SUNDAIL MAIL

ELECTION ISSUE

CYPRUS TOURISM

INSIDE

Read all about today’s first round vote in a special election issue of the Cyprus Mail on Monday

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www.cyprus-mail.com

February 17, 2013

COFFEESHOP: THE PUBLIC DESERVES ONE LAST LAUGH INSIDE Cyprus Councillor says anti Muslim remarks ‘banter’ 2

World Stinking ship unlikely to hurt cruise industry 8

Reportage The increasing use of crowd funding for start-ups centre

Property The major interior trends for 2013 23

Sport Late KazimRichards goal stuns Gunners back

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PAGE 17

Voting for new president starts Half a million to cast vote in today’s first round Three main candidates spent yesterday relaxing

By Stefanos Evripidou

O

VER HALF a million voters go to the polls today to decide the next President of Cyprus, whose first task will be to take the country out of the financial quagmire it’s in and remove the threat of bankruptcy.

For the first time in decades, the state of the Cyprus economy has overshadowed any election campaign pledges to solve the island’s longstanding division, with voters and presidential candidates more focused on how to save the country from bankruptcy than reuniting the island.

Over 545,000 registered voters will have the right to cast their vote today for one of the 11 candidates in 1,139 polling stations spread out across the country and abroad.

The polling stations will open at 7am and close at noon for a one-hour lunch break, re-opening at 1pm and closing at 6pm.

Should all go well, preliminary results will be available by 6.30pm, and the final results by 8.30pm. By 6.30pm, Cypriots will know whether any one candidate has secured over half the votes, removing the need for a run-off election the following Sunday.

The polling stations will be staffed by 1,900 unemployed graduates, while in total 7,000 people will be working to ensure the election goes smoothly.

A sign of the times, police spokesman Andreas Angelides said yesterday that 1,880 police members will be working today, that’s 620 less than those who worked in the

last presidential elections in 2008.

Angelides said officers were told to take on extra duties in an effort to keep overtime costs down.

The main themes of this election campaign have been the economic crisis, and Cyprus’ empty state coffers.

Having sought an EU bailout last June, the government has been told by Brussels that no decision on whether to lend Cyprus some €17.5 billion will be taken until the new president is elected.

Frontrunner in the election race is DISY’s 66-year-old Nicos Anastasiades.

The Anastasiades campaign team has been pushing somewhat optimistically for a first round victory. The DISY leader called on the public to provide him with a strong mandate so he could get started straight away on tackling the island’s debt issues.

Despite getting DIKO endorsement, recent polls suggest DIKO leader Marios Garoyian has failed to crack the whip and get majority support within the party for Anastasiades, who is viewed sceptically among many in the party for his more ‘dovish’ views on the Cyprus problem.

Anastasiades wants to see a loose federation take hold in a reunified Cyprus.

Second in the polls is AKEL-backed former health minister Stavros Malas, 45, who wants less austerity and more focus on growth. He has also promised to lead a government of national unity.

The fact he is a relative newcomer to politics bodes in his favour, though his endorsement by the ruling AKEL party does not, given the low

Islanders go to the polls today to elect a new president approval ratings for the Demetris Christofias government.

Like Christofias, he supports a federal solution to the Cyprus problem with a strong central government.

A third serious contender for the top spot is 52-year-old former commerce and foreign minister Giorgos Lillikas who wants to sell off Cyprus’ natural gas reserves before they have been commercialised to free Cyprus from the grip of the troika or else pledge

future gas profits to secure loans in advance.

The EDEK-backed candidate takes a more hard-line approach to a Cyprus solution, rejecting bizonality and wanting to start negotiations from scratch.

The three main candidates all spent the day with their families yesterday in what they described as a day of “relaxation” (Anastasiades), “detoxification” (Malas) and “rest” (Lillikas).

The eight remaining candidates are former commerce minister and United Democrats leader Praxoula Antoniadou-Kyriacou, primary school deputy head Makaria Antri Stylianou, head of the Citizen’s Rights Bureau of the Popular Socialist Movement LASOK Lakis Ioannou, Costas Kyriacou (aka Outopos), far-right ELAM candidate Georgios Charalambous, Andreas Efstratiou, Solon Gregoriou and Loucas Stavrou.

2 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

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He claims that the comments were just ‘blokeish banter’

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TODAY: Cloudy with the chance of some rain and even a snow shower on Troodos. Temperatures will reach 17C inland and on the west coast, 19C along the other coasts and and 5C on higher ground.

OUTLOOK: Monday and Tuesday will be cloudy with some showers while Wednesday is expected to see some storms. There will be snowfall on Troodos

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‘Enfield councillor accused of comparing Muslims to bin bags’

By Simon Bahceli ENFIELD Councillor Chris Joannides, who was kicked out of the Conservative party last month for allegedly making anti-Islamic and anti-Turkish comments on Facebook, was shopped by a Greek Cypriot, it has emerged.

Speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, Maria (not her real name) told the Sunday Mail: “Everyone is entitled to their views, but what he wrote is insulting to the very people who gave him his position. He should be ashamed of himself”.

Joannides was thrown out of the Conservative Party on January 28 after the party was made aware of his Facebook postings, which included ones comparing Muslims to bin bags, suggested all Muslims were terrorists and insulted people by calling them “Turkosporos” (the offspring of a Turk). He is also said to have ‘liked’ a picture of an Arab woman holding her injured child.

The councillor’s allegedly racist comments came at a particularly sensitive time as the Conservatives sought to rid the party of its “nasty” right-wing image in an effort to gain greater support from

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Britain’s ethnic minorities.

Commenting on Joannides’ party ban, leader of the Enfield Council Conservative group Michael Lavender said, “We are an inclusive group with members from many ethnic communities and faiths”.

Joannides, who continues to serve in the Enfield Council as an “independent conservative”, has denied the accusations, claiming his comments were just “tongue-in-cheek blokeish banter” that had been “taken out of context”.

He has asked his former party to avoid similar situations in the future by offering councillors “online guidance” on what they should or shouldn’t say on social networking websites. He said too that he was “extremely saddened” by his removal from the party he served as councillor since 2006.

Speaking to the Mail, whistleblower Maria said she was prompted to report Joannides’ “racist comments” after she saw postings where Joannides likened Muslims to “bin bags”. He is accused of writing by a picture of a woman and child dressed in burqas with a black bin bag either side of them: “I saw her standing there and I told her she had three beautiful children. She didn’t have to get all p***** off and threaten me … an honest mistake.”

“I’m very happy the Conservative Party has kicked him out,” Maria said, adding that she hoped he would now be sacked as a councillor as well. “He has no place on Enfield Council, and xenophobia has no place in today’s society,” she added.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, a friend of Joan-

Councillor Chris Joannides.

Below: the picture that sparked the controversy

nides said he was not the one who wrote the caption on the ‘bin bags’ photo. “He didn’t write the caption himself, he shared it with his followers on Facebook. It was a silly thing to do.”

Joannides, who now faces council disciplinary action insisted: “I am not and never have been Islamophobic.”

In a statement he said: “I am extremely saddened by what has happened. I have never denied that some of my actions on Facebook caused upset to people.

“I have been portrayed as Islamaphobic by some carefully edited posts to portray me as such. “It is an easy mistake to make in the world of electronic mass communications.

“I hope the Conservative group will take this opportunity to introduce a code of conduct and some members’ guidance on how to deal with these situations on-line. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone else to go through this.”

Maria, who is perhaps unique in being a member of Turkish Cypriot pressure group Embargoed!, which campaigns for direct trade for the north, told the Mail, “I see myself as a Cypriot, neither Greek nor Turkish” and added: “Why shouldn’t Turkish Cypriots have the right to trade, especially since the EU said they should [have this right]?”.

She also attacked the lack of coverage on Joannides’ in the Greek Cypriot press, saying: “If it had been a Turkish Cypriot who had been accused of racism, it would have been all over the Greek Cypriot press”.

The story has however been widely covered by the Turkish press.

Notice for the Attention of Mr Ian Jeffrey Bailey born 9th February 1967 I, Mrs Lesley Bailey, born 8th November 1966 hereby give notice to Mr Ian Jeffrey Bailey that a petition for divorce has been issued at the Southend County Court, England, case number SS11D00274.

Mr Ian Jeffrey Bailey should contact Southend County Court at the contact details below to request a copy of the petition and accompanying documentation. Service should then be acknowledged.

Should Mr Ian Jeffrey Bailey fail to contact Southend County Court within 4 weeks of this notice then the divorce may proceed without any further notice.

Southend County Court contact details Southend County Court, Tylers House, Tylers Avenue, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England, SS1 2AW Telephone Number: 0844 8924000

3 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Home Dramatic car chase leads to arrest and remand of burglar suspect and girlfriend

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Ollie Rehn has urged Russia to improve loan conditions

The consequences of a Cyprus bankruptcy

By Stefanos Evripidou TROIKA EXPERTS are studying the consequences of Cyprus not receiving a bailout and going bankrupt, according to leading German newspaper Bild yesterday.

French news agency AFP quoted the most widely read daily in Europe as reporting that experts from the troika (European Central Bank, European Commission and IMF) have been asked “especially under pressure from Berlin” to calculate the financial consequences of a Cyprus bankruptcy.

The German paper did not cite any source for the information provided in the article.

According to AFP, the German daily said troika experts concluded Greece would be the country most affected by a default of the major Cypriot banks, since Greek banks have a network of branches on the island holding around 10 per cent of Greek savings.

“The banks of the other eurozone countries would, on the other hand, be hardly affected,” Bild said.

In a separate report in yesterday’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the German

German paper reports troika looking into how island would be affected by not getting bailout paper claimed the financing needs of the island’s banks could end up being considerably lower than the €10 billion initially estimated.

Cyprus requested a European bailout in June 2012 after its two main banks sought state aid following their massive exposure to the crisis in Greece.

However, eight months on, there is still no clear sign of if and when Cyprus will get much-needed funds to fill its empty state coffers and those of the banks.

Some European countries including the Netherlands but particularly German lawmakers and press have raised concerns over money laundering in Cyprus, with allegations surfacing that any bailout would simply serve to rescue the funds of Russian criminal elements in the country.

Last Monday, eurozone finance ministers decided in

Brussels to postpone any decision on a bailout until after Cyprus’ presidential election.

Cyprus’ total needs, including for the recapitalisation of its banks, are estimated at around €17.5 billion.

Following a preliminary agreement on a draft memorandum with the troika, the government adopted a series of austerity measures to reduce public expenditure. The new savings and an expected injection of around €178m from energy companies recently awarded licences to explore for hydrocarbons in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone should see the state through to April.

However, by June 3 the government needs to find over €1.4 billion in maturing Eurobonds and a further €714m by July 4 for maturing government-registered stocks.

A further concern for the next President of Cyprus will be the need to pay back a €2.5bn loan taken from Russia in 2011 and due to be repaid in 2016. Cyprus has requested from Russia to extend the loan to 2022.

According to Dow Jones Business News, EU commissioner for economic and monetary affairs Olli Rehn yesterday urged Russia to extend the repayment of the loan or cut the interest rate on it.

“It would certainly be helpful if Russia is able and willing to provide a financial contribution, for instance, in the form of extending loan maturities and reducing interest rates of the existing Cyprus loan,” he said in an interview.

“It’s only natural that as Russia has quite close economic and financial ties with Cyprus it would be making a contribution,” he added.

Meanwhile, according to the latest data released by the Cyprus Finance Ministry, Cyprus’ budget deficit fell from 6.05 per cent of GDP in 2011 to 4.90 per cent in 2012, accounting for €875m.

State revenue saw a tiny increase of 0.54 per cent yearon-year, rising to €6.49bn while state expenditure fell by 2.57 per cent to €7.47bn.

A 32-year-old man wanted in connection with a spate of burglaries and thefts was arrested and taken yesterday to the Nicosia District Court where he was remanded in custody for eight days.

His 25-year-old girlfriend was also remanded in custody for eight days on the same day by the Limassol district court.

According to police spokesman Andreas Angelides, at around 11am on Friday, police received notice that a residence was being burgled in Limassol.

They rushed to the scene where they saw a car, driven by the 25-year-old and with the 32-year-old in the passenger seat, leaving.

Police gave chase until at some point the 25-year-old lost control of the car and hit a railing, bringing the car to a standstill.

In circumstances which are unclear, police arrested the 25-year-old but not the 32-year-old who managed to get into the driver’s seat,

start the engine and drive in the direction of police who took out their service pistols and fired shots at the car’s tyres.

Even with a flat tyre, the 32-year-old was able to drive the car away from police, who no longer had him in view. He got out of the car and made off in an unknown direction.

Following information, police were able to locate the 32-year-old later at a Nicosia residence where they believe he was taken by a friend.

According to Angelides, the 32-year-old has been wanted by police since January 24 for a series of burglaries and thefts in Nicosia.

The spokesman said police are still in the process of trying to establish just how many burglaries the 32-year-old may have been responsible for, noting that the suspect has reportedly confessed to nine burglaries and thefts in Nicosia so far.

Toddler’s kidnap investigation focussing on one specific lead POLICE INVESTIGATIONS into the eight-hour kidnapping of an 18-month-old toddler in Limassol on Friday are following a specific lead, Limassol CID chief Ioannis Soteriades said yesterday.

Stavros Styllis was taken from his grandmother’s verandah in Ipsonas on Friday morning, sparking a massive hunt for the kidnapped toddler across Limassol, with Cypriot police, a police helicopter, British bases police, members of the National Guard and Civil Defence, Ipsonas municipal workers and members of the public all involved in the search for the boy.

By 3.30pm, a widow who went to Ipsonas cemetery to light a candle for her husband found the little boy crying outside a shed.

His father took Stavros to Limassol hospital for a precautionary check-up, where a state pathologist

examined the boy, finding bruises on various parts of his body.

Police suspect more than one person was involved in the kidnapping. Soteriades said he believed the unprecedented mobilisation of forces to search for the boy turned the heat up on the kidnappers who decided to abandon the boy near the cemetery.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Soteriades said from the first moment the case came to light, police have been focusing investigations in a specific direction, leaving open the possibility that a family member may have been involved.

The CID chief played down fears this was a random abduction case in an effort to calm the frayed nerves of parents across the island since the kidnapping.

He said investigations were moving at a rapid pace.

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4 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL Feb

Home Growing organic produce on a mountain farm has mushroomed into something else entirely

By Maria-Christina Doulami THERE IS a well-known saying that in unity there is strength. The people at Utopia know that pretty well. After all, their idea for setting up a collective last year has flourished, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in activities that share their philosophy and approach to life.

Utopia originally started five to six years ago selling natural and organic products grown by Dinos Georgiou in his organic farm in Flasou.

He is one of only four producers in Cyprus to cultivate and grow natural and organic products. Utopia was to serve as the store, the gateway for the products to the wider public. Seeing the demands of the farm increase, Dinos gathered a group of friends to discuss what more could be done with the shop.

Thus in January 2012, Utopia Collective was set up with six to 10 people on the managing board at any one time and countless other participators pooling their ideas as to how this project could develop. The fact that it is a collective means that these people manage the space

together, “like social houses abroad,” explains Stephanie Polycarpou.

The idea is for people who share the same interests to work together on specific projects and to become active in those areas. Stephanie said that Utopia Collective was created by a team of young people with similar beliefs and perception regarding lifestyle, nature and society.

“Wellbeing is the main axis of our lives and we care about the environment and our relation to the community,” she added. “We believe that education and personal development can bring about change.

We respect nature and want to live in harmony. Our aim is to promote and encourage a healthy, collective and sustainable way of living. That’s why Utopia Collective was created,” she said. “The idea of the collective is to be active and to contribute”.

Utopia is a non-profit organisation. The aim is not to make money but to bring together people with similar interests in a space in which they feel comfortable and relaxed enough to engage in various activities. That is why Utopia offers a peaceful space for people interested in organic vegetables, healthy diet,

Food at Utopia is served on a collective basis once a week (Christos Theodorides)

Nicosia collective: a different type of life Yoga, educational workshops, screenings and music, Stephanie explained. Every month a programme of events is issued which includes all sorts of activities: from learning to knit, to seminars and lectures by doctors and sociology professors, to presentations, discussions and screenings, to musical events, to lunch and tea events. Even flea markets and language lessons are held at Utopia. Every month there is also an activity for

engaging children into the world of recycling. Going by the cartoonish name “Loopydoopy” the “upcycled crafts workshop” is open for young and older kids, and activities involve making crafts from scrap paper.

Utopia also prepares hot, vegetarian food for parties and events, while it offers food on its premises once a week. Stephanie stressed it is not a restaurant. “We offer food in the context of a collective kitchen,” she said, “but the idea is to cook and eat all together”. This operates on donations – you pay as you please – and the aim is to promote healthy, homecooked meals, as well as the process of being a collective effort and achievement!

The range of activities is endless and new projects constantly arise. “The space is available for anyone who wishes to run events, seminars, workshops similar to the collective’s philosophy,” smiled Stephanie. “We welcome proposals by people who have visited the space and want to do something here.”

“As long as you give you also receive,” said Stephanie, adding that the people gain out of the services and facilities offered at Utopia, but so do the young people operating the premises who gain the chance to widen their network and promote their lifestyle.

Since its launch a year ago, Utopia is thriving. Stephanie said that this is due to a combination of factors – the fact that vegetarianism and organic food have now become a sort of trend, that Old Nicosia is becoming fashionable again and the shop benefits from its location at the heart of the old town, but also the fact that people simply enjoy the atmosphere and embrace their lifestyle.

Dinos Georgiou told the Sunday Mail that his perception of a Utopia is different to the idea of a community/ society possessing ideal or perfect qualities. “For me,” he said, “Utopia is a constant vigilance, a constant progress.

That is why there are no goals for the collective, because we want to constantly improve.”

The shop on a corner in the

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old town of Nicosia certainly emits a radiance of a living organism, of something that develops and grows, that changes, that is not always static and is open to new ideas.

The shop sells the organic products grown in Flasou (vegetables, herbs, olive oil, honey, lemonades, mandarinades, teas, etc.), while it also sells other local organic products for which the origin and raw materials are known.

Organic soaps and body creams are also sold, as well as handmade jewellery. The shop offers a warm, relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy a freshly brewed natural cup of tea, while reading a book available on its bookshelves and accepting a delicious melt-in-the-mouth homemade cookie, that Ileana Nicholson insists you try.

Utopia Collectiva is based at the Utopia Shop near the OXI roundabout in Old Nicosia - Areos 48, old town Nicosia.

Tel: 96 592201, utopiacollectiva@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/UtopiaCollectiva

Man donates €25,000 to poor AN ANONYMOUS Larnaca resident has donated €25,000 to meet the growing needs of the Larnaca community market which provides basic food items for the poor and needy of the area.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis yesterday thanked “a fellow citizen who in a true spirit of philanthropy has offered a large sum to the community market. Such expressions of solidarity are the basis on which we build social cohesion at Larnaca Municipality”.

The municipality’s community market programme, providing basic food items to the most needy in the local community, was first launched around a year ago.

Unfortunately, the number of needy is “constantly increasing”, said the mayor.

The mayor described the sizeable contribution to the community market as a “selfless” act, made in recognition of the efforts of the municipality to tackle the poverty facing many of the town’s residents.

5 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

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6 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home CYPRUS TODAY Metal remands THREE men were remanded in custody for six days by the Paphos district court yesterday in connection with a series of metal thefts from an apartment complex.

According to Paphos police spokesman Nicos Tsapis, a 51-year-old Greek Cypriot owner of a company managing a group of apartments in Paphos complained that a number of recent burglaries have resulted in the theft of boiler heaters, kitchen parts, doors and aluminium windows worth €80,000 in total.

Tsapis noted that in the same area, a warehouse was broken into and water pressure units and aluminium doors were also stolen.

Following investigations, police identified two 26-year-old Romanians at the apartment complex with a number of items in their possession believed to be stolen. During questioning, evidence came up against a 50-year-old Greek national who was also arrested.

This is the second gang of suspected metal thieves arrested in the last week.

Earlier in the week, Paphos police arrested four people in connection with the theft of boilers and other metallic objects, following a spate of burglaries targeting old metal objects in the Paphos district.

Shop fire A BETTING shop in Choirokoitia was torched to the ground in the early hours of yesterday morning.

According to Larnaca police spokesman Christos Andreou, the fire at the bookies, owned by a 30-year-old man, was spotted at 3am yesterday morning.

The fire service was able to put the fire out but not before the shop had been completely destroyed, causing thousands of euros worth of damage.

The fire is believed to have been caused by arson.

Drugs bust TWO BROTHERS were arrested on Friday night in connection with charges of drug use and suspected contraband cigarettes.

The two, aged 29 and 36, were stopped by police while driving down Makarios Avenue in Limassol.

During a search, police found a rolled cigarette believed to contain cannabis on the 29-year-old, while on the 36-year-old the authorities found half a gram of cannabis.

In a later search of their home, police found 29 boxes containing 2,872 packets of tobacco.

Limassol CID and Drugs Squad are investigating the case.

Sun and sand: but there are other types of tourist

Trying to please all the people, all of the time But it’s always someone else’s fault when things start to go wrong

By Jean Christou RECENT comment on the Cyprus Mail website described an incident where a couple of British women were being ignored by serving staff in a hotel or restaurant. When one of them asked the waitress why, she was told the boss had instructed the staff to ‘make a fuss’ of the Russian customers because “the Brits were finished in Cyprus”.

This has always been the attitude of some in the tourist industry: ‘tourists are a passing trade and there are always more where they came from’.

Not so much these days and especially not Britons.

At the annual conference of the Cyprus Hotels’ Association PASYXE on Wednesday the focus was on the decline of the British market and the rise of the Russian market in Cyprus.

British tourists have always been the mainstay of Cypriot tourism with as many as 1.4 million in 2001 – the benchmark year for the industry in Cyprus – while Russia coughed up a mere 116,000 visitors to the island back then.

Some ten years down the line the picture is completely different. Last year 474,419 Russians visited Cyprus compared to 959,459 Britons. This year a further decline is expected in the British market – bookings are already down 7.0 per cent - while Russian operators expect to bring another 100,000 visitors.

This has left the industry a little schizophrenic. As it is, Cyprus has no Pyramids, Parthenon or Eiffel Tower to lure tourists. If we had, the industry would not have to spend so much time trying to please all tastes with everything from sun and sea to conferences, sports, marinas, golf, culture, religion, nature, weddings, diving, spas… name a niche – Cyprus has it. And that’s just the activities.

With two looming dominant markets about to slug it out, one is bound to lose in the long run.

Around 60 per cent of all British tourists in Cyprus come with tour operators. Angela Mazzey, Senior Purchasing Manager for TUI, which brings 30 per cent of those arrivals, told delegates at the conference that Cyprus was already down 7.0 per cent for summer 2013 while every other

A

destination in the region including Greece was up anything from 10 to 24 per cent.

Mazzey stresses the word “loyalty”.

“It’s important that the traditional British market is still made to feel at home [in Cyprus],” she said. “The right balance is needed. Russia has a large influx but it’s all about balance.”

Different markets want different things, different food, different entertainment. “There is only ever one dominant source market and you have to get the right mix or you will lose the other, and to get the right mix, you have to know your markets,” said Mazzey.

In terms of Cyprus and the British tourist, Mazzey said some of the strengths Cyprus had as an attraction for Britons have gone. She specifically referred to the time when Cypriot opticians offered cheap spectacles and eye tests, and also the mini cruises from Limassol.

“These were of great attraction and there has been no replacement,” said Mazzey. Also walking around muddy roadworks and having to take pushchairs into the traffic, especially in Paphos, did not go down well with our average Brit.

She also had a dig about Cyprus still being deemed one of the most expensive holiday destinations in the region.

A package to Greece was 100 pounds sterling cheaper per person than Cyprus this year, said Mazzey. Ayia Napa however is slated to do well in July and August but Mazzey warned this was a small market of young people.

When it came to attracting British families however, Cyprus was not doing so well, given the cost and a lack of activities the whole family could get involved in. Referring to the island’s water parks, she said: “You almost need to take out a second mortgage to go, and to eat there. We’re offering [an activity] with one hand and taking away with the other,” she warned.

She said the British market was a depressed one at the moment and the bottom line was always going to be value for money.

“We’ve got to give the consumer what he is looking for. We cannot have price increases. The customer will not pay. Price increases are not the answer, despite your higher electricity bills. You shouldn’t always expect the customer to pay for increased costs,” she told the hoteliers.

Martin Brackenbury, an adviser to the World Tourism Organisation, said the decline from the UK was also partly to do with the fact, as Mazzey said, the British market was depressed due to recession. He said the decline of British arrivals in Cyprus was relative to the decline in the number of Britons going on holiday but he said the question was whether Cyprus was doing enough to counter the stagnation.

“Cyprus is not making progress in the UK market. It is preserving its market share in a depressed market.

You’re doing all right but the question is could you do better?” he asked, adding that Cyprus would always have its work cut out to attract tourists.

“You have to work hard to make people want to come here,” he said.

“In a static market the only possibility is to take market share from others. Your product price and services must be better than others to do that, and the product has to stand up to scrutiny.”

Mazzey also suggested Cyprus did not understand its markets, as did another delegate who was referring to Russia after

The young Ayia Napa market is only significant for a couple of months

Julia Tugolukova of tour operators BiblioGlobus spoke of her company’s plans to up flights this year from 15 Russian destinations.

To press home his point that industry stakeholders do not know their markets well enough, delegate, and outgoing Chief Executive of Hermes Airports, Alfred van der Meer said: “We talk of flights from 15 Russian cities but how many [of you] know anything about these places?” he added, suggesting most people in the room would not be able to locate them on a map. “We do not know our markets,” he insisted.

Tugolukova, whose company brings in 70 per cent of all Russian tourists to Cyprus, said they would bring a total of 350,000 this year on 75 flights per week, and that’s just her company.

Unlike the Brits whose likes seem to be many and varied, Tugolukova said only one thing about why Russians like Cyprus. “It’s the hospitality”.

