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January 13, 2013

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COFFEESHOP: CLAPPED-OUT COMMIE RULERS OUT OF THE CLOSET PAGE 17 INSIDE Cyprus Stepping up to the task.

A look back at the EU presidency 6

World ‘Hostage rescue bid

by France ends in deaths’ 9

Lifestyle Women as strong lead roles in film and TV centre

Feature Are you addicted to social media?

London has a clinic 20

Sport Chelsea end Stoke’s long unbeaten home streak back

Merkel’s visit fuels acrimony Daggers out for DISY leader for ‘failing to convince’ her to take less harsh approach

By Poly Panteldies

T

HE VISIT by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, and her and others’ clear support for presidential candidate Nicos Anastasiades, sparked a pre-election spat yesterday over the allegations of money laundering coming from Germany in recent weeks.

Clearly miffed by their opponent taking centre stage at the high-profile European People’s Party (EPP) summit Limassol, AKEL candidate Stavros Malas, and EDEK-backed Giorgos Lillikas laid into the DISY leader, accusing him of failing to defend the island’s good name to his EU buddies.

Anastasiades met with a number of prominent leaders at the EPP, meeting several on the sidelines, and having a private tetea-tete with Merkel, Although she expressed some solidarity with Cyprus in terms of a bailout, the German Chancellor was not soft on the need for economic reforms.

“The [summit’s] message was clear: implement what we’re asking so we can give you the loan. That means harsh austerity and privatisations,” Malas said yesterday.

“In other words, Merkel’s ‘love’ turns out, in the case of Cyprus, to be a love that kills, and Anastasiades’ like-minded friends did not come as friends to Cyprus

but to offer their bitter pills to solve problems, just as they did with Greece, Portugal and other countries with tragic social consequences,” he added.

Malas said the EPP conference was merely a ”fiesta” aiming only at harnessing support for Anastasiades’ election.

Lillikas was equally vitriolic. “I would have expected that from the moment Germany’s chancellor was in Cyprus, that its stance would change somewhat,” he said.

“I would have expected Anastasiades to convince Merkel. Instead, rather than convincing her it seems that he has chosen to convince himself [that the allegations are true].”

Lillikas said the main aim of the money laundering allegations emanating from Germany was to see all Russian money removed from Cyprus.

His backer, EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou, said it was obvious that there had been “no real binding expression of support” for Cyprus’ predicament from the summit. He also took a stab at dispelling the impression that Cyprus was a haven for money launderers and tax avoiders.

Omirou quoted figures from an assessment done by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that tackles money-laundering, which places Cyprus well

TURN TO PAGE 3

THE CAT LADY OF PAPHOS

Pensioner Gaynor Georgiou does a daily round in Paphos feeding and looking after 130 stray cats out of her own small income and with little help SEE STORY PAGE 2

R.I.P. a bit difficult in a surround-sound coffin A SWEDISH man has designed a coffin with built-in speakers linked to a music playlist that can be updated by the living.

Music and video equipment store owner Fredrik Hjelmquist said his hi-fi coffin would entertain the dead and provide solace for grieving friends and relatives by making it possible for them to alter the deceased’s playlist online.

“We don’t know, right? But then people believe in different ways in different parts of the world,” Hjelmquist told Reuters television when he was asked whether a belief in life after death was what would lead someone to buy his

coffin. “In Sweden perhaps we don’t believe in it, but in many parts of the world people believe in a different way,” he said.

He planned to be buried in such a coffin, he added, and would choose opera for his long sleep. He has not sold any of his coffins, but there have been many enquiries, he added.

The price tag is a hefty 199,000 Swedish crowns (€23,000). “We’ve had an unbelievable amount of inquiries, not so much in Sweden, but many from the US and Canada, also from Taiwan,” he said. “Ozzy Osbourne should buy one I think or Keith Richards,” he said.

2 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home Weather

Nicosia i

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TODAY: Scattered showers and likely snowfall over the mountains.

Temperatures will reach 16C inland, 18C along the coasts and 6C over higher ground.

OUTLOOK: Sunnier weather due by Tuesday, with temperatures holding.

YESTERDAY

Nicosia Larnaca Limassol Paphos Paralimni Prodromos

The cat lady of Paphos old town

max/min temp 16 - 5 17 - 7 18 - 8 18 - 9 17 - 8 4-1

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SUNRISE: 06.52 am

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‘I couldn’t even kill a cockroach,’ says woman who devotes her life to stray cats

By Bejay Browne FOR THE past 12 years, Gaynor Georgiou has been spending hundreds of euros of her own money each month feeding and caring for scores of stray cats living in the old town of Paphos.

The 69-year-old pensioner says she now spends around 490 euros of her 600 euro monthly pension on food and other necessities for more than 130 strays in the area.

“I used to work in Paphos market in the old town and was feeding a few feral cats for years. But for the last 12 years the numbers have grown to more than 130.”

The cat lover, originally from the UK, met her Cypriot husband in London when she was just 16 years old. She married him and the pair moved to Paphos almost 25 years ago.

“My husband and I were very close. He died a couple of years ago and the cats have kept me going; they give me a reason to get up in the mornings,” she says.

Whatever the weather, Gaynor does a daily round, seven days a week, of selected feeding places in Paphos town, armed with food and water for her furry friends.

As she arrives in her small car, which is full of cat food, bowls and other paraphernalia used for her daily tasks,

Gaynor Georgiou with some of the more than 130 feline friends she feeds every day cats run from every direction to greet her.

Gaynor portions out the food into individual bowls, carefully mixing some with water to form what she refers to as a ‘soup’ for a number of cats suffering with dental problems.

After feeding them, a number approach her for a stroke and even jump on and inside her car.

On this occasion, she is accompanied by a local resident and friend, 89-year-old Madge Hughes, who first spotted the cat lover feeding the animals in the dirt car park behind Marks & Spencer a number of years ago.

“I sometimes keep Gaynor company; I think what she’s doing is marvellous,” says Madge.

Gaynor is a well-known face in Paphos old town, which is a popular visiting spot for tourists who often thank her for her kindness and generosity towards the animals.

She says her actions are not always appreciated though

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and have led to conflict with a number of local officials.

Last summer, she says, street cleaners were ordered to throw away food and water at one of the regular feeding places near the central market.

Not to be deterred, Gaynor managed to negotiate a deal where she throws away any uneaten food and clears away the feeding dishes, but water bowls are permitted to remain in place.

OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS “It was terrible and it made me mad. The cats need water to drink, especially when it’s hot. We promote Cyprus cats to the tourists. There are calendars and other memorabilia with their pictures on sale all over the town and yet some people, even some of the officials, don’t even like cats.”

Eventually, Gaynor is also hoping to spay and neuter them all and regularly takes individuals in her car to Paphiakos and CCP animal welfare - a Paphos-based animal charity - for these operations.

“All of the staff have been a great help. They don’t charge me for spaying and neutering,” she says.

Gaynor grew up in a household of animals in the UK and says she loves them all.

“I couldn’t even kill a cockroach,” she admits.

Although she is plagued with rheumatism and back problems, the sprightly, likeable

pensioner braves all weathers to ensure the cats are fed and watered each and every day.

“Even if it’s Christmas, I still do my rounds to feed the cats. I love them all so much and they are used to me coming now. I dread to think what would happen to them if I couldn’t come.”

But she admits it is getting increasingly difficult to do her rounds as she gets older and would welcome any help she can get.

Her commitment to the animals has also prevented her from being able to travel.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a holiday and I couldn’t attend a recent family funeral in the UK because I couldn’t find anyone to take care of the cats. People often say they’ll help, but when it comes to the crunch, they have excuses or ask for payment, which I simply can’t do.”

The Good Samaritan hasn’t named any of the cats, but says she loves them tremendously and knows them all by sight and if any are missing.

And it’s clear from the way they react to her that the feeling is mutual.

“Sometimes, I find them and they have died, either from old age, a disease or virus, or they have been hit by a car. I put them in a pillow case and bury them. I would never dream of just dumping them in a rubbish bin,” she says.

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A cat waits expectantly in Gaynor’s car

3 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

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Merkel’s visit fuels election acrimony Anastasiades: German Chancellor’s visit carries more weight than anything Giorgos Lillikas has to say

Angela Merkel during the EPP confernece on Friday

(continued from front page) ahead of Germany in terms of actions taken to combat the phenomenon. The figures were presented to EU ambassadors by Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly earlier in the week but the government has not made much noise publicly about the significant comparisons between Cyprus and Germany.

It has only issued denials about the island’s alleged lack of transparency without entering into a public confrontation with paymaster Germany.

Again yesterday Shiarly limited himself to saying: “All this talk is nothing more than allegations, coming from third-party publications aiming to harm us. We can substantiate that Cyprus is not part of such actions and therefore we will be successful at the end of the day.”

According to the FATF figures, Cyprus is totally compliant in 12 areas when it comes to combating

money laundering, whereas Germany is totally compliant in only five.

Cyprus ranks 7th out of 17 countries in areas of full compliance, whereas Germany is only placed 14th, just ahead of Greece, Slovakia and Luxembourg.

FATF also reported that “substantial proceeds of crime” were being generated in Germany, estimated to lie between €40 billion and €60 billion, the Financial Mirror reported.

“It is not very well known that Cyprus has a fairly reasonable record on money laundering,” said economist Fiona Mullen yesterday. She added that Cyprus needed to work more on the image that it is a money laundering destination, and be seen to be implementing measures to combat financial crime.

The fact that Cyprus was not higher up on the FATF list shows that more work needs to be done to promote the island’s image,

Omirou: no real support Mullen said. There is also a “knee-jerk assumption that everything that comes out of Russia is dirty and therefore gets laundered,” she added.

Mullen said that moneylaundering allegations

were coming from the German opposition as a way of putting pressure on Merkel ahead of elections in Germany later this year.

Hitting back yesterday, DISY spokesman Haris Georgiades said that Anastasiades was trying to build alliances in Europe, and criticised those “on the fringes” of failing to understand the significance of the efforts being made.

Yesterday, Anastasiades also criticised “those choosing petty political expediencies instead of looking at the essence” at a time Cyprus was in deep crisis and needed help from its EU partners.

He suggested Lillikas keep a close eye on what Merkel says before jumping to conclusions about whether his “interventions” were effective or not. He also said Merkel’s presence in Cyprus carried more weight than anything Lillikas has said. (see editorial page 12)

4 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home State backs off from cuts to disabled benefits

By Poly Pantelides THE labour ministry has called off plans to cut benefits for disabled people although reductions will go ahead on a car allowance and the holiday grant scheme, the umbrella organisation for the disabled has said.

“The reductions have been called off,” said the head of the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled (KYSOA), Christos Nicolaides.

The government originally planned to cut benefits for the severely disabled and to the blind by 9.0 per cent.

Disabled groups protested, arguing that the measures would be hard to bear for many of their peers who are already on the poverty line.

Although the disabled have extracted a promise that their main benefits will be untouched, KYSOA called on the state to act responsibly at a time of hardship for vulnerable groups.

“We can’t say we’re satisfied, as of the moment disabled people will be impacted even to a small extent,” said KYSOA’s vice-head Dimitris Lambrianides.

“Our position is that during a financial crisis the state has a responsibility to protect disabled and vulnerable groups, and of course strengthen their support where necessary given the cost of living has unfortunately risen,” Lambrianides said.

People with disabilities have previously lamented the scarcity of infrastructure and resources that bear in mind mobility issues. Public parks do not cater to the needs of disabled people, many buildings still lack disabled access and some public buses cannot accommodate people on wheelchairs.

KYSOA has also taken issue with the biggest charity event of the year, the annual Radiomarathon charity drive, which they say perpetuates the notion that disabled people only need charity, rather than equal treatment.

KYSOA has said that they want integration in society rather than the marginalisation that comes from asking people to donate money once a year.

Conspiracy theory has livened up dull election Lillikas accuses DISY of pushing its members to vote AKEL so Anastasiades faces Malas in second round

By Elias Hazou

T

RUTH be told, the presidential ial election campaign has thus far been rather dull, Year austertaking a back seat to the New-Year p. Enter inity blues. It needed a shake up. dependent presidential candidate Giorgos Lillikas. ry device? A And shake it up he did. The delivery ubsequently conspiracy theory which, though subsequently s has domidismissed as ludicrous, nonetheless nated the news this week. o give some Lillikas accused DISY of planning to ate Stavros of its votes to AKEL-backed candidate Malas in the first round of voting on February essive num17, thus boosting the latter’s unimpressive o the runoff bers and allowing him to progress to ballot a week later. The objective is, apparently, he first to knock Lillikas out of the race on the Sunday of voting. hat The underlying assumption is that he Anastasiades - the frontrunner in the h upcoming elections - would much rather face Malas than Lillikas in a y second round. That much is probably true. Received wisdom has it thatt AKEL people would rather committ hara-kiri than vote for Anastasiades..

So should Lillikas make it to the second round, they would tend to gravitate toward him.

A series of opinion polls have shown that Anastasiades stands a far better chance of winning in round two if he faces Malas rather than Lillikas. In fact, surveys indicate that in this scenario, Malas is a lost cause, making the DISY leader the surefire winner. Conversely, Anastasiades would have a substantial lead against Lillikas, but it would be a tougher battle.

If a candidate obtains at least 50 per cent of the vote (valid votes) from the first round, a runoff is not necessary.

But there’s a small problem with Lillikas’ theory. DISY’s slogan from the outset has been that they want to elect Anastasiades to office from the first round. So why would DISY risk such a ploy, when every single ballot counts?

AKEL’s reaction to Lillikas’ allegations was instantaneous and instinctive. Offended at the idea that their own candidate needed “help” to progress to the second round - and help from arch-enemies DISY no less - the communist party went on the warpath to rubbish Lillikas’ claims.

For a couple of days, DISY kept radio silence.

Lillikas kept harping on the point, daring DISY to issue a denial.

By Thursday DISY had had enough and spokesman Harris Georgiades issued a brief, yet biting statement.

“Mr Lillikas talks nonsense and then expects us to comment. But since he insists, here is our answer: we are striving to elect Nicos Anastasiades from the first Sunday. Mr Lillikas’ panic confirms how close we are to our goal.”

So what was Lillikas trying to pull off?

Sources at Lillikas’ election HQ have told the Sunday Mail that over the past few weeks they have been receiving “dozens” of reports from

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Polls show Nicos Anastasiades has a better chance against AKEL’s Stavros Malas than Giorgos Lillikas (far left) if the elections go to a second round

DISY supporters. These DISY people complained that their party has contacted them asking them to consider voting for Malas if the need arises.

Angry that their party was treating them like sheep, these DISY folk decided to report the manipulation to Lillikas’ staff, the Sunday Mail was told.

But why would DISY attempt a manoeuvre like that, jeopardising their chances of winning outright from the first ballot? It did not sound rational.

Lillikas’ staffers explained their thinking: DISY would execute the move on election day, but depending on how the voting goes.

“If the exit polls indicate a straight victory for Anastasiades, sure, they won’t do it,” a source said.

“But if it becomes apparent that no one can secure 50 per cent, and Malas is trailing Lillikas, DISY could start SMS-ing a section of their supporters to go out and vote for Malas. It’s not inconceivable, given past experience.”

The Lillikas team is also convinced that it is their man who will progress to the second round along with Anastasiades. “And there will be a second round, count on it,” they say.

But Takis Hadjigeorgiou, a spokesman for

AKEL’s Malas, called all this “garbage”.

“Of course their hypothesis doesn’t make sense,” he said. “The only possible explanation for these allegations is that the Lillikas team are trying to muddy the waters, confuse voters. And that’s because they’re running scared.”

Both he and AKEL MP Nicos Katsourides ooze confidence when asked if their own candidate will make it to round two.

Hadjigeorgiou said internal surveys gave Malas a “clear” lead over Lillikas, disproving published gallups. “You’ll be surprised,” he added.

And Katsourides spoke of a major ongoing drive to mobilise the AKEL grass roots, noting that “the signs are very encouraging”.

Likewise, analysts the Mail spoke with dismissed Lillikas’ claims as a flash in the pan.

To Louis Igoumenides, it’s almost a given that Lillikas won’t go to round two, hence the ploy.

“I expect his support base to dwindle the closer we get to election day. Slowly but surely, AKEL will rally its supporters, and the polls will reflect this. Once the assortment of DIKO cadres who have joined the Lillikas camp see this, they will start deserting him and return to the fold, ensuring that they end up on the winning side.”

Then there’s the political dynamics; Igoumenides expects that, given that the present administration will likely not be the one to sign the

Over 5,000 ‘green jobs’ to be created, says labour minister SOME 5,500 new job posts will be created this year in sectors dealing with the environment, labour minister Sotiroulla Charalambous said yesterday.

Another 5,500 jobs will be made available because of the need to replace outgoing people, bringing the figure of available jobs to 11,000, Charalambous said referring to an unpublished survey by the Human Resource Development Authority (AnAD). The AnAD survey will be published at a later stage, Charalambous said but did not specify when.

She said that a number of programmes were in place targeting youth unemployment, including schemes from AnAD, and called on people to make use of available resources.

“I would like to point out that now is the time for young people to use their knowledge and experience but also be inventive and take better advantage of the opportunities offered, geared towards securing employment,” she said.

Youth unemployment accounts for 20.8 per cent of the jobless rate and comes to about 11,142 people, Charalambous said.“The risk against young people remaining unemployed can be reversed depending on their qualifications, knowledge, and skills,” she added.

Charalambous’ statements were made during a trade union DEOK conference and were read out by a labour ministry official.

5 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

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Polls give Nicos Anastasiades around 36 to 37 per cent with 20 per cent undecided

‘The Lillikas team are trying to muddy the waters, confuse voters.

