harris gave them the lead after just two minutes when the All Blacks were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle area.

Carter made no mistake with his first two penalty attempts to give New Zealand the lead but nine more points from the boot of Harris gave the home side an unlikely lead.

All the offenses were in the tackle area and referee Craig Joubert warned All Black captain Richie McCaw after the third that he would sinbin the next offender.

The South African was true to his word and prop Tony Woodcock was shown the yellow card a minute before the break with the home side 12-6 ahead.

Woodcock had just returned when Beale boomed a penalty over from inside his own half to extend the lead to 15-6 but Carter, who had missed his two previous attempts, narrowed the deficit with two penalties in the next six minutes.

The latter offense had caused Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper to be sin-binned for tackling Aaron Smith off the ball and it looked like the All Blacks might impose themselves on the contest.

Carter duly levelled and put them ahead with his sixth penalty 10 minutes from time but the Wallabies hit back with Harris’s fifth to set up the dramatic climax and just the sixth draw in Tests between the nations.

The match was the third Test in the Bledisloe Cup series, which the All Blacks won courtesy of their victories in the first Two tests of the Rugby Championship.

A victory at Lang Park would have allowed the All Blacks to match the New Zealand team of the late 1960s and South Africa side of the late 1990s in being the only toptier teams to have won 17 straight matches.

The world champs had a chance to steal the spoils in an extraordinary end to the contest but Dan Carter, who kicked six penalties, steered the ball wide of the posts

Unbeaten Frankel bows out in gutsy style at Ascot

The world’s top-rated racehorse claimed his 14th straight win

UNBEATEN Frankel capped a brilliant career as he overcame testing conditions to claim his 14th consecutive victory in the Champion Stakes yesterday.

The world’s top-rated racehorse, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, beat Cirrus Des Aigles by a length-and-three-quarters in his final race before being retired to stud.

The four-year-old colt lost ground at the start and was slowly out of the stalls under Tom Queally.

In the softest ground he has encountered, the 2-11 favourite - considered one of the all-time greats - recovered and had enough to see off last year’s winner (9-2).

He was cheered continuously from three furlongs out by the sell-out 32,000 crowd.

Victory for Frankel took his career prize money to nearly £3m and his aggregate winning distance to more than

76 lengths.

Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah confirmed in the winners’ enclosure after the race that Frankel will be retired.

He is set to command a fee of £100,000 a time at stud, leading to a £100m valuation.

“He’s the best I’ve ever had, the best I’ve ever seen,” said Cecil, who is battling stomach cancer.

“I’d be very surprised if there’s ever been anything better.”

Frankel’s participation in the mile-and-a-quarter race had been placed in some doubt overnight after prolonged rain turned the going to soft, heavy in places.

But he delighted his followers by showing he could perform in all conditions to take the £1.3m highlight of British Champions Day, the country’s richest racing day.

Queally said: “No doubt he is better on better ground

but his class showed today.

I walked the track and was worried about conditions, but after walking the home straight I knew it was not too heavy for him to quicken up and go about his business and win.

“In that respect, there was always a little worry but he was in great heart today and looked a lot better than 12 months ago.

“What can I say about him? You never see a F1 car win on anything but tarmac but he may argue that case a little.”

A horse Frankel had left trailing into a place five times before illustrated the champion’s supremacy when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Excelebration, trained by Aidan O’Brien, justified odds of 10-11 to beat Cityscape by three lengths. Elusive Kate was third, with the Queen’s horse Carlton House fourth.

DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong told supporters of his Livestrong cancer charity on Friday night that it had been a difficult couple of weeks but the foundation’s mission must go on.

The seven-time Tour de France winner stepped down as the foundation’s chairman on Wednesday after a doping scandal badly tarnished his cycling career.

But Armstrong still took the stage at a gala dinner in Austin, Texas, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the charity’s founding.

“This mission is bigger than me - it’s bigger than any individual,” Armstrong said of the foundation, which helps people and families affected by cancer.

“We will not be deterred; we will move forward,” he said.

Armstrong, who is expected to learn tomorrow whether he will be stripped of his titles, said that when people ask how he is, he says: “I’ve been better but I’ve also been worse.”

And he then sought to put his professional troubles to one side, telling the 1,500 gala guests: “Let’s have a hell of a good time tonight.”