The Russian influx has also had an unexpected but positive side effect on another market: Ukraine. Delegates heard that last year 18,000 Ukrainians visited Cyprus and this year that figure would almost double to 30,000 with 15 flights per week from three cities. So what’s the attraction for them? Apparently it’s the Russian flavour to the island. Conclusion, more Russians means more Ukrainians, a model that does not work so well with the UK market since no Europeans, other than Britons would come to Cyprus because ‘it feels British’.

Apart from what different markets like or dislike, or whether they feel at home here or not - although the whole point of a holiday is supposedly not to feel at home - for van der Meer the main issue of contention is getting the tourists here in the first place. He believes there are simply not enough airlines flying in.

“We need open skies. In a market that is so competitive we have to be open for business,” he said. “We are fishing in a smaller pond and it’s going to get even smaller. You have had a successful model that worked for a long time,” he said to the hoteliers.

“But we don’t look to ourselves [now that it’s stopped working]. We blame the EAC… but we’re the ones who let it this happen because it was always easy money. But those days are over,” he warned.

Unless we build one of the next seven Wonders of the World…

7 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Home

Property seen as way to crack the lucrative Chinese tourism market Direct flights needed to tap potentially huge market

By Bejay Browne CHINESE investors in Paphos are paving the way for holidaymakers from the vast and as yet untapped Chinese market.

During the last year or so, many of the homes sold in Paphos have been to Chinese clients.

Nassos Hadjigeourghiou, head of the Paphos regional board of tourism, said Paphos was not focusing on tourists from China per se but believes they are an achievable goal.

“We haven’t actively done anything to attract them but I know that steps have been taken to open up new opportunities,” he said.

Hadjigeorgiou said the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) has had a number of meetings with Chinese tour operators, as well as discussing establishing direct air connections between Cyprus and China.

“Until now, nothing concrete has been decided,” said Hadjigeorgiou. “Many of the Chinese in Paphos are second-home buyers, but it is possible in the future to develop this market as a tourist market - if we manage to establish direct flights.

This is the first step, and it will then open the market up for tour operators and individuals.”

Chinese investors have been purchasing homes in Paphos, in an otherwise generally quiet time for house sales. In

terms of actual numbers results are not impressive but they are encouraging say officials.

“If we take the official figures, I think only around 1,000 Chinese visited here last year. The figures haven’t been listed separately in the official statistics for last year, probably because the number is so small - but it’s around this figure.

This is such a small number from a huge country, but there is a lot of potential there,” said Hadjigeorgiou.

Korantina Homes - a small Paphos developer - was one of the first developers in Cyprus to actively seek out Chinese clientele.

WELCOME According to Sophia Charalambous of Korantina the Chinese buyers have proved a welcome presence in a market which is otherwise relatively stagnant.

“We started selling to Chinese clients about a year ago and in that time we have sold more than 20 properties to Chinese buyers. We have also sold a couple of properties to Russians buyers, but it’s otherwise quiet.”

This year alone, Korantina has sold three properties to Chinese investors varying between €315,000 and €400,000.

As non-European nationals, prospective Chinese buyers need to make a minimum property purchase of €300,000, and prove they have adequate finances to stay in Cyprus. They are then entitled

Could more property sales lead to more tourists?

to apply for and receive a permanent residency permit for themselves and their family.

According to Charalambous, Chinese buyers in Paphos are choosing properties mainly close to the sea and in the Akamas region. Cyprus is an attractive destination for Chinese investors as it can function as a stepping stone to mainland Europe.

Charalambous said: “They are enjoying sightseeing while they are here on inspection trips. They mostly seem to enjoy Troodos, Kathikas, the wineries and so on. So far, our clients are aware of many places in Cyprus and know where they want to visit.”

She pointed out that their clients often complain about the lack of fresh fish at home in China and so particularly enjoy eating it when they visit Paphos.

She added: “I think more tourists will come to Paphos from China, especially if direct flights are established. It’s a safe country, has a nice climate and they seem to like it here very much.”

Chinese ambassador Liu Xinsheng met mayor of Paphos Savvas Vergas near the end of last year on his first official visit since being appointed in the summer, with the aim of strengthening relations between China and Cyprus and developing a tourist and business relationship.

In honour of the Chinese presence in the coastal town, the King of the carnival in Paphos will this year be dressed as a Chinese investor.

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8 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World ‘Pistorius, girlfriend had plans for future’

Carnival saga unlikely to hurt cruise industry

SOUTH African athlete Oscar Pistorius was planning a future with girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he is accused of shooting in cold blood this week, his uncle said yesterday.

“We are in a state of total shock - firstly about the tragic death of Reeva who we had all got to know well and care for deeply over the last few months,” Anthony Pistorius said in a statement released by his nephew’s agent.

“They had plans together and Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time,” he said.

Pistorius, 26, was charged on Friday with murdering Steenkamp in the early hours of the previous day.

He broke down during a 40-minute bail hearing at a Pretoria court, but was not asked to enter a plea.

Prosecutors alleged the shooting was premeditated - a charge that could put Pistorius behind bars for life if he is convicted.

Anthony Pistorius reiterated the family’s belief that the track star - a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics - had not deliberately shot Steenkamp, a 30-yearold model. Initial reports suggested he may have mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder.

Stinking ship crisis still no match for cheap hols

The Carnival Triumph makes its way up Mobile Bay assisted by tug boats on Thursday

By Tom Brown GLOBAL cruise giant Carnival Corp found itself in deep doo-doo this week, due to alarming reports about an engine room fire that left one of its jam-packed US passenger ships adrift and awash in raw sewage in the Gulf of Mexico.

The saga involving the illfated Carnival Triumph cruise ship, which received extensive coverage on US cable news stations, was a second public relations nightmare for Carnival in as many years.

It came as the Miami-based company was recovering from last year’s disaster, when its Costa Concordia luxury liner ran aground off the coast of Italy, killing 32 people.

But the lure of inexpensive vacations at sea is likely to keep the booming worldwide cruise industry on course to-

ward strong profits this year, despite the befouled five-day ordeal endured by more than 4,200 passengers and crew aboard the Triumph, industry analysts said on Friday.

“They have done a much better job communicating this time than they did with the Costa Concordia,” said Evan Nierman, a South Floridabased public relations crisis management expert.

But he would have liked

to see Carnivals’ billionaire Chairman and Chief Executive Micky Arison take a more prominent role in the company’s response.

Arison finally offered up his first public apology via Twitter on Friday. “We are very sorry for the difficult conditions experienced by our guests on #Carnival Triumph,” Arison wrote. “But glad that all guests are off safe & sound. I want to thank all the @CarnivalCruise

team members for their tireless efforts.”

The accident could add to concerns about safety in the industry, where ships the size of floating cities have become the norm. But maritime attorney Michael Winkleman said calls for higher safety standards, more oversight and other regulatory changes that might affect cruise lines have fallen on deaf ears in Washington for decades.

Malaysia to deport Aussie MP MALAYSIAN authorities will deport an Australian senator after refusing him entry yesterday over what it said was his participation in an illegal str eet rally for electoral reform in the Southeast Asian country last year.

The deportation of Senator Nick Xenophon is a sign of growing political sensitivity in Malaysia as the government braces for elections within months that are expected to be the closest in the former British colony’s history.

Xenophon said he had been detained upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur early yesterday and refused entry because he was considered a “security risk” ahead of a visit to discuss an election with government and opposition officials.

“I was told I am a security risk and I can’t be allowed into the country,” Xenophon told Reuters. He said airport officials told him arrangements were being made for him to leave Malaysia on the next available flight.

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Facebook hacked FACEBOOK Inc said on Friday hackers had infiltrated some of its employees’ laptops in recent weeks, making the world’s No.1 social network the latest victim of a wave of cyber attacks, many of which have been traced to China.

It said none of its users’ data was compromised in the attack, which occurred after a handful of employees visited a website last month that infected their machines with so-called malware, according to a post on Facebook’s official blog released just before the three-day US President’s Day weekend.

President’s day is celebrated on February 18.

It was not immediately clear why Facebook waited till now to announce the incident. Facebook declined to comment on the reason or the origin of the attack.

Expenses fraud THE former Chicago congressman son of civil rights leader the Rev Jesse Jackson has been charged with spending $750,000 (£483,000) in political campaign funds on personal expenses.

His wife has been charged with filing false income tax forms, in a spectacular fall from political prominence for the couple.

US government prosecutors filed a charge of conspiracy against Jesse Jackson Jr, and charged Sandra Jackson with one count of filing false joint federal income tax returns from 2006 to 2011.

Both agreed to plead guilty in plea deals.

‘No more NATO air strikes’ AFGHAN security forces will be banned from calling for NATO air strikes in residential areas to help in their operations, President Hamid Karzai said yesterday, three days after 10 civilians died in such a strike in the country’s east.

NATO air strikes and civilian casualties have become a significant stress point in the relationship between Karzai and his international backers. The issue threatens to further destabilise a precarious international withdrawal, to be completed by the end of 2014.

“DOOR TO DOOR” FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN 1-14 March 2013 in Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos 18 - 31 March 2013 in Larnaca and Famagusta

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Pakistan toll THE death toll from a bombing in the Pakistani city of Quetta on Saturday climbed to 47, police officials said.

Officials said 130 people were wounded.

9 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

World Russia cleans up after meteor blast

Workers repair a power line in Chelyabinsk, damaged by the meteor’s shockwave (AFP)

THOUSANDS of Russian emergency workers went out yesterday to clear up the damage from a meteor that exploded over the Ural mountains, damaging buildings, shattering windows and showering people with broken glass.

Divers searched a lake near the city of Chelyabinsk, where a hole several metres wide had opened in the ice, but had so far failed to find any large fragments, officials said.

The scarcity of evidence on the ground fuelled scores of conspiracy theories over what caused the fireball and its huge shockwave on Friday in the area which plays host to many defence industry plants.

Nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky told reporters in Moscow it could have been “war-mongers” in the United States. “It’s not meteors falling. It’s a new weapon being tested by the Americans,” he said.

A priest from near the explosion site called it an act of God. Social media sites were flooded with speculation about what might have caused the explosion.

“Honestly, I would be more inclined to believe that this was some military thing,” said Oksana Trufanova, a local human rights activist.

Asked about the speculation, an official at the local branch of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry simply replied: “Rubbish”.

Residents of Chelyabinsk, an industrial city 1,500 km (950 miles) east of Moscow, heard an explosion, saw a bright light and then felt a shockwave that blew out windows and damaged the wall and roof of a zinc plant.

The fireball traveling at a speed of 30 km (19 miles) per second according to Russian space agency Roscosmos, blazed across the horizon, leaving a long white trail visible as far as 200 km (125 miles) away.

Leftist opposition party in Greece regains narrow lead over conservatives

G20 says there will be no ‘currency war’

GREECE’S leftist opposition party has regained a narrow lead over the ruling conservatives, an opinion poll published yesterday said.

The survey by Pulse for the 6 Imeres newspaper also showed Greeks divided over their government’s tough stance against strike action.

It put support for Syriza at 24 per cent, giving it a 1.5 percentage-point lead over New Democracy, but still within the margin of error of 2.7 per cent. That compares to 29.6 per cent for New Democracy and 26.9 per cent for Syriza in a parliamentary vote last June.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ New Democracy party and the anti-bailout Syriza have been neck-and-neck in recent polls. “(The poll) does not show a clear trend or direction, nor does any party currently display the type of momentum that could lead to a serious reversal,” Pulse head Yorgos Arapoglou wrote in the newspaper.

New Democracy trailed Syriza for months since the June 17 parliamentary vote, but managed to grab an opinion poll lead in January after securing international bailout

Group of 20 defer plans to set new debt-cutting targets

By Randall Palmer and Lidia Kelly

Samaras is keen to show he is sticking to reforms funds to avert bankruptcy and end uncertainty over Greece’s future in the euro.

Samaras has since been eager to show the country’s lenders - the European Union and International Monetary Fund - that he is sticking to reforms promised in exchange for aid and that he is also facing down powerful unions.

Twice during its eightmonth rule, the government threatened striking seamen and subway workers with arrest, ordering them back to the job under an emergency law invoked in cases of civil disorder, natural disasters or public health risks.

THE Group of 20 nations declared yesterday there would be no ‘currency war’ and deferred plans to set new debtcutting targets in an indication of concern about the fragile state of the world economy.

Japan’s expansive policies that have driven down the yen escaped criticism in a statement thrashed out in Moscow by financial policymakers from the G20, which groups developed and emerging markets and accounts for 90 per cent of the world economy.

After late night talks, finance ministers and central bankers agreed on wording closer than expected to a joint statement issued last Tuesday by the Group of Seven rich nations backing market-determined exchange rates.

A draft communique seen by delegates on Friday had steered clear of the G7’s call for economic policy not to be targeted at exchange rates.

But the final version included a G20 commitment to refrain

Vatican says conclave could start before March 15 THE Vatican said yesterday that the conclave to choose the successor to Pope Benedict could start before March 15 if enough cardinals are in Rome to elect him.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Church rules which regulate the timing of conclaves could be “interpreted” differently this time because of

the unique circumstances of Benedict’s historic resignation.

He had said earlier that the conclave would start between March 15-20 according to existing rules. But he said yesterday that events could move more quickly since the Church was dealing with an announced resignation and not a sudden papal death.

Rehn expects debt targets to be agreed in September

from competitive devaluations and stated monetary policy would be directed at price stability and growth.

“The language has been strengthened since our discussions last night,” Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told reporters. “It’s stronger than it was, but it was quite clear last night that everyone around the table wants to avoid any sort of currency disputes.”

The communique did not single out Japan for aggressive monetary and fiscal policies that have seen the yen drop 20 per cent, a trend that may now continue.

“The market will take the G20 statement as an approval for what it has been doing selling of the yen,” said Neil Mellor, currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon in London. “No censure of Japan means they will be off to the

money printing presses.”

The statement reflected a substantial, but not complete, endorsement of Tuesday’s statement by the G7 nations the United States, Japan, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy. “We all agreed on the fact that we refuse to enter any currency war,” French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici told reporters.

The text also contained a commitment to credible medium-term fiscal strategy, but stopped short of setting specific goals.

A debt-cutting pact struck in Toronto in 2010 will expire this year if leaders fail to agree to extend it at a G20 summit of leaders in St Petersburg in September.

European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said he expected concrete debt targets to be agreed at the September meeting.

See Business ‘G20 host Russia still struggles with chronic investor mistrust’ PAGE 22

10 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World

Benedict - a resignation foretold, for those who knew where to look Retired bishop predicted Benedict could resign while the Pope himself told one author it was a possibility

By Catherine Hornby POPE Benedict’s resignation on Monday shocked many in the Roman Catholic world and beyond, yet for those who know where to look, there were portents aplenty.

Take Nanni Moretti’s 2011 comedy-drama Habemus Papam (We have a pope!) in which a depressed and panic-stricken newly-elected pope escapes his Vatican minders for a few days before returning to announce, in his first address, that he doesn’t have what it takes for the job.

Benedict, 85, managed almost eight years before citing old age and deteriorating health on Monday to explain his decision to become the first pope in more than 700 years to resign willingly rather than die in office.

For a pope, he said, “both strength of mind and body are necessary”, going on to ask for “pardon for all my defects”.

The Italian Sky Cinema channel has not missed its

Speculation: retired bishop Luigi Bettazzi

Playing pope: the Italian film Habemus Papam in which the pope resigns chance to rerun Habemus Papam, where Michel Piccoli’s fictional pope says that “the Church needs a guide who has the strength to bring great changes”, and also asks for forgiveness.

Moretti, whose film had received a cool response from the Church, has been bombarded with calls from journalists.

“What am I supposed to say?” he told the daily La Repubblica, graciously admitting to being as amazed as everyone else by Benedict’s decision. “Every now and then cinema manages to anticipate reality.”

But his film was not the only omen in Rome.

Last year, Luigi Bettazzi, the retired bishop of Ivrea who has known the former Joseph Ratzinger for 50 years, speculated that some

day he might choose to step down instead of reigning for life if he felt he could no longer run the Church properly.

“I wish him a long life and lasting lucidity but I think that, if the moment arrives when he sees that things are changing, I think he has the courage to resign,” Bettazzi told RAI television.

At the time, the Vatican said there was no serious chance that Benedict could step down. But in fact, there were signs from Benedict himself.

Twice as pope he prayed before the remains of St Celestine, who in 1294 as Celestine V was the last pontiff to stand down willingly, and returned to his former life as a hermit. To do so, he first had to issue a decree allowing popes to resign.

If anyone wondered aboutt Benerest, edict’s interest, they might have ue in found a clue rview a long interview that he gave rman to the German journalist Peter Seewald forr his 2010 book, Light d. of the World.

“If a pope clearly realises that onger he is no longer physically, psyy and chologically spiritually capadling ble of handling s of the duties his office,” Benedict said, “then he has a right, and under some nces circumstances ligaalso an obligagn.” tion, to resign.”

New York mayor Bloomberg seeks to ban Styrofoam

By Edith Honan NEW YORK City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed a ban on Styrofoam, the substance commonly used for take-out food containers that is almost impossible to recycle.

The mayor who has already targeted fat, sugar and salt in the city will turn to extruded polystyrene foam, saying it clogs up landfills, does not biodegrade and might harm human health.

Bloomberg raised the proposal in his final State of the City speech on Thursday.

Bloomberg, in his 12th year as mayor, has made public health and sustainability hallmarks of his three terms in office, and he has taken aim repeatedly at the fast-food industry - most recently in his contro-

versial plan to bar the sale of large portions of sugary soda, which goes into effect next month.

Styrofoam, he says, should go the way of lead-based paint, which the city banned from residential use in 1960. An estimated 20,000 tons of Styrofoam enter the city’s waste stream each year, and it can add an estimated $20 per ton to the cost of recycling because it needs to be removed from the recycling stream, the city said.

“After all, we can live without it. We may live longer without it.

And the doggie bag will survive just fine,” the text of Bloomberg’s speech said.

Dow Chemical Co, which makes Styrofoam, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Similar bans have been adopted in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

Nanny mayor? Bloomberg

The plan was likely to meet opposition from small businesses, since alternatives to Styrofoam tend to cost between two and five times as much.

“As this proposal moves forward, we hope that the concerns of the small businesses it affects - like cost increases - will factor in at least as heavily as environmental concerns,” said Andrew Moesel, a spokesman for the New York Restaurant Association.

While Bloomberg’s aggressive campaigns have won him plaudits from some, others have dubbed him a “nanny” mayor and said his ideas limit choice and pre-empt individual responsibility.

During his first term, he pushed through a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, which, despite an initially rocky reception from New Yorkers, is now enormously popu-

lar and has inspired similar bans in cities around the world.

Next up was a ban on trans fats, found in Little Italy cannoli and fast-food french fries, and a dictate that fast-food restaurants post calorie information in large type on menu boards.

Last year, Bloomberg said restaurants and takeaway food shops could no longer sell sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces (47cl).

Sugar-sweetened drinks are a significant source of extra calories in the US diet and closely linked with weight gain, which often accompanies serious and costly illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

The soft drinks industry is challenging the ban, which is due to begin in March, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that burdens small businesses and infringes upon personal liberty.

11 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

News Review

Persecuted Cyprus struggles with debt conditions One-way street EUROPEAN Central Bank executive board member Joerg Asmussen has warned that Cyprus could default if there was a delay in granting financial assistance to the island, putting at risk the progress achieved in the eurozone last year. Asmussen believed an aid package for Cyprus will be ready by the end of next month, he told the German business daily Handelsblatt in an interview published on Monday.

Dancing girls: Cyprus dancers take part in a worldwide event this week to highlight violence against women mendation would be forwarded to the relevant parliamentary committee that must discuss it within three months.

Med prices THE HEALTH ministry on Monday released a new price list for pharmaceuticals revealing some reductions in expensive drugs, a price-freeze on prescription meds under €10 and increases in over-the-counter (OTC) products. But consumers’ groups condemned the hike in OTC medicines, and the limited overall reductions, and criticised the health ministry for setting a €1 transaction fee for prescriptions processed in the private sector.

More promises PRESIDENTIAL frontrunner Nicos Anastasiades on Monday unveiled a proposal that would allow people to demand legislation passed by parliament – under certain conditions - on matters that affect them. “The only condition is that 10,000 signatures must be collected within four months,” Anastasiades’ spokesman Tasos Mitsopoulos said. After confirming the signatures, the recom-

Olli Rehn, the European Union’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, clarified that there were no thoughts on a haircut of the Cypriot debt

Debt comments THE government on Tuesday welcomed a statement by the EU’s top economic official that the European Commission was not working on a debt restructuring for Cyprus that would force heavy losses on investors.

Olli Rehn, the European Union’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, clarified that there were no thoughts on a haircut of the Cypriot debt, deputy government spokesman Christos Christofides told newsmen. Rehn said that under the terms of the emerging bailout, Cypriot government debt would not be restructured to impose losses on private creditors.

Persecuted CYPRUS is being “persecuted” and “cornered” by EU partners seeking

QUOTES OF THE WEEK “The leaders are the crisis” Stop the Oppressive Powers (STOP) group “Policemen and women are oncall 24 hours a day and it would be a great shame if they were unable to stop a crime during their time me off as they were too unfifit to apprehend a thief orr a robber” Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou georgiou “There e must be no doubt about this: if Cyprus gets ets no external help, it will slide into default” European ean Central Bank ank executive tive board member er Joerg Asmussen en (right)

“I would say that the bail-in of depositors is a grossly exaggerated possibility, unlikely to happen, we will not accept it under any circumstances and I don’t think it creates any way forward” Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly “If there is anything that our fellow citizens truly fills o with fear it is them [AKEL] remaining remainin in power” The response from DISY resp spokesman spokesm Harris Georgiades “Unfortunately the Cypriot “Unfortuna consumer will continue buying the most expensive medicines in Europe” medic The Cyprus Consumers’ Union “Can you imagine what it’s lilike to live this every day, to be under so much pressure just mu to ttry and feed your family” fam Pavlina Patsalou, a Pa volunteer who helps v feed the poor

“The government has surrendered unconditionally to the most extreme and humiliating terms imposed by the troika, which were adopted by the Eurogroup. Cyprus is being led along a path of servitude and neo-colonialism” EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou “Cyprus feels persecuted. We were forced to resort to a support mechanism, and instead of support, we have persecution” President Demetris Christofias “We don’t refuse to contribute to the recovery of the economy but we want to pay what we can afford” Cyprus Hotels’ Association boss Haris Loizides “If Anastasiades’ crew behaves in this provocative and arrogant way, the public can only be left vulnerable and in fear over how Anastasiades would behave if he were elected president” AKEL spokesman Giorgos Loucaides

to impose tough conditions for financial aid, President Demetris Christofias said on Tuesday during a visit to Greece. The president said conditions of a preliminary agreement with international lenders were painful but not as harsh as those imposed on Greece. He said the government was ready to sign and suggested that it was the lenders who were stalling “because they want to impose fresh tough conditions”.

Prima facie THE LARNACA Criminal Court on Tuesday found there was a prima facie case against six defendants on trial in connection with a 2011 naval base munitions blast that killed 13 people and incapacitated the island’s main power station. “We find that a prima facie case is substantiated,” presiding judge Tefkros Economou said, announcing the court’s interim decision. Economou cautioned however that the decision did not mean prima facie guilt.

‘Hotel of kings’ A €30 million redevelopment plan is in place to breathe life into the Berengeria Hotel in Prodromos, almost 30 years after it closed down.

The plan is merely waiting on a building permit from the government, and includes a casino, modern restaurant and large swimming pool, all of which are part of new owner Michalis Ioannides’ grand vision. “Tourism in Cyprus began when the hotel was built back in 1931 when it drew society’s elite and honeymooners with its serene environment and clean-air,” he added.

Horsing around Authorities were on Wednesday looking into a Cypriot company as part of a Europe-wide investigation over fraudulent labelling of horsemeat contained in some food products.

The affair has implicated operators and middlemen in a host of EU countries, from abattoirs in Romania and factories in Luxembourg to traders in Cyprus and food companies in France. Authorities said the Limassol-based company was involved in the trade of meat but only through instructions it passed on to other countries.

Resounding ‘no’ CYPRUS sent a clear message to Brussels in writing on Wednesday saying it would not accept the notion of a money-laundering audit from a private company, the government spokesman said. He also categorically rejected any thought of forcing losses on uninsured depositors as part of the island’s bailout. “We made this position clear with arguments and it was given to the Eurogroup in writing,” Stefanos Stefanou said. “We condemn and reject efforts by certain circles in the EU to blackmail Cyprus into accepting new and dangerous procedures.”

Hi-ho, hi-ho CONSTRUCTION workers returned to their jobs on Wednesday when unions PEO, SEK and DEOK all voted in favour of signing a renewal of the collective agreements. This came after a new proposal by Labour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous, which ended almost three weeks of strikes.

The initial agreement was signed on Tuesday evening, but unions held a general meeting at PEO’s headquarters to ratify that decision.

Cops, doughnuts SEVEN out of ten members of the police force are overweight while four out of ten are obese, according to a study carried out by Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) supervisor Dr Michalis Michaelides. Around 120 different policemen and women of differing ages were initially tested through various analysis and endurance testing. All tests were carried out using specifications from the EU and will continue until all members of the police have been tested.

Missing child AN 18 month old child was allegedly kidnapped from his grandmother’s home on Friday while playing by himself on the verandah. When his grandmother went to change his twin sister’s nappy, Stavros Stylli disappeared. Neighbours reported seeing a rental car zooming away from the scene at the time. The child was later found in a cemetery by himself by a woman visiting a grave. He was unharmed. Police spoke to several family members about the incident and said an unprecedented number of men had been mobilised.

12 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion Yesterday’s man proved incapable of strong leadership EVEN IF Cyprus does not elect a new president today and had to wait another week, Demetris Christofias, despite having 11 more days in office, is yesterday’s man. The real tragedy was that he was yesterday’s man in February 2008, when he comfortably won the second Sunday election to become the first ever AKEL president of Cyprus, but this did not matter to the electorate at the time.