And that’s because they’re running scared’ long-awaited bailout deal with the EU and IMF or troika, AKEL will feel safe to amp up its ant-bailout rhetoric. That’s likely to be fuelled by the troika adopting a harsher stance toward Cyprus, for example by demanding the privatisation of semi-state organisations.

As a result, two camps would then be openly anti-bailout, and that would sap the momentum of Lillikas, who up until now has been the anti-memorandum candidate par excellence.

Either way, Igoumenides feels that Anastasiades is a dead cert, and could even win from the first round.

Polls give Anastasiades around 36 to 37 per cent. Undecided voters are approximately 20 per cent. Igoumenides says the results on election day will be a different story.

Under the familiar weighting system, one

assumes that each candidate will get his share of undecided voters. In Anastasiades’ case, that would bring his numbers up by another 7 to 8 percentage points - not far off the 50 per cent mark. And the candidates’ percentages on election day are worked out based on valid ballots alone, and not on the total ballots cast (valid, invalid and/or blank ballots).

Stavros Tombazos, assistant professor at the Department of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cyprus, suspects Lillikas’ ruse was calculated at “upsetting” some DISY and DIKO supporters who would then presumably vote for him as a sign of protest.

He, too, thinks it extremely unlikely that Malas won’t progress to round two: “No doubt AKEL will take some losses, but how much? Won’t they at least garner 23 or 24 per cent? And that automatically eliminates Lillikas.”

Political analyst Christoforos Christoforou says it’s the undecided voters who will ultimately define the outcome.

“Lillikas is banking on the broader disillusionment with politics. It seems he believes he’ll scoop up the vast majority of the undecided. But today’s voters are more critical, more demanding, they cannot be taken for granted.”

As for Lillikas’ claim that DISY would deliberately “prop up” Malas, Christoforou thinks it’s too far-fetched.

“Perhaps for a brief moment someone at DISY may have considered the tactic, but to actually do it...no. There were similar allegations in the wake of the 1988 elections.

Rumours circulated then that DISY had backed George Vassiliou (supported by AKEL) to prevent Spyros Kyprianou from winning. But an analysis of the numbers I did post-election showed this to be completely false.”

Orphanides suppliers pushing ahead with new entity A GROUP of Orphanides suppliers said yesterday they were pushing ahead with plans to take over management of some outlets in order to secure the indebted supermarkets’ ability to stay afloat.

The suppliers have formed a new entity, Orphanides New Era and have proposed taking over management of sixteen key outlets “A large number of suppliers have committed in writing to participate in Orphanides New Era. The rest are expected to respond by Wednesday the latest,” an announcement said yesterday.

Orphanides owes millions to suppliers and major banks, and a large number of contractors – many present at yesterday’s meeting –have stopped supplying the chain.

Over 300 suppliers present at the meeting were told yesterday that the chain’s assets were lower than the €340 million figure that has been touted, actually coming to about €140 million that would all go to the banks in the event of closure.

6 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

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Stepping up to the task The Cyprus EU presidency ended on the last day of 2012 without any major mishaps, collateral damage, or blowback Stefanos Evripidou looks back , and ahead THE CYPRUS government and its Europeanised mandarins have passed the reins over to Ireland with their heads held high amid praise from the centres of EU power, confirming Cyprus’ coming of age as an EU member state.

Swedish Member of the European Parliament Cecilia Wikstrom said before the Committee on Legal Affairs last month: “We will feel the effects of the Cyprus presidency for the decades to come. (The) Presidency did a groundbreaking work.”

Rewind back to 2011 and expectations were pretty low when Cyprus began preparations for its first EU presidency.

One EU diplomat- in discussions with the Sunday Mail - scoffed at the idea of the Cypriot civil service taking their performance up a gear to meet the 24-hour demands of the EU presidency.

Another said the best one could hope for would be no major mess ups or international incidents during the six months in charge. Many worried Cyprus would use the opportunity to stand on a soap box and castigate EU candidate country Turkey.

When former cabinet secretary Andreas Moleskis was given charge of the Cyprus EU Secretariat he decided to create independent, parallel structures from the civil service to handle the workload of running the EU presidency.

According to one source, this created a sense of ‘not my problem’ within the ministries as everyone thought

the presidency was someone else’s job, muddying the waters about who was supposed to do what.

When Moleskis resigned over dubious hiring practices, the position was empty for three months. In October 2011, just eight months before the EU presidency, diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis was appointed Deputy Minister for European Affairs.

In his first meeting with the permanent secretaries of the ministries at the presidential palace, he told them to forget everything they thought they knew about the presidency.

He effectively told them: you will be doing the job of the presidency, not me.

It was a heavy burden that fell on them that day, but once the clouds dispersed, each ministry saw a clearer picture of what it was they had to do. There was no longer any place to hide.

If you were part of the civil service, one way or another, you were going to be a part of the EU presidency.

According to Mavroyiannis, the state machinery truly stepped up its game during the presidency, after losing its way a little post-Mari.

Eight years after joining the bloc, the notion that you could farm out or separate EU affairs from day-to-day governance was finally being challenged.

Another government official involved in the running of the presidency said: “It’s about maturity. When we entered the EU, we first came under criticism for having an ‘empty seat’ policy- for not turning up- then we were

accused of being an ‘empty suit’, ie, you’re there but not contributing. Now, we have to become fully-fledged participants.”

Apart from low expectations, the government also faced the threat of Turkey cutting all ties with the EU presidency, and the Turkish Cypriots pulling out of the peace talks. Compounding the challenges, less than a month before the Cyprus presidency, President Demetris Christofias requested an international bailout, leading one German economic adviser to compare Cyprus taking over the EU Council with putting “the dog in charge of the sausage supply”.

A mingling of discordant sounds made up the EU, coming from the Presidents of the European Council; European Commission and European Parliament, as well as the Presidency of the EU Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

With this backdrop, ready or not, Cyprus took charge on July 1, 2012.

Limited space does not permit a detailed analysis of the work of the presidency or the successes it did have, but it is worth noting that few would hold it against Cyprus for not securing agreement on the EU’s seven-year budget (2014-2020), given the massive discrepancies between the positions of the net contributors to the EU and the European Commission and Parliament.

However, it did get the EP to sign off on the budget amendments for 2012 as well

The Filoxenia’s Conference Centre in Nicosia turned into a multilingual microcosmos hosting all EU languages for interpretation, and much more besides as the 2013 annual budget.

Some commentators had expected the EP to hold the 2013 budget ransom to secure concessions from the Council on the EU’s multiannual financial framework.

One source told the Sunday Mail: “Human relations played a 99 per cent role in the Cyprus presidency, which focused on getting the people behind the institutions to talk amongst themselves at every opportunity to achieve specific results.

And we made this a practice in inter-institutional relations. This is the effect of the Cyprus presidency that will have an impact for decades.”

Another source said the Cyprus presidency succeeded in making the EU system, which is more complex today than ever before, to function and enhance communica-

tion, creating a greater link between the people and the institutions.

Cyprus also successfully kept a buffer between the presidency and issues related to Turkey, the Cyprus problem and negotiations with the troika for an international bailout.

Perhaps most interesting for Cypriot taxpayers, from the €61.7m approved for the presidency budget (of which €28m was spent on the Filoxenia Conference Centre), the organisers spent only €28m, leaving a €5m surplus.

So, what plans for the legacy of the Cyprus presidency?

Those behind the presidency want to see the structures and mechanisms set up to continue to be used as a kind of cabinet office coming under the presidential palace, ensuring the smooth flow of information and consistency

of policies on EU matters throughout government departments.

According to Mavroyiannis, the experience of the last six months should permeate throughout the whole state machinery. Also, it’s time for new faces to take over, he said, with the presidency having proven that Cypriot civil servants can step up to the task when challenged, regardless of rank.

As another presidency official put it: “The authority of expertise and not the position of the person came out the winner.” The experience of the last six months have shown that meritocracy, higher productivity, greater efficiency and a willingness to take on responsibility are all possible in Cyprus. It helps of course when those running the show lead by example.

The Cyprus EU Presidency in numbers

By Stefanos Evripidou NOW THAT the Irish have safely taken the baton and the 184 days of Cyprus’ first EU Presidency are officially over, the Sunday Mail took a retrospective look at the numbers involved in this huge endeavour.

Within the six-month period, over 1,500 meetings were chaired and organised by the Cyprus EU Presidency in Brussels and elsewhere abroad, including approximately 30 European Council meetings, 63 at ambassador level and over 1,400 at technocratic level.

Putting emphasis on the development of close relations and productive cooperation with the European Parliament (EP), Cypriot Ministers visited the EP no less than 60 times in the past six months, attending the plenary sessions, presenting issues before the competent Committees, and participating in informal political meetings with the European Commission, Council and Parliament.

Meanwhile, back in Cyprus, with its famed 160 days of sunshine, 225 meetings and confer-

ences were hosted, 15 of which were informal Ministerial Councils. Many of the meetings took place in the coastal areas of Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta, while the majority were located at the ‘Filoxenia’ Conference Centre, in Nicosia which turned into a multilingual microcosmos hosting all EU languages for interpretation, as well as Greek and English sign language.

While discussing and negotiating important EU issues, approximately 19,000 delegates spent about 26,300 nights in total in hotels all around Cyprus. The Cyprus Presidency also gave the floor to various institutions and foundations to organise more than 140 meetings and conferences under its auspices, not only in Cyprus, but all over the world, in an effort to engage the private sector more closely with the Presidency.

Apart from the highs and lows of political battles, machinations and eventual compromises, the Presidency offered thousands of people the opportunity to enjoy and become acquainted with Cypriot culture and civilisation through over 350 cultural events organ-

ised in Cyprus and around the globe.

In total, around 1,800 people, including 140 volunteers, were involved in the Cyprus EU Presidency, covering the entire range of policy issues, logistical operations and communications. Running a smooth and successful operation required the key ingredients of cooperation and coordination, for which the Presidency offered 310 training sessions.

The Presidency’s official website, cy2012. eu, was the gateway to all relevant information, reaching out to the European public in five languages. The hard-working folk behind the website ensured 400 press releases and features were posted, along with 4,760 photos and 170 videos. The website welcomed an average of 87,000 visits per month, while keeping up-to-date around 3,200 newsletter and news alert subscribers.

Showing a more modern face of the Cyprus Republic, the Presidency’s three twitter accounts – one central and two Presidency spokespersons in Brussels – made in total about 2,520 tweets. At least 3,346 twitter users followed the central Presidency account,

while 2,235 followed the ones of the Brussels spokespersons. In an effort to raise from the ashes Cyprus’ once famous hospitality, the Presidency offered 14,200 ties and 8,200 scarves to delegates participating in the various meetings. And in a sign of careful and comprehensive planning, the 1,750 media representatives who attended meetings in Cyprus received a total of 605 adaptors to plug in their hardware to Cypriot sockets.

While the debate over registering Halloumi cheese as a product with protected designation of origin still rages, the unique flavour and texture of the Cypriot cheese will hopefully remain in the memories of the thousands who enjoyed some of the 650 kilos offered during meetings at the Filoxenia Conference Centre.

A total of 21,000 pockets of basil seeds and leaves provided delegates with the opportunity to take a hint of Cyprus aroma home with them, while the 70,000 limited edition postage stamps have set off on travels to the four corners of the world, spreading the word on the Cyprus Presidency.

7 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Home Everyone involved in the campaign donated their time and expertise for free

Professionals teamed up for hard-hitting drink drive campaign Police official: campaign ‘was the best present we could have ever received’ IN AN effort to raise public awareness of the devastation caused by drink driving, a group of like-minded professionals joined forces to produce a hard-hitting and thought-provoking TV ad of European standards which was aired repeatedly on television networks over Christmas and New Year.

Created in co-operation with a number of local professionals, the ad was conceived

by Paul Iacovou, the managing director of the Nicosia-based digital branding agency Navajo Digital “Almost a quarter of road traffic fatalities in Cyprus are drink related,” he said last week. “We wanted to develop a hard-hitting campaign that spoke directly to our audience in a thought provoking way that would affect their responsibility as road users.

We feel very passionately about getting the public to consider the dangers of drinking and driving.”

All the people involved - from the producers, to the actors, to the cameramen, the directors, the planners and the stylists - donated their time and expertise at no cost.

“We were all motivated to work together in communicating a strong message that applies to every single one of us,” Iacovou said.

The ad was given to the police and aired as a public service announcement on all local TV stations throughout the Christmas and New Year periods.

“This was the best Christmas present

we could have ever received,” said police Chief Superintendant Demetris Demetriou.

Iacovou said that when he started on the project he had never anticipated the level of interest, professionalism and sheer hard work ‘donated’ by so many.

“There are a few occasions in one’s life when you are truly moved by people’s selfless actions and their willingness to help.

The production of this campaign is firmly rooted on my list of such occurrence,” he said.

The ad incorporated three scenes set during the festive season - a home, a bar and the scene of a crash. Andreas Tselepos and Emily Koliandri were the well-known Cypriot actors starring in the TV spot.

A microsite was set up to host the video, which also features behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, stills photography and bios for all parties involved in the production.

Facebook and YouTube were utilised in an effort to push the ad viral. Youtube received over 1,000 hits within the first two days of the ad airing.

Speaking for everyone concerned in this project, Iacovou concluded: “If this ad saved just one life, the effort will have been worth it.”

Project links: www.navajodigital.com/ dontdrinkanddrive www.youtube.com/ cyprus drink drive

8 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World WORLD TODAY Russia rejects Assad exit as deal criterion RUSSIA voiced support yesterday for international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi but insisted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s exit cannot be a precondition for a deal to end the country’s conflict.

Some 60,000 Syrians have been killed during the 21-month-old revolt and world powers are divided over how to stop the escalating bloodshed. Government aircraft bombed outer districts of Damascus yesterday after being grounded for a week by stormy weather, opposition activists in the capital said.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement following talks on Friday with the United States and Brahimi reiterated calls for an end to violence in Syria, but there was no sign of a breakthrough.

Brahimi said the issue of Assad, whom the United States, European powers and Gulf-led Arab states insist must step down to end the civil war, appeared to be a sticking point at the meeting in Geneva.

Erdogan demand TURKISH Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan yesterday demanded French President Francois Hollande explain why he had met one of three Kurdish militants shot dead in Paris this week.

The execution-style killings at an institute in central Paris on Thursday cast a shadow on a new initiative by Erdogan’s government to launch a peace process to end a 28year-old insurgency by the Kurdistan Workers Party’s (PKK) that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

Hollande told reporters he and other politicians knew one of the three women, who all had ties to the PKK. “How can you routinely meet with members of an organisation labelled a terrorist group by the European Union and being sought by Interpol? What kind of politics is this?”

Erdogan said in a speech to a business group broadcast live by CNN Turk.

Dozens die in Nepal crash A BUS veered off a mountain road in west Nepal leaving at least 30 people dead and several more injured.

Police official Ramesh Bahadur Dhanuk said the bus drove off the gravel road in a remote mountainous area near Chatiwan village.

It was dark and the area was covered in thick fog.

The bus rolled about 300m from the road. Among the dead were 22 men, seven women and a child.

End for US combat role in Afghanistan accelerated Narrowing of differences signalled after Karzai completes White House meeting

By Matt Spetalnick PRESIDENT Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai have agreed to speed up the handover of combat operations in Afghanistan to Afghan forces, raising the prospect of an accelerated U.S. withdrawal from the country and underscoring Obama’s determination to wind down a long, unpopular war.

Signalling a narrowing of differences on Friday, Karzai appeared to give ground in talks at the White House on US demands for immunity from prosecution for any American troops who stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014, a concession that could allow Obama to keep at least a small residual force there.

Both leaders also threw their support behind tentative Afghan reconciliation efforts with Taliban insurgents, endorsing the establishment of a Taliban political office in Qatar in hopes of bringing insurgents to inter-Afghan talks.

Outwardly, at least, the meeting appeared to be something of a success for both men, who need to show their vastly different publics they are mak-

ing progress in their goals for Afghanistan. There were no signs of the friction that has frequently marked Obama’s relations with Karzai.

Karzai’s visit came amid stepped-up deliberations in Washington over the size and scope of the US military role in Afghanistan once the NATOled combat mission concludes at the end of 2014.

TRANSITION “By the end of next year, 2014, the transition will be complete,” Obama said at a news conference with Karzai standing at his side. “Afghans will have full responsibility for their security, and this war will come to a responsible end.”

The Obama administration has been considering a residual force of between 3,000 and 9,000 troops - far fewer than some US commanders propose - to conduct counterterrorism operations and to train and assist Afghan forces.

A top Obama aide said this week the administration does not rule out a complete withdrawal after 2014, a move that some experts say would be disastrous for the weak Afghan central government and its

fledgling security apparatus.

Obama on Friday left open the possibility of that socalled “zero option” when he several times used the word “if” to suggest that a post2014 US presence was far from guaranteed.

Insisting Afghan forces were “stepping up” faster than expected, Obama said Afghan troops would take over the lead in combat missions across the country this spring, rather than waiting until the summer as originally planned. NATO troops will then assume a “support role,” he said. “It will be a historic moment and another step toward full Afghan sovereignty,” Obama added.

Obama said final decisions on this year’s troop cuts and the post-2014 US military role were still months away, but his comments suggested he favours a stepped-up withdrawal timetable.

There are some 66,000 US troops currently in Afghanistan. Washington’s NATO allies have been steadily reducing their troop numbers as well despite doubts about the ability of Afghan forces to shoulder full responsibility for security.

Karzai voiced satisfaction

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama (R) address a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington over Obama’s agreement to turn over control of detention centers to Afghan authorities, a source of dispute between their countries, although the White House released no details of the accord on that subject.

Obama once called Afghanistan a “war of necessity.” But he is heading into a second term looking for an orderly way out of the conflict, which was sparked by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by an al Qaeda network

harboured by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.