The 41-year-old Armstrong founded Livestrong in 1997, after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and before he first won the Tour de France. Since then, it has raised nearly $500 million and has evolved from a focus on testicular cancer research to addressing the needs of survivors of all cancers.

Armstrong, who lives in Austin, is still on Livestrong’s board and despite the doping scandal, the $1,000-ahead gala, which featured musicians Norah Jones and Stephen Marley and actors Sean Penn, Matthew McConaughey and Robin Williams, is expected to raise $2.5 million.

Guests, some wearing dresses or ties in the foundation’s signature yellow, bid on auction packages, including a dinner with Armstrong that required a starting bid of $3,000.

So far the foundation’s financial health appears not to have suffered from the scandal and contributions have actually risen this year as the probe gathered momentum.

For the year 2012 so far, it has reported revenue of $33.8 million, up 2.1 percent from the same period of 2011.

Armstrong is expected to lose his record seven Tour de France titles after the US Anti-Doping Agency published a 1,000-page report last week that said Armstrong organised and took part in an elaborate, sophisticated doping scheme on his way to his unrivalled success.

The retired cyclist has always denied he took banned substances during his career but decided not to challenge the USADA charges against him.

38 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

Sunderland’s O’Neill wants to replicate Newcastle success

Ronaldinho faces last chance for Brazilian title

By Pedro Fonseca RONALDINHO’S chances of winning the Brazilian football championship for the first time realistically depend on Atletico Mineiro beating leaders Fluminense today.

Fluminense, looking to lift the title for the second time in three years, are nine points ahead of Ronaldinho’s second-placed Atletico with seven matches to go.

“It’s an extremely important match, I think that’s where the championship will be decided,” said the 32-year-old Ronaldinho after Atletico’s 2-2 draw away to Santos on Wednesday.

“If Fluminense win (against Atletico), there won’t be anything to go for and if we win, we’ll still be in it,” the former world player of the year told reporters.

Fluminense, led by Brazil striker Fred and former Portugal midfielder Deco, ended a 26-year wait by clinching the championship in 2010.

This season, with a 74 percent success rate, they are clear favourites to regain the crown, especially if they do not lose to Atletico.

Bitter rivals ready for big North-East derby

By Damian Spellman SUNDERLAND boss Martin O’Neill will send his players into derby battle telling them they can emulate Newcastle’s return to prominence.

The Magpies defied the odds last season to finish in fifth place in the Barclays Premier League and secure European football just two years after fighting their way back into the top flight in the wake of relegation.

Under Texan owner and chairman Ellis Short, the Black Cats have their own ambitions of establishing themselves in the upper reaches of the table, and while the rivalry will be intense at the Stadium of Light today, O’Neill insists the recent success of their near neighbours should inspire the Wearsiders to believe they too can make that leap.

He said: “Of course, it should do, absolutely. We should take our lead from them in that sense.

“It was an exceptional season. This time last year, I wasn’t working, so I was looking at it from afar, and perhaps when the results were coming in each weekend and Newcastle were still going strongly, I maybe felt, like a lot of people, they would do well to keep it going.

“But they did, they kept it going. Of course, they had a few hiccups along the way, but fought back again, won

big games when they weren’t playing well – and that’s always a sign of a half-decent side.

“They deserved all the accolades going, there’s no question about that. That’s not to defuse any situation, that’s just how I view it.

“It was terrific. Alan Pardew won the Manager of the Year and deserved that, so it was a terrific effort.

“It should give us the type of lift that we would need around here because our aim is at some stage or another to be at least the best side here in this part of the world, that’s number one.

“If you are a better side than Newcastle at some stage or another and they are continuing to make progress, that must mean you are doing okay.”

A positive result in the eagerly-anticipated encounter would represent a start with Sunderland desperate to address a poor record against their arch-rivals in recent seasons.

They have won only one of the last 15 derbies and lost eight of them since the famous day on Tyneside when Niall Quinn’s late header saw off Sir Bobby Robson’s men in the second of two consecutive wins on enemy soil in November 2000.

Perhaps more depressingly, their most recent victory in the fixture, which came courtesy of Kieran Richardson’s blistering free-kick in October 2008, was their first

in the league on home soil in more than 28 years.

Last year’s 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light proved the catalyst for Newcastle’s remarkable campaign, and with neither side having yet hit top form during the early weeks of the current campaign, O’Neill is acutely aware of the potential rewards for success.