The economy was booming, public finances were in rude good health, standards of living were rising and the signs of affluence were everywhere – we never had it so good. Confidence was so high, voters reasoned that Christofias, who sold himself as a sensible and cautious, old-school politician despite his communist ideology, was a safe bet for the future. And had the economic boom continued for the next five years this reasoning may have been correct, as even a president of Christofias’ obvious limitations would not have been able to

cause much harm.

But when the economic downturn arrived we were stuck with the worst possible president running the country, an old-school politician well-versed in populism and vacuous posturing but totally unsuitable for leading the country through difficult times.

The politicians of the old school were good at rusfeti, wasting the taxpayer’s money on vote-buying, giving a free rein to unions, opening schools, pontificating about their principles on the Cyprus problem and, when anything went wrong, blaming foreigners for plotting against Cyprus.

Christofias excelled in all of the above, but as an old school politician he was totally incapable of providing the strong leadership the country was crying out for when the recession arrived and unpopular measures were desperately needed. Terrified of taking unpopular decisions, he regularly deferred to the union bosses, who always put the narrow interests of their members

SundayMail above the country, and his AKEL comrades, who always put the narrow interests of the party above the country. He was happy to let the economic problems pile up until the state could not tackle them and had to seek assistance from the EU. And once this refusal to take unpopular decisions led the country to the brink of bankruptcy, the cowardly Christofias’ only concern was how to avoid taking any responsibility for the economic meltdown he had caused. We were victims of the world economic crisis while the banks’ exposure to Greek government debt was to blame for the Cyprus economy’s problems, which forced Christofias to apply to the European Support Mechanism for help. The inadequate man in charge of the country was in no way to blame for anything,

because his job was not to foresee danger and take timely, if unpopular, action to protect the country.

Politicians like Christofias take only ‘popular’ decisions that earn applause. It is no coincidence that in his Friday night address about his five years in office he boasted about his government’s profligate spending, increasing welfare benefits by 42 per cent, doubling financial assistance to refugees and paying more to students, the disabled, pensioners etc. For old school politicians the test of good leadership is directly related to amount of the taxpayers’ money they spend.

It may be stating the obvious, but today Cyprus is in desperate need of strong leadership. It needs a president who will take the unpopular decisions that would move the country forward regardless of the political cost; a president who will not be afraid to clash with unions and other vested interests in order to make the economy competitive again; a

president who will be ruthlessly committed to modernising the state sector and limiting its powers; a president who will not see the wasting of state funds as an indication of good leadership.

Cyprus has never had such a president which is why the country is in the mess it is today. Many of the current problems pre-date the Christofias presidency, accumulated over many years of government by old-school politicians dealing exclusively in the currency of populism. Christofias has emphatically proved that Cyprus can no longer be served by petty-minded, populists whose sole aim is to pander to voters and go into hiding when things become difficult. Such leaders are a dime a dozen.

We hope the voters, suffering the devastating consequences of the inadequate, populist leadership that Christofias exemplified, would have realised that the best candidate is not the one who tells them what they want to hear and show this in today’s elections.

Letters to the Editor Want to know if your meds can kill you? Sorry, you have to Google it With reference to the letter from Michael Duddridge in Maroni (Sunday Mail,, February 10) regarding the dosage and contra indications in medicine packs being available only in Greek. You are so right.

I have been complaining at chemists and government about this for years.

The most common explanation for it has been that the medication is brought to Cyprus from Greece and they have no rules on language on the instruction of the medication.

Why I ask must it be brought from Greece?

Because as was explained the cost is much lower than ordering direct from the agents here who are licensed to the Pharma Companies.

Lastly I was told I should

use my PC to get the instructions in any language I wanted.

What about those who have no PC and or are not IT literate?

In the USA a legal emigrant from Mexico into Arizona was prescribed medication with the enclosed instructions only in English, which the young woman hardly understood.

Sadly she was allergic to a component in the medication and died.

Her family and friends sued the Pharma-Company for $2 million and got it.

Perhaps we should do the same if we suffer negative side-effects of the medication.

Diane Best.

Limassol.

When are the ‘people in charge’ going to wake up?

Look around and see what is going on here... shops closing, bars, cafes, restaurants, business`s closing. One reason most are struggling due to excessive costs. Just take electricity prices.

They are so high that the places that have survived until now can’t even afford to switch their signs on.

Then there’s tourism. They say it`s up again. Ha, maybe, but only the all inclusive holiday`s great for families. Maybe, but what about the cafes, restaurants, and bars around the tourist areas?

How much do these all inclusive clients spend in Cypriot businesses? How much cash revenue is not being generated in the all inclusive venues? Zero I reckon.

How much revenue in terms of VAT is lost to the island as the money for these holidays is paid overseas?

JC Larnaca

The appalling treatment of staff by Cypriot bosses How come business owners, particularly those in the retail industry treat their staff so badly here in Cyprus?

I’ve heard some pretty awful stories on the behaviour of so called ‘business men/women’ and I’m not talking about small corner, back street outlets.

In the main it is known Cypriot family names with substantial amounts of money behind them and in quite respectable locations, in fact quite a few are in prime spots, yet they verbally abuse their employees for example, ‘I’ll push your face into the wall and beat you up if you make a mistake again’ often many work under daily threats of ‘being sacked’ if an employee makes a mistake.

Other cases relate to salary cuts e.g. €1000 clean off a salary without warning or negotiations, even making staff redundant on the same day by letter with a small cheque enclosed – I guess the latter is at least something.

No doubt they even fail to understand the home

pressures/circumstances of their staff, but then again probably are not even that interested in their staff if this is their behaviour as business owners.

Guess these so called ‘professional business people’ only know how to behave when the money is rolling in!

Shame they can’t see that in many cases it’s their actual employees who have kept them in the life they’ve become accustomed too and in many cases under poor employment terms failure to pay social security for their staff and can’t even provide a fridge in the heat of July and August. I guess that if they finally end up out of business then at least it’s a form of justice for the years of mistreatment of their employees.

Let us hope the newly elected government addresses these issues as a high priority and for once starts to look after its workers.

Paul Thomas, Limassol

Were we to be judged by how we treat or defend others...

I had a chuckle to myself when I read of Portsmouth University’s research on dogs (Cyprus Mail, February 12) confirming what most good dog owners know, that the canine will wait till your back is turned before carrying out grand larceny. All dogs, like all children, at some stage will steal.

The relationship between dog and its human companion or family is often a complicated thing usually limited by our lack of understanding or empathy for our dogs behaviour rather than the other way round.

All dogs are descended from the Wolf which we domesticated thousands of years ago. It has been well reasoned that by allowing the Wolf/Dog into our “pack” to share our fire and food in return for its guarding, defending and nurturing skills, our ancient companion has allowed us to venture forth to explore and learn, knowing that everything was all right on the home front or to put it another way, we wouldn’t be where we are today without the dog.

Basically, apart from the emotions that having a dog engenders, we enter into a contract, a loyal exchange of services. It is this last bit that troubles me in Cyprus. It is as if this ancient contract between man and dog has been broken.

When I arrived in Cyprus and on the first day came across an abandoned dog I was told by a passerby that I must “Harden my heart”. I thought naively that the dog was lost and took her to the police station. Well, I have hardened my heart. For the sake of my sanity, I’ve learned to pass on the other side of the road. When I see dogs in cages locked up for nearly twenty four hours a day or chained without shade or water or standing, optimistically but emaciated, by the motorway, I harden my heart.

Dogs have been seriously short-changed in Cyprus and were we to be judged by how we treat or defend others who cannot stand up for themselves then it would lower all of us as well.

Robert G Brew, Protaras

Seeking info on the early Thalassaemia programme in Cyprus I am a retired consultant public health physician and am writing a dissertation on the control of Thalassaemia in Cyprus.

Are there any of your readers who could help me with one aspect of it: In the early 1970’s a group of physicians and health service managers met with the President, Archbishop Makarios, and explained to him that the costs of treatment of Thalassaemia would be more than the country could afford, and the only solution would be its prevention.

This ushered in the programme which exists in Cyprus still and has been copied by all the other countries with the problem of Thalassaemia.

What I’d like to know is this: When exactly did the meeting take place?

Who took part?

Were minutes kept of the meeting, and is it possible to look at them?

I’d very most grateful if this could be aired in your columns.

Unfortunately I don’t speak Greek.

Dr W Forsythe-Yorke, UK (Messages to the doctor can sent through the Feedback button on the Cyprus Mail website and they will be passed on to him)

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13 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Opinion What are we waiting for and we have gathered in the agora?

Just waiting for the barbarians I

REMEMBER, at the beginning of November 2012, when we all anticipated that at the Eurogroup meeting of November 13, the loan to Cyprus would be preliminarily approved. It was a “must” to secure the green light for the loan, so as to avert the bankruptcy of the state and of its banks. However our petition did not go through at that time. We had been dragging our heels for a long time, so the Europeans were not ready to say “yes”.

In the wake of the above, everybody in the leadership of the Government and in particular of the Ministry of Finance started running right and left to secure the necessary funds. They visited Peking and Moscow, they knocked on the doors of foreign banks operating in Cyprus, they applied to the public at large through Government bonds, they resorted to the coffers of semigovernmental organisations in order to be able to meet current liabilities.

In the meantime everybody in Cyprus was waiting for the troika and its money. The President of the Republic, who at times in the past had described the troikans and the markets as “thieves”, who steal the national wealth of the people, was also sitting back, waiting breathlessly. He even made a statement in Brussels that he was ready to sign the “Memorandum”. He did it in order to avert the collapse of the banks and of the country itself.

I was pondering over the predicament of this country. When I was in the government, in the House of Representatives and generally in politics for 30 years I always took pride in our booming economy. Now we reached the edge of the cliff. So I recalled Greek poet and philosopher, who lived in Alexandria, Constantinos Kavafis and his prophetic poem written 100 years ago, entitled “Waiting for the barbarians”.

“What are we waiting for and we have gathered in the agora The barbarians will arrive today….

Why has our Emperor woken up so early And he is seated at the largest gate of the city On the throne, in an official manner, wearing the crown?

Because the barbarians will arrive today And the Emperor waits to receive Their leader….

So our “President-Emperor” was waiting with his chiefs of staff the arrival of the

“barbarians” for our salvation.

However the funds of the troika did not arrive, not even in December.

The public coffers were

Comment Nicos Rolandis

empty. The salaries of civil servants could not be paid, so the Government resorted to the pension funds of the employees of the semi-governmental organisations.

Really unbelievable for a country to end up as less credible than the grocer of the neighbourhood, who can pay the salaries of his employees. In parallel the survival of the banks depended on the ELA (Emergency Liquidity Assistance) from which they borrowed more than €10 billion. Without this fund the banks would die of asphyxia. Incidentally the ELA belongs to the “thieves”, to the “barbarians”, for the arrival of whom we had been waiting.

The House of Representatives, moving with the speed of light enacted scores of laws to satisfy the “thieves”. There was no rhetoric in the House nor even a single objection to these laws, which deprive many citizens of the means of survival. It was more than clear that without this legislation the country could not go on. The members of the House bent their heads and raised their arms to vote “yes”. They had no option. So I remembered Kavafis again: “Why is there such an inaction in the Senate?

Why do the able orators not appear as usual To deliver their speeches and present their arguments?

Because the barbarians will arrive today And they are fed up with rhetoric and demagoguery” Time flies. January is gone. February will go soon. In Brussels and in Berlin they now talk of March or May or even September.

The question is, how will Cyprus survive until then? What will the new President manage to do? How will my good friend Nicos Anastasiades, who appears to be the undoubted winner of the election, address all the problems which have piled up?

Time flies and the troika is not back. The money is not here either. In Brussels the conditions for the loan have been increased

‘It’s really unbelievable for a country to end up as less credible than the neighbourhood grocer’

We are sitting today, waiting for the troika, for the ‘barbarians’ as if they are Deus ex Machina and have become much more difficult to satisfy and extremely oppressive. In short, we have wasted a lot of time, we have been negligent in the past and now the Pandora’s Box is open, full of problems.

And Kavafis goes on: “Why, all of a sudden is such an uneasiness spread around?

Why are the streets and the squares getting empty?

And people return home engaged in deep thought?

Because night has fallen and the barbarians have not arrived…”

And now how shall we manage without the barbarians?

These people were a solution of some sort!

It is true that in the lives of all of us, humans or even whole countries, if we are not cautious, the “barbarians” of Kavafis will appear one day. They will turn up to rationalise our thoughts and our actions.

To offer survival under very hard terms and conditions.

If we are not cautious! This is exactly

what happened in Cyprus during the past 4-5 years. So we are sitting today, waiting in agony for the troika, for the “barbarians” as if they are Deus ex Machina.

Whose presence would be unnecessary today if we were cautious enough a few years back. When we opened up the state coffers towards the “social justice” cause and we emptied them. When the banks opened up their own coffers and went under, taking down there with them the people of this country.

My good friend Nicos Anastasiades. I have no doubt that you are an experienced, wise, honest and able leader with excellent connections in Europe. Fate has decided, as the polls show, that you will take the presidency baton at the moment when we are waiting for the “barbarians”. Handle matters with good judgement and wisdom. In these difficult times, as Kavafis put it, the barbarians are a solution of some sort.

Nicos Rolandis is a former foreign minister and commerce minister, MP and leader of the Liberal Party

Don’t waste your vote on Dumb and Dumber Comment Loucas Charalambous TODAY’S presidential elections have been described by many as the most crucial in the political history of Cyprus. I do not like the tendency we have in this country to resort to exaggeration.

There are countless examples of this sick mentality, especially in the case of presidential elections, during which references to the ‘critical times’ has become the tradition.

For example the Cyprus problem, for 40 years now, according to our politicians, goes through its ‘most critical phase’ every time we have elections.

Despite all this, I will agree that today’s elections have a certain

uniqueness, as they are the first to be held at a time of state bankruptcy, a bankruptcy to which we were led by those who won the previous elections.

If there is something that needs to be noted it is that, in spite of any logic, at least two of the three main candidates are still engaging in the same demagoguery that politicians engaged in, for the last 40 years, which led us to today’s mess. Even now, faced with the ruins caused by the years of populism and demagoguery, the candidates continue to shamelessly resort to them.

Demagoguery again dominated this election campaign, to such a degree that any sane person would wonder how it was possible for people’s intelligence to be underestimated so blatantly. For Giorgos Lillikas, for example, to

carry on saying that he would rid Cyprus of the memorandum and the troika in 2013, by selling within a few months natural gas worth €17 billion, which he would collect this year while delivering the gas to buyers after seven years is not just irresponsible demagoguery.

It is a case of taking us for a ride and an underestimation of the intelligence of the last fool.

And exactly the same could be said of his ‘pledge’ to kick out the British bases and his promise, through his ‘assertiveness’ to bring Turkey to her knees and impose our wishes on her. You would not hear such ridiculous nonsense from the inmates of a mental hospital, yet they are being uttered by a man who wants to become the president of the country.

It goes without saying that such a man is extremely dangerous. If

a man of such irresponsibility, entertaining such naive ideas, were elected he would simply consolidate the catastrophe brought upon us by Christofias.

Equally dangerous, unfortunately, is Stavros Malas, who found himself, without expecting it, in the arena of demagoguery. Being inexperienced and naive, he became fully immersed in it. There is nothing he has not promised us.

His most-frequently uttered word was ‘pledge’.

If he could implement the countless pledges he made during his term, Cyprus would be turned into a paradise.

He would negotiate with the troika and change the memorandum, he would eliminate the budget deficit, while maintaining the semi-governmental sheikdoms (as Akel has dictated), he

would re-capitalise the banks without borrowing money and at the same time he would solve the Cyprus problem in a better way than was envisaged by the Annan plan which he realised was not very good and had been mistaken to support it in 2004.

If Lillikas is dangerous for his demagoguery and his inability to distinguish state coffers from those of the companies of his wife and his koumbaros, Malas is dangerous for his naivety and cluelessness.

Under the circumstances, a resounding rejection of these two today, would not be a vote for Nicos Anastasaides but a vote against populism, demagoguery and the criminal irresponsibility that sunk us into bankruptcy and would affect people’s lives for many years to come.

14 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion

Nicos, it’s gonna be a ball He will lead us into the valley of austerity and pseudo re-unification cracking jokes and making smart-alec remarks

W

HAT NOW my love? Or if you prefer the Gilbert Becau 1962 original, ‘Et maintenant, que vais-je faire?’ whichever, it’s your move. Most of you will vote today for the man who conducted his party’s campaign with rousing rhetoric redolent of the Nuremburg Rallies; same haircut, same hand gestures, facial contortions and head jerking; his patriotic cry calling all to his pseudo-Greek banner.

Unlike 80 years ago, Nicos injected the odd joke and inimical smile, which carried the hearts of middle class, tax avoidance supporters to new heights of hero worship, supporters who will soon realise that you set a thief to catch a thief.

Yes, he will willingly sign the troika memorandum; maybe another one or two shortly after in an effort to completely undermine trade union power. Wages, pensions and perks for the masses will fall drastically while taxes and unemployment rise steadily.

He will, due to EU and UN unrelenting pressure, forge a ‘loose federation’ with the north, claiming that the Annan Plan bizonal, bi-communal federation is now unworkable; France has just given the green light to opening new chapters in EU negotiations with Ankara, where the new US Secretary of State is expected soon, no doubt, Cyprus high on the agenda.

He will lead us into the valley of austerity and pseudo re-unification cracking jokes and making smart-alec remarks aimed at a wound-licking AKEL, who he will blame for our recent past, present and all future woes.

And God, won’t he just revel in his newfound pseudo- power? He deserves it. And those of you who are about to, or have already voted for him today, deserve him!

AKEL, you see, have no sense of humour whatsoever. Their minister of propaganda, Giorgios Loucaides - what with his surly, contemptuous and spiteful attacks against fun loving Nicos - did a fine job of turning undecided voters against AKEL’s sacrificial, Stavros the Good, (Stavros meaning ‘cross of the crucifixion’ in Greek) both he and whining Kyprianou belching endless commie brainwashing in defence of their blameless leader, causing most of us to stop listening to good-hearted Stavros over a month ago.

Not to worry! Nicos will save the Republic…well, not him exactly, but troika loans

Comment Hermes Solomon followed by a ‘loose federation’ maintaining the existing status quo, thus protecting us from Turkish spite over gas exploration, extraction and sweet liquefaction.

And tourism will expand exponentially; Russian, French, Chinese and Korean, all who have bought drilling rights to plots in our offshore gas, and the odd house in Paphos in exchange for long term residency permits. These ‘prospectors’ will bring their families, aide de camps and many foreign workers, who will ‘slave’ at half the price of our construction workers, and to whom we must be ‘nice’, not overcharging them in our mostly foreigner staffed hotels, few remaining shops and restaurants.

The next five years is gonna’ be a ball - or if our politicians’ past 52 year performance is anything to go by - a balls up! Then what then, my love? Are you still optimistic?

Americans remain deeply pessimistic about the nation’s economic future. The vast majority think it will take “many years” if ever for things to return to the way they were before the downturn. A recent survey paints a picture of a nation wounded by the recession in ways that have diminished future expectations. Nearly one in four re-

‘Nicos is on a win-win five year pseudo-term, and he’s got nobody other than Demetris to thank for it’

Born in the Year of the Fire Dog - combative and cynical spondents said they were laid off at some point during the past four years. Nearly half said they took a step down in status from their previous jobs, while 54 per cent said they have had to accept lower pay.

Don’t expect any less here, no matter what our politicians tell you. Don’t believe them when they claim thousands of new jobs for ‘the boys’ will come from gas exploration and liquefaction. Who do you think will take the largest slice of our hydrocarbon ‘vassilopita’ if not those ‘prospectors’ and Brussels?

The ‘vassilopita’ is huge; our share of it tiny. And nobody here will find the silver coin unless we get serious and introduce Good Governance, which is the desired objective of any nation-state’s political development. Good Governance is anti-corruption, and where authority and institutions are accountable, effective and efficient; participatory, transparent, responsive, consensus-oriented and equitable. Do you really expect our ‘fatted’ union leaders, politicians and administration to swallow even half that much after 52 years of doing exactly what they like?

Nicos is on a win-win five year pseudoterm, and he’s got nobody other than Demetris to thank for it! Many will claim his win as a hollow victory; hardly David downing that philistine lacking in cultural values, intellectual pursuits and aesthetic refinement, contentedly commonplace in

ideas and tastes, is it? The Chinese New Year (the Snake displacing the Dragon) was celebrated last weekend. The Snake seeks steady progress and attention to detail. It is the enigmatic, intuitive, introspective, refined, and the most collected of the 12 Animal Signs. Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen; your family will not starve.

What say you, Nicos, born in the Year of the Fire Dog - combative and cynical, convinced that a pessimist is just a wellinformed optimist? Fire Dogs are natural leaders.

They are surrounded by admirers due to their vibrant personalities and irresistible sexual attractiveness. In their closed world, in which affection is the most important asset, the Dog is an eccentric and funny fellow. And guess what? Demetris was born in the same irresistible year!!

Stavros the Good was born in the Year of the Ram (aka Goat); he and wife, Zacharoulla, have four children - Giorgios Lillikas in the Year of the Rat; an inventive creature when cornered, and Marios Garoyian in the Year of the Ox; but I doubt Nicos will let him pull the cart anywhere on an island best known for its donkeys...

Next year is the Year of the Horse which, due to this worldwide financial balls-up, you can already find in EU supermarket freezers minced with pork, beef or lamb – sweetbreads included!

Rapacious gold-diggers and scammers please abstain WHEN my relationship went down the drain, there followed a prolonged period of agonising, especially after the process of separation turned nasty. Our common friends were generally supportive and, fortunately for me, happily stayed in touch.

Two of them advised me to explore my luck on a dating site. I was apprehensive, not particularly keen to date at all, let alone getting back into a serious relationship. My ex though, never one to waste much time, had already preceded me by several months and with resounding success, so maybe it was not such a bad idea.

John, a crazy friend of mine staying with me, immediately warmed to the idea with a vengeance, presumably hoping to benefit on the sidelines from the dozens of beauties which would naturally instantly react. ‘Too much for you to handle old man’, was his eru-

The Dating Diaries

By Maximilian dite assessment, having obviously been in this métier before. I decided to try it out and, in a slightly laid back but still apprehensive manner, see where it would lead to.

We found the site ‘Nemea’ and I registered. The first hurdle was making a proper profile. I thought, being honest without sounding totally ridiculous would be the best approach.

The truth was of course that, as the proverbial male chauvinist pig, I wanted a relationship without the burden of having to live together with a woman at all, the good old cake and eating.

I loved my relative solitude and did not fancy giving that up eas-

ily. ‘You’re mad!’ was John’s stinging comment; ‘But I don’t want to live together as a couple in a new relationship.’ ‘Crap, you got to go for it all the way. Say that you are looking for eternal love and a life partner.’

‘But I am not looking for that at all and I don’t want to reinvent myself ’, was my rather meek reply, but John was not listening; he was already drafting my profile. ‘You can’t be serious’, was my first reaction when he said I should aim at women aged between 25 and 35. Being 67 almost 68 myself, I thought it would be ludicrous to target any age group under 40, also to minimise the number of scammers, but John was adamant.

His argument was that you get the older ones anyway and you should not exclude the miraculous possibility of hitting the young jackpot. Naturally that is where

he would then step in. In the end we settled for the age group 32 to 42, later revised upward to 37-45.

‘It’s your life’ was John’s disappointed comment.

This was the first hurdle, the next one being far trickier. Describing one’s self in a profile that is meant to attract serious ladies, which was my objective if not John’s, was to say the least a novel experience. I tried the sober approach.

‘Elder gentleman, quiet disposition looking for respectable lady bla bla, but John rubbished it.

‘That won’t get you anywhere’.

So we rewrote it; I was adamant that it somehow had to reflect the real me. So I mentioned my background, past occupation, appearance, ‘reasonably athletic even though I have to work hard at it’.

I thought the ‘athletic’ flattered it a bit, but modesty is not my strongest point.

The thorny bit was describing

what I was looking for. After some agonising I decided to keep it simple and say exactly what I wanted: ‘I am looking for a long term relationship in its integrity with all that that implies.

The lady has to be attractive, slim and conscious of maintaining her body in good shape. I love sex as part of a loving relationship.’ It sounded rather grand.

The next phrase on which I insisted almost caused me to fall out with John: ‘Rapacious, gold digging women or date/financial scammers please abstain; you would be wasting your time’.

‘You’re mad’, was John’s succinct comment. I admit that, although straightforward, it sounded faintly ridiculous but thought it would do the trick. John remained dubious. I posted it, feeling rather smug and satisfied, and waited, but not for long . . . . .

Next week ...first reactions.

15 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Opinion Every time I think about putting myself out there, my Mary Berry baking book beckons and I lose myself

uotes of the week

Letter from London

By Alexia Saoulli

I

’VE recently taken up baking. Unfortunately my boyfriend’s expanding waistline and my expanding backside also indicate that I’ve taken up eating.

Gone are the days when I had an office full of hungry wolves to go to where I could dispose of said baking.

Now I simply bake and eat. I have become my very own guinea pig and although the bathroom scales are begging me to stop, I simply can’t. I find it relaxing. I also find it is a very good way of procrastinating. Some people do housework. Others watch the Jeremy Kyle show (England’s very own version of Jerry Springer). I bake. It helps me switch off and avoid the bigger question looming: when am I going to get a job?

Ah the question we all want answered. Especially me. Then I’d have people to try out my baking on. Like cookies. Or is it biscuits? I’m never sure. I think cookies are the soft, chewy ones and biscuits are the crisp, hard ones. Or is it that cookies are just an American way of saying biscuit?

Either way, it’s my new thing. I’ve decided that instead of buying them from the shop, I’ll make my own. I convinced myself it would be cheaper than buying them. The problem is at the rate we go through the ones I bake, it’s not in the slightest bit cheaper. I also like to use good quality ingredients, which I’m sure mass producers don’t give a fig about.

See how good I am at changing subject? The word job comes up and already I’m off. My mind simply wanders on to other things, especially food.