He faces the challenge of pressing ahead with his reelection pledge to continue winding down the war while preparing the Afghan government to prevent a slide into chaos and a Taliban resurgence once most NATO forces are gone.

Former Senator Chuck Hagel, Obama’s nominee to become defence secretary, is likely to favour a sizable troop reduction.

Biden gun proposals are likely to Harper to pay more spark off a fight in US Congress heed to native needs VICE President Joe Biden has wrapped up a series of White House meetings and is preparing recommendations to curb US gun violence that will call for expanded background checks on gun buyers and set up a heated, likely uphill battle in Congress to revive a ban on military-style assault weapons.

Biden, who heads a task force due to give President Barack Obama recommendations next week, met with representatives of the video game industry on Friday, whose products often enable players to carry out shootings in graphically violent games.

The vice president has said he will recommend “universal” background checks for all gun buyers - endorsed as a top priority on Friday by the prominent gun-control group the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence - and new limits on the capacity of ammunition magazines.

Obama formed the Biden task force following last month’s massacre in Newtown, Connecticut in which

Vice President Joe Biden met with representatives of the video game industry a gunman shot dead 20 children and six adults at an elementary school.

The White House reiterated on Friday that it also will try to revive the US ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004 after being in effect for a decade. The Obama administration rejected sug-

gestions it was trying to lower expectations for getting a broad ban on assault weapons approved by Congress.

“The president has been clear that Congress should reinstate the assault weapons ban and that avoiding this issue just because it’s been politically difficult in the past is not an option,” White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said.

Biden’s recommendations are likely to put the White House on a collision course with the influential National Rifle Association gun rights lobbying group and spark the biggest gun-control fight in Congress in nearly a decade. The NRA criticised the White House effort after meeting with Biden on Thursday.

Any gun control proposals face a difficult fight in Congress, both in the Republican-led House of Representatives and in the Democratic-led Senate, where many Democrats represent conservative states with broad public support for gun rights.

CANADIAN Prime Minister Stephen Harper has agreed in a meeting with native leaders to pay more attention to their demands, trying to mollify an aboriginal protest movement that has threatened to blockade roads and railways across the country.

Faced with a seemingly intractable situation that has confronted successive governments, Harper agreed on Friday to a high-level dialogue with the natives and to have his office take increased responsibility for their issues, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said.

“Working together remains the best way to achieve our shared objective of healthier, more prosperous and selfsufficient First Nations,” he told a news conference, using the formal name for most of Canada’s aboriginal groups.

Hundreds of aboriginal protesters had blocked the main entrance to a downtown building where Harper was preparing to meet about 20 native leaders on Friday, demonstrating their frustration, but also highlighting a deep divide within the country’s First Nations on how to push Ottawa to heed their demands.

The noisy blockade, which lasted about an hour, ended just before the meeting, even as other leaders chose to boycott the session with Harper.

Chiefs have warned that the “Idle No More” aboriginal protest movement is prepared to damage the economy unless Ottawa addresses the poor living conditions and high unemployment rates facing many of Canada’s 1.2 million natives.

Native groups complain that Canada has ignored treaties signed with British settlers and explorers that they say granted them significant rights over their territory.

Ottawa spends about C$11 billion ($11.1 billion) a year on its aboriginal population, but living conditions for many are poor and some reserves have high rates of poverty, addiction, joblessness and suicide.

9 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

World

Key witness in Berlusconi sex trial preparing to testify THE nightclub dancer who is the main witness in the sex trial of Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi will testify at a hearing in Milan tomorrow, her lawyer said yesterday.

Karima El Mahroug, better known by her stage name “Ruby the Heartstealer”, was due to give evidence in the case last December but failed to show up, telling her lawyer she was on holiday in Mexico.

“Karima will be present in the courtroom on Monday,” El Mahroug’s lawyer Paola Boccardi told Reuters by phone, adding her client returned to Italy on Friday.

Berlusconi, 76, who is seeking a fifth term in government at general elections in February, is accused of paying El Mahroug for sex when she was under 18, which is the minimum legal age for prostitution in Italy.

The billionaire media mogul denies all charges and El Mahroug, a Moroccan who is now 20, has said she never had sex with him.

In December a Milan judge set February 4 as the date for the final hearing in the sex trial, making a verdict possible before the elections scheduled for February 24-25.

A poll by the SWG company published on January 11 showed the centre-left about 10 points in front of Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right.

The trial, in which dozens of aspiring showgirls have described so-called “Bunga Bunga” parties at Berlusconi’s residences, is the most sensational of his legal cases and has received huge media attention in Italy and abroad.

The centre-right leader is also accused of abusing his powers when he was still prime minister to have El Mahroug released from police custody when she was briefly held over theft allegations.

He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, but would not serve time unless the trial’s verdict was confirmed after two appeals allowed by Italian law, usually a lengthy process.

According to a report in Il Corriere della Sera yesterday, Berlusconi is considering asking that the sex case, as well as two other cases under way, be suspended ahead of the elections.

It was not possible to obtain an immediate comment from the offices of Berlusconi’s lawyer Niccolo Ghedini.

Berlusconi, who controls Italy’s biggest private TV broadcaster Mediaset, was driven from office as prime minister in 2011 at the height of the financial crisis. His People of Freedom party backed the government of Mario Monti for a year before prompting its fall by withdrawing support in December.

Billionaire media mogul Berlusconi is accused of paying El Mahroug for sex when she was under 18

In this undated file image from a video posted on islamic militant websites and made available in June 2010, a man identified as French security agent Denis Allex pleads for his release from the Somali militant group al-Shabaab

‘Hostage rescue bid by France ends in deaths’

By John Irish and Abdi Sheikh FRANCE sent commandos into Somalia to rescue a secret agent who had been held by insurgents since 2009, but said yesterday it believed he had been killed by his captors along with a French soldier during the raid.

The intelligence agency’s team flew into southern Somalia by helicopter under the cover of darkness to try to free Denis Allex from the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, on the same day France launched air strikes against Islamist militants in Mali.

Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the operations were not connected, but France has been concerned that other hostages held in Africa would be at risk if they intervened against the al Qaeda-allied fighters on the other side of the continent.

French air strikes push Islamist rebels out of Mali city FRENCH air strikes in Mali have driven back Islamist rebels from a key city and destroyed a militant command centre, the French defence minister said yesterday.

West African nations authorised the immediate deployment of troops to the country.

The al Qaida-linked militants, who have carved out their own territory in the law-

less desert region of northern Mali over the past nine months, recently pressed closer to a major base of the Malian army, dramatically raising the stakes in the battle for the vast West African nation.

The French operation, which started yesterday in the former French colony, came after an appeal for help from Mali’s president.

France believes agent held by al Shabaab killed by captors The Somalia raid, and sending troops to Mali where a pilot was killed in action on Friday, represents President Francois Hollande’s biggest foreign policy tests since being elected in May. France has eight nationals in Islamist hands in the Sahara after a string of kidnappings.

“Commandos broke into where Allex was being detained last night and faced strong resistance,” Le Drian told a news conference.

“Intense combat took place, during which - and now I speak with caution - everything leads us to believe that Denis Allex was unfortunately killed by his captors.”

Al Shabaab, who had been holding Allex since July 2009,

said in a statement he was still alive and being held at a location far from the base where French military helicopters attacked overnight.

“The injured French soldier is now in the custody of the mujahideen and Allex still remains safe and far from the location of the battle,” it said.

“Several French soldiers were killed in the battle and many more were injured before they fled from the scene of battle, leaving behind some military paraphernalia and even one of their comrades on the ground.”

Le Drian said one French soldier died in the operation and a second was missing.

The Defence Ministry earlier said 17 Somali fighters were

killed in the fighting that had been prompted by “the intransigence of the terrorists, who refused to negotiate for three and half years”.

Allex was one of two French intelligence officers from the DGSE intelligence agency who were kidnapped by al Shabaab in Mogadishu in July 2009 but his colleague, Marc Aubriere, escaped a month later.

Allex had been held ever since in what France called “inhumane conditions”.

The ministry said Allex was kidnapped while carrying out an official aid mission with the Somali government. France has previously said the two men were in the Somali capital to train local forces.

A video of Allex pleading with Hollande to negotiate his release appeared on a website in October used by Islamist militant groups around the world. Reuters could not verify its authenticity.

10 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World feature

Dark life of a national treasure The late British TV presenter Jimmy Savile physically abused hundreds of people over six decades, according to a police-led report on Friday which said he carried out attacks at the BBC and at hospitals where he did voluntary work.

Of his victims, 73 per cent were under 18 and 82 per cent were female. The oldest was 47 and the youngest just eight.

Savile, one of the BBC’s biggest stars of the 1970s and 80s received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth for charity work. He died in 2011.

Detectives launched their inquiry three months ago after allegations about his abusive behaviour emerged in a TV documentary.

Friday’s report said he had committed 214 criminal offences including 34 rapes or penetration offences across the country.

By Katie Hodge

F

OR DECADES he was hailed as a national treasure who made children’s dreams come true.

But for countless youngsters, the “great” Jimmy Savile was the source of unremitting torment, his name synonymous with nothing more than nightmares.

Yet his litany of depraved crimes remained one of Britain’s darkest secrets until his death.

On October 29 2011 the radio disc-jockey, television personality and court jester to the royal family went to the grave a hero.

He was lauded for his indefatigable charity work and the “miracles” he brought about for more than 1,500 children who appeared on Jim’ll Fix It. His public image - largely defined by his shock of platinum-dyed hair, chunky jewellery, tracksuits, Havana cigars and inane patter - had been one of a loveable, if enigmatic, entertainer.

And while his admission that he did not, in fact, like children, raised eyebrows, it was largely dismissed as a bizarre eccentricity.

After all, here was a friend to prime ministers who dedicated so much of his time to good causes.

On the face of it, charities had much to thank him for.

Savile raised more than £30 million, including £12 million to rebuild the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

But behind this worthy facade lurked one of the UK’s most prolific sexual predators.

The cool-headed Yorkshire businessman, who was also a member of Mensa, is now believed to have used his once-revered charitable deeds to gain access to some of the most vulnerable members of society.

Savile abused his victims at 14 medical sites including hospitals, mental health units and even a hospice.

Allegations against him include 14 offences relating to schools.

His celebrity status enabled him to “hide in plain sight”, a report by Scotland Yard and the NSPCC has now found.

This meant his sordid crimes only came to light last year, nearly 12 months after his death.

A total of 214 offences have been recorded against the disgraced TV presenter. Of his victims, 73 per cent were children, with youngsters aged as young as eight when they were targeted.

But the true extent of his crimes may never be known.

During his lifetime, Savile consistently escaped justice and, according to his own autobiography, felt safe from prosecution.

Referring to a brush with the law in the

1960s, he apparently concluded: “Were I to go I would probably take half the [police] station with me.”

By this stage he was already a vicious offender and when his victims dared to speak up, their voices went unheard.

Savile was the youngest of seven children born to a poor bookmaker’s clerk in Leeds in 1926.

Success was founded on a totally overweening belief in his own abilities and a tremendous energy, which led him away from the Yorkshire minefields and on to TV stardom.

He almost died from pneumonia when just five months old but recovered after his mother, whom he always referred to as the redoubtable “Duchess”, went to the local church to pray to a deceased Scottish nun.

He narrowly escaped death for a second time as a teenager during his first job as a miner.

An underground explosion brought down the coal face on his back, damaging his spine to such an extent that he was told he would never walk again.

But he defied medical expectations and after three years he was able to throw away his sticks.

He soon latched on to what was then an unheard- of-venture: taking a wind-up gramophone to entertain people at dances.

Savile, who claimed to have set up the world’s first disco in Leeds in 1948, was later spotted working in the dance-halls and was asked to move on to radio where he rapidly found national fame.

But he had not hit 30 when he committed his first recorded offence in Manchester in 1955.

As his showbiz career went from strength to strength - taking him on to host the BBC’s Top of the Pops - his sex attacks gathered pace.

Each airing of the popular music show from the first programme broadcast from a converted church in Manchester to the last, which Savile co-presented in 2006 - brought him into contact with hordes of adoring teenage fans - and potential victims.

Scenes of abuse: Jimmy Savile on the last episode of Top of the Pops in 2006 (above) and raising funds for Stoke Mandeville hospital (left)

Police now believe that Savile was still preying on women when the show came off air - with one allegation linked to the final recording.

The last reported claims relate to 2009 just two years before his death at the age of 84.

But while he was alive, such accusations were confined to rumours and these were never brought to public attention.

This allowed Savile to be held up as something of a national institution, famed for his Tarzan impressions and catchphrases such as “How’s about that guys and gals” and “clunk-click, every trip” (this related to a car seat belt TV campaign).

He was exulted at Radio 1 where he presented Jimmy Savile’s Old Record Club for many years, counting down the charts of yesteryear on Sunday lunchtimes.

Charity work appeared to consume him in later life, when he worked as a voluntary helper at Stoke Mandeville, Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor.

The reasons for his visits to such establishments have now been inextricably linked to his perverted fixations.

Since his death, concerns have been con raised over Savile’s access to such places, where he was apparently able to select sex victims according to his whim.

Questions also surround his privileged access to the royal family - Savile became an intermediary in an attempt to resolve the differences between the Prince and Princess of Wales shortly before their split.

His own name was never associated with any woman and he claimed he had never been in love.

When asked about his feelings by psychiatrist Professor Anthony Clare during a radio interview, he replied: “I haven’t got any emotions.

Feelings aren’t logic.”

In reality, he was consumed by a debased obsession with sex offending, something police now believe he must have thought about “every minute of every waking day”.

11 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

News Review ‘The right people’ CYPRUS is on the road to cleaning up its banking sector and winning back the trust of the markets, Central Bank governor Panicos Demetriades said on Monday in his first address to eurozone ambassadors in Nicosia.

In a comprehensive discussion on the trials and tribulations of the banking system in Cyprus and the government’s efforts to secure a bailout from the European Stability Mechanism, Demetriades acknowledged that an entrenched culture existed in the banking sector which exacerbated the problems facing the country, resulting in its overexposure to Greece.

Worst-case CYPRUS is trying to avert adoption of the worst-case scenario concerning the amount needed for bank recapitalisation, which would make the island’s debt unsustainable and lead to additional austerity measures, including privatisation of public companies. The matter was discussed behind closed doors by the House Finance Committee on Tuesday while the Central Bank has hired investment management corporation BlackRock to help it convince lenders to adopt the baseline scenario, which reportedly calls for €7.0 billion instead of the worst-case €10 billion.

CY trimming FOUR out of ten Cyprus Airways staff could be made redundant while those remaining would take a 10 per cent cut on salaries, under a restructuring plan drawn up to salvage the ailing national carrier. Devised by Air France and KLM, the plan advocates a drastic trimming down of the company, widely considered to be bloated after decades of unchecked hiring. The airline currently has some 1,000 people on its payroll.

CY’s management, administration and trade unions are currently engaging in intensive consultations with a view to agreeing a formula acceptable to all sides.

Importing gas CYPRUS expects to begin negotiations soon with natural gas suppliers with a view to importing by January 2015, Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis said on Tuesday. As a stopgap measure, the government wants to import gas for electricity production until such time as the island is able to exploit its own offshore hydrocarbon reserves.

Using natural gas to fire power plants would drive down the price of electricity, though not dramatically, Sylikiotis said.

Tiny dent

Men struggling to keep warm in Nicosia on Tuesday (Christos Theodorides)

Economics and cold Coldest day THE coldest day of the winter so far, Wednesday saw the closure of roads and schools in several areas as snowfall reached as far down as the village of Tseri in Nicosia. With varying degrees of snowfall in all districts – Famagusta reported its first snows in 40 years - a total of four mountain roads were closed with another 29 labelled by police as dangerous, while a total of eight primary schools and two secondary schools were shut, including several in the Paphos district.

Temperatures fell to 7C inland, between 10C and 11C on the coast and -2C in Prodromos. Overnight on Tuesday they had fallen to 1C inland, between 2C and 4C on the coast and -6C in mountain areas.

2,000 sandwiches AROUND 2,200 school breakfasts were picked up and delivered to primary schools around the island on Wednesday as part of the Shacolas Group’s contribution to the Education Ministry’s attempts to feed needy children.

It was the first day that returning needy pupils received their free break-

The government has approved draft legislation regulating the cremation of human remains, getting the ball rolling on an issue pending for more than a decade

POLICE at the island’s two airports collected at total of €2,500 in unpaid fines from 13 of 16 people stopped on Monday under new rules allowing dodgers to be approached on their way in or out of the country.

The new rules came into effect on Monday for a one-month trial period as the state scrambles to collect €135 million in penalties, fines, overdue alimony payments, social insurance and taxes from 160,000 warrants for offenders, among them politicians, lawyers and prominent individuals.

A police announcement on Tuesday said the first day has been successful with 16 people nabbed at the airports in total.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

No special terms

“We do not expect any special treatment from any country.

What we expect is to be treated d the same way as other eurozone ne countries were treated when they hey faced similar economic problems” ms” Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly arly

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday there could be no special bailout conditions for Cyprus that did not include the need for economic reforms such as privatisations, which have been ruled out by President Demetris Christofias. At the same time, a senior member of Merkel’s centre-right coalition said the German parliament was unlikely to back financial aid for Cyprus at the present time due to concerns about transparency.

“Had immediate [corrective] steps been taken, it is my opinion that the explosion of July 11 would not have happened” Ioannis Drimousis, a Greek Navy captain and ballistics expert at the Mari trial “We agree it is important that the troika should talk with Cyprus and that there can be no special conditions for Cyprus because we have ave common rules in Europe” German Chancellor Angela Merkel

“As matters stand, I cannot imagine agine that German taxpayers save Cypypriot banks whose business model del is based on facilitating tax evasion” sion” Germany’s SPD party chairman man Sigmar Gabriel

fast. “We are very happy with how things went and have received a positive first impression,” said former health minister Charis Charalambous who is chairman for the committee responsible for handing out the breakfasts.