He said: “I wouldn’t try to feel otherwise other than the fact that this is a very, very important game.

“It’s an important game for the fans, it’s an important game for us and while I don’t think it might be a defining moment this season, it’s a significant moment.

“It will be important for us to do very well in the game and would give us a boost of confidence to know that Newcastle, who had an exceptional season last year – exceptional – we might be making progress towards that ourselves.

“That’s what the win might be able to do: confidence, and obviously three points in a local derby if you could win the game, and the fact you might feel as if you are making some progress.”

O’Neill will have winger James McClean available after he recovered from the groin injury which forced his withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad, while full-back Phil Bardsley could be involved for the first time since damaging an ankle in pre-season.

UPS AND DOWNS

Plenty to ponder: Sunderland have won only one of the last 15 derbies, with boss Martin O’Neill desperate for a win

Hughes confident of an upturn in QPR’s fortunes

By Mark Bryans

QPR have failed to win a Premier League game this season

QPR boss Mark Hughes believes player turnover and a host of injuries has masked the quality of his squad at Loftus Road.

The Welshman has been backed by Rangers’ chairman Tony Fernandes in recent weeks despite the fact the club sit bottom of the Premier League.

Fernandes bank-rolled several big-name signings over the summer and, although the desired results have not followed, Hughes is confident once they gel they will be successful.

He said: “Everyone understands what we are trying to do here and have been really positive in that regard.

“They knew and we discussed that there was a possibility the start of the season could be a little bit difficult because we had so many play-

ers coming in.”

A number of injuries have also destabilised QPR, especially in defence with Hughes unable to name a settled back four all season and the former Manchester City boss reckons once he has more options the results will follow.

“We have also been hurt with the number of injuries which hasn’t helped matters but I think we are all comfortable that at some point in the very near future, once everything settles down, once we get a settled side then the quality we have will let us win Premier League games,” he said.

“We are very positive that once we get points on the board that will continue until the end of the season.

“I’ve got great support and I think it is a consequence of the work we have done in such a short space of time.

“We have taken the club a long way - not only off the

field but I feel in terms of the personnel we have been able to attract to the club.”

A lot of the R’s first-team squad are now working their way back to match fitness, with only Fabio and Andy Johnson ruled out of the match against Everton today and Hughes is looking forward to having a fully-fit squad.

There are constant rumours that Hughes’ position in under threat due to the poor start to the season.

But the 48-year-old believes the reign of David Moyes, his counterpart today, has set an example for other clubs to follow.

“Longevity is vital to a club and certainly one in our position who are only in their second season after coming up from the Championship,” he said.

“You need that continuity and longevity of players and management to enable you to grow as a group.”

Ronaldinho has had his ups and downs since returning home to Brazil at the beginning of last year, a string of good performances for Flamengo even earning him a Brazil recall towards the end of 2011.

However, he failed to maintain his form and left Flamengo by the back door this year after winning only the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) state championship.

With Atletico, from Belo Horizonte, Ronaldinho looked on his way to winning the Brazilian title for the first time in his career but the team lost first place which they had held for more than half the championship while ‘Flu’ have opened up a big lead in the final straight.

Ronaldinho, FIFA’s world player of the year in 2004 and 2005, left Gremio at the age of 21 for Paris St Germain in 2001.

A World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, he was at his brilliant best for Barcelona between 2003 and 2008, then had a spell with AC Milan before returning home.

At Atletico, he has built a good partnership with midfielder Bernard, a candidate for young player of the year, and former Everton and Manchester City striker Jo. However, even when the team were top, there was regular speculation about Ronaldinho’s busy night life, his undoing at Flamengo, especially when the team’s performances dipped in recent weeks.

39 SUNDAY MAIL • October 21, 2012

Sport STRIKER SINKS BATTLING STOKE AS HE REACHES 200 CLUB GOALS

Rodgers celebrates maiden home league win thanks to Sterling Liverpool 1 Reading 0

By Carl Markham

It was a strange day for Wayne Rooney, who also became the first Manchester United player to score at both ends in a league game since David Beckham in 2001

Rooney at the double Man United 4 Stoke 2

By Simon Stone WAYNE Rooney gave himself an early 27th birthday present as his double in Manchester United’s win against Stoke took him to 200 club goals.