One might say I’m comfort eating. I think I might agree with one.

I can’t help it. The word job grips my stomach, twists it and then squeezes tight. I also feel a tightening in my chest. Could I be suffering from some awful, life threatening condition?

Nope. It’s simply plain, ol’ boring anxiety. Anxiety about the future. Anxiety about putting yourself out there. Anxiety about rejection.

Which you get bucket loads of I might add. Rejection I mean. Sometimes you don’t even get rejected. You simply get ignored. Literally. As in you go to the effort of applying for a job and you don’t even hear back from anyone about your application. Recruiters warn you in advance that may happen with a simple “due to the high volume of candidates applying for our jobs, we may be unable to contact unsuccessful applicants”.

At first I’d hear nothing back. I think my CV was too wordy and my covering letter was a drag. Then I made the former punchier and the latter very brief. Now at least I get a rejection email back.

That’s progress, right? It means they’re bothering to look at it and say ‘nah’. Unfortunately it’s an employers’ market at the moment and they get to pick and choose whoever they want. I find the ones who are great at BS are the ones who seem to get in.

Thing is I’m not very good at selling myself. I find it embarrassing and was also brought up to believe that bigging yourself up is arrogant. My former boss told me that when his daughter was looking for work she was advised to say that “she didn’t like to lose” or was “too competitive” when asked for faults at an interview.

I’d feel like a right eejit saying that.

I mean nobody likes losing and everyone is competitive in their own way, but why do you have to say it? You sound like an idiot and any employer with any savvy should be able to see through that. And yet they don’t. It’s all about using key phrases and tailoring your CV to the job at hand.

“He was always so tense and paranoid. I always thought my role was to make a man feel like a man, and his role should be to make me feel like a woman. But I never felt that way with Al. It was boring”.

Serbian model Diana Becirovik, on “hard man” actor Al Pacino, her former boyfriend

My boyfriend calls me a PC Warrior when he sees me on the computer applying away for one job after another.

He thinks I should do more networking and that I need to actually call up recruiters and talk to them.

He also thinks I need to be a bit pushier and to put myself out there more because a job is not just going to land itself in my lap. I know he’s right.

I know it with every fibre in my body and yet when I think of doing that, my

Now at least I get a rejection email back.

That’s progress, right? It means they’re bothering to look at it and say ‘nah’ Mary Berry baking book beckons and I just lose myself in our 2X2 kitchen, whisking, beating and sifting away.

It’s just so disheartening getting rejection after rejection. I mean I even got turned down for a freelance re-

search writer job! Bit embarrassing that. Don’t know what they wanted.

I have nine years experience at a national paper and recently went back to University and secured a first class psychology degree.

So what more do they bloody want?

I know I can research and I think I can write, so I’m at least worth a shot, right? Well, not according to them.

They said: “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your application.

Our evaluation team has assessed your qualifications and find that we do not have an appropriate position for you at this time. We will keep your CV on file should another similar opportunity becomes available in the future.”

So now I bake. I’m getting quite good at it actually. I even make up my own stuff. Last Sunday I tried to make white chocolate and pistachio cookies but they turned out more like biscuits.

Also a bit too heavy on the sugar. Today I’ve made chocolate cookies with walnuts and prunes.

I don’t know what they’ll taste like.

To be honest I’m trying to get rid of the excess prunes I had in my cupboard from baking my Christmas cakes last year. I like to use Delia Smith’s Creole cake recipe. Excellent.

I’ve been told I should sell them. I never considered it before, but given the way my job hunt is going, it might be an avenue worth considering. Then I could bake, eat and sell. At least that way I’d have money to buy bigger clothes sizes, right?

“Mr Vaz should concentrate on his own waistline”.

An unnamed colleague of May responds “People who do God do good”.

Baroness Warsi, Foreign Office Minister and Minister for Faith “I met Elvis Presley a few times and he flirted very heavily with me. I was supposed to do a movie with him and that was stopped right away by my husband”.

Singer Petula Clark, 80

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there in the labour market so this puppy likes to relax in the kitchen whisking, beating and sifting

Job hunting really takes the biscuit

looking a bit thin these days. A new diet or pressure of work?”.

Labour MP Keith Vaz on Theresa May

“I feel a mild parasexual thrill when I am starting a new feud ... It feels nice. I just like a little fight”.

Commentator Julie Burchill on Desert Island Discs.

“James, why aren’t we running the country”.

TV’s Jeremy Clarkson to his Top Gear co-host James May

“In these days ... I have felt almost physically the power of prayer - your prayers - which the love of the Church has given me. Continue to pray for me, for the Church and for the future pope”.

The outgoing pope in his final public appearance

“I have been in classes with women much younger than me who are creaking and moaning and look 90”.

Actress Glynis Barber on the “youth-making” virtues of yoga “I don’t think I have ever yelled at an ex-boyfriend.

Ever. I am not a yeller.

I am not a fit thrower. If something is done, it’s done”.

Singer Taylor Swift

“A bit worried about the Home Secretary. She is

“Have I got this right?

Harold Wilson pretended (in public) to be a pipe smoker. The BBC is now pretending that he wasn’t a pipe smoker, which indeed he wasn’t really because he was only pretending”.

Malcolm Knott, of Badingham, Suffolk, in a letter to The Daily Telegraph “David Beckham - could that man keep his trousers on for five minutes?”.

Broadcaster Janet Street-Porter has had her fill of the footballer’s underwear commercials

16 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World in pictures

Barack Obama plays a learning game while visiting children at an early childhood learning centre in Georgia

Newly initiated Female ‘Naga Sadhvis’, Hindu holy women, walk to perform rituals on the banks of the Ganga River

A model has her hair styled before wearing a design by Kaufmanfranco during New York Fashion Week

Pope Benedict XVI makes his first public appearance on Wednesday since the shock announcement of his resignation, sticking with his schedule by presiding over his weekly general audience A worker puts the final touches to giant figures depicting French President Francois Hollande, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the 129th Nice carnival parade

Fireworks illuminate the city’s skyline in Hong Kong to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year

Revellers perform during the first night of Carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro

Meercats warm up at the Mulhouse Zoo after heavy snowfall hit large parts of France

A North Korean soldier reacts as he patrols along the Yalu River after the country conducted its third nuclear test

17 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Coffeeshop

Public deserves one last laugh THE BIG day is here and we hope our heroic Fuhrer, Nice Nik, will gather the 50.01 per cent required to win the election today and relieve us of the torture of having to listen to the cheap and empty promises of his rivals for another week.

The ideal result would be for Nik to win outright, Lillikas and his citizens to come second and the AKEL puppet candidate to finish a distant third, as voter punishment for the five years of the Tof plague the commies subjected us to.

We would not be very disappointed if the unlikeable Lillikas finished third, as the opinion polls had predicted, because he deserves, more than any of the candidates, to be humiliated.

And we deserve not to get any more text messages and e-mails from him claiming Lillikas will find jobs for the unemployed, feed the poor, raise €17 billion in 10 months to get rid of the troika and then kick out the Turks through his diplomatic brilliance.

With these loony ideas, the arrogant Paphite should have been lumped with the joke candidates – Utopos, Praxoulla, Lakis Ioannou, Efstratiou et al – but he had money, influence (his wife’s ad company gives a lot of money to TV stations and newspapers) and the backing of EDEK, so he was classed with the serious candidates and was allowed to participate in the TV debates - wrongly in our opinion.

IF HE LOSES badly today Yiorkos would have a perfect three-out-of three record. He would have been in charge of the election campaigns of three candidates (George Vass, the Ethnarch and his own) who had lost even though two of them had started out as hot favourites.

His campaign was primarily based on narcissism – his mug shot was everywhere like some leader of a Middle Eastern totalitarian regime; the giant poster at the Gavrielides traffic lights was the best argument not to vote for him.

His website features five pictures of the Paphite narcissus in differing states of self-satisfaction, while most of his front-page ads in Phil also included his picture. Did the great campaign strategist think he would attract the female vote with his good looks?

We hate to break the news to Yiorkos, but if opinion polls are anything to go by, he is not as handsome as he thinks.

THE FUHRER, in contrast, avoided using his picture in his election posters or adverts, recognising the danger that his stern look could drive voters away. Instead his ads featured text focused on promises that were realistic enough to be believed.

I must admit to having a soft spot for his disdainful, raised eye-brow look which he displayed whenever a journalist or fellow candidate said something stupid during Monday’s TV debate, but I doubt it won him any votes from normal voters.

The main slogan of Nik’s campaign – ‘Let us fight for the Cyprus we deserve’ - however, sounded a bit meaningless. What Cyprus do we deserve?

A Cyprus in which we can all work in the public service, a Cyprus in which we do not pay taxes (we sure deserve that), a Cyprus in which banks give interest-free loans, a Cyprus free of lawyers?

It is a nonsensical slogan, similar to

35 years ago.

the one used by the late Ethnarch in the last elections about ‘fighting for the solution our people deserve.’ We hope the Cyprus we deserve, does not end up like the solution we deserved but never saw.

ONE THING we do not deserve is for these mad Europeans to impose a hair cut on our bank deposits because the Tof and Professor Panicos inflated our banks’ re-capitalisation needs, making our debt unsustainable. The next thing the Commission will do is circulate a memo suggesting bailiffs enter our houses and take away the family silver to help pay off the loan.

I do not know who came up with this lunatic idea, but its publication in the Financial Times last Monday has caused depositors to withdraw big amounts of money from Cypriot banks, thus increasing their recapitalisation needs and making our debt even more unsustainable. And this is the best case scenario, because there is always the possibility that such rumours could start a run on the banks.

THE COMMIES’ election campaign has been nothing more than a salvaging operation, the primary objective being limiting its losses. It would be a big defeat for the party after five years of unbridled rusfeti to see its share of the vote reduced by 30 per cent, which is looking more than likely.

Its campaign has focused on topical issues like the coup, Eoka B and Makarios in efforts to bring its disobedient sheep back to the AKEL fold and shore up the Malas vote.

The government declared 2013 the Year of Makarios, to mark a hundred years from his birth, and on Monday held an event in his honour at the Conference Centre, during which the comrade declared, “we continue on the road paved by Makarios.”

If the comrades had any brains they would have asked Malas to change his name to Malarios and all the sheep would vote for him.

THE SHEEP ignored the Makarios card so the commies turned nationalist this week. First party mouthpiece Haravghi had a headline that said “Turks favour Anastasiades”, explaining that a Turkish newspaper had said Nik would be in favour of a settlement. Then party leader Andros also pointed out that many on the Turkish side would like Nik to win the elections, because “they are certain he would agree to anything they desire.”

The campaign message to the sheep was clear – vote for Malarios today so we can continue on the dead-end road paved by Makarios

ANDRIKOS, a DISY supporting, skettos-drinker expressed a very interesting concern this week. He said: “I hope if Nicos is elected he does not decide to play the statesman and conciliator like Clerides did in 1993.

He must crush the commies and dismantle the Akelite state, getting rid of the AKEL puppets appointed to all the key positions. The country needs to be cleaned up of Christofias’ place-men and Christofias should be charged for criminal negligence and dereliction of duty. I don’t care if this would cause social and political divisions, Nicos has to be ruthless.”

It is difficult to disagree with Andrikos.

GAS PROPHET Solon Kassinis, who was appointed executive vice-chairman at the ridiculously named State Company for Hydrocarbons KRETYK 10 days ago, is already worried about his job.

He told Haravghi in an interview that would be published in full today that some people advised him not to accept the posting because KRETYK, another AKEL creation, would be dissolved. Kassinis’ mysterious appointment may have something to do with commerce minister Neoclis Sylikiotis’ mad rush to sign a deal for the creation of an oil terminal in Vassiliko with the Dutch company Vopak.

The European Commission has written to the government informing it that the signing of any such agreement before the elections would be a violation of the memorandum of understanding, according to a report in yesterday’s Phil. In the letter, the Commission said it had assurances from Kassinis that there would be no signing of a deal without the agreement of the troika.

Could Sylikiotis have rewarded Kassinis with a Kretyk job worth in excess of 100 grand a year so he would not have to consult the troika, as he had promised, about the signing of the lucrative contract with Vopak? And why is AKEL in such a hurry to get the contract signed before it leaves office?

IN THE END the comrade’s farewell TV address to the nation was as uplifting as a visit to the cemetery. Demoralised and defeated, this was not the arrogant, know-it-all with the air of moral superiority we have come to know and hate.

He looked and sounded like he was under the dulling effect of a heavy dose of tranquilisers, not even his garish red tie brightening up the mood of doom and gloom he radiated. Had he finally realised the galactic scale of the catastrophe he had brought upon us and was feeling guilt or was he just depressed because he would no longer use a private jet for his travels?

Tof the Terrible’s final appearance would have been much more fun if the initial plan for journalists to ask questions after the address was not abandoned. This would have ensured much better entertainment as Tof would have lost his temper after a couple of questions about his indisputable incompetence and made an even bigger fool of himself, if that were possible.

The public deserved to have one last big laugh at his expense NEWS MEDIA had been asked to

It was hard to dent the village idiot’s self belief submit the name of a journalist to represent them in a question and answer session but on Tuesday the government announced there would only be a dull, televised address and no hack participation.

The new format was forced on Tof by his Akelite comrades who were terrified a news conference would turn into a publicity disaster and seriously harm the Malas candidacy.

The deluded fool initially refused to listen to his comrades’ advice insisting he would have no trouble answering questions and that his responses would help Malas win votes - a village idiot’s self-belief cannot be dented.

In the end, however, he gave in to his comrades’ mounting pressure, accepting another humiliation for the good of the party. Maybe this was why he looked so depressed on Friday – the party had withdrawn his right to free speech, allowing him to speak in public only from an approved script.

This should have been done three years ago, but the party was not bothered that every time he opened his big mouth he harmed the country, which is in no way as important as Malas’ candidacy.

THE PUBLIC Information Office sent out the text of the comrade’s address three times before it could get it right. The first address said that the government had given three billion euro secured from the European Investment Bank in assistance to small-to-medium enterprises.

Half an hour later, the PIO sent a correction regarding this figure, the correct figure underlined and in bold print. SMEs had received 300 billion euro the corrected text, mistakenly said. Five minutes later another corrected text was sent out with the right figure, which was 300 million.

LABOUR minister Sotiroulla Charalambous was determined to give unemployment figures another boost before leaving office. The council of ministers on Thursday ap-

proved a bill, prepared by the comrade’s Pourekka, making it illegal for a business to hire staff at wages lower than those stipulated by the collective agreement.

This Stalinist bill gives the power to the labour minister to force companies of a specific sector of the economy to pay the wages stipulated in the collective agreement of a sector. So a firm struggling to survive would have to pay the same wages as a thriving competitor in the same sector.

The ultra-smart Pourekka said this would eliminate the ‘phenomenon of unfair competition among workers and businesses’. In fact the law, if approved, would eliminate all competition, when wages are fixed by the government.

I am pretty sure fixing wages by ministerial decree is against the EU regulations, but then again so is discouraging the hiring of non-Cypriot EU workers, which according to Pourekka is the other objective of her Stalinist bill.

WE thought we would leave you today with a prophetic piece published in the Coffeeshop on February 24, 2008, the day on which the run-off election between Tof and Ioannis Kasoulides was held.

This brings us to the big question: who does the Coffeeshop want to win today’s election? If like the rest of our political establishment, we put our personal interest above the country’s then we would unreservedly support Commissar Christofias, because we are certain he would provide a wealth of good material for this column, if it is allowed to continue under the commie regime.

Being principled and idealistic like Lillikas, we will put the national interest above the personal and back Ioannis Kas. This establishment has been a bastion of neo-liberal, proWest anti-Left thought, long before these elections and would be betraying this proud tradition if it backed an unrepentant Stalinist, with an authoritarian streak and no sense of humour.

18

SUNDAY MAIL •

Reportage

What do Barack Obam baroque ba ue rock r album h NE DAY last spring, novelist Naomi Alderman and video games designer Adrian Hon hit upon an idea.

Hon, who is a keen runner, had long wanted to find a way of making exercise more fun. Alderman, who is not a keen runner but does like zombies, thought she might have a way. “How about if you were being chased by zombies?” she said. “That would be fun.”

They sketched out an idea for a game. The runner would receive instructions through earphones and would control the game simply by running.

Since GPS technology is now ubiquitous and everyone has mobiles, it didn’t present too technical a challenge. And since zombies are well-loved, it had commercial viability.

They came up with the name Zombies, Run! and thought about how to make it happen. “Now the question is, when you think you’ve got a good idea, what do you then do with the idea,” says Alderman. “We could have gone and talked to investors for the next 18 months. To be honest, we’d probably still be talking to investors right now, trying to whip up interest. So we put it on Kickstarter.”

Kickstarter is the American website that has popularised crowdfunding, the investment model whereby many people donate small sums to fund a business. The hopeful creator posts a pitch on the site - what they want to do, how they intend to do it and how much they will need - and then gets busy with social media, seeking donations from upwards of a dollar. In reality TV terms, it’s like appealing to lots of Lizards instead of the one Dragon; in Marxist terms, it’s a sort of digital co-op.

Since launching in America in 2009 (a British version launched more recently), the website has raised over $350 million for more than 30,000 pitches. These range from technology start-ups and artistic projects - around 10 per cent of all films at Sundance, Tribeca and SXSW film festivals were Kickstarter-funded in 2012 - to inventions such as the Pebble watch, a ‘smart watch’ that uses Bluetooth to speak to your mobile and display messages on your wrist. In April, the Pebble became the most successful Kickstarter project ever, with over $10,000,000 raised, one hundred times more than the $100,000 target. It did so in just over a month.

Those who pledge are offered a variety of rewards: an invite to a special screening of a film; the chance to test a prototype, meet the founders, get an early copy, and so on. It is rarely a share in the company, which is what investors traditionally receive.

For the Lizard investor, a share in the company’s narrative often proves a more enticing lure.

When Alderman and Hon

O

They, plus , a gluten-fr an apocalyptic fantasy funded by people like future of start-ups sa

Barack Obama’s team pioneered political microfunding during the 2008 election. Inset: Righteous dressings have also benefited from crowdfunding

put their Zombies, Run! proposal on the US site in September 2011, they hoped to get $12,500 of funding. “How to make money is a hard science to work out,” says Alderman. “Sitting at your desk or even doing market research, I don’t think you can work out what’s going to be a success. I’ve done things that I was sure were going to work out and didn’t - and with Zombies, Run! I really didn’t think it would be big at all.”

In the event, they received more than $72,000, as well as offers of non-financial assistance, from actors lending their voices for free, to ex-servicemen helping them with military jargon. “The response gave us a really clear indication that what we had was a great idea that people would be willing to stump up for,” says Alderman. “The key thing about Kickstarter is it’s not investment - it’s presales. You’re selling something to people who want your product to exist and who want to buy it, rather than because they want to make a profit from it. So you get people who are very loyal to your product, and it’s in their interest to get more of their friends to invest in the product, too.”

This enabled them to launch the game on to the market by February 2012, a turnaround of five months.

They could also enter the

market at an “aggressively high” price point - £5.49 per app, as opposed to the usual 99p. To date, they have sold around 200,000 games through the iTunes store.

Apple takes 30 per cent, and a lot of the rest has gone into development. “But I can say it’s made comfortably more than my last novel,” says Alderman. The game has paid off in other ways, too - she is now co-writing a zombiethemed novel with Margaret Atwood.

If Kickstarter has popularised the crowdfunding model, there are notable precedents.

The satirist Jonathan Swift set up something similar to fund small farmers in 18thcentury Ireland, while the idea of microcredit – lending small sums to individuals traditionally excluded from banking - was developed in 1970s Bangladesh by Muhammad Yunus, who later won the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing economic and social opportunities for the poor. It is the internet, however, that allows it to flourish on a larger scale.

Musicians were among the first to see the potential: Public Enemy and Def Leppard have raised funds from fans to fund tours and albums, while Amanda Palmer, once of The Dresden Dolls, raised more than $1 million to record her album and fund her tour.

The model can be applied

to almost any walk of life. Barack Obama’s team pioneered political microfunding during the 2008 election, while the London-based charity The Fu n d i n g Network organises events at which community projects can pitch to an audience for a share of funding.

For John Mitchinson, the co-founder of Unbound, it may just help to save the publishing industry. He and his partners Justin Pollard and Dan Kieran set up the site after years in the book trade as booksellers, publishers and authors (Mitchinson and Pollard also write the British quiz show QI). Mitchinson had long thought there should be a less wasteful way to publish books than the traditional model, though he had noticed that literary projects rarely fared well on Kickstarter. His idea was to draw inspiration from a couple of centuries ago.

“We decided to go back to a much older idea of subscription and advance. When Dr Johnson wanted to fund his dictionary, it was perfectly

respectable to advertise for subscribers to put up the money to cover the cost of printing. That’s what we do – we just use the internet.” He calls this ‘micropatronage’. The company and the author share the proceeds 50/50, with Unbound dealing with all the fundraising, printing, design, production, distribution and marketing. Most of the authors on the site are already established - they include the critic Jonathan Meades and the journalist Julie Burchill, who has apparently always wanted to write a book about how much she loves Jewish people, but couldn’t convince a regular publisher.

But Mitchinson hopes to expand it to include untested writers: “Even if it’s not a bestseller, at least you’ll know that you have 500 people who really want to read it.”

The relative small scale allows niche products to flourish. One of the novels on

the site is called The Wake, an apocalyptic fantasy set among the underground Saxon resistance movement in a post-1066 England. The author, Paul Kingsnorth, has devised a new language for the dialogue, fusing mod-

Kickstarter is website that ha crowdfunding, model whereby ma small sums to f ern and old English. “I knew when I read it that it was kind of brilliant, but that it wasn’t going to be taken on in the current climate by any of the publishers,” says Mitchinson.

Online, it is proving popular.

The pledges range from £20 – for which you will receive a

19

• February 17, 2013

It all began with Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing economic and social opportunities for the poor in Bangladesh

ma and a have in common?

ree salad dressing and y novel, were all crowd e you. Welcome to the ays Richard Godwin

Zombies, Run! creators Naomi Alderman and Adrian Hon

hardback copy – to £300, for which your copy of the book will come in a limited-edition handmade Dark Ages print.

For £150, the author will take you for a picnic on the site of the Battle of Hastings.

“It changes the emotional

the American as popularised the investment any people donate fund a business landscape for authors, too.

They’re no longer thinking, ‘Why is no one promoting my book?’”

Mitchinson thinks that the recent merger of Penguin and Random House will lead to more crowdfunding. “Publishers are going to have to

figure out a way of directly relating to readers. At the moment, everything goes through retailers and that puts too much power in the hands of Amazon in particular. With crowdfunding, the author builds a far more intimate contact with their audience. It’s a more sustainable model.”

For Daniel Willis, Johnny Smith and Isaac McHale, who used crowdfunding to finance their new restaurant, London’s Clove Club, it is liberating, too. Willis and Smith arrived in London from Manchester five years ago, hoping to make it as DJs, funding themselves by waiting tables at St John and Great Queen Street. In November 2010, during the ‘secret restaurant’ craze, they set up an early version of the Clove Club in their flat, persuading talented sous chefs from the restaurants where they worked to cook for them. Their emphasis on hospitality, matched playlists and simple British cook-

Daniel Willis, Issac McHale and Johnny Smith at their Clove Club ing proved hugely successful, and after various pop-ups around London, they teamed up with McHale (who has experience at The Ledbury and Noma) to launch the restaurant. Their reputation was attracting investors, but they chose a different model.

“Think of Dragons’ Den,” says Willis. “You’ll get someone selling 20 per cent of their business for some cash upfront; another Dragon will chip in and say they want 40 per cent of the business for the same amount because they’re the one taking the risk. So you have to concede on equity, they get more of a say and what’s distinctive about the proposition gets diluted.” This was a particular danger, as they had put such thought into making

their brand distinctive: “We’d all been reading The Great Gatsby at the same time, weirdly, and we just thought, ‘Why don’t we do the most amazing thing we can possibly do?’” says Willis.

Investors generally seek out what’s safe. The website Crowdcube offered a slightly different model of microinvestment, with investors retaining a stake (albeit a very small one) in the business while getting to claim back tax on their investment. Notable successes so far have included Righteous salad dressings and Kamm & Sons, a ginseng liqueur developed by the London bartender Alex Kammerling.

Once they had posted their pitch, Willis, Smith and McHale started appealing

to the mailing list they had built up with the secret restaurant. “It’s always better to work with people you know, friends of friends, then it’s likely that they’ll have similar ideas about food and service.

It’s the same with investing - the flipside is, if it goes tits up, then you’ve lost a lot of friends!” says Willis. The initial target was £250,000; they raised £408,000, with individuals donating between £1,000 and £50,000 each.

“We’re now committed to opening three restaurants in five years; all profits from the first three years are going to be reinvested. We won’t be taking dividends and that will fund expansion. If it’s one person investing, you have to pay them back before you can expand, so it makes the whole

process slower and riskier.”

Does anyone ever take the money and run? There have been few notable instances – as Alderman points out, it would be reputation suicide to do so. What crowdfunding does is spread the dream of entrepreneurship beyond those who have good contacts. A good idea and a convincing video are all you need.

“It’s the kind of investment that is only possible since the advent of the internet,” she says. “You could do it with friends and family, but you’d be relying on their generosity rather than their enthusiasm.

That system works for people who are well-connected, but what you have here is the democratisation of the process of innovation. That’s really exciting.”

20 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Lifestyle

Cara’s crew Super-social models Cara Delevingne and Georgia May Jagger are moving in together - and with parents like Mick and friends like Rita Ora, it’ll be the ultimate flatshare, says Susannah Butter

W

ATCH out north London, you’re about to get two beautiful new neighbours. Cara Delevingne and Georgia May Jagger have joined forces and are moving in together. It’ll be the housewarming of the year. Delevingne, 20, who grew up in Wandsworth, then Belgravia, has moved out of her parents’ £10 million pad and will rent a room from Jagger, 21, for around £1,200 a month north of the river. “Cara has the money to pay for her own gaff but preferred to live with Georgia first,” a source was quoted. “She’s only young and wanted some fun.”