Medical bills FORMER HEALTH Minister Stavros Malas on Wednesday confirmed that he wrote off medical fees worth over €7,000 for the former Syrian ambassador at the request of President Demetris Christofias. Daily Phileleftheros reported that the Syrian diplomat failed to pay medical debts worth €7,373 in total, after receiving treatment on three different occasions at the Nicosia General Hospital while serving as Syrian ambassador to Cyprus. Malas, who was serving as health minister at the time, gave instructions to his permanent secretary to write off the debts, explaining that Christofias had assured the diplomat the debt would be erased in the public interest.

Equal treatment CYPRUS is not looking for special

“These truly are magical moments as everything is covered in snow.

We invite those who are able to come and share these moments to join us” Deputy community leader for Kalopanayiotis, Pambos Christodoulou “I hope the people will see this, all of this in a positive light during these difficult times because we have passed more difficult periods before. We shouldn’t become pessimists as together we can face these difficulties with the help of God” Bishop Athanasios of Limassol

treatment from Europe on its bailout terms but it does want equal treatment, Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly said on Thursday. The comment came as the president of Eurogroup said the island’s financial bailout was unlikely to be agreed by the end of January, and following a spate of bad press in Germany over money laundering. “I don’t think we will be in a position to find a solution during January. It will take longer,” said Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs meetings of eurozone finance ministers.

Cremation THE government has approved draft legislation regulating the cremation of human remains, finally getting the ball rolling on an issue that has been pending for more than a decade. The right to be cremated after death has been the long-standing demand of many expats living in Cyprus - a bill to build a crematorium was first drafted and presented to parliament in 2000 by Marios Matsakis, then an MP - though it is believed that a growing number of Cypriots would also go for that option if it was available.

A 2006 draft did not include Cypriots but it was amended some three years later to redress the inequality.

Drive-thru “The president had given his personal pledge to the Syrian diplomat to write off the debt. It is at the minister’s discretion to write off medical bills, and given the president’s commitment, I chose to write off his debts. He was not even working on the island anymore. He had already left the country” Former Health Minister Stavros Malas (left) “[Lillikas] tries, just like AnastasiaAn des, to give the impre impression magical soluthat he has a magic tion for all problem problems” Andros AKEL leader And Kyprianou “I’ve said it before that I would rather see the collapse than monastery collap let go of the property. pro monastery is The monaste ours” Archbishop Arch ChrysosCh tomos to .

A NICOSIA man drove his car into a branch of Bank of Cyprus in Nicosia just before 1pm on Thursday, injuring a 63-year-old man on a motorcycle and a 66-year-old male customer inside the bank. The motorist veered off the road on to the pavement after hitting a bus sideways seconds earlier, police said.

This caused the car driver to lose control of his vehicle.

The black saloon came to a stop only at the queue counter inside the bank.

Voters SOME 545,000 people are now listed as registered to vote in the upcoming presidential elections, of whom 12,736 are new voters. In the previous presidential elections in 2008 there were 516,441 registered voters.

This year’s number includes 600 registered Turkish Cypriots. During the elections, which will be held on February 17 and 24, if there is a second round, 1,002 polling stations will operate in Cyprus - Nicosia 418, Limassol 315, Larnaca 183, Famagusta 54 and and Paphos 132.

12 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion We must discard our immature political culture BLAMING foreigners or other countries for Cyprus’ woes is a habit as old as the Republic. In a few cases in the past this may have been justified, but in most it was nothing more than convenient way for our politicians to deflect attention away from their own blunders, errors of judgment and fear of taking decisions. On their side, they always had the media which were more than happy to give substance to these theories, uncritically reproducing claims of conspiracies, traps and stabs in the back by other countries or international organisations.

By developing this ‘blame everything on the foreigners’ culture, politicians never took responsibility for the harm they caused and they could present themselves as brave defenders of the country against the machinations of devious outsiders. Why the media play along, it is difficult to say – perhaps xenophobia and the siege mentality sell – but they are not serving the interests of the country by doing so.

All these attitudes were evi-

dent in the last week, when the Cyprus media was reporting the ‘hostile’ views being voiced

by German newspapers and politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, regarding the Cyprus bailout.

Among other things, German politicians and newspapers have been saying that they could not give their taxpayers’ money to protect the bank deposits of Russian oligarchs, claiming that Cyprus’ business model was based on tax evasion and money laundering. These issues were bound to come up in Germany in an election year, especially as it would have to contribute at least a couple of billion euro towards the bailout.

Our commentators claimed the Germans’ aim was to take deposits from our banks and destroy Cyprus as an international business centre so they could take the Russian business – the conspiracy theory is obligatory.

Others accused the Germans of over-stepping the mark in their accusations. The Cyprus gov-

SundayMail ernment spokesman denied the money laundering allegations and attributed them to “political expediencies,” adding that it expected a show of solidarity from our EU partners. “What we are asking for is an expression of solidarity, which is a basic EU principle,” said Stefanos Stefanou.

It is very easy to blame a problem on a foreign country without asking what part our own politicians, who we are to believe never put a foot wrong in their dealings with the outside world, may have played in creating it.

When Merkel said on Wednesday there would be no special bailout conditions for Cyprus which had to undertake economic reforms including privatisation Nicosia was outraged. But the Chancellor had every right to make this point, considering President Christofias had been declaring he

would not sign the memorandum of understanding if it included a provision for the privatisation of semi-governmental organisations. He had agreed to the privatisation provision back in November.

Why does a government, that has emphatically proved its untrustworthiness time and again, expect to be shown solidarity by its EU partners? Our president is refusing to honour the agreement he made with the troika, but our partners are supposed to show solidarity? In fact, after the consistent failure of this government, to deal honestly with the EU and troika, we should be grateful they are still prepared to talk to us, let alone give us €17 billion of financial assistance.

Yet on Friday, during her visit, Merkel assured Cyprus of EU solidarity.

Had our government behaved honestly, showing it was a trustworthy partner, we would not be encountering the media and political backlash in Germany or the worrying scepticism of the

Eurogroup. A trustworthy government with a reliable leader would have been in a much better position to dismiss the allegations of money-laundering and tax evasion being made in Germany. But a government that has lost its credibility among its partners, is in no position to convince anyone that allegations were unfounded, no matter how much proof it provided to back its case.

This is why the new president must adopt a new approach towards our partners in the EU treating them as allies rather than foes. He would have to work hard to rebuild the standing of the Cyrus government in the EU and win the trust of our partners after five years of Christofias’ mindless, anti-EU posturing.

And as a country, we would have to discard our immature, xenophobic political culture. This is the only way forward for Cyprus, which may have joined the EU eight-and-a-half years ago but has not yet become a true member of the European family.

Letters to the Editor

Cremation: it’s been a long road Reference your piece about a crematorium bill being finally approved, (January 11), this will be great news for well over 7,000 supporters of a campaign stretching through nearly a decade.

With Cyprus as the only EU country lacking a crematorium - and with research showing that some 13% of Greek Cypriots would opt for cremation when available - this is an issue not only of importance to the expatriate community.

The Church has long publicly vowed not to stand in the way of this development, citing freedom of choice, and now our small group of campaigners has the task of seeing it all move forward and become a reality.

We have architectural plans drawn up; illustrations of what the building

would like; the necessary units costed and available for import; the local expertise on hand to advise us, but currently no sign of the 5,000 square metres needed.

This space should be somewhere tranquil but easily accessible from a motorway.

The finance for such a project might be available privately, although it may be that the government has some intention to construct on its own behalf.

We need to find that out.

Perhaps there could be a public/private partnership.

But whatever follows now we can look ahead to making real progress. So many people will be truly grateful for this government approval. It’s been a long haul.

Clive Turner, Paphos

Will Tofias really go?

Your excellent paper, including the Tales from the Coffeeshop are convinced that the Presidential Election will happen in February and that Tof will go. Are you sure this will happen?

Despite your and many others highlighting all the failures Tof seems to be convinced that he is absolutely right and he and the country are being undermined by enemies without and enemies within (i.e. virtually anyone). You even have the opinions of clinical psychologists on this point. Should Cyprus be worried?

All it takes is for Tof to fudge the bailout negotiation to engineer a threat of it being withdrawn by the troika to create a national ‘State of Emergency’ in which special powers are granted to the President to rule by Presidential decree; Opposition, parliament and the press silenced and after the emergency has passed the powers are held on to to establish a Communist society/dictatorship ‘old style’.

Name and address withheld

Blurry vision of NHS from DISY candidate As the polls show, Mr Anastasiades will be the next President of the Republic.

Whether he will succeed or not in his new role no one can predict, though some preliminary thoughts can be made on the basis of his announced positions.

Mr Anastasiades’ positions regarding the health sector, as recorded in his election programme, contain a very good and comprehensive diagnosis of the problems of the sector, primarily recognising the absence of a national health system.

Even though the correct diagnosis is indeed important since it constitutes a key component in solving any problem, in this case it is not credited as an achievement to Mr Anastasiades since the absence of a national health system has been universally recognised for at least three decades.

Since Mr Anastasiades properly diagnosed the problem, we expected concrete proposals from him to solve it. Unfortunately in this area Mr Anastasiades has stayed in very shallow waters, merely referring to ‘an abstract’ national health system without giving any other information.

By stating that, as President, he will build on the work of the Health Insurance Organisation taking into account the new economic environment, he is actually admitting that he has not yet come up with a specific plan - unlike Lillikas and Malas who have specific proposals and timeframes. Mr Anastasiades has been at the forefront of the political life of the country for decades.

If during thirty years of discussion regarding the National Health System, he has not yet been able to determine specific positions, then some legitimate

questions arise such as how effectively he works to resolve issues of paramount importance, how important he considers the NHS, and how credible is it when he observes that he will keep all his pre-election promises when in essence he does not promise anything specific on that issue.

Maybe his blurry position is a product of his communication advisors or of his courtiers who unsuccessfully tried to come up with a common position to serve their personal interests.

In the absence of specific pre election positions, the only remaining thing is to wish that after the elections, Mr Anastasiades will approach the topic of the NHS with more seriousness, responsibility and unselfishness for the benefit of his country.

Christophoros Zisis, via email

‘I feel like a second-class citizen’ The parking nightmare I’m considering leaving Cyprus – and my money will go with me. It isn’t anything major; rather it’s a whole raft of small annoyances.

My sister and my daughter posted parcels to me for Christmas.

They haven’t yet arrived and we’re well into January.

Do I blame lazy postmen or a government that denies the need to offer temporary employment to ease a seasonal increase in post from abroad? But I do wish they would cease blaming the Royal Mail for the problem when we know that the missing post is in some storage facility at a Cyprus airport.

In one short paragraph readers can identify several issues that affect my quality of life in Cyprus but the main issue I have is that I feel as though Cyprus is treating me as a second class citizen.

I am friendly with Cypriots who would be appalled that I fell so undervalued. They seem to be in the minority. For the remainder of Cypriots my warning is this: be careful what you wish for! A significant exodus of expatriate Brits will seriously damage your economy which, despite your government’s denials, is in a parlous state.

I came to Cyprus eight years ago with the intention of investing in my future. It has proved to be poor value for money. Cyprus has benefited from the investment of billions of pounds sterling. From my perspective, further investment would be throwing good money after bad.

May I invite responses from readers to my concerns?

I refer to the letter by Philip Allen, ‘An absolute disgrace’. These were such tragic circumstances and my heartfelt sympathy also to the family of the Filipino victim who was hit by a car while she was on the pavement.

Earlier this evening I was with friends on Makarios Avenue in Limassol and the number of cars parked on the pavements meant that as pedestrians we had to walk towards heavy oncoming traffic, in dark and wet conditions, while the owners of these parked vehicles sat in coffee shops. The latest one to open has no parking facilities whatsoever, yet it seems acceptable to block off the pavements, creating a risk to life.

Understandably the police cannot cover all areas, perhaps the municipalities need to also enforce restrictions on coffee shops and the like where there is very limited parking available, even if it is by a ‘known’ family name.

A simple option is to install metal posts, thus allowing pedestrians their right of safe passage on designated pavements, which includes drivers who have had to find alternative parking, perhaps five meters away!

Amelia Johnson, via email

Paul Thomas, Limassol

Want to send a letter?

You can send letters to the Cyprus Mail by email, fax or post. Letters should include a full postal address (an email address is not sufficient), a daytime telephone number and a reference to the relevant article. A name and address may be withheld from publication if circumstances warrant. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Correspondence will be published at the discretion of the editor. Management is under no obligation to inform readers if, when or where their letters will appear.

13 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Opinion

Beyond customer satisfaction Offering an exceptional customer experience is the ultimate differentiator for business growth Comment Theodore Panayotou

C

USTOMER service has never been the strong point of Cyprus businesses. In good times, most companies have survived despite poor to non-existent customer service. Now that times are tough Cyprus businesses are closing down one after another.

A few companies have always offered an okay customer service, tracking it with customer satisfaction surveys. However, even this level of customer service is not good enough at any time. In bad times it is suicidal.

Satisfied customers do business with a company occasionally or temporarily because it happens to be convenient for now, or they did not know any better. You don’t want simply satisfied customers who are ready to jump ship at the first opportunity someone offers them a better price; you want thrilled and loyal customers who will stick with you, seek your brand and promote it to their friends.

In good times, a merely satisfied customer is a missed opportunity.

In bad times, such as now, with tight money and oversupplied customers, a satisfied customer is risky and even dangerous, because you count on him when you shouldn’t.

If we simply satisfy the customer we miss a great business opportunity before our eyes: to create a relationship that will bring us repeat business, referrals and enthusiastic word of mouth. Even a customer complaint can be turned into a positive customer experience and a long-term business relationship, if we don’t confine our response to only solving the specific problem of the specific customer.

What is customer experience?

It has been defined as the holistic sum of all activities that the customer encounters in his journey of searching, identifying, buying, using or consuming, and interacting with your product or service and

your company. The usual maths doesn’t apply. Five positive experiences plus a negative one may not add up to four net positive experiences but to zero in terms of total customer experience.

Nor is caring about the customer enough to deliver a great customer experience. As Harley Manning and his colleagues at Forrester Research put it, poor customer experience is consistent with the company caring about the customer.

“Caring is not enough because customer experience is the result of an ecosystem of people, departments, and relationships that deliver elements of the experience,” says a recent study of theirs.

But does exceptional customer experience pay? According to Watermark Consulting, over the past five years, a period when the Standard & Poor 500 declined by 1.3 per cent, the portfolio of publicly traded companies that are leaders in customer experience produced a cumulative total return of over 22 per cent compared to a negative return of - 46 per cent by the portfolio of laggards in customer experience.

COUNTLESS ADVANTAGES Customer experience management has countless advantages over other competitive differentiators. First, it is a soft innovation that establishes new standards of quality, experience, and sales; as such it is low cost, in contrast to costly hard innovation (R&D).

Second, it is easily understood requiring little marketing effort.

Third, while “the idea may be revolutionary, the steps to get there are evolutionary”, and hence not outside the realm of day-to-day business. Fourth, it leads to repeat business and positive word of mouth that save on marketing costs. Fifth, it raises the value-formoney and pries open the wallet of reluctant customers in tough times. Sixth, it justifies the payment of a price premium and gets the business outside the arena of cut-throat price competition, especially in tough times. Seventh, it both enhances current income and boosts prospects for future

experience excellence into the DNA and the value system of everyone in the organisation. For this of course you need to have hired the right people, provide them with continuous training and maintain the right attitudes.

Were Cyprus businesses to implement Customer Experience Management (CEM) along these lines they would not only survive through these tough times but they would also succeed in turning the crisis into opportunity, since few businesses globally and even fewer in Cyprus practise it comprehensively.

According to the Forrester 2012 Customer Experience Index only three per cent of companies “can legitimately claim that they have excellent experience which differentiates offerings, drives loyalty, inspires word of mouth, and fuels growth. Most brands score OK or poor.”

SHOP LOCALLY

In good times, a merely satisfied customer is a missed opportunity growth.

Why then are companies so slow in getting on the customer experience bandwagon? Customer experience is personal and hence customer service must be customised, or, even better, personalised. Experts agree. Exceptional end-to-end customer experience is the ultimate source of competitive advantage, and one that is sustainable.

But how do you create it? In a recent book titled Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Centre of Your Business, Harley Manning, Kerry Bodine, and Josh Bernoff provide the answer.

The first and most fundamental step is to “know thy customer”. If you don’t truly understand your customers, their needs and expectations, even your best-intentioned efforts to serve them may annoy them. The classic example is the hotel front-desk officer who insists on telling the business traveller, rushing to a business meeting, about all the facilities and activities of the hotel.

Understanding the customer requires research that goes beyond the usual customer satisfaction surveys: who are your customers,

what are their needs and expectations, and how do they perceive their interactions with you.

Replace your best guesses about the customers with real information about what they are experiencing and feeling. Only then will you be able to improve their experience.

Once you understand your customers, design customer interactions that meet their (individual) needs and exceed their expectations. To do this you draw on the ideas of customers, frontline employees and partners to arrive at imaginative total solutions.

Engage a sample of customers in the design of customer experience and test it with a different set of customers. The new design must encompass people, products, services, location, communications, websites, social media etc.

This is only part of the game. The other half is going the extra mile to exceed expectations and to surprise the customers with low-cost but memorable experiences.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly you need to create a customer-centric culture in the organisation that embeds customer

Some may object that even with exceptional service there would be no increase in sales and profits since customers’ budgets are tight.

This is a very static and narrow view of the world. Reluctant customers can be induced to buy more; non-customers can be turned into customers and customers can be attracted from competitors who provide poor customer experience.