It was a strange day for Rooney though, who also became the first United player to score at both ends in a league game since David Beckham in 2001.

In fact, it was an odd afternoon all told given the own goal meant United once again had to come from behind, recovering courtesy of Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck, only

to require Rooney’s second to ease nerves created by a Michael Kightly goal for the visitors.

And the thrills will only partially divert attention away from Rio Ferdinand’s decision to snub Sir Alex Ferguson by refusing to wear the Kick It Out anti-racism T-shirts worn by all his outfield team-mates in the prematch warm-up.

Ferguson said on Friday he felt Jason Roberts was misguided in his determination not to wear the shirts, so Ferdinand’s reasoning will be interesting, even if his position is somewhat easier to understand given the year-long dispute between brother Anton and former England team-mate John Terry.

Away from the politics, Ferguson had described Stoke as the “jolly green giants”

prior to the game.

Yet it was Tony Pulis’ side who looked like they had the magic beans, such was the gusto with which they attacked their hosts.

Charlie Adam in particular was a major threat, providing Stoke with the kind of direct midfield momentum United so obviously lacked.

It was the Scot’s touchline free-kick that Rooney ended up nudging into his own net.

From a similar position to the one he found himself in at the other end, Rooney again found the net.

It was two when Van Persie stole into space to meet Antonio Valencia’s cross, the deft-close range finish rolled into the corner.

A minute after the break, United had another. Rooney was the provider this time with a cross that invited Welbeck’s flying header.

‘Vile animals’ should be banned

By Wayne Gardiner LEEDS United and South Yorkshire Police were yesterday working together to try to apprehend those responsible for the trouble which marred Friday night’s match at Sheffield Wednesday.

The flashpoint of a stormy night was the 77th-minute assault of Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who was pushed in the face by a supporter who ran from the Leppings Lane End - which housed around 5,000 Leeds fans in the wake of Michael Tonge’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

The incident prompted Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones to brand Leeds supporters “vile animals” in post-match interviews.

The 56-year-old, who called for Leeds fans to be banned from “every ground in the country”, was also upset by chants relating to the child abuse charges that were made against him, but subsequently dropped more than a decade ago, and others which heralded the late Jimmy Savile, who is now the subject of a child abuse investigation.

Incidents also occurred where it is believed seats and bottles were thrown inside the

ground.

The bottle throwing occurred midway through the second half, with the Leeds fans seemingly reacting to chants from the home fans relating to the deaths of two Leeds supporters in Turkey in April 2000.

Immediately after the game, Leeds manager Neil Warnock told Sky Sports he felt that Kirkland had gone down too easily, but later called on the culprit to be jailed.

He said: “It’s just so sad and disappointing.

If anything it stopped us winning the game. I thought at 1-1 we would get in the driving seat but for one moron.

“The club has made a statement and I’m pleased, we don’t condone that. I hope the authorities and constabulary take the appropriate action. Get him sent to prison and stop it.”

At the end of a game during which Tonge and Jay Bothroyd traded goals, the Leeds players headed to the Leppings Lane End to applaud their supporters - an act which only served to anger Jones further.

“I really am fuming that Warnock sent his players to clap them,” Jones said. “For what?

Wrecking a stadium, beating up my goalkeeper?”

Nothing is secure for this United team, though. Kightly’s charge straight down the centre of the pitch has been seen far too often for comfort, and after a fortunate ricochet off Ferdinand, the midfielder calmly finished.

It was the seventh goal the Old Trafford outfit had conceded on home soil in four league games this season, a quite startling statistic considering they have kept a clean sheet in that run.

Rooney was destined to end a hero, though.

Twenty-seven on Wednesday, the Merseysider completed his double century of club goals for United and Everton in the easiest manner possible as Van Persie’s low cross bobbed about in the six-yard area before rolling to the far post, where an unmarked Rooney tucked home.

FORWARD Raheem Sterling scored his first Liverpool goal to give manager Brendan Rodgers his maiden home league win against former club Reading.

The England Under-21 international, at 17 years and 317 days old, as a result became the club’s secondyoungest Premier League goalscorer behind Michael Owen.

His strike should not have been the Reds’ sole effort but such are their problems up front this season - prior to kick-off only Sunderland (two) and bottom club QPR (one) had scored fewer at home win-less Reading remained in the game right up until the final whistle.