Bedtime will be enforced by the girls’ friend Katie Grand, editor of LOVE magazine, who interrupted Delevingne’s Twitter exchange with Azealia Banks this week to tell them to “go to sleep”. These two are friends with absolutely everyone.

So while you wait for an invitation to come round for tea and a go on Delevingne’s drum kit, here’s what to expect from Jaggervingne HQ.

Music Jagger is descended from music royalty (The Rolling Stones, anyone?) and her boyfriend Josh McLellan’s punk rock band, Turbogeist, are great, but Delevingne is the more musical. The eyebrowed one loves rapping and, according to Joe Wright, who directed her in Anna Karenina, she’s “a brilliant human beat boxer”.

She has plenty of musical mates to play with. Rita Ora calls Delevingne “wifey”, and the two puckered up for a Rankin photoshoot, which Ora tweeted with the caption, “from one bad bitch to another”. The singer describes Delevingne as “the nicest, most considerate, crazy, hot, fun girl in my life”.

Rihanna is also a buddy.

Delevingne hung out backstage at her London concert and RiRi was there for support at Delevingne’s debut Victoria’s Secret show in

New York, where the model says they “had the best time!”

If that’s not enough, Banks says, “Cara is unique”, and they recently spent the evening catching up over “spiked” homemade lemonade, before Annie Lennox’s daughter Tali joined them for a pillow fight. Tired yet?

Distant relative Samantha Cameron is a huge Banks fan so presumably is well jeal.

Jagger, meanwhile, is into Jimi Hendrix. “I’m like a middle-aged person,” she says. “When my friends go on about modern bands I don’t know what they’re talking

Between them, Delevingne and Jagger have a pretty good shared wardrobe.

This will be one well-dressed flat about.”

With all those performers around, let’s hope their walls are soundproofed.

The fash pack The twosome became close while modelling, and recently went to the Caribbean together. Delevingne is also pretty tight with her fellow Burberry babes. She and Jourdan Dunn share a love of fast food and have been snapped tucking into McDonald’s. Dunn whips up a mean looking Jerk Pork on her YouTube cookery show, which would be a welcome addition to any dinner party, alongside Southern fried chicken, cooked to Jagger’s mother mother’ss recipe.

“There’s always something

happening in Cara’s world,” model Karlie Kloss told this month’s Vogue. That’s something fashion pal Henry Holland knows well. Delevingne wore his nipple-pinch T-shirt backstage at a Chanel couture show last month and they get up to mischief with Primrose Hill residents Nick Grimshaw, Harry Styles and Pixie Geldof.

Jagger is known for her impeccable manners, inherited from her Southern belle mother Jerry Hall. Perhaps she can teach the rather more wild Delevingne a thing or two. Instead of dancing the night away at Lady Mary Charteris’s wedding, she was found curled up asleep in the couple’s bed with a few friends.

The suitors Jagger and model/singer Josh McLellan are very loved up but Delevingne is single, with plenty of admirers.

She discusses her crushes with Banks on Twitter but told LOVE she has never been in love. “My longestterm boyfriend was when I was five. Robert broke my heart.” Both Harrys, Styles and the Prince, have been linked to Delevingne and although she is fond of both, she is after an older man.

“The thing with young men is… they’re such f****** assholes. It makes me think I just need to go out with someone who’s 40. I literally feel like I’m these little boys’ mother.” Maybe Mick knows someone.

The wardrobes Between them, Delevingne and Jagger have a pretty good shared wardrobe - and both have lots of siblings, so are used to sharing. This will be one well-dressed flat. Jagger has recently signed for Hudson jeans and is the face of Rimmel, while Delevingne models for Burberry and Pepe Jeans.

Delevingne has one wardrobe at home, “but but I would call it a big old pile of clothes.

Clothes every-

Flatmates and friends: Cara Delevingne (left) and Georgia May Jagger. Below (from left) rapper Azealia Banks, designer L’Wren Scott and Mick Jagger, Cara’s elder sister Poppy, Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw, model Jourdan Dunn, stylist/magazine editor Katie Grand, designer Henry Holland, singer/songwriter Rita Ora and Kate Moss where… Argh!”

Meanwhile Jagger is the girl who, aged seven, got a custom-made Vivienne Westwood dress so she didn’t feel left out when her mother and sister were dressed by the Dame, and over the years she has built her collection. It includes pieces her father wore in the Sixties.

Meet the parents Both girls come from social families, something Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman suspects makes Delevingne “not particularly fazed by social situations”.

Delevingne says Sunday lunch at her par-

ents’ home is “a hoot”; she shares a bed with big sister Poppy when they stay over.

Father Charles made his money in property, and mother Pandora, 52, is a personal shopper for Selfridges who has worked with the Duchess of Cambridge.

Delevingne hung out with her pal’s parents at Jagger’s 21st birthday party last month. Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall were both swinging their hips at Lounge Lover Club in Shoreditch, while Delevingne showed she s up for a laugh by she’s dressing as a giant whoopee cushion.

A big night in Delevingne says she doesn’t seem to get tired - “I just get more manic” - but any night in would probably involve onesies. She has tweeted pictures of herself in animal-themed Kigu allin-ones.

Delevingne collects vintage cameras and Jagger used to want to be a wildlife photographer. She also “loves” Lucian Freud, who painted her mother when she was pregnant.

Like all good London girls EastEnd Delevingne prefers EastEnders to Coronation Street and, never far from the fashion pack, even has a knitted Karl Lagerfeld doll. She likes bubbles and ducks in her baths - two live ones if possible, she jokes.

21 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Business & Jobs Bank releases Have you really left the Saxo its 10 outrageous UK for tax purposes? predictions for 2013 You can be legally resident in two countries at same time WHEN you move from one country to another, or buy and spend time in a property abroad, your first tax consideration should be to establish where you are resident for tax purposes.

The most well-known rule is the 183-days-a-year rule.

There are however other factors that can make you liable for tax in a country even if you spend under 183 days there.

The UK’s current residency rules are particularly complex and vague. Residence is largely determined

by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) guidance, as opposed to law, and principles established from case law. There has been no statutory definition of residence, and although this will change from April 2013, it is too late for some people.

Day counting is not enough if you want to be sure you cannot be deemed resident or ordinarily resident in the UK for tax purposes. First of all, you need to be able to show that you have left the UK. Last October the FirstTier Tribunal ruled in the tax authority’s favour again, against a woman who was found to be resident in the UK for capital gains tax purposes even though she had been living in Spain for a number of years.

Lynette Dawn Yates, a UK citizen, moved to Spain in 2000 for health reasons.

Her husband was unable to join her and she returned to live permanently in the UK in 2008.

She bought a property in Spain and spent over 200 days a year there on aver-

Investment Bill Blevins Bill Blevins is managing director of Blevins Franks International. Tel: 26-912315 age. HMRC assessed her for capital gains tax on asset disposals in three UK tax years; years when she had spent 72, 83 and 108 days in the UK. Yates appealed on the grounds that she was not a UK resident and exempt from capital gains tax under the terms of the UK/ Spain double tax treaty.

The Judge accepted that Yates was resident in Spain at the time, but said that at the same time she was resident in the UK, including considering the tax treaty rules because her personal and economic ties were stronger with the UK than in Spain. He ruled that she was resident and ordinarily resident in the UK throughout her time in Spain, and so liable to UK capital gains tax on the disposals made in the relevant years.

Yates had a permanent home available in the UK and her husband remained UK resident. She visited her family frequently, staying in the marital home. She used her UK address for bank and credit card accounts.

She continued to use doctors in the UK and receive a disability allowance only available to UK residents.

Her telephone bills were

Where do you spend most time? also used as evidence - she made more calls to the UK than in Spain.

This case demonstrates how connecting ties can be more relevant than day counting. British expatriates need to be aware what ties you retain with the UK and what significance they can have on your tax position.

Do not assume that because you are resident in one country you cannot be resident in another. In this case tie-breaker clauses in the double tax treaty would normally determine where you pay tax, but it may not be the country you expect.

The Statutory Residence

Test will come into effect on April 6 in the UK. Yates would have been clearly UK resident under the new rules. However, while the test does provide more certainty, it is very long and detailed. For certainty on your situation you should seek expert advice. A firm like Blevins Franks pays very close attention to the residency rules in both the UK and Cyprus, and how the two interact and affect British expatriates.

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

SAXO Bank, the online multi-asset trading and investment specialist, has released its annual batch of 10 Outrageous Predictions for 2013. This is Saxo Bank’s annual exercise in rooting out relatively extreme market and political events for which the probability is perhaps low, if still vastly under-appreciated.

Among these predictions is that Germany will move toward accepting the mutualisation of Euro debt, which, combined with other strains, could cause the DAX to plunge by about a third from near multi-year highs to 5,000. Another is that gold will fall by around 500 dollars to USD 1,200 per ounce on faster US growth and a stronger US dollar and despite the overhang of Fed’s easy monetary policy.

Other events Saxo Bank believes would have a significant impact should they come to pass include Spanish interest rates rising to 10 per cent, despite the ECB’s OMT mechanism as Greece exits and social tensions rise, and the un-pegging of the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) from the USD and its re-pegging to the Chinese Renminbi as China attempts to take more control of its economic destiny away from the US and its central bank’s policies.

“This year’s Outrageous Predictions are once again a selection of mainly negative events, any of which can change the financial landscape and in some cases even the political status quo,” noted Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist at Saxo Bank.

“Here at the end of 2012, we have extremely low volatility in all asset classes due to the lack of real price discovery from heavy handed ma-

nipulation by central banks.

In such an environment, almost any move outside of two standard deviations is becoming ‘outrageous’.

“These 10 predictions are not Saxo Bank’s official forecasts for 2013. They could, however, prove far more relevant for investors because of the huge impact if any one of them sees the light of day in the New Year.

“Before trading or investing, investors must know the worst case scenario - capital preservation is a must and portfolios need to be able to weather a perfect storm, or for that matter any storm.”

Saxo Bank’s 10 predictions for 2013 are as follows: 1. DAX plunges 33 per cent to 5000.

2. Nationalisation of major Japanese electronics companies.

3. Soybeans to rise by 50 per cent.

4. Gold corrects to USD 1,200 per ounce.

5. WTI crude hits USD 50.

6. USDJPY heads to 60.00 7. EURCHF breaks peg, touches 0.9500.

8. Hong Kong unpegs HKD from USD – re-pegs to RMB. 9. Spain takes one step closer to default as interest rates rise to 10 per cent 10. 30-year US yield doubles in 2013 To see more please go to the Outrageous Predictions website: http://www.tradingfloor.com/blogs/outrageousclaims

22 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Business & Jobs

G20 host Russia still struggles with chronic investor mistrust

By Sujata Rao A $2 TRILLION economy, a seat at the top table of world powers and a stock market that trades at valuations cheaper than Pakistan - G20 host Russia is still struggling to gain the trust of international capital.

Despite years of reform pledges, several privatisations and an apparent tick up in the global growth outlook, Russian shares trade only around five times expected earnings for the coming year, approaching depths plumbed during the 2008 market crash.

That’s less than half the average for emerging market peers, many of whom Russia is hosting at the Group of 20 nations meeting in Moscow.

‘We view Russia as a tactical market that we increase exposure to when risk appetite and oil prices are going up’

bank report predicts.

But despite the apparent potential, these stocks trade 2540 per cent below comparable sectors in other BRIC (Brazil, India, China) countries, Sberbank says - a consequence of the Russia risk premium.

Ed Conroy at HSBC Global Asset Management, is one of the few fund managers who retains a long-term bullish bias on Russia.

Russian valuations will inevitably re-rate as privatisations take off and more non-oil companies list shares, he says.

“With privatisation you are looking at companies such as rail freight operators and airlines coming to market.

That will dilute the commodity component of the Russian index and bring it down from the current two-thirds of the index,” Conroy said.

CONSENSUS

TARGET

Given that the G20 chair is charged with forging consensus on economic governance among the world’s leading economies, there is an irony in it being one of the least trusted investment destinations of its peers - at least as reflected by prices and demand.

Even if one accounts for the commodity firms firms that make up most off the inly trade dex and generally etailers at a discount to retailers uations and banks, valuations are well below Russia’s e. own past average.

Most will atth tribute this, with asome justifica’s tion, to Moscow’s past record of expropriations,, e weak corporate governance and the Kremlin’s heavy-handed involvement in the economy.

All this has been driving tens of billion dollars e in capital to flee ry from Russia every year.

But investors also c facpoint to prosaic e lack tors such as the of a domestic capital base that leavess maro the kets exposed to al risk vagaries of global appetite. Russia is also overwhelmingly reliant rovides on oil which provides get revover half of budget

Currencies USD GBP CHF JPY AUD CAD SEK

Oil rich: A Rosneft installation. Left: Putin needs to show some progress enue enues.

A As a result, th those betting o on valuation re-ratings for returns, have had their h hopes dashed year after year.

“Peop “People who have been w watching Russia for a long time are fe feeling a real sense of frustration,” says Jose Moral Morales, chief investm vestment officer of Mirae Asset Global Invest Investments in New York.

“Som “Some people point to the valuad tion discount as a reaso to buy but reason that is a structural disco discount that will d not disappear unw see some til we realll really significant

15-Feb-2013

1,3303 0,8577 1,2244 122,86 1,2726 1,3197 8,3517

1,3409 0,8645 1,2392 124,34 1,3048 1,3531 8,5631

08-Feb-2013

1,3347 0,8486 1,2221 124,24 1,2853 1,3207 8,4818

1,3454 0,8554 1,2368 125,74 1,3179 1,3542 8,6965

progress on reforms.”

Fund managers such as Morales do acknowledge improvements - above all this month’s move to ease foreigners’ access to domestic bond markets, which Barclays estimates could lead to $40 billion in capital inflows in 2013-2014.

But any faith in the Kremlin’s reform pledges suffered a blow last year when staterun Rosneft took over oil firm TNK-BP, grabbing control over 40 per cent of Russian oil output.

The oil sector’s consolidation around Rosneft was a clear sign that Russia retains its proclivity for state intervention, says John-Paul Smith, head of emerging equity strategy at Deutsche Bank, who sees a clear cause-and-effect link between share valuations and state ownership across emerging markets.

That is particularly so for

mining and energy. Rosneft the world’s largest oil firm, is valued at six times forward earnings. ExxonMobil, the second-biggest trades at 11 times.

The risk image has driven up Russia’s implied equity-risk premium - in other words, the spread investors demand to hold stocks over government bonds - to a near record high.

“The general view still seems to be that you don’t own your shares in Russia, you only rent them,” Smith says.

Still the market has also got off to a good start this year, performing better than fellow leading emerging markets as the US and Chinese recovery gathers pace, supporting oil prices.

And Bank of America/Merrill Lynch’s monthly survey shows Russia is fund managers’ favourite play these days after China, with over 40 per cent overweight.

01-Feb-2013

1,3564 0,8548 1,2315 124,78 1,2933 1,3418 8,5402

1,3673 0,8616 1,2464 126,28 1,3260 1,3758 8,7564

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

USD 0,17 0,20 0,25 0,29 0,46 0,76

EUR 0,03 0,06 0,10 0,15 0,26 0,48

But very few of these investments are backed by conviction.

“We view Russia as a tactical market that we increase exposure to when risk appetite and oil prices are going up,” says Morales, who is currently overweight Russia.

“It’s really from that perspective alone.”

Foreign holdings are moreover skewed to the consumer sector seeing it as a proxy for Russia’s oil wealth without the risk of owning oil shares.

That has created a lopsided market where retailers, banks and telecommunications companies often trade at double or even quadruple the valuation of oils and metals peers.

Russia will be the world’s fourth biggest consumer market by 2020, doubling its annual value to $3 billion, or a tenth of total developing world consumption, a Sber-

GBP 0,49 0,49 0,50 0,51 0,64 0,97

CHF 0,00 0,00 0,01 0,02 0,10 0,28

Privatisations last year fell short of the $10 billion target but the government hopes to raise up to $14 billion this year, with miners, banks and shippers slated for sale.

The other catalyst could be bond market liberalisation which is widely expected to trigger capital inflows and bond yield compression.

Last week, Euroclear started settling trades in government bonds, at a stroke easing access for foreigners.

That should bring down the cost of equity from the current 11-16 per cent levels. Russian shares will also benefit from Euroclear settlement in coming months, potentially giving more foreigners the confidence to buy Moscow-listed shares.

These are infrastructure issues however and what investors really want to see are concrete steps to address Russia’s corruption and contract enforcement record.

Chris Weafer, co-author of the Sberbank report, says President Vladmir Putin will be keen to show some progress by September when he plays host to leaders of G20 states.

“The fact Russia is hosting G20 is a positive, it puts extra pressure on them to show they are not just talking about reform but doing something about it,” Weafer said.

JPY 0,10 0,13 0,14 0,16 0,27 0,47

LIBOR RATES (London Interbank Borrowing Rates) AS AT 18/02/2013

CAD 1,00 1,05 1,13 1,20 1,44 1,86

AUD 3,04 3,13 3,15 3,17 3,27 3,57

23 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Property

Three big trends set to dominate 2013 Rough lux, au naturel and powerful colours - choose your style, says Philippa Stockley

W

HETHER you follow an interiors trend depends, just like the catwalk, on what suits you and your lifestyle. Here we look at the three big trends set te to dominate interiors this year, and at the ways you can work them.

The hottest trend is metal, part of the ” “rough lux” en, look - beaten, distressed, rusted, or su-

per-shiny. The warmth of copper or brass adds richness and combines really well with dark tones and leather. A pendant light or an entire copper bath each work their sultry magic. A

key to making this sexy, masculine look bloom is directional lighting.

For a cosier au naturel look to take you through to the warmth of spring, choose top-quality plain fabrics such as linens or soft, warm wool in muted tones - sands, neutrals and earth pigments. Let quality do the talking. If you like, add a traditional weave or ethnic pattern for variety. Understated naturals can be very sophisticated, providing a calm background for lliving. To add a top note, ttry Ginger and Jagger’s F Figtree console, with b branch legs.

Are you sitting comfortably: Benjamin Hubert’s Juliet leather chair and an Eadie armchair

For pure fun, you may just want to try a colour blast, in a collectable, mono-colour signature piece. Try a chair from design star Benjamin Hubert; an Eames limited-edition rocker (very comfy); a wall in Marcel Wanders’ amazing multicoloured glassmosaic flowers for Bisazza, or a fun Victor cupboard from Roche Bobois. These design-statement pieces pack a punch, and clashes are as good as matches.

Add extra splashes of colour to build the look with low-cost ceramics, cushions, or a bright lick of good old paint.

Bash Vessels by Tom Dixon

Take your pick: sheer natural slate tiles give a rough lux look (far left, top), simple au naturel luxury (far left) or splashes of colour (left)

German cities top commercial real estate investment prospects as investors continue to seek safe havens GERMAN cities dominate the investment prospects for Europe’s commercial real estate sector as investors continue to favour safe haven locations according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2013, a real estate forecast published jointly by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC. The ranking of 27 cities across Europe, based on respondents’ expectations for market performance in 2013, sees Munich top the league table followed closely by Berlin in second place and Hamburg in fifth, with investors taking comfort from each of the cities’ strong local micro-economic climate and resilient property market conditions.

London, which is seen by many as Europe’s ultimate safe haven market, is the largest riser in this year’s report taking third position. Investors continue to be attracted by the size and liquidity of its real estate market, the stability of sterling as a currency and its ability to stand alone from the rest of the UK and

Europe’s economic issues.

Overall, the cities that are ranked highest are the larger Western European centres with international appeal and better economic prospects. In contrast, the worst performing cities were those in countries at the heart of the eurozone crisis or struggling to cope with the consequences of the 2008 financial meltdown such as Athens, Lisbon, Dublin, Madrid and Barcelona.

Approximately 80 per cent of the respondents surveyed for the report believe that the eurozone crisis has presented their own business with new opportunities. However this relative optimism is tempered by a general consensus that there will be little improvement in the overall European economy or the region’s real estate market during 2013. Survey participants were more pessimistic about the outlook for cities’ property markets than they have been since 2004 and 45 per cent of the respondents expect capital values to remain stagnant until 2017.

The report notes that the tempered optimism is a result of real estate companies restructuring their business over the past five years and now beginning to deploy new strategies to profit in challenging economic and property market conditions. The top five European real estate investment markets in 2013 are predicted to be Munich, Berlin, London, Istanbul and Hamburg.

One of the areas causing the industry the most concern is the availability of debt and the estimated £350b-£600b lending gap caused by the banks continuing to undertake a structural reduction in commercial real estate lending. The report shows that up to 43 per cent of businesses found it harder to secure debt during 2012, with 56 per cent of the industry expecting there to be less debt available for refinancing and new investment in 2013.

This pessimism is particularly felt in Portugal, Greece and the Benelux countries although a reduction in debt availability is also expected

in Spain, Italy and Turkey. In contrast, over 60 per cent of businesses in the UK expect an unchanged or improved borrowing environment, even though individual banks remain reluctant to act as sole lenders on deals of more than £50 million.

The report outlines the following “best bets” for 2013: Concentrate on value-added locations in key cities Core properties might be hard to find but there are pockets in key cities that appeal to dominant occupiers such as telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) firms and creative enterprises.

Hunt for institutional-quality properties in suspended animation Banks are more willing to release good assets in need of capital expenditure and clever asset management, before values decline further.

Look for deals in Ireland and Spain Develop relationships in the right places. Ireland may be most accessible through lenders outside

of NAMA, while in Spain, now is the time to start conversations with key players such as SAREB. Opportunities from buyers of distress Buy loans and properties out of larger portfolios acquired by opportunity funds and use management expertise to increase income and value.

Follow the money Europe is a key destination for tourists from China and other emerging markets and tailoring retail, hotels and leisure investments for this spend can bring rewards.

Team up with a local player in a local market Find a company in a secondary city that can provide intelligence about where bargains can be found, which assets for sale should be investigated or avoided and what properties are about to come to market.

Refurbish buildings to green standards Seek out good buildings with slight “blemishes” and turn them into strong performing green assets.

24 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Property

Warning to Chinese buyers

Action now could prevent the mistakes of the past

By Antonis Loizou FRICS THERE is an increasing interest from home buyers from China. While there are no statistics available at the moment, estimates baised on concluded deals over the last few months and who we have applied to the Lands Office to deposit the contract, range from 100 to 600. The Chinese buyer is only interested (at this point of time) in buying a property not less than €300,000 (and not much more either), a sum required to justify an application for a permanent residency visa. So far the signs are positive and this trend is expected to continue, and at an increasing rate. It is also a fact that the Chinese do not know Cyprus (not even where it is) let alone the prevailing prices and procedures. The goal to “get the visa” seemingly blinds them from carrying out some sort of basic due diligence. What is more worrying is that in addition to the local developers/agents etc who, to an extent, care little about their clients, what is worse, is that the Chinese visa/estate agents care even less. So based on our own information, a Chinese agent requires: ±€20,000 for securing the visa from the applicant 15%-20% commission on the sales price 20%-30% commission on the legal fees where a lawyer is involved. Local lawyers charge around €2,000/case but this is on the up with everybody trying to get on the bandwagon.

All these charges push up the sales prices, increasing them accordingly, with the unaware Chinese client facing almost double the true price. The Paphos Lands Office reports that all sales are around €300,000 whether for one, two or

three bed apartments. This shows that someone is being had.

It is with a great disappointment that we realise these goings on, because, we will, now, as a country, have started to experience some sort of real estate revival from this market. House purchase is first, as a start, with the more serious buyers and investors to follow. A recent sale of a villa in Limassol for €2.5m to a Chinese buyer is a start, as is a serious enquiry by a Chinese developer who wishes to expand in Cyprus. We feel that either the government, through the Lands Office, or the Chinese embassy in Cyprus, the China-Cyprus association or even CIPA should look at this situation more closely and warn the Chinese citizens on the possibilities of cheating that there might be in a transaction. Instead of discouraging the Chinese interest, we feel that this action, on the contrary, will encourage them to invest more since it will give them an added feeling of security. If we fail to do this, our Chinese real estate success will be very short-lived and it will add to the existing hundreds of unhappy foreign buyers who have helped, through their protests etc, to push the market to the bottom quicker them otherwise. The situation reminds us of the mainly British estate agencies (cowboys) who arranged inspection flights free of charge with the clients being herded like a flock of sheep and were then sold properties with a commission to the agent of 15%20%. Now these buyers are the very people who have the major problems with these cowboy agents, who are nowhere to be found since their companies were dissolved. Notwithstanding the above and at this point of time, the Chinese market is too valuable to fool around

WHAT YOU GET FOR

with. If we had direct flights it would be great and I understand the CTO is considering some sort of a direct link next year. But then China is such a vast country it remains a problem on how to reach the destination airports.

For these reasons we suggest: A basic information leaflet in Chinese stating: There is no need to pay the ±€20,000 for the visa. A local lawyer can do it giving a fixed rate of say €2,000.

To carry out a valuation on the potential property to ascertain any increases from the correct market value.

To check for mortgages and other impediments including building permits etc.

To have a good knowledge of the common expenses, transfer fees, property taxes etc which do not come with the buy but appear later.

To appoint a local to look after their property when absent or through the developer to seek a monthly report since they are not “next door”.

To be given a cost of living index itemised, health and maintenance cost, insurances etc.

In the meantime we are preparing a Chinese information site for them and their advisors to study.

There will always be crooks around but we should take preventive action now so our past mistakes are not repeated. The Chinese embassy has a huge role to play as does the China Cyprus Association and of course the Cyprus government.

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

LEGAL ISSUES WITH GEORGE COUCOUNIS

Service of judicial documents in the EU THE legal and quick service of judicial documents and other actions in the EU from one country member to another is accomplished through the relevant procedure set out in the European Regulations 44/01 and 1393/07. The correct and appropriate use of the mechanism ensures the validity of the service which is a prerequisite for the issuance of a judgment and its subsequent recognition and enforcement in the defendant’s place of residence. The relevant procedure, despite not being difficult, appears not to be properly followed by those who use it and is therefore set aside by courts, causing a significant loss of time, effort and expenses.