People who now prefer to shop overseas or online can be induced to shop locally.

Moreover, the 2.5 million tourists and half a million expatriates and foreigners visiting Cyprus on business are potential customers, many of whom are now discouraged by poor customer service.

Most importantly, Cyprus businesses must open more to the rest of the world and sell to growing markets such as the emerging economies, where exceptional customer experience can win them customers for many years to come.

Where there is a will there is a way.

But, do we have the will? This is the million euro question!

Dr Theodore Panayotou, director of the Cyprus International Institute of Management (CIIM), was an economics professor at Harvard University and consultant to the UN and to the US, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian, Mexican and Cyprus governments. He was recognised for his contribution to the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

Sickening myths of semi-government wealth Comment Loucas Charalambous IT TURNS my stomach every time I hear this sickening myth about the so-called ‘profitable semi-governmental organisations’ being supposedly part of the national wealth and therefore must not be privatised. It is the same fairy-tale we have been hearing for the last 40 years about Cyprus Airways, the horrific results of which we are seeing today.

The issue has been in the news lately because of fears that the public debt, after the bailout, will not be considered sustainable, thus activating the provision in the memorandum for the sale of state assets. And of course, the first organisations

to be sold would be CyTA, EAC and the Cyprus Ports Authority.

It would be a very good thing.

CyTA and the EAC are no less of a liability for Cyprus society than Cyprus Airways. On the contrary, their cost to the public is much higher than the cost of our so-called national carrier. The only difference is that in one case the cost is paid by the state from the taxpayer’s money while in the other the public pays directly as the high cost is included in the bills.

CyTA, the EAC and the CyBC are organisations with outrageously high operation costs higher than those of the public service. It is no accident that Cypriots pay the highest electricity rates in Europe. The pay and benefits of EAC staff are staggeringly high. These organ-

isations operate as small fiefdoms within Cypriot society.

The average cost per employee at these organisations is in the region of €60,000. To put this in context, the average cost per worker at a sound and solid business is between €20,000 and €25,000. From these figures alone, taking into account the fact that labour costs are in excess of €130 million for each organisation, it is easy to understand how much cheaper electricity and telephony would be for us if these organisations were private companies.

Under the circumstances the slogan about ‘profitable semigovernmental organisations’ is nothing more than a bad joke.

CyTA and EAC are not normal businesses to be able to boast that they are profitable. They

are monopolies that have the ability to decide their profits in advance.

If the EAC decided to make a profit of €100 million in 2013, it would realise it without any difficulty. It knows its costs, it knows the volume of its sales and can fix prices so that it can make the profit it wants. This is the type of business our political jokers describe as a ‘profitable’ organisation.

The privatisation of CyTA, EAC and other such organisations is not just necessary for reducing the public debt, it is a pressing national imperative that would, above all, serve the interests of all citizens. If it does not happen now, these organisations will suffer the same fate as Cyprus Airways.

Our society can no longer sus-

tain them. Competition has ensured that CyTA’s surpluses are declining every year, while the EAC, with its ridiculously high labour costs, will be unable to cope with competition which will soon arrive. Inevitably, they will also be led to bankruptcy. When this happens, just as it has with Cyprus Airways, nobody will be willing to buy them.

Of course it would be naive to believe that either the current government or the next one will dare put them up for sale.

President Christofias and the presidential candidates have started declaring that they will do no such thing.

Fortunately, those privatisations will be imposed by the troika. In the end, the troika will do us a lot of good.

14 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion

Finally, the state of Palestine exists Comment John V. Whitbeck ON JANUARY 3, Mahmoud Abbas, acting in his capacities as president of the State of Palestine and chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, signed “Decree No 1 for the year 2013”. While he did so with minimal ceremony or fanfare, and while the change formalised by this decree should surprise no one after the UN General Assembly’s overwhelming vote on November 29 to upgrade Palestine’s status at the United Nations to “observer state”, this change is potentially historic.

By this decree, the “Palestinian Authority”, created for a five-year “interim” period pursuant to the “Oslo” Declaration of Principles signed on the White House lawn in September 1993, has been absorbed and replaced by the State of Palestine, proclaimed in November 1988, recognised diplomatically by 131 of the 193 UN member states and supported in the recent General Assembly vote by an additional 28 states which have not yet formally recognised it diplomatically.

After citing the November 29 General Assembly Resolution, Article 1 of the decree states: “Official documents, seals, signs and letterheads of the Palestinian National Authority official and national institutions shall be amended by replacing the name ‘Palestinian National Authority’ whenever it appears by the name ‘State of Palestine’ and by adopting the emblem of the State of Palestine.” Concluding Article 4 states: “All competent authorities, each in their respective area, shall implement this Decree starting from its date.”

In his correspondence, Yasser Arafat used to list all three of his titles under his signature - president of the State of Palestine, chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and president of the Palestinian National Authority (in that order of precedence). It is both legally and politically noteworthy that, in signing this decree, Mahmoud Abbas has listed only the first two titles. The Trojan horse called the “Palestinian Authority” in accordance with the “Oslo” interim agreements and the “Palestinian National Authority” by Palestinians, having served its purpose by introducing the institutions of the State of Palestine on the soil of Palestine, has now ceased to exist.

There is no further need for a Palestinian

leader to be three-headed or three-hatted.

While the Palestine Liberation Organisation will continue to represent all Palestinians everywhere, those Palestinians who live in the State of Palestine (whose territory is defined by the November 29 General Assembly Resolution as “the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967”) or who, living elsewhere, will be the proud holders of new State of Palestine passports will now also be represented by the State of Palestine.

Perhaps due, at least in part, to the lowkey manner in which this change has been effected, it has attracted remarkably little attention from the international media or reaction from other governments, even the Israeli and American governments. This is not necessarily disappointing, since passive acceptance is clearly preferable to furious rejection.

The relatively few and brief media reports of the change have tended to characterise it as “symbolic”. It could - and should - be much more than that. If the Palestinian leadership plays its cards wisely, it could and should - represent a turning point toward a better future.

The State of Palestine now exists on the soil of Palestine - albeit still, in varying degrees and circumstances, under belligerent occupation by the State of Israel.

In its November 29 Resolution, the General Assembly “Affirms its determination to contribute to the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the attainment of a peaceful settlement in the Middle East that ends the occupation that began in 1967 and fulfills the vision of two States, an independent, sovereign, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, on the basis of the pre1967 borders.”

The members of the international community must now show their determination not simply in words but also in deeds and actions. In a world which professes to take human rights and international law, including the UN Charter, seriously, the perpetual belligerent occupation of one state by another state is inconceivable.

The fact that the Israeli occupation of Palestine has been permitted to endure, expand and entrench itself for more than 45 years represents an appalling black mark against mankind. This occupation must now end.

John V Whitbeck is an international lawyer who has served as a legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team in negotiations with Israel

The political problem of guns The US Constitution’s second amendment never gave the public the right to carry any weapon whatsoever in any way whatsoever and for whatever purpose Comment Newton Minow and David Apatoff

W

E HOPE 2013 brings a civil, intelligent and constructive national debate about gun policy in the United States. Past debates often failed to get traction because Americans have a fundamental disagreement about the meaning of the second amendment of the US Constitution concerning the right to bear arms. Emotions and anger take over - and rational discourse disappears.

But Americans all now owe the 26 little children and teachers murdered in the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, a sincere effort to bring light rather than heat to this debate. It does not advance progress for one side to insist that all guns should be confiscated while the other side argues “good guys” should shoot the “bad guys”.

What exactly is the right the second amendment protects? In the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision, Justice Antonin Scalia was clear, writing for the majority: the second amendment does not protect “a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any way whatsoever and for whatever purpose.”

The “right to bear arms”, Scalia wrote, only applies to “the sorts of weapons … in common use at the time” of the second amendment which was 1791. What was “in common use” then?

As Craig Whitney describes in his new book, Living With Guns, Con-

gress passed the Uniform Militia Act in 1792 - requiring all free, ablebodied white males under age 45 to muster with a local militia and equip themselves “with a good musket or firelock”.

The Wall Street Journal, reading the Scalia opinion, states: “Governments can impose substantive regulatory limits: to license guns; bar felons or the mentally ill from buying guns; regulate certain types of heavy weapons.”

The modern equivalent of weapons “in common use” does not include the high-speed, high-capacity weapons used to massacre large numbers of citizens in Aurora, Colorado, or Newtown. Some gun advocates invoke the second amendment to thwart a meaningful discussion of what guns should be in “common use”. But the Founding Fathers never intended the second amendment to protect such extreme weapons from “substantive regulatory limits”.

Once the second amendment limits are recognised, the debate is not about the Constitution, but about policy. And policy here means politics.

America’s representatives should not be permitted to hide from their responsibility to hold an open political debate with the excuse that our Founding Fathers resolved that question 220 years ago.

The National Rifle Association enters the picture, amply funded by the $11 billion firearms industry, which produces the kind of “dangerous and unusual weapons” that the Supreme Court specifically ruled are not protected. The National Association for Gun Rights sends pledges to legislators, saying: “I DEMAND you vote AGAINST any assault on my gun rights.”

Flag hangs over stockings left as a memorial for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, on a fence surrounding the cemetery in Newtown, Connecticut

Not quite what what the authors of the Constitution had in mind: an automatic weapon displayed on a wall at the Scottsdale Gun Club, Arizona Consider, the gun lobby has succeeded in blocking presidential nominees to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives since 2006 - even those nominated by President George W

Bush.

Guns are not the sole cause of these mass killings. But focusing on issues such as America’s mental health system and the extreme violence in video games will not solve the prob-

lem unless gun advocates are finally willing to enter into a responsible dialogue.

As the poet William Butler Yeats wrote, “the best lack all conviction while the worst are filled with passionate intensity”. The US’ political leaders are not bound by the Constitution’s second amendment to stand by helplessly when Sandy Hooks happen.

The United States do not face a constitutional problem, but rather a lack of courage to face a political problem.

First, Americans need to disenthrall themselves from the notion that the Second Amendment prevents them from exercising their own judgement and making sensible political compromises.

Second, they need to understand how the current dependency on political campaign contributions has skewed the political debate about gun laws.

Finally, they need representatives with enough courage and conscience to remember the children of Sandy Hook when they deliberate what is in the public interest.

Newton Minow is the former chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission. David Apatoff is a lawyer in Washington

15 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Opinion We should expect the immovable property tax goalposts to move endlessly

Gerard Depardieu: off to pastures new

uotes of the week “Mild bondage is a great way to spice up a 12-year marriage”.

TV’s Davina McCall

Comment Hermes Solomon

T

HAT NOW grotesque, yet great French actor, Gerard Depardieu could just as easily grow wine in Paphos as Moldavia, so why didn’t he take out Cyprus citizenship instead of Russian? Perhaps he assumed that it wouldn’t be long before we became as thoroughly taxed as the French.

In an article published in the Sunday Mail in June of 2010, I wrote, “I lived for many years in a French village numbering 402 souls. The town hall was a building of pride, immaculately kept and run by a part-time secretary. The mayor, a retired farmer, was supported by un adjoint (assistant) and ten village councillors, mostly farmers.

“The council’s duties comprised administration of the commune, local finances, legal advice and documentation, the environment and durable development, local taxes (communal and territorial), urbanism, housing and organising social, educational, sporting and cultural events.

“Town halls and mayors are an essential part of French culture and little of consequence occurs in any community without mayoral knowledge or consent. It wasn’t so much ‘les reseignements generaux’ (government-employed informers) who snitched whenever I failed to observe any of the many stringent by-laws, but my neighbours; laws and by-laws were inviolable even though I was a director of the cantonal football club, a member of several council committees, a card playing café regular and best friends with the mayor and councillors.

“Agreed, local taxes levied on land and buildings, roads and rubbish collection, etc. were five times what I pay here, but a council machine needs oiling properly or little gets done properly.”

GOOGLE TAGGED To be fair to this present government, Neoclis Sylikiotis, former minister of the interior, proclaimed two years ago that a new government Immovable Property Tax would be introduced on all land and property registered at local land registries, and those not registered would be easily identified on Google Earth and also taxed.

We already pay a local dustbin collection charge and a small local council Immovable Property Tax, but the proposed government IPT based on 1980 valuations times 3.5 will be an extra tax and purportedly affect only those living in concrete palaces with valuations exceeding 150,000 euros. For example, a property with a 1980 value of 54,500 (1980 value is shown on the title deeds - ta kotjania) multiplied by 3.5 gives a new value of 190,750 euros less 150,000 euros zero threshold equals 40,750 euros times 0.006 equals 244.5 euros IPT levy per annum.

They always just print the legends More than 50 per cent of homeowners, whose land only is registered on title deeds, expect to avoid paying the new tax whether the value of their homes exceed the 150,000 limit or not, as do those without title deeds, since they are not the registered owners of the land on which their houses sit; banks which hold bankrupt developers’ land deeds as security are, and that’s more than a third of all properties.

Those few expats and locals with title deeds and valuations in excess of 150,000 euros are expected to foot the bill for the entire country - hotels and large tourist complexes demanding to be rated separately, if at all, regarding themselves as a special case.

What a mess! Decades of property maladministration and we’ve finally arrived at le denouement.

A Peyia resident tells me he has received local IPT notification only twice during the past 13 years and he has never seen or heard of a Cypriot neighbour paying this tax.

Unfortunately, this new government tax will not benefit local councils or citizens one iota. It is intended to fill government coffers and little else. It is unlikely that collection will even total 60 million euros when one considers how many will be unable or refuse to pay what they regard as an unjustifiable tax. Excuses for non-payment will be rampant from those already hugely indebted homeowners, hotels, the unemployed and especially, those ‘artful dodgers’, who owe thousands in unpaid income tax, alimony or court fines.

Non-payment will be a consequence of our government and administration rarely enforcing payment of outstanding dues. They have taught us that if legend is more beautiful than the reality, then print the legend. And the reality is one of a people who have lived on

borrowed money and avoided repaying loans unless physically (troika) forced to do so.

The government continues to pay 135 million euros annually in rents for office space. To be fair again to this present government, four years ago, Neoclis Sylikiotis mooted the idea of constructing a huge purpose-built government office complex at the State Fair situated on the outskirts of Nicosia - legend again rather than reality! What the government should be doing is renegotiating rents considerably downwards in an oversupplied property market that greatly favours buyers and tenants.

DISINGENUOUS I no longer know who to believe about what, but of one thing I am certain; this government and any future government will persist in making disingenuous statements on how they intend to fulfill troika criteria for loans without possessing the know-how or power to back up those statements.

Goal posts will be moved endlessly and homeowners, whose re-evaluations do not exceed 150,000 euros, will fall into the tax trap sooner than they think. Non-title deed holders and unregistered householders (land only registered) will also be drawn into the government IPT net ‘screaming’.

As to who will win the one or five year eviction contest for non-payment of housing loans, your guess is as good as mine. But don’t complain when the troika shows little mercy to the seriously indebted.

As a schoolboy I stopped complaining about a hole in my shoe after my father pointed at a man across the street with no feet. Evidently, Gerard Depardieu, in the eyes of many of today’s impoverished French, never knew his father!

“The trouble is, since reading the books, I have had no one to practise on, because I have been stuck on a film set.. But, if you want to know, I have had sex with British men and American men and I can’t tell you there was any difference,. I have had sex with a Frenchman and that was amazing”.

Screenwriter Kelly Marcel who is making a film of 50 Shades of Grey “I loved stalking people.

Now it’s illegal. Such a shame. Such fun”.

Actor Rupert Everett looks back on his life

“Nick Clegg in charge of it is tantamount to entrusting a Ming vase to an inebriated tightrope walker”.

Commentator Stephen Glover after hearing that the Deputy Prime Minister is to mastermind the legislation to allow a woman to become the monarch even if she has younger brothers

TV wildlife expert Chris Packham “I suppose it keeps my feet on the ground. I don’t know why the universe is so determined to keep my feet on the ground”.

Actor Rufus Sewell, who says he is often mistaken for other higherprofile actors

“In Russia there is the good life. I prefer the countryside and I know some marvellous places in Russia. I feel good and I am learning Russian.

Glory to Russia”.

French actor Gerard Depardieu, who has been granted Russian citizenship after a tax dispute in his homeland “I said ‘I’m Claire Danes’, and he said ‘Oh, you’re a fine actress’. And I said ‘You’re a fine president!’.

And he said ‘Oh, you’re a finer actress than I am president’. I didn’t have any retort”.

Actress Claire Danes on meeting President Obama

“I salute this heroic Conservative-led Government for at last having had the courage to do the blindingly obvious”.

London Mayor Boris Johnson on the decision to end universal child benefit “We have passed the carrying capacity for the planet. People are aggressive. There are not enough resources to go round. I would suggest we paid people through tax reduction to have fewer kids”.

“He gave a wonderful Churchill-like speech, a real fashion call to arms ... it made me want to go home and knit socks and start selling them”.

Model David Gandy after hearing PM David Cameron speak about the fashion industry

16 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World in pictures

Sri Lanka Special Task Force soldiers stand guard during a lawyers’ protest against government moves to impeach the country’s Chief Justice in the capital Colombo (AFP)

A man tries a pair of wiper glasses at the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair, where more than 2,500 exhibitors display their latest playthings (AFP)

Latvian National Ballet dancers during a dress rehearsal of Giselle at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville (AFP)

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man covered with snow walks in Jerusalem, which was transformed into a winter wonderland after heavy overnight snowfall turned the Holy City and much of the region white (AFP) Mantu Das, 6, dressed as Hindu god Lord Shiva takes a nap at the Gangasagar temporary camp in Kolkata on his way to the annual Hindu holy festival Gangasagar Mela,

French President Francois Hollande (centre) wearing security glasses during a visit to the Amplitude Systemes plant, specialised in diode-pumped solid-state lasers (AFP)

Kutchani, a female lion, eats a frozen milk iceblock in her enclosure at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney as the temperature soared (AFP)

A model poses with a snake during a snake display in Hong Kong. The Chinese new year will mark the year of the snake on February 10 (AFP)

South Korean special warfare forces take part in a winter season drill in Pyeongchang (AFP)

17 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Coffeeshop

Clapped out commie rulers WITH ONLY a few weeks left in office and their puppet candidate having no chance of winning the elections, our clapped-out commie rulers, have come out of the closet, no longer bothering hiding their Stalinist mind-set.