The first half was virtually one-way traffic but the hosts lacked a cutting edge, too often overcomplicating matters with one pass too many in and around the penalty area.

Sterling found himself in the best attacking posi-

At 17 years and 317 days old, Raheem Sterling became the club’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer

Premier League standings Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Chelsea Manchester United Manchester United Chelsea Manchester City Arsenal Everton Manchester City Tottenham Liverpool Hotspur West Brom Hotspur Tottenham West Ham Utd Everton Fulham Stoke City Arsenal Bolton Wanderers Swansea West Brom Liverpool Fulham Newcastle United Stoke City Sunderland Sunderland Aston Villa Wigan Athletic Blackburn Rovers Aston WolvesVilla Southampton Birmingham Reading Blackpool Norwich City Wigan Athletic QPR West Ham United

tions on several occasions but managed to get a shot off on target just once and Alex McCarthy easily held.

Auxiliary left-back Glen Johnson was also enjoying a lot of possession in the final third but he looked more threatening when cutting inside on his right foot.

During an injury break for Jem Karacan, who was eventually forced off by the effect of Steven Gerrard’s block tackle, Rodgers took the opportunity to pass on some advice to Sterling.

Whatever he said appeared to have the desired effect as in the 29th minute the England Under-21 international finally made the breakthrough.

Luis Suarez’s delicate flick-on was seized by the teenager who raced through the inside-right channel and fired a shot across McCarthy and into the far corner of the net.

Rodgers said he felt his side would “fly” once they secured their first home win.

They will need to as next weekend they make the short trip to near-neighbours Everton, who even after this win are still five points ahead with a match in hand.

P

W

D

L

F

8 37 8 36 8 36 7 36 8 36 8 36 8 37 8 36 7 37 8 37 8 36 7 36 8 37 6 36 8 37 8 37 8 36 7 37 7 36 7 36

7 22 6 21 5 19 4 19 4 17 4 14 4 12 4 13 3 12 3 12 2 10 2 11 1 11 1 10 1 10 1 11 1 8 0 10 0 7 0 7

1 11 0 7 3 10 2 8 2 7 2 14 2 15 1 7 3 10 2 10 3 15 3 11 5 11 4 12 2 10 2 7 1 15 3 9 3 15 2 12

0 4 2 8 0 7 1 9 2 12 2 8 2 10 3 16 1 15 3 15 3 11 2 14 2 15 1 14 5 17 5 19 6 13 4 18 4 14 5 17

19 74 21 67 17 69 14 55 15 59 12 51 12 50 16 46 13 52 14 53 10 45 8 51 8 42 5 45 8 43 6 44 13 36 8 53 5 36 6 41

A Pts 6 35 11 30 9 39 8 33 12 41 9 45 9 45 11 44 5 54 12 68 12 41 11 52 9 56 7 58 15 57 13 63 24 54 14 74 17 59 16 64

22 77 18 70 18 67 14 65 14 58 14 56 14 51 13 46 12 46 11 46 9 45 9 44 8 44 7 42 5 40 5 40 4 39 3 39 3 36 2 33

Premiership results Tottenham Chelsea

2 4

Fulham Aston Villa

1 0

Liverpool Reading

1 0

Man United Stoke

4 2

Swansea Wigan

2 1

West Brom Man City

1 2

West Ham Southampton

4 1

Norwich Arsenal

L L

Sunderland v Newcastle, Sunday 3.30pm QPR v Everton, Sunday 6pm

40 October 21, 2012 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

All Blacks winning streak finally ends in Brisbane draw 37

Rooney at the double as he reaches 200 club goals 39

Super sub Dzeko saves ten-man champions West Brom 1 Man City 2

By John Curtis TWO-GOAL Edin Dzeko came off the substitutes’ bench to earn a dramatic victory for ten-man Manchester City in a pulsating Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom at The Hawthorns yesterday Shane Long broke the

deadlock mid-way through the second period with his fifth goal of the campaign but Dzeko equalised for the champions within 60 seconds of entering the action.

Then in injury time Dzeko struck the winner as the champions completed their comeback after James Milner’s first-half red card for a professional foul.

It was no more than City deserved for they dominated proceedings despite their numerical disadvantage with Ben Foster the busier of the two keepers.

Victory kept City within four points of leaders Chelsea.

It also signalled the end of Albion’s 100% home record.

Despite being a man down, Mario Balotelli was taken off after 64 minutes and replaced by Sergio Aguero as City pressed for the breakthrough.