The issue is interesting, particularly for lawyers, banks and other credit institutions due to foreign debtors who come from or reside in an EU country. The aforesaid European Regulations do not specify the documents which must be served but only the method of service and the matter is left to each member state to regulate it through domestic law.

The primary concern of one who attempts to serve judicial documents is to become familiar with the forms provided in ER 1393/07, found online at the European Judicial Atlas. Finding out which documents must be served is an obligation of the person applying for service and he must translate them into a language understood by the addressee or in the official language of the member state addressed, otherwise the addressee may refuse to accept the document, or return it.

With regard to which documents the applicant must serve, they are defined by the precedents and include the order of the court allowing the service of the writ and its notice, their translation, the ex parte application and affidavit based on which the order was issued and any other document provided in the Civil Procedure Rules.

With reference to the above, relevant judgments were issued by the President of the Paphos District Court, in-

cluding a judgment in an action instituted by Alpha Bank against British purchasers of an immovable property. An application was filed for setting aside the order allowing the service of the writ and its notice abroad, as well as for setting aside the service made to the defendants in the UK on the grounds that the bank omitted to comply with the provisions set out in the European Regulation and the precedents. In particular, the bank failed to serve the order translated in English, the ex parte application and the affidavit together with their translations. The court stated that the said documents are necessary and the bank had a legal obligation to serve them; it was not only an issue of more comprehensive information of the defendants. Moreover, the order would not become binding with regard to the time of appearance and the non-compliance or the omission by the bank was not an irregularity to be remedied. The fact that the bank omitted to serve the necessary documents under the law of Cyprus constituted such a breach that the possibility of subsequent information to the defendants could not be used as a reason for the dismissal of the application and it does not override the provisions of the Rules regarding the necessity of their service.

The court emphasised that the purpose of the relevant Rule of Procedure is obviously for the defendants to know the plaintiffs’ position through which the order was secured. Failure to translate the order into a language understood by the defendants has serious consequences since the addressee is not given the option to refuse the service. Therefore, the application of the defendants - purchasers succeeded and an order was issued setting aside the service, with costs against the bank.

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

€2,500,000 compiled by Peter Stevenson

How much: €2,500,000 What you get: This four-bedroom stone villa in Ayios Athanasios, Limassol comes with a swimming pool, sauna and gym. It has an amazing view, barbeque, electric garage and walk-in wardrobe.

From: www.foxrealty.com.cy Tel: 80080082

How much: €2,500,000 What you get: This five-bedroom bungalow in Tala, Paphos comes with a swimming pool, housekeeper’s room, satellite dish and marble staircase. It also comes with a Jacuzzi and alarm system.

From: www.buysellcyprus.com Tel: 26 200000

How much: €2,500,000 What you get: This four-bedroom house was recently renovated and is in one of the most exclusive and sought after locations in Kalogyros in Limassol. The house has a lift, swimming pool, BBQ area and bar.

From: www.propertyincyprus.com Tel: 70003211

25 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

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Send your classified by fax or email and pay by credit card, cheque or cash. It couldn’t be simpler!

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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE YOU A BRILLIANT HAIRSTYLIST? HAVE YOU A FANTASTIC PERSONALITY? DO YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO INCREASE CLIENT NUMBERS? THEN READ ON! Due to the high demand of clientele we are looking for an additional hairstylist to join our hair salon within Spa Tonic, Crown Resorts Horizon, Coral Bay, Paphos. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in cutting, styling and colouring. They will need to contribute to the overall success of the studio by being committed to providing a high level of client service. Senior level only, Paul Mitchell experience preferable. Applicant must be English speaking, all nationalities welcome. Please send your application to: spa. tonic@yahoo.co.uk Alternatively, please call Dave Metcalf on 26623924.

**************************** SEVODNYA.COM Social Media is urgently looking for Assistants and Salespersons for part-time work. Basic computer and communication skills plus English are required. Email your CV to info@sevodnya.com

MISCELLANEOUS Whoever has unwanted cd/ dvd, books, decorative items and homeware in good condition can donate it to the Hiv Cyprus Foundation (KYFA) so we can re-sell them at the Gynaikopazaro in Nicosia every first Saturday of the month in support of these families. For further info please contact 99 55 95 94 or 99 57 50 74.

**************************** ANDONIS ANTHONY (Athanasiou) was imprisoned in Nicosia in 1989 for forgery, at the age of 18. Did you know him?

Do you have any information about him? Please contact Carl Chambers - carlmchambers@gmail.com. **************************** WHITE DOVES, wanted 2 baby pure white doves, to restock my dovecote (Paphos area) contact Chris Brown: 99170519 FOR SALE white wedding dress with veil, modern line, designed by famous Cypriot fashion designer. For information call Joanna 99597797 **************************** 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 ****************************

LESSONS

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385

NAYIA, a female dog around one year. Very friendly with children and other dogs.

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 on 99520511 Mon-Frid 10-2pm. ****************************

ART AFTERNOONS Drawing Thursdays Painting Fridays Sketching Saturdays 14.30 – 17.30 IDC at Art Studio 55, Heroes Square, Limassol. Tel 99 409 829 info@idclimassol.org ART ARCHITECTURE DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

PETS VICO KENNEL: Dog Training Centre and Boarding Kennel.

Facebook VICO KENNEL. Tel. 97774377, Larnaca. ****************************

99819137. Also available for weddings. www.paphosluckychimneysweep.com SWIFT SERVICE AND REPAIRS air-cons, commercial and domestic fridges and freezers, ice machines, cool rooms, supply and fit air-cons VRV S. Call Nik on 99579602 Limassol PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses.

Special offers now available.

For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) rickyscleaningservices@gmail.com 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 All areas 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

HEALTH & FITNESS

PENNY, a loving gentle female. will make a wonderful family pet. Around 3 years old.

Excellent temperament, very loving and well behaved. She will make an amazing companion. Worth Meeting! She is a small size. 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 on 99520511 Mon-Frid 10-2pm. ****************************

SERVICES MOLLY is sweet, polite and very gentle. Aged around 2 years old, she is a Pinscher cross, small sized and will do best in a quiet home. She is good with other dogs. A bit scared/shy around children and prefers peace, quiet and cuddles. 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 on 99520511 Mon-Frid. ****************************

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

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 CHIMNEY SWEEP, when did you last have your chimney swept or log burner cleaned?

Build-up of soot can cause respiratory problems and fires. All areas, call Dave, a professional sweep, now on

MASSAGE full body relaxing Aromatherapy, my place or yours. Call Lora 99 026488 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.

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND 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 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,

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

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.

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES TOYOTA IQ 2009. Automatic 1ltre. White pearl, 33.000km.

Medium tinted windows, Zenon lights. Perfect condition only €8500.00. Call 99511737 FOR SALE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER/PRADO white 1998, exceptional condition inside and out. Many extras.

Any inspection welcome. €7950 ono. Tel: 99680747 BLACK HONDA CBR1100XX SUPERBLACKBIRD registered new in June 2011 as new condition with 12000 km. Any inspection welcome. €6950. Call Philip 99680747 2004 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO, tiptronic, seats & carpets etc like new due to one owner, no children, 108000km, metallic gold color. New tyres. Price: 27 000.00. Got to be seen to be appreciated.Call 99494450 NISSAN JUKE FOR SALE - owner emigrating, 1 year old, metallic grey, 7 yr guarantee from Nissan.

Automatic,15.000km. 13.800 eur ono. Contact: Maria 99 371874 or 99 461625 – Paphos Area

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 25 Employment Miscellaneous 25 Pets 22 Lessons 25 Health & Fitness 25 Personal 25 Services 25 For Sale Miscellaneous -For Sale Land/ Property Business 25 For Sale Motor vehicles 25 Wanted -To Let Nicosia 25 To Let Limassol 28 To Let Larnaca 28 To Let Paphos 29 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia -For Sale Limassol -For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 30 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 30 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads --

abbreviations

PROPERTIES WANTED “WWW.CYPRUS101.COM” We have many clients asking for properties up to 200,000 euros. If you have a property to sell in the Paphos area with title deeds (or AX umber) please contact us via our website www. cyprus101.com or telephone Diane on 99455068. For automatic updates on new listings and price changes use our Listings Notifier or join us on www. facebook.com/cyprus101”

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA 2

BEDROOM FURNISHED FLAT in Ayios Andreas, Nicosia, very quiet area, covered parking ,storage, heating ,a/c rent €390pm. 3 bedroom flat in Nicosia centre opposite Disy offices Pindarou Str, 1

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

26 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

very big veranda, extra room, split units, fireplace, fitted kitchen with all electrical appliance, covered parking.

Rent €530 pm. Call Harris 99067198 or e-mail Hadjidas@yahoo.com ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT, in a small quiet building. Excellent condition, very spacious, furnished end air conditioned. Very good location between Strovolos and Engomi. Close to The European University, supermarkets and all amenities. Covered parking. Rent €450/m Please call 99695382 FOR RENT 2 bedroom flat fully furnished in Strovolos area close to Central Bank of Cyprus. Furniture includes 2 double beds, 3 piece suite, dining table, 4chairs. Electric appliances: fridge, microwave, gas cooker, washing machine. A/C in sitting room.

Double glazed windows. Connection to internet with cable available. Rent €500pm plus €20 service charges pm. Call 97773358

TO LET fully furnished upper house in Ayios Dometios.3 bedrooms,2 wc 2 sitting rooms, 2 verandas, a/c in rooms. €480pm. Call 99628100 MAKEDONITISSA, 12 Ay Paraskevis, Engomi with panoramic view. 3 bedroom upper house & ground floor house with garden,2 bathroom , 2 toilets , fully a/c and a/h,new w/m ,d / w, h o b,o v e n ,f r i d g e freezer, fully fitted kitchen, fully furnished ,storage, parking.

Rent €750 pm. Tel 99660115 or 99688655. Email victorkaris@cytanet.com.cy ****************************

building materials and one can enjoy all comforts of modern life. The house has 3 storage rooms 3 kitchens, 2 covered garage, housekeeper’s room, study room, en-suite bathroom – master bedroom, walk in closet, Jacuzzi, c/h, a/c, and fireplace. Rent €5.000pm. Call 99609239 or 99424106. *****************************

LUXURY 6 BEDROOM HOUSE IN A QUIET AREA IN LATSIA. The house has been constructed with the most modern

P.Car Basics All the services you are looking for can be found here in a comprehensive car service.

Receive and return your car to work or your home, thus saving valuable time from your daily life We undertake Service, Body & Paint, resiliently small change, counting steering MOT, battery change, cleaning & maintenance, Polish-compound wax Teflon. All our drivers are experienced with road safety. Call now on 7000 62 00

LUXURIOUS APARTMENT FOR RENT a luxurious one floor apartment situated in central Nicosia in a area of exceptional Beauty at 3 Museum Street, is available to let. It has been recently renovated and consists of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, big dining and sitting rooms, kitchen and a huge veranda. Approximate covered area 250 sq m.

Tel: 99622370.

2 BEDROOM flat, fully furnished. Fully A/C, small block, 3rd floor. Covered parking.

Central heating. Near Hilton hotel off Makarios Avenue. €480pm. Tel 99444336 STROVOLOS 4 bdrm., house, c/h, a/c from €1000 now €800, Mak/ssa f/f house, pool, 4

TO LET NICOSIA bdrm., 4wc, 2 shower €1700, Kornos villa, pool, mature garden €4000 (2) penthouse luxury Acropolis 1 bdrm, f/f, centre €450. For info www. markidesestates.com Markides 22378898, 99464764, Reg. No. 487, E16 STUDIO flat in Pallouriotissa (next to McDonald) furnished €280. For info call 99606984.

2 BDRM flat (almost new, 4 years old) at Lycavitos with good area near University of Cyprus with fully equipment kitchen, a/c in all rooms. For info call 96530532.

2 ROOMS €125 each, near McDonald’s Engomi only Philippine girls. Call 99663927.

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 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

TO LET NICOSIA required). Tel: 97773358.

***************************** LUXURY HOUSES: 1. 4 bedr luxury detached house built in 3/4 of a plot, office space, central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining area, separate big kitchen with family room and all the electrical appliances, blinds and curtains on all windows, aluminum shutters, big garden with grass, 3 wc, covered parking, in a quiet area – Strovolos €1000 (H4ST10051-R), (photos in the website) 2. 3 bedr luxury terraced house, 210sq.m,central heating, full a/c, marble floor in the sitting areas and solid parquet floor on stairs and bedrooms,4 wc,3 bathrooms, 2 en suite, big verandas, electrical appliances in the kitchen,3 covered parking spaces, roof garden access, in a quiet neighbourhood on Mon Parnas hill – Engomi €800 (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

TO LET NICOSIA glazed windows with aluminum shutters, in a quiet area off Nikis behind Burger King - ACROPOLIS €600 (H2ACS0001-R), (photos in the website).

4. 3 bedr luxury semi-detached house with character, 200sq.m, central heating, full ac, sitting and dining room with fireplace, big kitchen with cooker and oven, dishwasher and refrigerator, nice mature garden with flowers, trees and small garden with grass, covered parking, 3wc, 2 bathrooms in a quiet neighbourhood. Available middle of January. Agios Andreas €1200 - H3AAD0001-R (photos on website).

5. 3 bedr luxury detached house, 200sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 3wc, blinds and curtains, open plan kitchen with cooker, oven and dishwasher, veranda with bbq, good size garden, covered parking, storage room, alarm system, in a quiet area – Archangellos €1100 (photos in the website).

6. 4 bedrs and sitting room upstairs luxury detached house,380sq.m, central heating, full a/c, marble and par-

INDUSTRIAL OVEN FOR SALE CONVOTHERM OVEN model-OBG 6.10 Combi Oven-Steamer with Gas Steam Generator Extra: Stand with stainless steel shelving, extractor fan, water supply system and gas installation connections. €6.800 O.N.O CALL : 99532841 – Paphos

27 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

TO LET NICOSIA quet floor, big sitting and dining areas, office space, BIG bedrooms (2 en suite) big verandas around the house, 2 covered parking,3 bathrooms,4 wc in a quiet area off Eleonon street, near Pizza Hut – Strovolos €1500 (H4ST10041-R), (photos in the website) 7. 3 bedr detached ground floor house with separate maid’s room, with very big garden with grass(200sq.m) and covered patio with bbq and bar, central heating, full a/c, 180sq.m, FULLY FURNISHED or NOT, 2 covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighborhood opposite Acropolis park - Acropolis - €1500 - H3ACS0004-R (photos on website).

8. 4 bedr very big luxury semi detached house 350sq.m, with big separate basement 80sq.m with 2 rooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Consists of big sitting and dining areas upstairs, big kitchen with big family room and breakfast area, big bedrooms, 3 showers, 1 bathroom, central heating, full a/c, black out blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, covered parking and patio with bbq in a very quiet neighbourhood close to Makarios foorball stadium.

Available END of February Makedonitissa €1500.

9. 4 bedr new luxury detached house build in a big plot of land, central heating, full a/c, 2 bedrs with en suite shower, 4 wc, bathroom with jacuzzi, big open space sitting and dining areas, 330sq.m, big swimming pool 5x10, big garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area, roller blinds

TO LET NICOSIA and curtains on all the windows, electrical appliances in kitchen, covered parking, in a quiet neighbourhood off Tseriou avenue. AVAILABLE end of February –Strovolos €1800 (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 €700 (H4ST10043-R), (photos in the website).

11. 4 bedr new luxury finished detached house with central heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, big kitchen with cooker oven, dishwasher and big family room, aluminum shutters in all the house, separate big sitting and dining room with parquet floor, 2 covered parking, alarm system, big covered patio, SWIMMING POOL, in a newly built area near Falcon school – Strovolos €2000 (photos in the website).

12. 3 bedr luxury detached house,

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

Tel. Tony on 99176557

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA 200sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 3wc, blinds and curtains, open plan kitchen with cooker, oven and dishwasher, veranda with bbq, good size garden, covered parking, storage room, alarm system, in a quiet area, Archangelos – €1100 (H3AR0003-R) (photos in the website) 13. 3 bedr ground floor house with big separate 80sq,m room with shower and wc for multi use, central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, 2 shower,1 bathroom, fully furnished, small garden, bbq area, parking, on a small building in a very quiet area near Agios Vasilios church. Strovolos - €900 - H4ST10028-R (photos on website).

14. 3 bedr +office space +attic room +separate big maid’s/ playroom in the basement semi detached house, recently renovated with big sitting and dining areas with marble floor, big kitchen with cooker and oven and family room, central heating, 3 bathrooms, 4 wc, 6 a/c

TO LET NICOSIA units, covered parking, behind Hilton Park near the park – Engomi €1700 (H4ENG0003-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, 6wc, 2 covered parking, yard with tiles and SWIMMING POOL, bbq area in a very quiet neighbourhood near CYBC ( RIK) station and near a neighborhood park – Platy Aglantzias €2500 (H4AGZ0005R),(photos in the website) For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225/96422225/96422226, www.landtouristestates.com

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

Roofing flat & tired roofing repairs and construction Tel. SELECT fencing 99176557

TO LET NICOSIA ***************************** LUXURY FLATS: 1. 3 bedr luxury finished spacious floor apartment with very big sitting and dining areas with family room with fire place, solid parquet floor all throught, central heating independent, full a/c, all the bedrooms with en suite shower/bathroom, 4wc, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances, blinds on all windows, big covered veranda, covered parking, big storage room, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighborhood – Agios Andreas- €1300 – A3AAD0005-R (photos on website).

2. 1 bedr spacious fully luxury renovated apartment,60sq.m, big sitting and dining room, big bedroom, fully newly modern

TO LET NICOSIA furnished with LCD TV 32’, covered veranda, covered parking, storage heaters, full a/c, near Cyta, Laiki and Hellenic Bank headquarters – Dasoupolis €550 (photos in the website).

3.

2 bedr penthouse apartment,100sq.m + 80sq.m veranda with flowers and bbq, big sitting and dining room with big 60” TV, storage heaters, full a/v, 2 wc, en suite bathroom/ jacuzzi, roman blinds, cooker, oven, microwave, washing machine and refrigerator in the kitchen, covered parking, near Metro supermarket – Aglantzia €600 (photos in the website).

4. 2 bedr luxury ground floor apartment with central heatingindependent, full a/c, structure cabling internet and satellite network, FULLY MODERN EX-

CityCell WiFi

1ST IN CYPRUS

Installation At € 99 & Only € 25/Month WIRELESS INTERNET NO PHONE LINE , NO DEPOSIT, NO CONTRACT . UNLIMITED USE , 25-100 999

SKY HD WATCH NOW SKY SPORTS & FULL PACKAGE IN HD. Call: 25-341444 www.citycell.tv BBC ITV CH4 CH5 & 100 UK FREE CHANNELS ,NO DISH REQUIRED.HAVE A DIRECT VIEW ON YOUR TV WITH REPLAY - / +12HRS

28 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA PENSIVE FURNISHED, with 46”LCD TV, covered parking, double glazed windows, aluminum shutters, on Pericleous street near Klimataria traffic lights – Strovolos €650 (A2ST10054-R) (photos in the website) 5. 4 bedr new spacious luxury finished floor apartment with floor heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds on all windows, very big 50sq.m covered veranda, fireplace, covered parking and big over floor heated covered swimming pool on the ground floor, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighbourhood near a playground and near Ippokration private hospital –Engomi €1500 (A4ENG0003-R) (photos in the website) 6. 2 bedr new luxury apartment, modern nicely furnished, storage heaters, 2 a/c, 100sq.m, big covered verandah with nice view, covered parking off Digenis Akritas street near Debenhams shop, walking distance to the centre. PRICE INCLUDES COMMON EXPENSES. – Lykavitos €450 (A1LYK0020-R) (photos in the website) 7.

1 bedr cozy luxury a p a r t m e n t ,6 0 s q.m,pa r que t floor, nicely furnished ,all fitted electrical appliances(cooker, oven, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge),roman blinds, provisions for home cinema, big covered verandah, storage heaters, 2 a/c ,covered parking in Dasoupolis near Alpha Mega supermarket and Areteion hospital. – Dasoupoli €500

TO LET NICOSIA (A1DAS0009-R) (photos in the website) 8. 2 bedr spacious renovated apartment 100sq.m with separate big kitchen, air condition for hot and cold in all the rooms, covered veranda, nicely newly fully furnished , off Kyriakou Matsi street very close to the centre on foot– Agioi Omologites €550 (A2AOM0003-R) (photos in the website) 9. New top quality 2 bedr apartment, 93sq.m+20sq.m veranda, on a small modern building with 6 flats only. Central heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 2wc, fully fitted kitchen with all the electrical appliances, water pressure system roller blinds and shutters on windows, big sitting and dining room, big bedrooms, covered parking and storage room, in a quiet neibourhood near Akropolis park. AVAILABLE middle of February – Acropolis €800 A2ACS0002-R (photos in the website) .

10. 2 bedr luxury spacious apartment, 85sq.m, big sitting room, big fully equipped kitchen, nicely modern furnished, storage heaters, full a/c, big bedrooms, covered veranda with nice view,covered parking, off Prodromou streeet. – Engomi €600 (A2ENG0017-R)(photos in the website) 11. 2 bedr luxury spacious apartment on a small modern building with central heating independent(with petrol), full a/c, solid parquet floor, big bedrooms, big sitting room with open plan kitchen, big covered veranda, FULLY MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

off Makarios Avenue in a quiet area near the centre - Nicosia €800 (A2NIC0030-R) (photos in the website)

Stephanis Electrinics and English school – Stovolos €800 (A3ST10013-R) (photos in the website)

12. New top quality 2 bedr apartment, 93sq.m+20sq.m veranda, on a small modern building with 6 flats only. Central heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 2wc, fully fitted kitchen with all the electrical appliances, water pressure system roller blinds and shutters on windows, big sitting and dining room, big bedrooms, covered parking and storage room, in a quiet neighbourhood near Akropolis park. AVAILABLE middle of February.– Acropolis €800 (A2ACS0002-R)(photos in the website)

16. New luxury finished 4 bed PENTHOUSE apartment in a small modern building, 186sq. m+90sq.m big veranda with nice view, separate floor heating, fully air conditioned, 4wc, 2 en suite bedrooms with shower,1 bathroom, solid parquet floor all through, big sitting and dining areas with electric modern shutters opening to the veranda, fully equipped kitchen with expensive electrical appliances, 2 parking places (1 covered), in a very quiet neighborhood ,near the Russian Embassy. AVAILABLE END OF MARCH –Engomi €1900 (A4ENG0005-R) (photos in the website)

13. 3 bedr luxury apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, parquet floor, big sitting and dining area, big covered veranda, covered parking, storage room, blinds, shutters in the bedrooms, big kitchen with all expensive electrical appliances, off Makarios avenue near the centre – Nicosia Centre- € 800 – A3NIC0025-R (photos on website).

14. 3 bedr spacious luxury finished apartment 150sq. m+30sq.m covered veranda, central heating independent with petrol,full wall a/c units, solid parquet floor, expensive electrical appliances in the kitchen, 3wc, curtains and blinds on windows, 3 COVERED PARKING,storage room, near Pizza Hut in Strovolos €1100 (photos in the website).

15.

3 bedrs luxury penthouse,165sq.m+80sq.m verandah with bbq, central heating ind, full AC, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, solid parquet floor all the flat, big kitchen with dining area, fully MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking off Athalassa Avenue near

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22422225 / 96-422225 / 96422226 www.landtouristestates.com

***************************** 2 BDRM flat in the centre of Nicosia. Rent €450. For information call 99453663, 99663927.

LIMASSOL INDEPENDENT 4 BEDROOM HOUSE, 3 upstairs, 1downstairs with w/c-shower suitable for maid. 220sqm in a plot of 400sq.m. with 3w/c a/c units, 2 covered parking, and a big yard, near Foley’s Grammar Limassol. Price €800. Tel 99400462or 99129084.

3 BEDROOM charming bungalow in Agios Tychonas, 900 sq m plot, 180 covered area, central heating, a/c units in all areas, open fireplace, en-

TO LET LARNACA

TO LET LIMASSOL suite master bedroom, alarm system, mosquito nets, very private and quiet area. Mature garden, lawn, swimming pool 4,50 x 9 m. Price: €1600 negotiable. Tel 99417253.

GROUND FLOOR house 3 bedroom, furnished, area Agios Nectarios, Limassol. Private parking. Price €550. Tel 25752987 or 96535495 FOR RENT new big furnished studio, in Katraki building, 100 metres from the sea and Debenhams Olympia, in Neapoli area.

Price €400 (including common expenses). Tel. 99406415 Andreas, Fax: 25-582963.

FOR RENT big 3 bdrm furnished or unfurnished house, with big balcony, big garden, 3 wc, airconditioning, in Pareklisia area, 1000 metres from the sea and beach hotels. Price €800. Tel. 99406415 Andreas.

TRADITIONAL VILLAGE STONE HOUSE IN APESHIA. Very quiet village, 20mins from Limassol. Road to heritage school/ Troodos. 2 bedrooms, office available top floor with veranda great view of mountains. Small courtyard with trees. Electric solar water. A/C-toilet in main bedroom. Semi/full furnished.

Fitted kitchen with electrical appliances, fireplace. Toilet/ shower. €550pm negotiable.

Tel 96891800.

GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year.

Laminated parke floor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms.

Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775

LARNACA PYLA, quiet area village bor-

der. Three bedroom first floor apartment, bathroom, en suite. Downstairs toilet, large lounge/kitchen diner. Two balconies, rural and sea views.