AKEL’s apparatchiks at the Central Bank (CB) decided to step up their ongoing character assassination attempts against the former Governor Athanasios Orphanides, by bringing up, once again, the ridiculous matter of the hard disks, which they have insisted, he was keeping illegally.

On Tuesday, they sent one of the four big-muscled bodyguards Professor Panicos hired to protect him to Orph’s house in Lefkara to deliver a letter requesting the return of the two hard disks of the Central Bank lap-tops used by Orph.

The hard discs had been given to Orph with the agreement of the bank’s IT department, when he left last May, so he could carry on receiving personal correspondence that went to the bank’s server. This has been explained in public, but AKEL deputies and the CB apparatchiks insist on creating the impression that Orph was committing a crime by holding on to the discs.

On Wednesday the front page of the AKEL mouthpiece Haravghi carried a banner headline that read ‘The bailiff finds closed doors,’ explaining with big letters that “Orphanides refused to take delivery of the letter requesting him to return immediately the hard discs he is holding on to.”

Orph refused to take delivery, because he was in the US, a point the newspaper put way down in the report, presenting it as a claim made by a member of his family that it did not believe.

THE MENTION of the word ‘bailiff’ (epidotis in Greek) in the headline created the impression that a court writ was being delivered, but it was nothing more than a letter from the Central Bank delivered by one of the Governor’s henchmen.

The members of the Orph family in the house were understandably afraid to open the door to the henchman, in what could only be seen as a form of harassment. In the past, letters from the CB were delivered to the law office representing Orph and it never refused to take delivery, so why this time was the letter delivered to the ex-Gov’s Lefkara home?

And how did Haravghi know the contents of the letter that was eventually slipped under the door

by Professor Panicos’ muscleman?

And who told the paper about the contents of the letter, which were supposedly private, considering the CB took the trouble to deliver it by hand?

The Governor’s office was quite clearly behind this stage-managed farce and subsequently informed Haravghi which did its best to present Orph as some kind of outlaw, refusing to accept a letter from a ‘bailiff’ and holding on to hard disks which it implied contained “secrets and highly confidential information,” needed by the investigation of Alvarez and Marsal.

If this were the case and Orph is behaving unlawfully, why has the CB not gone to the courts to secure an order for the return of the hard disks, instead of sending a Panic muscle to Lefkara, to deliver a letter when it knew Orph was several thousand miles away?

EVERYBODY knows that this pitiful farce was organised by the Governor’s office, but it is unclear whether his personal secretary, Elena Markadji, a stalwart Akelite who enjoys great power since the change of the CB regime, was acting on her own

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD...

initiative, at the behest of the party, or on the instructions of Professor Panicos.

The professor had every reason to be pissed off with Orph because, during his recent visit the latter had alerted politicians to the skewed terms of reference for the PIMCO investigation of the banks’ financial needs, which were guaranteed to make the Cyprus debt unsustainable.

Realising that the CB representatives on the committee deciding the PIMCO terms of reference had agreed to assumptions and worst case scenarios that would push the banks’ re-capitalisation needs to unnecessarily high amounts, deputies demanded explanations from the professor.

Had the CB gone out of its way to ensure the financial needs of the banks would be the highest possible so as to satisfy the government’s propaganda plans?

Deputies demanded an answer and called the professor to the House finance committee on Tuesday to examine ways of changing the methodology used by PIMCO, the final report of which is expected this week.

The committee arranged to meet again, later in the day, with finance ministry and CB officials to explore ways of saving the situation, but Panicos did not take part. He may have been too busy dealing with the more important issue of Orph’s hard disks.

THE PROBLEM for the Professor is that he would look very stupid if he went back to the troika and demanded a change of PIMCO’s terms of reference and the of assumptions on which it was basing its investigation. After all his representatives on the steering committee had agreed to them, while the objections of the finance ministry officials were ignored.

So now he has realized he that the banks’ needs would make our debt unsustainable he hired another big consultancy firm, Black Rock, to carry out another investigation, in the hope it arrives at a lower recapitalisation figure which he could use to haggle with the troika. We wish him success, because we are all screwed if he fails, but we will know who to blame if he does.

In effect while the government was supposedly negotiating the best possible deal for public parasites with the troika, it had given instructions to the Central Bank to negotiate the worst possible deal for the banks. The government may have failed but the CB did not and will no doubt, blame the catastrophic consequences of its resounding success on Orph’s refusal to return the hard disks.

OUR AMBASSADOR to Washington, Pavlos Anastasiades received orders to return to Kyproulla next month because Tof the Terrible decided he does not like him. Anastasiades was posted to the Washington

DISY leader Nice Nik waits patiently for his new BFF Central Bank Governor Panicos at the House earlier in the week thinking of his predecessor?

Angela Merkel to arrive for the EPP conference

embassy in September 2010 and was not guilty of any disciplinary offence.

In fact Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis considered him a good ambassador and had three times ignored instructions from the comrade to submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers for his transfer to Lefkosia. But the comrade is a stubborn man and on Wednesday ensured Erato obeyed his orders. A proposal for his transfer was submitted to last Wednesday’s Council of Ministers meeting and, not surprisingly, it was approved.

According to press reports, there were complaints that Anastasiades’ relations with the Cypriot expat community were non-existent. Other rumours were that the comrade was disappointed that he had failed to arrange for him to meet President Obama or at least vice-president Joe Biden. The truth is even if Nelson Mandela was our ambassador to Washington, the White House would not have invited Tof for a meeting with Obama.

The weirdest aspect of this story was that the decision was backed by a damning report against Anastasiades, written by Olympia Neocleous, his number two at the embassy. In our egalitarian, commie society the subordinate’s appraisal of the boss’ performance is what counts.

RUMOURS are that Anastasiades’ posting in Washington was cut short, because he fell foul of a leading member of the Cypriot community of the US - the Supreme President of the Cyprus Federation of America, Panicos Papanicolaou, who is a bosom buddy of the comrade.

Panicos, who currently faces charges of corruption and bribery of a public official in the US, was always photographed by the side of the comrade when the latter visited the US. During Tof’s last visit he took Panicos to a meeting with Jose Manuel Barroso, and all three were photographed together. Panicos had also taken Mr and Mrs Tof on holiday to a Greek island, a few years ago.

Anastasiades obviously did not have much time for the self-important Supreme President, who likes to pose as an influential, string puller in the US, to naïve Cypriots whose taxes fund his resoundingly inconsequential Federation. Panicos will

have complained to his buddy about the lack of respect shown to him by the ambassador. Ms Neocleous who sent the damning report against Anastasiades is close friends with the Supreme President.

But the real gripe Panicos has against Anastasiades was that he prevented Panicos’ construction company from landing a contract to fix our ambassador’s residence in Washington. Panicos had offered to do the job for two million bucks, but Anastasiades thought it was an extortionate price and notified Nicosia, which established that the job could have been done for half the amount Panicos was asking for.

He had to be punished for showing such disrespect to a leading member of the Cypriot community in the US. DISY Fuhrer Nice Nik was on a super-high on Friday as he played host to heads of government who arrived in Limassol to attend the extraordinary summit of the European People’s Party. The guy was euphoric as he stood at the door of Le Meridien Hotel welcoming one European leader after another.

But the biggest smile was reserved for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who seemed pretty pleased to see the fuhrer herself. Merkel who has been receiving a lot of negative press in Kyproulla as a result of her remark that we would get no special treatment for the bailout, openly supported Nik’s presidential candidacy, which could prove the kiss of death, given the prevailing antiKraut sentiments.

It will not be long before Nik’s rival candidates start claiming he is unsuitable for the presidency because he is supported by the evil Merkel.

One weekly rag (see below) played this tune before she had even arrived.

IT WAS two years to the day, that Merkel last visited Kyproulla, making comrade Tof wet himself with joy. Her visit boosted his ego and increased his delusions of greatness; he subsequently boasted about his friendship with the German Chancellor.

This great friendship has obviously turned sour as Merkel did not even bother to pay him a courtesy visit while here. In fact when secu-

rity measures for her visit were being discussed with DISY officials, the Germans had requested Merkel be taken to Le Meridien in an armoured limo. The only one available was the comrade’s but the Germans declined the offer to use it.

Obviously, they feared that if Merkel accepted the use of the presidential limo she might have had to meet the comrade to thank him.

THE PALAZZO mouthpiece, weekly, hard-line commie rag Gnomi, gave an indication of how our government felt about Merkel’s recent remarks and German press allegations of money laundering in Kyproulla.

Its banner headline on Friday read, ‘Invasion by the Fourth Reich’ supported by a photo-montage of a well-known postcard of the Turkish invasion, featuring a nasty viciouslooking, gun-toting Turkish soldier stepping on the map of Cyprus. Merkel’s picture was super-imposed on the body of Turkish soldier.

The secondary headlines were also pretty fun: ‘Anastasiades and DISY open the gates’; ‘The Germans come again: ‘The European “Peoples” party with Merkel in the vanguard in clear involvement in our internal affairs’; ‘Without mercy, they want to impose neo-liberalism…’

FINANCE minister Vasos Shiarly undertook an initiative to deny allegations in the German press about money-laundering by Russian oligarchs in Kyproulla. He organised a team that included members of the Central Bank and the head of the serious fraud unit MOKAS and met EU ambassadors in order to persuade them that no money-laundering was taking place.

It was a commendable initiative by Shiarly, but he made one mistake. He took with him the head of MOKAS Eva Papakyriakou, whose presence will have undermined the message he was trying to get across. Ms Papakyriakou was the head of MOKAS when the Serbian people’s money was arriving in Cyprus in black bin bags for laundering services. She said and did nothing at the time.

ONLY 46 days left until the mentor of people called Panicos retires to his Kellaki dacha.

18 SUNDAY MAIL

Lifestyle

THE ACTIO

Stacey Turner will be back on screen in Our Girl

Borgen is back and Zero Dark Thirty is coming, both featuring flakjacketed females who outwit their enemies.

Nick Curtis on the rise of a fresh role model

OR fans of strong women on screen, it is a golden era. As we mourn the passing from our screens of Homeland’s Carrie Mathison and The Killing’s Sarah Lund, along comes a batch of heroines in battledress. There is Sidse Babett Knudsen as Danish prime minister Birgitte Nyborg in the second series of the compelling Danish political drama Borgen, addressing her nation’s troops in Afghanistan in a flak jacket and fatigues before getting caught in an insurgent attack. With her is the journalist Katrine Fonsmark (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen), who has mutated from a blondely groomed TV anchor-Barbie into a hardboiled, khaki-clad tabloid news reporter.

And here is Jessica Chastain, steely in Aviator shades, no-nonsense ponytail and desert gear, as Maya, the CIA operative who leads the hunt for and planned assassination of Osama bin Laden in Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow’s new

F

film Zero Dark Thirty. Maya is based on a real-life figure who, when she and her team were given a service award for their action, sent an email to her bosses and colleagues explaining why some of them

with the words: “I’m the motherf***er who found this place.” Tough as Maya is, though, there are moments when the strain tells on her.

“Just because she’s trained to be unemotional and ana-

Suffering from bipolar disorder, sexually erratic, and distrusted by her bosses as unreliable, Carrie’s combination of intuition and tradecraft brought her closer than her colleagues to thwarting Abu Nazir’s terror plot simply didn’t deserve it.

“She’s not Miss Congeniality,” a male colleague told the Washington Post, “but that’s not going to find Osama bin Laden.”

Similarly in the film, when a senior figure undercuts her authority with a dismissive “who’s she?”, Maya responds

Born to wear battle dress: Borgen’s Danish prime minister Birgitte Nyborg

lytically precise doesn’t mean she’s unemotional,” Chastain said in a recent press conference, “and what I loved so much about the script is we do see moments where she falters.”

So women in the warzone are the new role models, getting the job done with less fuss and bluster than the men, and often despite carrying more baggage than the conventional masculine hero.

What makes the new breed of fictional heroines so compelling is that they are not superhuman but assailed by real-life problems - bad temper, broken relationships, childcare issues and everyday sexism – which they surmount. As so often in recent years, Carrie from Homeland was the trailblazer. Suffering from bipolar disorder, sexually erratic, and distrusted by her bosses as unreliable, Carrie’s combination of intuition and tradecraft brought her closer than her colleagues to thwarting Abu Nazir’s terror plot. She also rocked a headscarf in the field. Carrie represented more of a breakthrough than Sarah Lund, which is not to take anything away from the tremendous performance of Sofie Gråbøl in the part.

But the archetype of the flawed, monomaniac female cop goes back at least as far as Prime Suspect’s Jane Tennison. Later this year the BBC delivers two more female cops in top-rank dramas: Gillian Anderson in The Fall, and Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss in Top of the Lake

(the latter helmed by Jane Campion, one of the few women alongside Bigelow battling in the frontline of the institutionally sexist world of film directing).

I don’t doubt these shows will be good. But more remarkable, perhaps, will be Our Girl, also from the BBC.

This stars winsome ex-EastEnders soap poppet Lacey Turner as a hairdresser who undergoes a steep learning curve when she joins the Royal Army Medical Corps and ends up in Afghanistan.

The decision to set the opening scenes of Borgen in a code-red military zone

Mad Men’s Elisabth Moss will be back in Top of the Lake

19 • January 13, 2013

ON WOMEN WOME

Get kitted out to keep evil forces at bay

By Rosamund Urwin

Homeland Borgen

feels like a statement of intent. Nyborg may be able to address her soldiers as a wartime leader but she is facing divorce back home.

Fonsmark the journalist, too, is still “having problems finding the balance between her private life and working life”, according to Hjort Sørensen.

This sentiment is echoed by Piv Bernth, the 56-year-old female producer of The Killing, who in 2011 became head of drama at DR, the Danish channel that makes both The Killing and Borgen. Nyborg strikes a chord, she believes, “because she showed that it was possible to be a woman

and pursue an aim, [but] she was forced to choose between what she loved - her job - and who she loved - her family”. Bernth says that “the industry as a whole, especially in the US, has been slow to respond to female protagonists” but that Danish TV has had such a run of

strong female leads (including some we haven’t seen yet) that she is now keen to explore on screen “what the men have been doing while we were telling stories with the women”.

Interestingly, she says that TV production in Denmark is now largely female-dominated, but that bias in favour of one gender in any field is a bad thing. When I ask her if she thinks the world would be a better place with more female prime ministers, more women in combat zones, and more women commissioning TV drama she says: “No, I don’t think so. I would like to, but no.” I ask Hjort Sørenson the same question. “Oh my God, yes, maybe,” she says.

“There’s an authoritative answer for you.” Spoken like true modern role models.

THE workplace can an sometimes feel like a en. battlefield for women. oSo perhaps it’s approhe priate that two of the nmost powerful fictional heroines about to ne hit our screens - one er on celluloid, the other ut on TV - are decked out nd in fatigues, khaki and desert jackets. e For the start of the rsecond series of Borer gen, prime minister as Birgitte Nyborg has ehad a military makeds over as Nyborg heads to Afghanistan to visit aps givDanish troops. Perhaps en her impending divorce us husfrom her adulterous ies, she band in the last series, ep that might want to keep jacket for her trip home too.

A similar style is also Kathryn adopted in ticipatBigelow’s much-anticipatrty. In ed Zero Dark Thirty. e stills, the trailer and movie ks very Jessica Chastain looks man in much the action woman rk, noRay-Bans and a dark, ket. nonsense desert jacket.

Both Nyborg and e a difChastain’s Maya are ne from ferent type of heroine those dominating 2012 (and intended to appeal ennifer to pubescents), Jennifer s EverLawrence’s Katniss deen and Kristen Stewg Snow art’s sword-wielding White. ake on This alternate take power dressing has plenty n world of fans in the fashion ia is a too. Military regalia perpetual influence for designers, with even Victoria Beckham requiring a model to stand to attention for her Autumn/Winter show 2012 in a khaki, militaryinspired dress and black leather boots.

Meanwhile, at Edun, the ethical brand founded by Ali Hewson, its leading lady for Spring/Summer 2013 looked like she had escaped the plains of Africa. The clothes came in

Bin Laden’s nemesis: CIA operative Maya played by Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty

Woolly jumpers and strong women: The Killing

Combat readiness

by Boy Band of Outsiders blue khaki and midnight blue, with a slouchy silhouette.

The models at Costume National were also warzone ready and in head-to-toe green.

And the greatest part about Action Woman chic?

Its practicality. The multiple pockets give you somewhere to put the ammunition of everyday life, from the iPhone to credit cards.

Proper power dressing never seemed so appealing.

20 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Feature

As an English footballer seeks help for his social media obsession, Benjamin Cohen visits a London clinic that’s started treating people for Twitter and Facebook addictions

I

T’S 7:30am, my iPhone alarm wakes me and as I drag my finger along the slider to silence the annoying tone, I notice a bunch of “notifications” from Facebook and Twitter, messages from WhatsApp and a new follower on Instagram.

I need to get in the shower but, without thinking about it, I can see that Mark and four other people have liked my photograph, Natasha has commented on it. I’m alerted that my friend Matt was “checked” into a bar near my house the night before and a series of people have responded to a tweet of mine, others have retweeted it and my mother has sent messages to our family’s WhatsApp group.