Gareth McAuley made a great block on a shot from Aguero but after 67 minutes Long stunned the visitors by putting Albion in front.

Substitute Peter Odemwingie looked like he was attempting a shot but

the ball fell into the path of Long who steered it past Joe Hart.

City brought on Dzeko after 79 minutes and within a minute he had brought his side level with a header from a deep Carlos Tevez free-kick.

Hart made a superb save with a minute remaining to turn over an overhead kick from West Brom substitute Romelu Lukaku.

It proved decisive as with seconds remaining Dzeko steered home Aguero’s perfectly weighted pass.

Pure delight: Edin Dzeko celebrates his injury time winner

Mata double ruins AVB’s day as Blues win six-goal thriller Leaders Chelsea take derby hounours Tottenham 2 Chelsea 4

By Martyn Herman

T

WO goals by Juan Mata helped leaders Chelsea to a 4-2 victory in a captivating London derby at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday as they maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

Mata, signed for Chelsea

by Andre Villas Boas, ruined his former manager’s hopes of getting one over the club that sacked him in March by killing off Tottenham’s second-half revival.

Gary Cahill’s volley gave Chelsea a deserved halftime lead but Tottenham were reenergised after the break and goals by William Gallas and Jermain Defoe swung the match the way of the hosts, who had not lost a home league derby since 2007.

It was Defoe’s 200th career goal but it proved merely a footnote as Mata took centre stage.

The Spanish playmaker punished a poor Gallas clearance after 66 minutes and struck again to put Chelsea back in control.

Tottenham had chances for an equaliser but Daniel Sturridge added a fourth for Chelsea in stoppage time.

Roberto Di Matteo’s Euro-

Number Juan: Mata (left) scored twice in the second-half to maintain Chelsea’s unbeaten league start as Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas had an unhappy reunion with his former club, who he faced for the first time since being sacked pean champions now have 22 points from eight matches.

Tottenham, deprived of winger Gareth Bale after he rushed to be with his girlfriend who went into labour, suffered their first defeat since losing to Newcastle United on the opening day of the season.

Not since the days of Jose Mourinho have Chelsea enjoyed such a productive start to the season and back-toback away wins at Arsenal and Tottenham, both of whom finished above them in the league last season, mean they are serious title con-

AVB: ‘We came out strong in the second half, full of desire and ambition, but they unlocked us with individual brilliance and creativity’ tenders.

“It was only the 10 or 12 minutes early in the second half that Tottenham got back in the game, we lost a bit of control but for the rest of the

game we took the initiative,” Di Matteo, who was without suspended skipper John Terry, told Sky Sports.

“It was a test of our character today, coming here

against a team in form with four consecutive wins, it was a big derby for us, especially after the international break there are always a few question marks but the answers we gave were perfect.”

Villas-Boas, who was greeted warmly by the Chelsea bench before kickoff, said it had been a game full of emotion.

“We came out strong in the second half, full of desire and ambition, but they unlocked us with individual brilliance and creativity,” said the Portuguese.

Terry’s decision not to appeal his FA ban for racially

abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last season, triggering a four-match ban, dominated the build-up.

However, it was Cahill, replacing him at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, who grabbed the attention in the 17th minute.

Eden Hazard floated over a corner and Cahill delivered an unstoppable volley past Brad Friedel after Gallas’s poor headed clearance dropped invitingly to him.

Mata should have doubled Chelsea’s lead before the break with a glaring miss as Tottenham struggled to gain a foothold.

Whatever Villas-Boas said to his team at halftime worked wonders because Tottenham were transformed.

They needed just two minutes to equalise when defender Jan Vertonghen turned the ball across the goal and Gallas applied the final touch.

For a while Tottenham dominated and they went in front after 54 minutes when Aaron Lennon’s miss-hit shot was turned instinctively past Petr Cech by the razor-sharp Defoe.

Chelsea re-grouped and another poor clearance by Gallas fell to Mata who dispatched a shot past Friedel.

Mata, a legacy of Villas-Boas’s short reign at Stamford Bridge, then beat Friedel with a left-foot shot after a great pass by Hazard.

Kyle Walker forced a great save from Cech as Spurs scrapped for a point but he was at fault when he gave the ball away to Mata whose low cross was tucked away by substitute Sturridge.