All mod cons, linen etc. Tastefully fitted out. €550 pcm email Sylval@cytanet.com.cy Tel 99141162/99923884 ***************************** 1 BEDROOM flat in Ermou Square area Larnaca - 2 bedroom flat in Phaneromenis area Larnaca. Call 96693375 ***************************** 1. Superior Real Estate Larnaca. Simply stunning one bedroom fully furnished property on gated development in Pyla. Available for immediate occupation. €250.00 Ref. TLL514. Tel 24815926 2. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

3 bedroom fully furnished villa, available now Oroklini. Ref. TLL523 Please call to arrange a viewing Tel. 24815926 3.

http://www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com –LARGE RANGE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. From studio apartments to 5 bedroom villa’s for rent, all properties have detailed descriptions, professional photographs. Interactive Virtual/Video Tours. Please visit our website. http://www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com

4.

http://www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com.

License No. 419. LANDLORDS AVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY WITH US FOR FREE. Tel. 24815926 Email. info@superiorrealestatelarnaca.com ***************************** FLAT IN CENTRAL LARNACA, Stasinou St, f/f, a/c, one bedroom, Off street car parking.

Foinikoudes, Zenonos Kiteos shops 200 metres. Rent €350

CityCell WiFi Install. At € 99 & Only € 25/M INTERNET UNLIMITED

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

Narcotics Helpline ......... 1410 (Outside hours.............. 22304160) 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)

Forest Fires ..................... 1407 Airports Larnaca ..........................77778833 Paphos ...........................77778833

25-100 999

29 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Advertiser

TO LET LARNACA

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

p/m. Tel: 24 815104/9939 5954

of April For more info call : 99 442485 ***************************** UNIVERSAL: 1bed ground floor apartment fully furnished, airconditioning, fridge, beds common swimming pool , leather sofas, €260 p/m. For more information phone 99400697 ***************************** PEYIA, luxury villa, 3 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully or part furnished, private pool, quiet location, paved garden area, sea and mountain views.

Sky satellite, euro 650 ono, please call: 99771532 – no agents

TREMITHOUSA - Stunning Traditional Stone Built House 2 bedrooms, Swimming Pool, Open Fireplace, Fitted kitchen with white goods, P/T or F/F , an early viewing is highly recommended 350 Euros

3. CORAL BAY €675 detached modern 3 bedroom villa, situated close to the restaurants & beach of Coral Bay. Entry to villa on top floor offering two double bedrooms & bathroom, leading down to an open plan living area & one further bedroom & family bathroom. Enclosed mature garden with private pool. Available furnished with good furniture. website reference number: RTL_544

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 FULLY FURNISHED one bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca. Price €370. Tel: 99202543 *****************************

PAPHOS KISSONERGA, ST KONONAS AREA, 3 bedroom apartment, with elevator, private car park, a/c, stove, humidifier, private roof garden with barbeque, beautiful sea and mountain views, unfurnished, €380 o.no, please call: 99553741 ***************************** LONG TERM RENT : Geroskipou, one bedroom partly furnished apartment (covered area 60 square metres) in immaculate condition with two big sized balconies, situated in a quiet residential area. Sea view and lift. Rent: €250 per month Tel: 99387019 ***************************** LOW COST, long term 3 bedroom bungalow, Polis area, Gialia village, on 3 acres of property, large variety of fruit trees, extremely private with panoramic mountain and sea views, unfurnished, swimming pool, a/c and fireplace, fence around the property €550 per month ono – available from 1st

FOR LONG TERM RENT: 2 bedroom modern apartment, recently renovated-fully furnished, Chloraka- Melanos, quiet neighbourhood, communal pool, 2 covered parking space, security burglar bars throughout, 2 balcony. Sea view, central to shops. Communal fees included. 380.00eur/ month. Call Maria 99 371 874 ***************************** LETYMPOU - Traditional Detached 2 bedroom Property set on a large plot with Spectacular Mountain Views, F/F to a very high standard, Wood burning Stove, outbuildings 500 Euros TALA - Modern 2 and 3 bedroom apartments U/F, P/F and F/F, some with communal pool, A/C, Separate Storage and own Parking 325 Euros TREMITHOUSA - Traditional Spacious 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, and Large Mature enclosed Garden, Open Fireplace, Beautiful Fitted Kitchen, A/C, Wonderful Family Home 400 Euros

URGENTLY WANTED –Bungalows 2/3 Bedrooms MORE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 99862922 ***************************** MR RENT PAPHOS, THE LEADING PROPERTY RENTAL AGENCY IN PAPHOS OFFICE: 26271858 (00357) IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT WE ARE THE RENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT OFFERING FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENT COLLECTION SERVICE 1. PEYIA €550 modern detached 2 bedroom villa, situated on private road. Available unfurnished though includes central heating throughout, pressurised water & security alarm system. Modern fitted kitchen & bathrooms. Roof terrace with sea views & private pool. website reference number: RTL_447 2. EMBA €650 modern detached 3 bedroom villa on quiet private road. Gated entrance, off street parking. Enclosed garden with private pool. Spacious open plan living area with feature fireplace & modern gas fire.

Additional gas radiator heaters throughout. Spacious well equipped kitchen with top brand appliances. Downstairs guest wc. Master bedroom with ensuite. Available furnished.

Views to the sea & countryside.

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4. PEYIA €750 modern detached 3 bedroom villa, situated on private road. Available unfurnished though includes central heating throughout, pressurised water & security alarm system. Modern fitted kitchen & bathrooms. Roof terrace with sea views & private pool. website reference number: RTL_572 5. LOWER CHLORAKA €750 spacious detached 3 bedroom villa offering stunning views of the sea. Ssituated in a quiet residential street opposite orange groves. Gated entrance, enclosed good sized mature garden with fruit trees & private pool. Spacious living area with real fireplace. Downstairs guest wc. Master bedroom with ensuite. Available fully furnished. website reference number: RTL_550 6. 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 acco-

modation offering an enclosed garden with c/pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture & solar panels. website reference number: RTL_442

2. TALA 2 bed fully furnished apartment.

Stunning sea views, large balcony, well kept gardens, communal pool, and quiet area. €340 pcm

7. MESOGI €1250 luxury detached 4 bedroom 5 bathroom villa. One bedroom & ensuite on ground floor. spacious kitchen with separate utility room. Available unfurnished though includes gas central heating plus real fireplace in living area. Enclosed garden & private pool offering stunning views. Gated entrance with undercover parking. Situated on a private road. website reference number: RTL_628

3. CHLORAKAS first floor 2 bed apartment, new kitchen and bathroom, very well furnished, two parking spaces, a/c, quiet area, easy access to town centre and a communal pool. €370 pcm 4. EMBA un-furnished 3 bed 2 bathroom villa, private gated parking, a/c, large kitchen with white goods, cul-de-sac. NO POOL. €445 pcm

Tel: 97790883 office: 26271858 visit our website for many more properties www.mrrent-paphos.net Email: info@ mrrent-paphos.net

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 info@unique-consultancy.eu LANDLORDS; WE NEED YOUR PROPERTIES NOW. PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT. ***************************** PAPHOS / PEYIA VILLA, villa for rent in Peyia, 4 bedroom, 4 bathrooms, large sitting-dining area, fully airconditioned and heated, unfurnished, panoramic views, large parking, low rent contact: 99490953, 26815534

***************************** LONG TERM RENTALS 1. GEROSKIPOU a large 2 bed apartment with large balcony facing the sea, covered parking, a/c, communal pool. €330 pcm

FOR RENT A selection of 1 to 5 bedroom houses & apartments F/F & U/F Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the Kings, Tsada, Timi, Chlorakas & Kato Paphos Landlord & Owners please call 99329357

8. CHLORAKA €2,200 substantial luxury 4 bedroom villa, spacious (350 sq metres), beautifully designed with unique detail. Conservatory with views of landscaped gardens. Large modern fitted kitchen, living room with working fireplace.

Circular dining room with vaulted dome ceiling.

Stunning private pool area. Available unfurnished. website reference numer: RTL_579

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ENTRANCE EXAMS for YEAR 7 SECONDARY SCHOOL 2013/2014

Friday 19th Αpril, 3.00 p.m. & Saturday 20th April, 9.30 a.m.

For entry forms, samples of examination papers or any other information, please contact the Admissions Office by 17th April from 7.30 a.m.—3.30 p.m.

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO TOP STUDENTS _______________________

Leaders in Education for 25 Years!

100 Aristotelous Savva Avenue, Anavargos, P.O.Box 62018, 8060 Paphos Ε-Mail: info@isop-ed.org Web Page: paphosinternationalschool.com Τel: 26 821700 Fax: 26 942541 REGISTERED WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & CULTURE

30 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

Or please view at are website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus

***************************** FLOWRON PROPERTY RENTALS: Offering a full range of property services, the company you can TRUST. Armou 2 bed Townhouse on a small complex of Townhouses in a lovely quiet and peaceful location, with small back garden, great views, communal pool, 2 bedrooms with en suites + guest WC. Pets welcome. Offered unfurnished Ref: 1204 €370 AYIA MARINOUDA a 3 bedroom villa with an additional loft room conversion with en suite. Property has a downstairs bedroom, sitting/dining area, separate utility area with granite work tops, 2 bedrooms on the top level master en suite. Central heating, AC, fly screens, private pool, enclosed and fenced garden. Ref: 1199 €900 Mesogi 4 bedroom villa with private pool, nice quality fixtures, granite work tops, separate utility room, downstairs bedroom with en suite, fireplace, ac, 3 upstairs bedroom master en suite, separate bath, nice views, pets welcome, offered unfurnished Ref 783 €700 CHLORAKA 4 bedroom large villa with quality fittings , furnished to a very high standard, downstairs bedroom, 3 upstairs, en suites, bathroom, private pool, decking, fantastic sea views, near Tombs of the Kings Ref: 806 €850 SECRET VALLEY 2 bed villas furnished or unfurnished with private pool, downstairs bed-

room, kitchen , sitting/dining area, guest wc, upstairs large master bedroom with en suite bath, large veranda. Nice location with sea views and off street parking: Ref: 1198 €450 PEGEIA 4 bed villa unfurnished, 2 downstairs bedrooms, large sitting/dining area, Italian kitchen with white goods, 2 bedrooms upstairs with outside large veranda. Property is of a high standard with central heating, full AC, off street parking, private pool, stunning views, quiet location. Ref: 765 €900 Mesogi Large 3 bedroom apartment with full AC, bathroom, kitchen, separate utility room, clean and tidy building with without communal area, walking distance to all local amenities. Offered unfurnished Ref: 818 €400 Sea Caves 2 bedroom town house, furnished with central heating, fire place, nice sea views, walking distance to Paphos the sea Ref 819 €300 Please call for a free viewing on Office 26600450 Mobile: 97614070 many more properties on our website at www. flowron.com - Your Vision is our Mission LANDLORDS IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT, PLEASE CALL US!!!!!! ***************************** 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

***************************** RENTAL POINT - PAPHOS PROPERTIES AVAILABLE TO RENT IN THE PAPHOS DISTRICT. JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTIES. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL. CALL 97648440 FOR MORE INFORMATION. LANDLORDS CALL IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT.!!!

1. MESA CHORIO– 2 bed 2 bath fully furnished ground floor apartment set in 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. €400.00 per month 2 FYTI 3 bed, 3 bath furnished villa in a very quiet location.

The property offers stylish accommodation and has many luxury features. Open plan living area with feature fireplace.

Dining area. Large fully fitted L shaped kitchen with appliances and breakfast bar. Doors out to rear garden and pool.

Guest WC. Stairs up to 3 very spacious bedrooms. Master with ensuite. Family bathroom and storage cupboard. Stairs up to roof garden with panoramic views. Outside there is a feature pergola, swimming pool and landscaped gardens. €700.00 a month.

3. GIOLOU– 5 bed unfurnished villa consisting of 3 bed, 2 bath

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Abbeygate CYPRUS 1

TO LET PAPHOS main house (bungalow) with self-contained 2 bed apartment with own entrance. Main house, open plan living area, beamed ceilings with feature fireplace. Dining space and kitchen. 3 bedrooms, master with en-suite and family bathroom. Covered balcony with sea and rural views, swimming pool and garden areas. Lower level apartment reached via the main house or separate entrance. Large open plan living area, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. €850.00 per month 4. TALA - 3 bed 3 bath quality furnished villa. Set in enclosed gardens the villa consists of open plan living area with dining space. Fully fitted kitchen with all appliances, door to rear garden. Storage room. Ground floor bed room with adjacent shower. Stairs to two double bedrooms both en-suite, one with Jacuzzi tub. Small seating area with adjacent balcony.

Pool and off street parking.

Landscaped gardens €750.00 per month or close offers only 5. AYIOS DEMITRIANOS – 3 bed, 2 bath furnished villa (bungalow style) set in a private and quiet location. Open plan living area with fireplace..

Fully fitted kitchen with quality appliances. Utility room and storage.. Master bedroom with adjacent shower. Two more double bedrooms with family bathroom with Jacuzzi bath.

Garden areas, large terraces with outstanding views. Private pool 10x5., Covered parking. €700.00 per month furnished, €650 unfurnished.

6. UNIVERSAL AREA. 2 bed, 2 bath fully furnished penthouse

TO LET PAPHOS apartment. Living area with dining space. Doors out to massive balcony area overlooking the pool and gardens. Fitted kitchen. 2 double bedrooms, master bedroom has ensuite shower. Family bathroom.

A/C, Comm pool and parking. €450.00 a month or offers.

7. LOWER PEYIA - 3 bed, 2.5 bath unfurnished villa situated in quiet cul du sac. Open plan living and dining area with doors out to pool and garden.. Very large breakfast fitted kitchen. Doors out to garden and pool. Separate guest WC. Stairs to 3 double bedrooms.

Master bedroom very large with en-suite shower. Family bathroom. Private pool, gardens, shutters. €550.00 per month or close offers only.

8. CHLORAKAS– 2 bed 1 bath large furnished apartment in quiet area. Spacious open plan living area with doors out to balcony. Good sized modern fitted kitchen and breakfast area.

Small balcony off the kitchen.

Two double bedrooms. Family bathroom. Off-street parking, comm pool. €380.00 per month.

FOR FULL LISTINGS OF APARTMENTS/TOWNHOUSES AND VILLAS,PLEASE SEE www.rentalpointpaphos.com ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL LANDLORDS/OWNERS PLEASE CALL WITH DETAILS 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

TO LET PAPHOS wood burnt fireplace, fully tiled secluded yard and garage. Tel: 99210610. *****************************

PROPERTY FOR SALE PAPHOS ***************************** FOR SALE: One bedroom apartment in Paphos (Tomb of the Kings area) For full details phone: Paul 077411191867 or 01332 663439 (Code 00 44) ***************************** KATO PAPHOS UNIVERSAL, LARGE 2 bedroom apartment.

Ground floor, 1 bathroom kitchen, large veranda, private parking, A/C, Satellite TV. Near bus route, shops, banks, quiet apartment. Full furniture.

Communal pool. 92m covered area. Full TITLE DEEDS. Was €159,000 REDUCED €90,000 PAPHOS UNIVERSAL 2 BEDROOM apartment, fantastic central location, lounge kitchen, bathroom, 2 verandas, parking, communal pool. Private entry. Near all amenities.

NOW REDUCED €65,000.

1 BEDROOM APARTMENT, Tombs of Kings Area, close to the sea, large private roof terrace with electric and water, covered parking, veranda, furnished, swimming pool. Full TITLE DEEDS, was €95,000 reduced to €63,000.

CHLORAKAS, 2 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE. Exceptional sea views. New kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom. Private parking, On mains sewage system.

Communal pool. A/C, quality fixtures. Fully furnished. Security barrier. FULL TITLE DEEDS Now €90,000 CALL 99716390. ***************************** FLAT FOR SALE 1 bdrm at Peyia village with title deeds, fully furnished. €65.000. For information call 99526562. *****************************

PROTARAS ***************************** 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. *****************************

31 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Compiled by Rosie Ogden

New lifestyle car ADAM is bound for international rallying MANY local rally fans will remember the heyday of Opel on the rallying scene, with the Ascona – that won the Cyprus Rally in 1982 in the hands of Italians ‘Tony’ and ‘Rudy’ and the Manta – winner here in 1983 piloted

by Jimmy McRae and Ian Grindrod from Great Britain.

After a lengthy absence from the sport, Opel returned to rallying with the ADAM Cup in November 2012. We are still not yet going to see a Works Opel team competing at the top echelon of rallying, but at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the brand will present a new concept study of the recently introduced ADAM lifestyle car, based on FIA R2 regulations. Its final development and homologation are planned during 2013.

Says the German car giant: “With the ADAM R2, Opel takes another step in its new motorsport strategy by offering a top-class vehicle for international customer rallying which will be eligible for every national championship in Europe”.

Special body components from the sporty Opel OPC product line, quick release catches on the hood and tailgate, as well as underride guards front and rear, emphasise the sporty format of what Opel call “this athletic asphalt and gravel specialist”.

The ADAM R2 is powered by a 1.6-litre ECOTEC 16V engine with variable camshaft phasing that develops around 185 hp and maximum torque of about 190 Nm in its competitive configuration.

Power is transmitted through a Sadev sequential five-speed gearbox and a limited-slip differential with a multi-disc lock. The chassis set-up, including asphalt and gravel settings, guarantees maximum traction and dynamic handling.

Excellent deceleration is provided by a braking system with a hydraulic ‘fly-off ’ handbrake, Brembo 4-piston front brake calipers and braking pressure regulation for the rear axle.

The R2’s cabin features all

Motoring

INDIVIDUALISED VOLKSWAGEN MODEL WITH RUGGED DESIGN

the attributes of a professional competition vehicle, and many details are already part of the specification to be homologated this year by the FIA, the governing body of world motorsport.

Equipment includes an integrated safety structure; SPARCO Competition racing seats compatible with the HANS driver safety system; a cockpit with an LCD gear indicator, control light and MONIT trip computer; a central control panel; a map reading light and an electric fire extinguisher.

The ultra-compact R2 is based on the new ADAM Cup variant, which Opel says “marks the first step in Opel’s new, Europeanfocused programme to promote customer rallying, which will enable talented young drivers to gradually progress to the pinnacle of European competition”.

From the 2013 season, up to 40 ADAM Cup vehicles will compete for brand trophies in Germany and France. In the German ADAC OPEL RALLYE CUP, the winner of a special ‘Rallye Junior’ rating (for drivers up to 27 years of age) will advance into the R2 class, with special support in the next season from Opel and the ADAC. If successful, could we, perhaps, see a return to top level rallying by factory teams?

‘Opel takes another step in its new motorsport strategy by offering a topclass vehicle for customer rallying’

Opel will present a new concept study of the recently introduced ADAM lifestyle car at the Geneva Motor Show

The basic mechanics are the same as the ‘regular’ car, but numerous striking exterior elements are added to the Cross Up! to distinguish it from its sibling

Cross Up! ready for Geneva debut VOLKSWAGEN is expanding its range of rugged looking Cross models with the Cross Up!, which will go on sale in Europe from late summer.

It will join the CrossPolo, CrossGolf and CrossTouran models, which have been a big success in Europe.

We haven’t seen any Cross models as yet in Cyprus, but the German car giant came up a while ago with what are basically individualised Volkswagen models with a particularly rugged design and “tough, lifestyle qualities” – undoubtedly aimed at drivers who like the idea of a more macho SUV-like motor rather than your average city car.

The basic mechanics are the same as the ‘regular’ car, but numerous striking exterior elements are added to the Cross Up! to distinguish it from its sibling.

Volkswagen says it is ‘instantly recognisable’ as a stand-alone model: sideways on, for example, there are black mouldings on the wheel arches and sills, plus full-length door protector strips topped with ‘Cross Up!’ lettering to create a sporty look.

Other features include silver roof rails, wing mirrors in a light silver metallic finish and bumpers also incorporating silver elements.

“The robust, sporty character is defined above all

Funky: high-quality details are also to be found in the interior of the Cross Up! by the extra ride height and the ‘Cross’ 16-inch alloys with a high-sheen finish and 185/50 tyres” says VW. High-quality details are also to be found in the interior of the Cross Up!, from kick-plates with ‘Cross Up!’ lettering to seats in a special trim (in a choice of red or anthracite), an instrument panel with high-quality dash-pad (in a choice of red, black or dark silver),

and a leather-covered steering wheel and handbrake lever.

Included as standard are remote central locking, electric front windows, fog lights, electrically adjustable heated wing mirrors, an asymmetrically split, folding rear seat with headrests, a variable-height boot floor, a rev counter, a multifunction display and ESC electronic stability programme.

A 55 kW / 75 PS threecylinder petrol engine combined with a five-speed manual transmission serve as the power train for the lifestyle-oriented Cross up!, which will be available in Germany from late summer at a starting price of €13,925. There are, as far as I know, no plans as yet for right-hand drive models to be produced, but never say never.

32 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport Trainer admits to being ‘lost for words’ with Black Caviar victory

IN BRIEF Bolt not cut out for basketball THE world’s fastest man Usain Bolt played in a celebrity basketball game on Friday in the run-up to today’s NBA All-Star game and failed to impress the crowd - or himself - with his skills.

Bolt hit one of five shots, missed both of his free throws and totalled just two points in 29 minutes.

The only shot the six-times Olympic champion made was a dunk.

The Jamaican sprinter, whose East team was blitzed by the West 58-38, said he was surprised that his opponents took the game so seriously.

“The West team really played hard,” Bolt said. “I was just taking my time and these guys were running up and down hard.

“They were up by 20 in the fourth quarter and they were in a full-court press.

I’m thinking, ‘This is not a celebrity game.’ They were serious.”

Bolt said he did not get the ball enough.

Perhaps that was because he missed an uncontested lay-in, had a three-footer clang off the rim, and failed to capitalise on his four offensive rebounds.

“I wanted to do more but these guys were hogging (the ball),” he said with a smile. “They didn’t give me no chances or nothing.

“I haven’t played basketball in a while. For me to come out here and have fun, that was the key.”

Marathon debut in 2014 for Mo Farah BRITAIN’S double Olympic champion Mo Farah will run the first half of this year’s London marathon prior to making his debut over the full distance in the 2014 race.

“The Olympic 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres champion has agreed to make his full marathon debut at the 2014 London marathon and will use this year’s race to prepare himself for the challenge of tackling 26.2 miles (42.195 kms),” a statement from the race organisers said yesterday.

Farah won the London mini-marathon three years in a row as a schoolboy between 1998 and 2000. He made his half-marathon debut in 2011 when he won the New York City half marathon in a British record 60 minutes 23 seconds.

Black Caviar extended her unbeaten record to 23 in a race named in her honour at Flemington

TRAINER Peter Moody admitted he “was lost for words” after Black Caviar extended her unbeaten record to 23 in a race named in her honour at Flemington.

The astounding sprinter broke the track record with an exceptional comeback performance in the Group One Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

It was her first run since she claimed a dramatic victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Although the great mare’s racing career had been in the balance following her exertions in England, Black Caviar made a seamless return to the track by defeating Moment Of Change by two and a half lengths.

Moody said: “I am proud to have her back.

“I am just so proud of her and my team.

“We were on a hiding to nothing by bringing her back.

“The job was done and we thought it was over, but to come back and do that and run a record, I’m lost for words.

“I think it was the first time I’ve been nervous for a long time - I suppose it was the seven-month break - but I’m just so proud of her.”

Jockey Luke Nolen said: “She didn’t tow up like she can through the early and middle stages.

“But she towed me into it nicely and I gave her a squeeze because I didn’t want to get complacent with win 23.

“Because you’re out on your own and it is a big track when the rail is back to the true and the wind is going about you don’t get a real appreciation of how quick you are going.

“I had a look at the time when I rolled back in and I thought we might have gone a bit quicker than how it felt.

“She continues to amaze me.”

Alastair Cook delighted to join England’s winning squad Hales, Lumb not included in side facing NZ today

By David Clough ALASTAIR Cook is delighted to be able to begin the one-day series against New Zealand today with a group of players who have just beaten the same opponents.

The England captain remained in Hamilton while Stuart Broad’s Twenty20 team flew to Wellington to complete a 2-1 series victory over New Zealand with a crushing 10-wicket success there.

Two of the architects of that win, openers Alex Hales and Michael Lumb whose unbroken stand of 143 finished the decider more than seven overs early, are not part of the ODI squad.

Similarly, there are a couple of changes to personnel for the hosts as they move from one limited-overs format to another.

Nevertheless, Cook - one of five players who arrived in Hamilton a week ago to prepare for the ODI series - senses such an impressive win can only give England extra confidence as they begin the second leg of their tour.

“Clearly any win against pretty much the same op-

England captain Alastair Cook had remained in Hamilton while Stuart Broad’s (right) Twenty20 team flew to Wellington to complete a 2-1 series victory over New Zealand with a crushing 10-wicket success there position you’re going to be playing is helpful,” he said.

“It’s obviously a different format, so not that relevant.

But it’s great for the guys’ confidence.”

Cook, who has also confirmed Jos Buttler will retain the wicketkeeper’s gloves in 50-over cricket after being preferred to Jonny Bairstow in that role in the sprint format, has just minor concerns about the readiness of some of his

rested team-mates to immediately hit top form.

Graeme Swann, James Anderson and Jonathan Trott will be playing for the first time since December.

“It’s great to have those guys coming back,” said their captain.

“In one way, they’re a little bit undercooked - because the last time they played a game for England was 10 days before Christmas.

“Belly and I played a cou-

ple of weeks ago, so the other guys are probably a little bit underdone.

“They’ve had a bit of time off - which they needed.

“They haven’t had a game to practise here. But they’re world-class players who’ve played here before. So it shouldn’t be too much of a problem ... and I expect them to be able to adapt well.”

As for Buttler, Cook has no doubt he thoroughly

deserves to be first-choice limited-overs wicketkeeper on current form.

“It’s quite clear Jos has done really well - in those two one-day games he played in India and those Twenty20s, he’s been fantastic.

“So he’ll be getting the first go tomorrow. He deserves his chance to take it on, and I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s handled himself.”

33 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Sport

Williams thrilled with her return to top spot Becomes women’s world tennis No. 1 for fourth time

Her achievement marks Williams’ return to the top spot after a gap of almost two and a half years, having been usurped by Wozniacki in October 2010

SERENA Williams on Friday became the oldest women’s world tennis number one as she reached the top spot for a fourth time and said: “I’m so happy I’m back.”