Drawn in, I slide my finger along a Facebook notification and get sucked into the newsfeed. There I see friends congratulating Vivienne and Andrew on becoming engaged and add a comment too. Someone I don’t even remember has split with his boyfriend and I like a photograph that Kate has posted of her cat. Then Twitter tells me that my boyfriend @Zefference has replied to a mildly amusing tweet of mine about him, drawing me into my Twitter feed for a while.

compulsive. For you, wanting validation and to remain involved seems to be the greatest driver in your social media use.”

What about my constant checking of the newsfeed?

Dr Graham termed this “surveillance” - in part, we do it to check we haven’t been left out of something. “When it comes to the constant checking, one could consider that social media is on your brain for 18 hours a day,” Dr Graham told me. “It’s a very intense mental activity, something that is akin to a depressed mood.”

I’ve spoken to other users who check even more than me. Sara, a heavy user, told me, “I can’t stop logging into Facebook on my iPhone whenever I have a spare minute. I need to know what my friends are doing. Sometimes that’s even when I’m sitting in traffic.” A study last year by the Institute of Advanced Motorists found that eight per cent of drivers in the UK are using social media behind the wheel, which is not just illegal but also highly dangerous. Dr Graham then asked: “How would you feel if you couldn’t access social media - say the servers crashed?” I surprised myself by saying “relief”.

Help, I’m a tech addict!

DRAINED

HAPPIEST

I put the phone down, it’s now nearly 8am. Social media has drained me of another half an hour. If you’re one of the millions on Facebook or Twitter, this experience might not be that dissimilar to yours. I have long described myself as “addicted” to social media, in a jokey sense. I thought it was a good thing. After all, for six years I was the technology correspondent at Channel 4 News and my first reports introduced many viewers to social networking.

Thanks to that exposure, I’ve amassed 59,921 subscribers on Facebook, 15,052 followers on Twitter, 8,361 on Google+, 644 followers on Instagram and I have 854 “friends” on Facebook. However, since I left the world of TV news, I have started to wonder if my own use was becoming a little unhealthy diction and if the joke of “addiction” ere’s a was actually true. There’s reason to be worried: a study rsity of last year by the University at FaceChicago suggested that ddictive book can be more addictive arettes than alcohol or cigarettes and harder to give up, too.

Recent research by the University of North Carolina found that we gett a jolt otransof dopamine, a neurotransth admitter associated with omeone diction, whenever someone ets us. likes a post or retweets People who can’t tearr themselves away are now startton ing to seek help: Bolton his Wanderers revealed this gweek that their England Under-21 strikerr Marvin Sordell, 21, willl receive counselling forr an alleged “obsession” with Twitter and Facebook. erAnd so, in the interests of journalism, I ck went to the Tavistock HS and Portman, an NHS ital mental health hospital in Belsize Park, to find dict out if I really am an addict ocial or just a genuine “social pital media guru”. The hospital

Some of my happiest recent memories have been when I haven’t been able to access the services - on an island with no reception, when my phone broke in Berlin or in a theatre.

Not everyone is so liberated.

Heavy user Alessandro told me that when he’s abroad “I have withdrawal symptoms from not being online. I’m anxious about what’s going on and I worry all the time that I’m being left out of something.” He added: “I’m happier when I’m online.”

Scott, another heavy user who also suffers from anxiety problems told me: “I’ve posted 145,066 tweets,” - not hard when he says he’s actively on social media for eight hours a day. “Giving up wouldn’t be easy for me,” he explains.

“It’s a lifeline.”

As my session drew to a close, I asked Dr Graham if he thought I was addicted. “I think you’re edging towards a compulsion or an obsession right now, but not an addiction yet.” So what should I do to ensure it didn’t become one? “A digital detox - at some point very soon allow yourself a minimum of a 72hour period offline. I’m not sure how long you would manage, though, as you are so subsumed. A break like that could reduce some of the distress and it would allow some degree of recovery.”

It’s something I’m planning to do soon but I have already stopped my iPhone notifying me of the latest interactions with the virtual Ben who lives on Facebook and Twitter. The problem with social networks is that, unlike smoking, it’s not practical to actually give them up. When even my Grandma is a regular user, how on earth could I, as a journalist, not want to be part of it? Therefore the challenge for me and many others is how to wean ourselves off the habit-forming parts and to let social media be part of our lives - not dictate them.

Fixated: Ben Cohen (left) spends between three and four hours a day on social media b has built up a reputation for treati treating tech addicts thanks to a unit led by consultant psych psychiatrist Dr Richard Graham, who treats more than su 100 sufferers a year. th hospital waiting room In the foun myself sat next to a I found slight slightly agitated teenager.

Although of course I didn’t speak to him or even acknowledge his existence, just like so many of us do when we have a moment of downtime, I grabbed my iPhone and went straight onto Facebook and Twitter. “Oh dear,” I thought, “perhaps I really

DO YOU NEED A DIGITAL DETOX? D S ways to tell if you’re Six h hooked on social media...

1 Looking at Facebook 1) o Twitter more than 10 or tim times a day or for more tha half an hour (unless than it’s your job).

2) Checking social media on a smartphone when yo you’re driving.

3 “Cyber-stalking” friends 3) t see you haven’t been to

left out.

4) Feeling down if no one comments, “likes” or retweets what you post.

5) Getting upset, angry or bewildered if Twitter or Facebook isn’t working.

6) Ending a foreign trip with a sizeable bill for data roaming. When you’re away, why not take a holiday from social media?

am addicted.”

As Dr Graham led me to his consulting room, we talked about a sort of online diary I had sent him. In it I listed how long each day I thought I used social media. It was the first time I’d ever sat down and quantified it - between three and four hours a day.

“What do you actually feel you post?” he asked. “If you were to ask my real-world friends, they’d say ‘way too much!’” I replied.

As we talked, I began to realise that, with Facebook in particular, I have posted to compensate for failings or mistakes in my real life, such as posting photos after a break-up to show the world (and my ex) that everything was okay, or just plain showing off when I check in to somewhere cool. Dr Graham said: “Images have a greater currency than text - feeling your image is liked becomes

21 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Business & Jobs

The importance of understanding risk ONE of the greatest issues which investors face is understanding risk. So many investors say they do not want to take any risk, or only a very low level, but in most cases they are only worried about how volatile an asset could be. They fail to consider other types of risk that could affect their capital and which can be planned for.

Investment risk and reward go hand in hand and it is generally not possible to have one without the other. This does not stop investors desiring and looking for the best rewards while being determined to take on as little risk as possible. What often happens is that in their bid to keep risk to a minimum, they miss out on the potential for higher rewards. Rewards that would, for example, help improve their financial security through retirement. Rewards they could have earned at lower levels of risk than they expected if they had the right advice and strategies.

What type of risk do you need to be aware of?

Capital risk: The risk that prices will fall and your original investment will decline in value.

Market risk: The possibility that market volatility will negatively effect your invest-

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

Credit risk: The risk that a borrower will default.

Institutional risk: The risk that the financial institution managing your money will fail.

Currency risk: The possibility of loss by not considering your spending currency.

Liquidity risk: The possibility that you may not be able to sell your assets when you need the money, or that you will have to sell in a depressed market.

Inflation risk: The chance that your capital will decline in value as rising prices shrink the value of the currency it is invested in.

It is important to consider whether you will make ‘real’ returns above inflation.

If not, you are effectively losing money. It

has been very hard to achieve real returns with cash over recent years, and lower risk assets like government bonds do not offer much protection either.

To aim to outpace inflation, you need to include assets like high yield bonds and equities in your portfolio. Long-term, equities have historically beaten inflation by a wide margin.

Very low risk investments may protect you from market risk but will expose you to inflation risk. Keeping savings in cash also exposes you to institutional risk. You need to compare risk against risk (there is no such thing as ‘zero risk’) and establish which one represents the greatest long-term threat.

Then work to suppress it by accepting the lesser risks.

The risk of doing nothing: Often, the greatest risk for investors, particularly those who rely on their savings in retirement, is doing nothing. Leaving all your savings on deposit and withdrawing the interest as income, exposes the capital value to inflation. The buying power of your money will be reduced over time.

Investment risk obviously needs to be given importance, but so does the risk of missing out on potentially rewarding opportunities.

Milton Friedman, the celebrated economist, famously said “there is no such thing as a free lunch”. In other words, you cannot have rewards without risk. Another leading economist, Peter Bernstein, countered this with: “Diversification is the nearest an investor or business manager can ever come to a free lunch.”

The central idea of diversification is that almost all types of investment risk can be mitigated if you choose not to expose all your capital to any individual situation. By including a variety of asset classes in your portfolio, the risk is likely to be much lower than if you put all your money in one type of investment. Diversification takes a middle road through the highs and lows of market performance, giving your money the opportunity to grow over time and with fewer fluctuations along the way.

Take expert advice from a wealth management firm like Blevins Franks on suitable strategies for your specific, personal, circumstances, time horizon and objectives.

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

First purpose-built terminal for A380 aims to boost passenger numbers to 90m

Dubai pins future on world’s biggest jet

By Praveen Menon ITH THE opening of a huge new airport terminal in Dubai this week, the wealthy emirate’s economic future became more closely intertwined with the world’s biggest passenger jet.

Emirates, Dubai’s state-owned flagship airline, began flying from the world’s first airport terminal that was purpose-built to handle Airbus A380 superjumbos.

The 528,000 square metre terminal cost over $3 billion to build and has 20 gates with double-decker bridges to move passengers on and off the twin-deck A380s.

It is a large, and some say risky, bet on the future of a single plane.

But because of its size, the A380 has emerged as an important part of Dubai’s plans to keep its economy growing by developing its tourism and retail businesses.

“Emirates’ strategy is for Dubai to become an aviation hub between Europe and Asia-Pacific,” said Zafar Khan, aerospace and defence analyst at investment bank Societe Generale in Britain.

“With planes like the Airbus A380, airlines can shift large volumes of traffic. Of course, the trick is to fill up these planes.”

Emirates, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing airlines, has been a key customer for the A380

W

since the plane began flying commercially in 2007.

It is the largest single buyer of the superjumbo and now operates 31 of the planes, with a further 59 ordered and yet to be delivered. Emirates accounted for over a third of the 257 A380s sold by European plane maker Airbus at the end of last November.

Emirates president Tim Clark said last September that the airline was willing in principle to order another 40 A380s, but Dubai’s airport currently lacked room for them.

While Airbus needs Dubai, however, Dubai needs the A380. That is because the emirate’s economic plans depend on moving rapidly rising numbers of tourists, businessmen and shoppers through its airports.

Dubai, which lacks the oil resources of its Gulf neighbours, has recovered from the corporate debt crisis and real estate crash which it suffered in 2009-2010 by becoming a magnet for travel and investment from the Middle East, India and Europe.

The emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, made clear this strategy would continue when he announced plans in November to build a tourism and retail complex that would include the world’s largest shopping mall, hosting 80 million visitors a year, and 100 new hotels.

Key to those plans, Sheikh Mohammed said, is boosting annual

An A380 passes next to the Emirates Airlines terminal at the concourse in Dubai International Airport airport passenger traffic through Dubai above 90 million in the next six years. Traffic was about 55 million last year.

“Our development initiatives concerning infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve them,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

Capable of carrying over 500 passengers, compared to around 450 in most versions of the Boeing 747, Emirates’ superjumbos are ideal for the heavy traffic which Dubai envisages.

In full operation, the new terminal will see a flow of about 10,000 passengers per hour, said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president for planning. “This concourse is quite an advantage over other hubs in the world.”

The high-volume strategy carries risks, however. If air traffic growth through Dubai does not match projections, the emirate could be saddled with billions of dollars worth of airport infrastructure, and a large fleet of planes, which it cannot use at close to capacity.

In addition to Dubai International, the emirate aims by the end of this year to open its new Al Maktoum

Divisional senior vice president of Emirates Airlines, Adnan Kazim International airport for passenger traffic. That facility, which began cargo operations two years ago, is designed eventually to cater to 160 million passengers.

Passenger traffic through Dubai is now growing at annual rates above 10 per cent, fast enough to reach Sheikh Mohammed’s target of 90

million passengers in six years. But growth rates could change if, for example, the global economy slows further because of financial instability or higher oil prices.

In the long term, new technologies could pose a threat; Boeing is developing the 777X jet which is expected to cover longer distances without refuelling. Depending on the plane’s specifications, that could conceivably reduce Dubai’s attraction as a stopping point between Asia and Europe.

“The interesting point when it comes to the hub theory of being between two places is that benefit may soon go away. New planes may soon be able to overfly and they may not need to stop anywhere,” said Nick Cunningham, aerospace analyst at Britain-based Agency Partners.

Meanwhile, Dubai faces growing competition from some of its neighbours. Abu Dhabi, home to Etihad Airways, and Qatar, which operates Qatar Airways, both have ambitions to become regional air transport hubs. They already have fast-growing airlines and are expanding their airports.

Emirates’ Kazim, however, said the big Gulf airlines would complement each other, so competition was not a threat.

22 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Business & Jobs

Why privatisation make sense The privatisation of profit making state institutions could raise up to ¤10 billion Comment Costas Apostolides C IMCO, the firm appointed to look at the requirements for bank restructuring, appears to be estimating their recapitalisation needs at €10 billion.

This has brought to the forefront the issue of privatisation as a way of helping repay the bailout.

Given the strident reaction of political parties to this development and the urgency of the issues raised, it seems appropriate to correct some of the impressions given and to suggest a framework for analysing the subject.

The main difficulty that arises in trying to estimate how much assistance is required by Cyprus from the EU arises from the difficulty in calculating the requirements of the banking sector. The problems arise because Cyprus banks hold about €100 billion in deposits, more than five times the level of GDP, mainly in branches of the two largest local banks (Bank of Cyprus and Laiki). About a quarter of these branches are in Greece. That they are branches, not subsidiaries, creates a major problem that needs to be addressed, but is not the issue here.

Three interrelated factors need to be considered. One is the capital requirement of banks set at 9 per cent in 2014, another is the level of non-performing loans, and the security guaranteeing loans (mainly mortgaged property). There is also the problem of the financial instruments used by the two main banks to recapitalise the losses from the Greek haircut, said to be around €1.8 billion. These are said to affect 60,000 people, but here there is no other possible solution than to give bank shares in exchange. Neither the banks nor the government can cover the cost of compensation, but irregularities should be considered by the courts and the appropriate authorities.

The politicians state that the preliminary estimate by PIMCO of €10 billion is an extreme estimate, which should be reduced by about 40 to 50 per cent and thus make the island’s debt both manageable and viable. It appears that the PIMCO terms of reference have been set

P

Currencies USD GBP CHF JPY AUD CAD SEK

11-Jan-2013

1,3208 0,8180 1,2070 117,43 1,2375 1,2882 8,5010

1,3315 0,8246 1,2216 118,85 1,2689 1,3208 8,7162

by a joint committee of the troika and the government/central bank.

Any assessment is complex. In the first place terms of reference have to be established, and then the methodology agreed. It seems that this was not undertaken in a manner consistent with normal planning procedures. For example, one would have expected that PIMCO would be required to develop a lowest likely estimate, the maximum (the reported €10 billion), and the most probable outcome (possibly between the two). Logically, however, the consultants should for each case also show the proportion of the three estimates covered by real guarantees.

A strong case should be made for the recapitalisation requirements to exclude the guarantees. But this raises another issue of disagreement with the troika - the period required for bank foreclosure on property covered by mortgages.

Here again, the troika proposals of two to three years are reasonable, and should have been accepted on condition that borrowers are given the chance to repay under easier terms, or to sell their property to repay the loan. In other words the time period should be used to find and agree on reasonable solutions.

The failure to agree to the troika’s suggestions would force any consultant to make a larger assessment of requirements.

RAISING CASH The question then arises as to how Cyprus can raise the money for repayment of the €6 to €10 billion that may be the final estimate agreed upon (possibly next week as PIMCO is expected to report on January 15).

Here, the troika states that Cyprus must consider privatising those state controlled organisations that are profitable and suitable for privatisation. Again the troika is right. The profit-making state institutions have profits, capital and reserves that could significantly improve repayment of state commitments.

The problem is the government is dead against this option, even though it is the one which has the least effect on the household purse.

Why should the middle class and the poor be forced to pay through regressive Value Added Tax and pension cuts for the sake of the key state organisations’ highly paid staff and their extra-ordinary

04-Jan-2013

1,2990 0,8080 1,2017 113,77 1,2333 1,2732 8,4203

1,3095 0,8145 1,2162 115,14 1,2645 1,3054 8,6334

perks?

The Memorandum of Understanding with the troika tackles privatisation in two ways, first by an agreement to consider Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), like the very successful Hermes Cyprus airports. This has enabled two new airport terminals to be built at no cost to the government, and at the same time provided payments to the state for the land and other concessions. PPPs have not all been successful in Cyprus and elsewhere, but the airport deal shows that at their best they can lead to modernisation and benefits all round.

These systems may for example be appropriate for the ports, land development and infrastructure.

The memorandum also calls for a full inventory of government wealth, so that the potential for PPPs can be determined and the management of wealth improved.

This is a much needed provision that will greatly help both development and the improvement of government returns on capital.

On privatisation the memorandum concludes that if “necessary to restore debt sustainability the Cyprus authorities will consider a privatisation programme for state owned and semi-public companies”.

CANDIDATES Public Private Partnerships do not always work, but the Hermes Cyprus airports in Larnaca and Paphos have been very successful

Potential candidates for privatisation CYTA which had a surplus of €83 mln, revenues of €526 mln, a reserve value of €875 mln cash of €242 mln and state bonds of €36 mln, and 2869 staff.

EAC had a surplus of €75 mln, revenues of €926 mln, assets of €2.2 bln and a reserve value of €959 mln and 2,370 staff.