A three-set win over Czech Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha means Williams will overtake Victoria Azarenka (inset) when the rankings are published tomorrow morning.

The 31-year-old American will eclipse the previous record set by Chris Evert, who was 30 years and 11 months when she was number one in November 1985.

It marks Williams’ return to the top spot after a gap of almost two and a half years, having been usurped by Caroline Wozniacki in October 2010, and her fourth reign at the top in total.

The feat also caps a remarkable comeback from Williams, who missed almost an entire year on tour due to injury and illness in 2011, and briefly slipped as low as 175th in the world.

She cut her foot badly on glass in July 2010, and survived emergency surgery in

Los Angeles in March 2011 - a haematoma and a pulmonary embolism having put her life in the balance - as she admitted at Wimbledon last year.

“There were times I never thought I’d even play again,” Williams said today. “Then I thought I’d never be able to win tournaments or grand slams again.

“Number one was so far off.

I mean, it was always a dream - I was number one when tragedy struck, and it was just an awful thing to happen. I’m so happy I’m back.”

Williams scotched retirement rumours by storming

back in 2012 to win Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic titles. On Friday she fought back from going a set behind and triumphed 3-6 6-3 7-5 against Kvitova in just over two hours, despite also having twice fallen a break behind in the final set.

Williams said of her spirited victory: “I don’t know how I did it - I really don’t know. I just hung in there and she was playing so well. Every time I looked around she was hitting a winner. I just tried to stay in there.”

After tearfully speaking on court at the end of the match, she later said: “I didn’t expect

Federer sent packing by Benneteau DEFENDING champion Roger Federer suffered a shock 6-3 7-5 defeat by Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who has yet to lift a tour title during his 13-year career, in the World Indoor Tournament quarter-finals on Friday.

The top seed struggled throughout with his first serve and was broken three times in the opening set.

Benneteau, 31, broke again early in the second set before the world number two, backed by a capacity crowd of 10,500, broke back.

Federer had chances to break again in the 11th game but world number 39 Benneteau managed to hold him off be-

fore clinching victory on his first match point as a backhand pass from the Swiss went out.

“If you lose your serve five times, like I did today, you can’t win indoors,” Federer told reporters.

“Julien played great, created more chances than I did and fully deserved to win.

“I fought back at the end of the second set and had chances to take it into a third but that would have been more luck than I deserved.”

Benneteau was last night set to take on fellow countryman Gilles Simon who put out Martin Klizan when the Slova-

Shock defeat: Federer

kian retired through injury while trailing 6-7 6-3 3-0.

“This is a really good win and I am pleased with the way I played today,” said Benneteau.

World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro stayed on course for his second successive appearance in the final by sweeping aside Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 6-4 on Friday.

The Argentine, beaten in last year’s final by Federer, then defeated Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-4 in the last four yesterday, after the Bulgarian came from behind on Friday to defeat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in a 6-7 7-6 6-3 thriller.

President of wrestling’s world governing body resigns less than a week after IOC snub THE president of wrestling’s world governing body FILA resigned yesterday less than a week after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that the sport be dropped from the 2020 Summer Games.

Switzerland’s Raphael Martinetti announced he was stepping down at a FILA Executive Committee meeting in Thailand, a move confirmed by bureau member Rodica Yaksi when contacted by Reuters yesterday.

“He has given his resignation. The bureau has selected an interim president for the extraordinary congress that will be held in Budapest in September during the world championships,” the Turk said by telephone.

“We just voted and elected Mr Nenad Lalovic (from Serbia) as the interim president for the congress... not the FILA president.”

FILA vice president Tomiaki Fukuda told reporters that the governing body would continue to review wrestling’s plight during the annual gathering being held in Phuket.

“We will discuss in what ways we can bring wrestling back, but if nothing is decided today, we’ll continue our discussions tomorrow,” Fukuda said.

that reaction at all afterwards.

I didn’t expect that reaction.

It was completely surprising to me, but it was nice. It was really genuine, and it felt good, and completely unexpected.”

Now Williams intends to stay at number one.

She said, according to wtatennis.com: “It’s very important for me. I think it’s important for everyone at the top. Everyone’s trying and playing so well and so consistent, and no one is really losing early. I’m the only one that lost pretty early in Australia. There are two top players that are just playing so well, and so consistent.

“It’s not as lonely as it looks at the top.”

She was next to face Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals last night after the Russian third seed beat Australia’s Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 22 minutes.

Top seed and now-deposed number one Azarenka moved into the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2 win on Friday over Italy’s Sara Errani, but whatever else the Belarusian achieves this weekend, she cannot deny Williams the top ranking.

USA Wrestling thanked the outgoing president and welcomed the changes being made at the governing body.

“USA Wrestling and the international wrestling community wishes to thank Raphael Martinetti for his service and lifelong commitment to the sport,” the association’s executive director Rich Bender was quoted as saying on its official website.

“This decision provides international wrestling with an opportunity to change and improve.

“The sport will now be able to create a fresh new relationship with the International Olympic Committee and address some of the pressing challenges and opportunities facing wrestling.”

Part of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and all further editions of the Games, except the 1900 Paris Olympics, wrestling was stunned when the IOC Executive Board made a surprise recommendation on Tuesday to drop the sport from the 2020 Games.

The sport will now join seven other candidate sports battling for one spot in a revamped programme when the IOC session in Buenos Aires votes on the recommendation in September.

CHEMISTS NICOSIA SUNDAY 17/02/2013 T. Nicolaou, 35 Stasinou Ave. Tel: 22345116, 22432916 (H) M. Menikos, 73A Larnaca Ave, Anglanja. Tel: 22332165, 22330865 (H) L. Varelia, 6C Achaion St. Tel: 22776861, 22770981 (H) G. Ploutarchos, 34C Tseriou Ave, Strovolos. Tel: 22311995, 22325995 V. Ch. Papaprodromou, 59, Ifigenias Acropolis, Tel: 22210303, 22491165 (H) LIMASSOL E. Kinnis, 19 Gr. Digheni, Tel: 25582626, 25328874 (H) Chr. Kleanthous, 16D Gladstonos, Tel: 25748070, 25382437 (H) Sp. Zinoviou 4 Evgeniou Voulgareos K. Polemithia Tel: 25715555, 25382058 or 25320324(H) LARNACA Despo Theodosis, Lordou Vyronos & Gladstonos 1, Tel. 24622522, 24720083 L. Lambrou, 32, Rafael Santi, Tel: 24662044, 24342157 (H) PAPHOS K. G. Filippidou, 93 E. Pallikarides St. Tel: 26949259, 26922670 (H) PARALIMNI S. Stylianou, 7A Sotiras Street, Sotira. Tel: 23812040, 70000440 (H)

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34 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport Torres is still one of the best - Benayoun YOSSI Benayoun believes “the real Fernando Torres” will emerge once the misfiring Chelsea striker puts his recent dry run in front of goal behind him.

Torres has one goal in 13 matches after Thursday night’s Europa League last32 first-leg 1-0 win at Sparta Prague - a match during which the World Cup winner missed opportunities and was subjected to the anger of visiting Blues fans.

While many Chelsea supporters have lost faith in Torres, Benayoun, like interim manager Rafael Benitez, has backed his former Liverpool colleague.

“You can understand it is not easy, from being the top striker at Liverpool - he was unbelievable, you gave him the ball and you knew he would score,” Benayoun said.

“But he had a bad time in the beginning at Chelsea. When he came in, he was on the bench, then on the pitch.

“He did not get the confidence when he came in. And with the £50million above his head, it is not easy for any player.”

In three and a half years at Liverpool, after being signed from Atletico Madrid by Benitez for a fee of £20m, Torres scored 81 goals in 142 matches before moving to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the 2011 winter transfer window for £50m on a five-and-a-half-year deal.

There have been glimpses of his capabilities at Chelsea, but not consistently.

He has scored 25 goals in 134 appearances - 15 of them this term.

Torres netted seven times in six games in December, but his only goal since was the equaliser which forced today’s FA Cup fourth-round replay with Brentford.

Benitez has praised Torres’ work-rate and attributed his barren streak to the role he has to perform as a lone striker, but the Spain international could be removed from the firing line for today’s encounter, with Demba Ba and Victor Moses available.

Benayoun said: “For me, he is still one of the best strikers in the world.

“You do not change so quick from be-

ing the best player, one of the best in the world, to a player that some people say is not good enough for Chelsea.

“He has had good spells, bad spells, and has 15 or 16 goals already. That is not bad, but hopefully he will finish with 25.

“He just needs to believe in himself. It would be good to get his confidence back and be his old self.

“Hopefully he will get a few more soon and you will see the real Fernando Torres.”

Like Torres, Benayoun has struggled to reach the same heights since moving from Anfield to west London.

The Israel international had a spell on loan at Arsenal last season and was at West Ham during the first half of this campaign, the latter stint being marred by a knee injury which limited him to six appearances.

He has now made three substitute appearances since returning to Chelsea, where he is under contract until the end of the season.

Inconsistent: Chelsea’s Torres (left) has scored 25 goals in 134 appearances - 15 of them this term

Rodgers hits back at League scheduling

Mancini remains defiant over his future with Citizens

LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers is disappointed by the scheduling of today’s Barclays Premier League clash with Swansea at Anfield.

In this weekend’s only top-flight fixture, the Reds face the Swans - who are in next Sunday’s Capital One Cup final - having already played twice this week.

Rodgers’ men lost 2-0 at home to West Brom in the Premier League this past Monday evening and were then beaten by the same scoreline at Zenit St Petersburg Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie - the second leg of which is next Thursday.

Asked about the timing of the match against his former club Swansea, Rodgers said: “I was very disappointed with the Premier League to be honest.

“To put it in on a week when we have played on a Monday and played on a Thursday in an away trip to Russia, and put it in between that and another important European game on Thursday...I think it is another example of the Premier League in this country not helping teams whatsoever.

“I think every other country in Europe will always try to help their teams some of them will play on a Friday before a European game.

“So for us to have it thrown in there when there were other free weeks was bemusing to say the least.”

Liverpool have forward Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Philippe Coutinho back available for today’s game.

The pair return to the squad having both been ineligible for Thursday’s match, with Rodgers confirming Sturridge - who has been nursing a thigh problem - is fit to play.

Unperturbed by claims Leeds clash is make or break

Having fallen 12 points behind League leaders United, the champions’ most realistic route to silverware now appears to come via the FA Cup

By Andy Hampson ROBERTO Mancini remains defiant in the face of fresh speculation over his future at the Etihad Stadium.

The Italian has regularly been the subject of stories suggesting he could be removed throughout his three-year tenure and is not perturbed by claims today’s clash with Leeds is make or break.

Having fallen 12 points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United with just 12 games remaining, the champions’ most realistic route to silverware now appears to come via the FA Cup. That has placed extra emphasis on the fifth-round visit of Championship side Leeds but Mancini has rubbished suggestions he could be sacked if City lose.

He said: “I don’t know what I should say about this. We started our project three years ago.

“We won the Premier League maybe too quickly because usually it is four or five years for a team like City to do this.

“All the people who talk about this don’t understand

football.

“Because if Manchester City should sack me, the other 20 teams in the Premier League should be without a manager.”

Mancini was heavily critical of his players after a dismal 3-1 defeat at Southampton last weekend.

He accepts the club’s owners cannot be happy with the faltering title defence but, as he regularly speaks to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, is confident he still has their

backing.

He said: “I speak with Khaldoon every week.

“He is like me. When we lost he has my mentality, he is upset and disappointed but this is normal and it’s correct in football.

“We have a good relationship. At this moment they aren’t happy because when you lose you can’t be happy but I think they are happy with our job over the three years.”

Mancini expects a response

from his team as they look to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. He said: “I think that the players know they didn’t do their job at Southampton and sometimes it is important they take the responsibility.

“I think that we have some players that can do better than this year, but I am sure I have a good team and at the end of it we will win something.

“It will be different because it’s the FA Cup but it won’t change for us because re-

sults are always important and there is always pressure.

“The players will respond, I’m sure about this.”

As for the title race, Mancini claims it is not in his nature to concede defeat.

He said: “We play the derby in April and from now until then we have six games and we need to look at what happens in the next six games.

“If we reduce the gap before the derby... but it’s not important to look at the table. It’s important to win, win, win.”

Huddersfield’s Robins excited to begin new era with FA Cup clash against Wigan HUDDERSFIELD’S FA Cup clash with Wigan will mark the start of a new era at the club with an excited Mark Robins taking charge for the first time.

The former Rotherham boss became the third Town manager in a year this week, following his decision

to leave Coventry just five months after taking charge.

In that time he had dragged the Sky Blues away from the relegation zone to just outside the npower League One play-off places.

But the chance to be involved in the

Terriers’ ambitious plans was too good to refuse for the 43-year-old.

“There was a synergy between what the club wants and the way I’ve been working,” said Robins.

“It’s an exciting project, there’s no doubt about it. There has been a lot of

investment, as you can see with all the work going on at the training facility.

“There’s been investment in the team too and the attraction stems from the owner. I’ve admired what Dean Hoyle has done from afar in taking this club forward.”

35 SUNDAY MAIL • February 17, 2013

Sport

Millwall crush Luton hopes to progress to FA Cup last eight Henry, Hulse, N’Guessan find the net Luton 0 Millwall 3

By Paul Hirst JAMES Henry and Rob Hulse shattered Luton’s FA Cup dreams to send Millwall through to the last eight at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters had stunned Norwich to make the fifth round three weeks ago, and at times yesterday they looked more than capable of pulling off another big upset against a side ranked 67 places above them in the league ladder.

Andre Gray and Luton’s match-winner from the previous round Scott Rendell combined well up front, but they could not find a way past David Forde to claim a victory that would have made them the first nonleague side to make the quarter-finals in 99 years.

Hulse, on loan from QPR, took his first strike for the club well, hooking the ball over Mark Tyler from a tight angle after Henry had put the Lions ahead following a mistake by Jonas Kovacs. Dany N’Guessan sealed the win with five minutes left.

Millwall’s supporters let themselves down at one point in the second half by taunting the home fans with “Taliban” chants at Kenilworth Road.

However, the one incidence of chanting was the only sour

Resolute and determined: Millwall claimed a place in the quarter-finals by bringing Luton’s remarkable FA Cup run to an end point on a cold afternoon at the home of the Blue Square Bet Premier side.

The win means Kenny Jackett’s side go into the hat for today’s quarter-finals for the first time since their club-record run to Wembley nine years ago.

Buoyed by their raucous support, Luton started the match strongly. Gray played a clever one-two to open up some space in the Millwall

box, but David Forde saved well from the lively striker.

The Lions raced straight up the other end and Hulse got in behind the Luton defence, but he was unable to beat Mark Tyler.

The underdogs continued to pile on the pressure; Gray slipped past Nadjim Adbou to enter the Millwall box, but he shot at the near post when it would have been better to pull the ball back to

the hordes of Luton players who were waiting.

Gray, and the impressive JJ O’Donnell raised the hopes of the home fans, but the visitors then took the lead through Henry.

Robert Kovacs mis-judged the bounce of an aerial ball and the forward raced through and rounded Tyler before slotting home from an acute angle. More police were drafted into the away end to

deal with the ecstatic Millwall fans, who taunted the home supporters.

Luton threw everything forward looking for an instant reply. Arnaud Mendy went close with two efforts, but the Hatters lacked Millwall’s shooting ability.

Hulse tested Tyler with an acrobatic effort and the journeyman striker then made it 2-0 10 minutes before the break, hooking the ball over his shoulder from a tight angle after the ball had bounced around the home box.

The scorer goaded the home fans and they responded by throwing a missile in his direction.

Luton came out full of energy after the restart, but Millwall stifled their attacks with some stubborn defending.

It took a brilliant pass from Alex Lawless to breach the Hatters’ defence, but Forde raced off his line to clear the danger before Gray could get to the ball.

Kovacs cleared the bar with a free header soon after as Luton continued to pressure, but it was Millwall who looked the more likely side to score.

A deflected shot dribbled in to Andy Keogh’s path with 25 minutes to go, but Tyler came out to deny the Republic of Ireland striker.

Dany N’Guessan covered 50 yards in quick time on a rapid Millwall counter before laying the ball off to Lawless, who found Hulse at the back post - but he tried to square when the better option would have been to go for his second.

Paul Buckle threw on Jon Shaw to beef up the Luton attack, but the home side remained on the back foot. Keogh made space at the back post, but he headed wide from Henry’s cross.

N’Guessan made sure of the win five minutes from time when Tyler spilled John Marquis’ shot and he turned home from close range.

Must of took great courage!!! Take care mate and stay strong!”

Midfielder Zac Thompson, out on loan at Bury, added: “A lot of respect for @robbierogers Good luck in what ever you choose to do next mate. All the best”.

No British-based professional player has come out since ex-Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu in 1990. He committed suicide eight years later aged 37.

While the Professional Footballers’ Association and other organisations continue to work with gay players within the game, none of them has wanted to go public.

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, told Press Association Sport: “I’m pleased that Robbie’s come out for his own sake. We do have players who’ve said that, while they are gay, they don’t feel comfortable enough to come out.

“It’s not dissimilar to many black players, and we need to create a safe environment for them on and off the field. If there is abuse, that needs to be dealt with by all the football family.

“It’s no bad thing that he’s been brave enough to come out. We know of players who are playing who are gay who’ve not had that confidence as yet.

“But, as the rest of the world becomes more civilised, hopefully that will come.”

STEVEN Caulker will be available for England Under-21s’ European finals campaign this summer after a two-match UEFA ban was lifted on appeal.

The Tottenham defender instead received a warning and agreed to do one day’s community service.

Blackpool winger Tom Ince’s appeal against a one-match ban imposed after the same match, the controversial play-off against Serbia in October, was not successful, however, and he will miss the opening match of the tournament.

England U21 manager Stuart Pearce said in a statement: “We respect UEFA’s decision and we will now move on and focus on the finals tournament in the summer.

“We welcome the ruling to overturn Steven Caulker’s suspension and choose to accept the verdict with regards to Tom Ince.

“Both players should be proud of the way they represented themselves at UEFA.” UEFA also increased the sanction against Serbia for racist abuse by fans with its under-21 side now having to play two competitive matches behind closed doors rather than one.

Ince and Caulker were initially banned for incidents that took place at the end of a fiery play-off in Krusevac in October which led to the host country Serbia being punished for racist abuse and violent behaviour. UEFA appealed against the initial disciplinary panel’s decision, arguing there should be tougher sanctions against both the England players, and against the Serbian FA, its players and officials.

Any lengthy ban would have affected the England players’ participation in this summer’s European Championship in Israel.

FA Cup Fifth Round

Former team-mates offer Rogers support LEEDS players offered their support to former team-mate Robbie Rogers Friday night after the American revealed he is gay and announced his retirement from football at the age of 25.

Football was left to once again examine its last great taboo as Rogers, capped 18 times by the United States and a 2008 Olympian, wrote on his blog that he had been afraid of revealing his sexuality - and he now wants to live a new life outside of the game.

“Secrets can cause so much internal damage,” he wrote. “People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple.

Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay.

“Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently.”

He added: “Now is my time to step away. It’s time to discover myself away from football.”

Rogers left Elland Road last month by mutual consent after returning from a loan spell with Stevenage, but his old team-mates quickly took to Twitter to send their support.

“Full respect to @robbierogers and good luck in the next chapter of your life whatever you choose to do,” wrote full-back Adam Drury Striker Ross McCormack added: “Wow...

Fair play to @robbierogers for coming out.

Steven Caulker ban overturned after appeal

Luton Millwall

0 3

Arsenal Blackburn

0 1

MK Dons Barnsley

1 3

Oldham Everton

L L

Playing Today Chelsea v Brentford, 2pm (fourth round replay) Man City v Leeds Utd, 4pm Huddersfield v Wigan, 5.55pm Playing Tomorrow Man Utd v Reading, 10pm

Premier League Playing Today Liverpool v Swansea, 5pm

Ex-Leeds United and USA winger Robbie Rogers announced his retirement after revealing he is gay

36 February 17, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport ‘Treble winners have nothing on us’ says Fergie

By Simon Stone SIR Alex Ferguson is convinced Manchester United have a stronger squad now than their 1999 Treblewinning campaign.

Twelve points clear in the Premier League title race, following Wednesday’s draw at the Bernabeu, United are still on course to repeat that historic feat.

Tomorrow offers a chance to clinch a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

And such is the strength of Ferguson’s squad, United could field a completely different side to the one that started against Madrid.

That fact alone leads the Red Devils chief to conclude he has more options at his disposal that he did 14 years ago.

“We have a stronger squad now,” Ferguson said.

“When we went to the (Champions League) final, Keane and Scholes were suspended but Henning Berg was the only injury.

“I still had to pull in a player (Jonathan Greening) who had only played once or twice in the first-team.

“He got a medal for being on the bench. That gives you an idea of the strength of the squad.”

The momentum for that magnificent achievement came from an unbeaten run that began following a defeat against Middlesbrough on December 19, which eventually reached 33 games.

It is now 15 matches since United were beaten on home soil by Romanian champions CFR Cluj in a dead Champions League game at the end of December.

And with QPR and Norwich to follow the meeting with Reading, there is no sign of that record ending soon.

“It is nice to look back on these things and think how it was done at that particular time,” said Ferguson.

“But the reality is that we should not get carried away, particularly in the FA Cup when anything can happen. You don’t want to be a shock.

“In many people’s eyes Monday would be, ‘yes, it’s Reading, we have just been to Madrid, it was a great night, Monday will take care of itself’.

“Monday can’t take care of itself. We have to take care of that.

“We must get a performance off the players that respects our opponents and also the fact the FA Cup can produce shocks.”

It has been repeated fairly frequently that of Ferguson’s present squad, only Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher, who will miss the remainder of the season, have won the FA Cup with United.

Most have appeared in semi-finals though, with United losing their past two, against Everton and Manchester City.

Full-back Rafael was amongst those who featured in the 2009 last-four encounter with Everton at Wembley, which the Red Devils lost in a penalty shoot-out.

The Brazilian’s career has not always been straightforward since.

Indeed, his performance in the Bernabeu on Wednesday almost summed up his entire career, given the difficulties he endured during the first-half before rediscovering top form after the interval.

“Rafael had an horrendous first half,” said Ferguson.

“He was impetuous. He tried to win the war right away, diving in at players, but he settled down in the second half.

“His game calmed down and he had absolutely no problems. That is a measure of the success he has had this year. He has matured terrifically well.”

Tomorrow’s clash against Reading offers the Red Devils a chance to clinch a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals

Williams thrilled with her return to top spot 33

Millwall crush Luton hopes to progress to FA Cup last eight 35

ROVERS REACH FA CUP QUARTERS IN MEMORABLE WIN OVER ARSENAL

Blackburn’s Colin Kazim-Richards scores the winner against Arsenal yesterday

Late Kazim-Richards goal stuns Gunners Arsenal 0 Blackburn 1

By Jim van Wijk

A

rsenal crashed out of the FA Cup as Blackburn pulled off a shock 1-0 fifth round win at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night and manager Arsene Wenger had made several changes, with Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla all starting on the bench. Even so there should still have been enough quality to see off the npower Championship side.

But Gervinho missed a great chance at the end of the first half which proved so costly as Colin Kazim-Richards’ scrappy effort after 72 minutes proved enough to inflict Arsenal’s first home FA Cup defeat since their move to the Emirates Stadium and hand Rovers a memorable win.

Blackburn, who still have not conceded a goal in this season’s FA Cup, fashioned an early chance when a freekick from the left was flashed

through the Arsenal six-yard box and Markus Olsson knocked the loose ball wide at the far post.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had been given a chance to impress in midfield for Arsenal, and the England international was soon on the ball, releasing Tomas Rosicky down the right only for the Czech winger to clip his attempted cross behind.

Oxlade-Chamberlain then charged into the Blackburn penalty area and cut a pass back across the sixyard box, where Bradley Orr hacked clear.

The Rovers full-back was shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean in the 12th minute after scything down Gervinho as the Ivory Coast forward, back from the African Nations Cup, looked to break down the left.

Arsenal fans behind the goal at the Clock End called for a penalty when Rosicky’s cross hit Scott Dann on the arm as he blocked it behind for a corner, but the referee was not interested.

The home side continued to press, forcing a succession of corners.

In the 25th minute, Arsenal finally got the delivery right from Rosicky, and Abou Diaby

rose to power a bullet header goalwards, which Rovers goalkeeper Jake Kean beat away at full stretch with a magnificent reaction save.

Kean was on hand to palm away a looping header from captain Thomas Vermaelen, fit again following an ankle problem, as the Rovers goal was under siege again.

The best opening came just before half-time when Rosicky slipped Gervinho into the penalty area, but despite holding off the defender, the Ivory Coast forward dragged his shot wide of the post - before dropping to his knees and looking to the Heavens.

Blackburn started the second half brightly.

Vermaelen had to be alert as he touched a cross behind with Jordan Rhodes waiting to knock the ball in at the far post.

Slowly Arsenal regained momentum, and Diaby flashed a 25-yard effort wide.

Blackburn made a change after 63 minutes when Markus Olsson was replaced by former Arsenal man David Bentley, who rejoined his old club Rovers on loan from Tottenham - and received a less-than-warm welcome from the home support.

Rosicky crashed a 20-

yard effort off the crossbar and Rovers defender Grant Hanley made an important block as Gervinho cut in from the right.

With 20 minutes left, Wenger made a triple substitution as Walcott, Wilshere and Cazorla replaced Gervinho, Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

However, out of nothing, Blackburn snatched the lead.

Martin Olsson burst into the left side of the penalty area and drilled the ball goalwards, which Wojciech Szczesny parried.

Kazim-Richards’ scuffed follow-up effort bounced onto the post and in.

Arsenal immediately went on the offensive, with Walcott surging down the right, but was faced with a wall of blue shirts.

Diaby’s effort was charged down and Kean somehow saved a close-range header from Walcott before Giroud’s effort in stoppage-time was blocked as Rovers clung on for a famous win.