Cyprus Ports Authority which had a surplus of €30 mln, revenue of €68 mln reserves in cash at €150 mln, and very valuable property.

Cyprus Stock Exchange is currently loss making, and in Cyprus given the problems of the stock market is probably not suitable for privatisation.

Housing Finance Organisation has restrictive regulations for profits, a surplus of €8 mln, but deposits of €926 mln, and could be converted into a mortgage bank and equity sold on CSE. Land development Corporation has restrictive regulations on profits, a surplus of €4 mln, a budget of €37 mln, and handed over to purchasers 313 housing units.

Cyprus Grains Commission did not submit accounts, but could be broken up and sold since it has considerable assets.

Cyprus State Fair did not submit accounts, but controls large areas of valuable land and may be suitable for PPP. Olive Products Council should not be closed but sold.

1,3187 0,8180 1,2013 113,79 1,2604 1,3008 8,5072

Costas Apostolides is chairman of EMS Economic Management Ltd (costas.a@highwaycommunications.com)

Central Slaughterhouse should be converted to PPP. (All figures are from 2011)

28-Dec-2012

1,3292 0,8246 1,2158 115,16 1,2923 1,3337 8,7226

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

USD 0,18 0,21 0,25 0,31 0,50 0,82

EUR 0,02 0,05 0,09 0,13 0,22 0,44

GBP 0,48 0,49 0,50 0,51 0,66 1,00

The focus here has been on the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA) and the Electricity Authority (EAC) both of which are profit making and have substantial assets. However, a review of the institutions established under public law examined by the auditor general (2011 Report) shows that there are 63 such institutions, though many cover social and health functions or are otherwise unsuitable for privatisation. An examination of those involved in commercial activities shows that there are twelve potential candidates for privatisation (see box).

It is difficult to estimate the value of the above, in part because the auditor’s reports do not give full details and the value of the land is unknown. A further difficulty is that land prices at present are low and what response flotation on the CSE of shares may have is an unknown factor. But CyTA and EAC should be worth between €3 to €5 billion over time and with their prospects, while the others could fetch another €1 to €2 billion. So they would help pay for much of the debt. Assuming the banks go well then the government could sell off shares and get back much of what was put into the banking sector.

CHF 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,01 0,07 0,26

JPY 0,10 0,13 0,15 0,17 0,28 0,48

LIBOR RATES (London Interbank Borrowing Rates) AS AT 14/01/2013

CAD 1,00 1,05 1,15 1,23 1,52 1,95

AUD 3,04 3,14 3,18 3,23 3,37 3,68

23 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Property

Welcome to the pleasure dome Oscar Wilde, David Bowie and Winston Churchill all revelled in the gilded splendour of London’s Café Royal, and its ornate interiors have been brought back to life for the 21st century by David Chipperfield. Marcus Field meets him

S

IR David Chipperfield is standing in the entrance hall of the Café Royal on London’s Regent Street, casting an architect’s eye over the final stages of his three-year project to transform the famous restaurant and bar into London’s grandest hotel. It was here among the gilded splendours, mirrored walls and fripperies of an institution dating back to 1865 that some of the most legendary figures in British history met to party and play. In the 1890s Lord Alfred Douglas fluttered his eyelashes at Oscar Wilde over champagne while Aubrey Beardsley frolicked on the banquettes. Later, politicians and royalty came, too, with Winston Churchill and the Prince of Wales lunching extravagantly beneath the painted ceiling of the Grill Room in the carefree years before the abdication. The Café Royal’s popularity continued into the second half of the 20th century when stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie brought a new, youthful glamour to proceedings.

Now the Israeli group The Set is hoping that by creating a lavish new hotel the extended Café Royal can compete with rivals The Ritz and Savoy in urban magnificence. As Chipperfield walks me around the first two floors of the hotel, he explains his approach to making new public spaces that feel as if they have always been part of their illustrious historical framework. For example, there is the elegant Café 1865, with its Sienna marble walls, and the modern brasserie with its snaking red leather banquette and adjoining cocktail bar. Of the restored spaces, the Ten Room is an Art Deco-style dining room complete with Murano glass lights, while the Grill Room and Domino Room are sugary pieces of architectural confectionery, much as they were in their heyday, jewel boxes of gold leaf and mirrors and infinite reflections.

Above this are five floors containing 159 guest rooms.

It is in the six grandest suites where the real show starts: four have original Belle Epoque sitting rooms, another features a Tudor-style fireplace worthy of Hampton Court, while the final one is located in a Neoclassical dome high above Piccadilly

Circus.

In many ways, Chipperfield, 58, is an unlikely custodian of such a project. With his heavyrimmed black glasses and austere blue V-neck jumper, he appears every inch the Modernist of popular imagination. He is best known for his fiercely intellectual buildings in Europe, including the 12-year project to rebuild the bombed-out Neues Museum in Berlin. It is hard to imagine that the ormolu flights of fancy of the Grill Room are to his tastes, but Chipperfield disagrees.

“I thought it would be interesting to be much more wilful, camp even, than we normally would,” he explains.

“It’s very fake, very theatrical.

It is difficult to separate oneself from one’s design moralities. Should you do it? Maybe not. But once you’ve decided to do it, you have to go with it.”

To be fair, the Chipperfield effect at the Café Royal is extremely tasteful - think timeless luxe rather than Versace bling - but his willingness to reveal a playful side perhaps comes from the fact that he is at last being recognised in the country of his birth. He grew up in rural isolation on a farm in Devon and studied architecture at Kingston Polytechnic and the Architectural Association. His first major piece of work, after stints in the offices of both Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, was the Issey Miyake shop on Sloane Street in 1983, the success of which took him to Japan and led to the opening of his practice in 1984. In the subsequent decade he built more abroad than he did at home, but he has recently won accolades for two significant new public galleries in Britain - the Turner Contemporary in Margate and The Hepworth in Wakefield as well as acknowledgement by the establishment in the form of a knighthood in 2010 and the RIBA Gold Medal in 2011.

Why has acceptance in Britain taken so long? Chipperfield sighs. He has much to say on the failings of the architectural system in Britain, where most major projects are won by competing on fees rather than for the best design, as happens elsewhere in Europe. “The only reason we got to do the galleries in Wakefield and Margate is

extension to the Geffrye Museum in Bethnal Green, as well as a swish apartment building in Kensington and a handful of private houses.

Meanwhile his success abroad continues: in Berlin he has been appointed to restore Mies van der Rohe’s New National Gallery (“A great compliment,” he says); his offices in Shanghai and Milan where he has designed shops for Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino - are also busy.

With all the sobriety displayed in The Hepworth and the Turner Contemporary, you might assume that Chipperfield is an ascetic. Far from it. At his 12th-floor studio above Waterloo Station a staff of more than 100 work in a cool, loft-like space where at lunchtime they can be seen perching at long tables with plates of prosciutto and figs, sipping perfectly executed macchiatos. Home is on the grand Regency thoroughfare of the John Nash-designed Portland Place, in an openplan apartment where the rooms are divided by glass cases containing his personal collection of artworks, ceramics and family mementoes. He lives there with his Argentinian wife and their three children.

COMFORTABLE

Restoration drama: David Chipperfield in the Grill Room at Café Royal because out of all the thousands of competitions we enter, there just happened to be a couple in England that we won,” he explains. In the past he has said that the lack of enthusiasm for his work in his home country is because “it looks too dull; it doesn’t have enough bells and whistles”. So perhaps the current spike in his fortunes marks a shift in the aesthetic mood,

a revival - whisper it - of the kind of South Bank brutalism with which Chipperfield’s buildings share a certain kinship. His Hepworth gallery, a concrete building inspired by local industrial architecture, was described by The Sunday Times critic Hugh Pearman as “heavy, thick-walled, nonreflective, non-populist, introvert”. And that’s intended as a compliment.

Perhaps it’s his ability to make a building that is both clever enough for critics and beautiful enough for everybody else that is finally winning over the British. He certainly seems to be doing something right, as the highprofile projects are beginning to roll in: in London there is his scheme to remodel the Royal Academy building on Burlington Gardens and an

Cafe society: David and Angie Bowie after his final Ziggy Stardust performance in 1973. Left: Hollywood royalty Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Far left: the Cafe Royal in 1965

Chipperfield’s comfortable life extends to Berlin, where he has an office of 150 people and spends much of his time.

“We are building a new house for ourselves there; I call it the ambassador’s residence,” he tells me. For holidays, he spends a month each summer at a four-storey beachfront house of his own design in the small Galician fishing village of Corrubedo in northwest Spain.

Friends paint a picture of a man that is sometimes at odds with the rather sternfaced Chipperfield who appears in public. “He can be terribly funny,” says Simon Wallis, director of The Hepworth gallery. Jamie Fobert, who worked for Chipperfield for eight years and is now a leading architect in his own right, says: “He is incredibly generous; in the summer people from the office go down to stay at his house in Spain and they work together in the mornings. When I joined his office in 1988 it was tiny, there were only five of us, and he used to listen to the cricket on the radio all day. He’s very English like that.”

A more dandified Chipperfield now seems to be emerging, the kind who enjoys the theatricality of the Café Royal and has perhaps been affected by working within its gilded walls. Before he leaves the site office there is one more important decision for the architect to make. He is presented with a menu that has been designed for his wife’s birthday dinner the following day. Does he approve?

He looks at the elegant card, points to the black type and orders just one change: “Make it gold,” he says.

24 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Property Who can take action when common expenses are not paid is a problem

LEGAL ISSUES WITH GEORGE COUCOUNIS

Property value defined by the Land Registry

The disaster of Cyprus common expenses law

By Antonis Loizou FRICS VARIOUS attempts have been made in the past to make the Common Expenses law workable. As the law is at the moment, much of the workability of the administration of the common expenses rests entirely on the goodwill of the occupiers/owners. It is beyond us why such an important law which touches upon the quality of life in communal buildings has been ignored both by various governments and our MPS. The law as it exists requires that buildings commonly owned must set up an administrative committee, which, in order to have a legal status must be so registered with the Lands Office. We now learn that the Lands Office will not accept such registrations (God knows why) and as such, such committees have no legal basis. Human nature being what it is, some occupiers/owners do not pay their common expenses because they have complaints (justifiable or not) against the administrator, others do not pay because they have some issues with the developers (nothing to do with the common expenses), others do not pay because X neighbour is not behaving correctly, or in their opinion the cleaner does not do a good job and others for any sort of reason you can imagine. The end result is that beautifully delivered new buildings are run down, little/no maintenance is undertaken, no replacement of lifts and other mechanical installations takes

place and others do not pay petrol for the common heating because they are “never” in the building, others do not pay for the pool maintenance because they do not use it and so on.

The law stipulates that if anyone does not pay their share of common expenses the Administrative Committee (i.e. the rest) must pay the debt and sue the defaulter – in such cases and with our legal system and even bypassing the legal status of the administrative committee, it will take anything between two and four years to get a court order and even then the debtor might claim inability to pay and seek an installment extending for another two to four years!

So in a real court case for a common expense debt of €800, the remaining occupiers could pay €2,000 in legal and other fees, time wasted and aggravation to collect the total of €2,800 (when?).

Over the years and having being taught our lesson from those projects that we manage, we have introduced in the sales contract that the developer remains the administrator with an advisory committee set up from the buyers.

In the contract there is a proviso that the non payment of common expenses (prior to transfer) gives the right to the developer to cancel the sale agreement and seek repossession. Not a 100 per cent fool proof approach, but at least it will get the debtor worried and if action is undertaken by the developer and not the other residents, it will keep some sort of acceptable neighbourliness. If transfer takes place however it is most

WHAT YOU GET FOR

doubtful that such a procedure will hold good.

This approach is not liked by all, who feel that the residents themselves can manage the project better. This might be true in some cases but who will take it upon themselves to proceed with action against the debtors? In addition to the common expenses we have also numerous illegal extensions that are undertaken by occupiers. Under what authority can any other residents sue, because, if one depends on the local authority’s action most likely it will not lead anywhere. So at the end the formula that we suggest is better than what can be done under a non-workable law – at least up to transfer.

We needed a troika investigation to point out some of Cyprus failings and for which we are now paying dearly, causing a lot of distress to people without it being their fault. Also, on the other hand, do we have such a calibre of leaders to take bold measures to correct a sickening system so that we some have some hope for the future?

Examining the three “hopeful” presidential candidates and their programme for a “new” Cyprus, we have noted next to nothing on the real estate issues and they restrict themselves on the bickering of troika measures and odd things there and there.

Antonis Loizou & Associates Ltd – Property Valuers & Property Consultants, www.aloizou.com.cy, ala-HQ@ aloizou.com.cy

THE market value of an immovable property is defined by the Director of the Land Registry at the date when the sale is made. However, in some cases, it is higher than the amount agreed in the sale contract or declared in the relevant declaration by the parties concerned. The public dealing with immovable property transactions through the Land Registry is aware of the Director’s aforesaid authority and usually accepts his evaluation. The legislator has correctly provided the Director with this authority to ensure validity and stability when it comes to immovable property transactions and to avoid any deception of the government with regard to the exact selling price of an immovable property.

However, the Director’s authority is not absolute since the purchaser who is the one to pay the transfer fees, may object and is entitled to ask the Director for an on-the-spot inspection of the property to prepare an evaluation report. Despite any such objection, the transfer of the property is not affected and it takes place if the purchaser proceeds to pay the transfer fees based on the price temporarily estimated by the Land Registry, until the evaluation of the property is made.

The Department of Lands and Surveys Law provides that the registration of the title deed of a property sold is based on its price according to the scales included in the law. In this respect, it is stated that if the Director is not satisfied with the purchase price declared as being the market value of the property on the date when the sale was made he is entitled to impose and collect higher transfer fees based on the scales. In such a case, the registration of an immovable property in the name of the purchaser takes place without waiting for the Director to evaluate

the price of the property and transfer fees are collected according to the price declared plus an additional amount the Director may consider necessary. The law further provides that the evaluation of the property must be made and completed by the Director within three months of the date of the transfer. The evaluation report of the property must be notified to the purchaser who has the right, if he is not satisfied, to file an appeal before the court.

The aforesaid authority of the Director was examined by the Supreme Court in numerous cases where it was decided that the Director’s authority to claim registration fees calculated on a higher price than the one declared as selling price, was based on the law. According to the provisions of the said law, the Director can impose transfer fees based on the market value of the property if he is not satisfied with the purchase price declared. The Director, in the case of an objection by the purchaser, must proceed with evaluating the market value of the property at the date it was purchased and notify the purchaser accordingly. The purchaser, if he disagrees with the evaluation, has the right to appeal before the court. Therefore, when the purchaser makes an objection and a local enquiry takes place for evaluation purposes, and after it is completed there is still a difference between the evaluation and the temporary estimate made during the transfer, either the extra transfer fees are returned to the purchaser or if there are additional transfer fees payable they are claimed to be paid.

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

€190,000 compiled by Peter Stevenson

How much: €190,000 What you get: This two-bedroom luxurious apartment in Lakatamia comes with some furniture. Its kitchen is fully equipped with all electrical appliances.

From: www.foxrealty.com.cy Tel: 800 800 82

How much: €190,000 What you get: This two-bedroom villa comes with a Jacuzzi and is situated in the Pernera area of Protaras in a prime location.

From: www.buysellcyprus.com Tel: 26 200000

How much: €190,000 What you get: This three-bedroom apartment in Limassol has an open plan kitchen and living room, main and guest bathrooms plus south facing verandah with excellent views.

From: www.propertyincyprus.com Tel: 7000 3211

25 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

ADVERTISER helps you find what you’re looking for

Advertiser Only

€14 (plus VAT)

a week for classifieds (up to 40 words)

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

MISCELLANEOUS

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385

Collection Service available. For a free quotation call Mark on 70006766 All areas

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

vana papa@hotmail.com with the title babysitting .

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

***************************** IN CONCERN OF: COUPLES OF EU CITIZENS LIVING IN CYPRUS We are currently conducting a research as regards European families living in Cyprus. If both you and your spouse come from the same or a different country of the EU (except Cyprus and Greece, e.g. both from Germany, or Germany and France), if you have children above 6, and if you are interested in taking part in a research financed by the University of Cyprus please contact us at the no. 96530033. Participants will complete a questionnaire and participate in a face-to-face interview. They will also receive a symbolic amount of money.

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

PERSONAL

DO YOU WANT A SHINY LOOKING FLOOR? Full repair & restoration of chipped, scratched, dull and stained, Marble, Terrazzo, Stone & Ceramic tiled floors and surfaces. Professional cleaning, repair & sealing of internal/external ceramic tiles & grout lines.

For a free professional consultation & demonstration contact Mark at Premier on 70006766 or 96333961 All areas

SMART GERMAN BUSINESSWOMAN, 43, living in Cyprus, seeks a nice, intelligent man for marriage. Pls write with picture to: salieris@ymail.com.

GERMAN MAN, 50 years, searching a nice women. Mobil: 00491736590562

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

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

LESSONS ***************************** PRIVATE TUITION Experienced, UK-qualified teacher offers fulltime or part-time private home tuition in Maths, English, the Sciences, I.C.T., Geography, History, Business Studies and Economics, from KS3 to iGCSE, AS and A2 levels. 9 years experience in Cyprus; references available. Telephone 99318796

HEALTH & FITNESS MIKA is a beautiful and sweet female puppy, around 4 months, is looking for a loving home.

She is very lovable and she will definitely be your best friend.

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.

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

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND

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

Nicosia Wednesday/Sunday 99013596 Paphos Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday 99916331 / 99399240

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.

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

PETS

Details of meetings are available on www.aa-europe.net

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

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

SERVICES PENNY, a loving gentle female.

Will make a wonderful family pet. Around 3 years old. Excellent temperament, very loving and well behaved. He will make an amazing companion. Worth Meeting! He is 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.

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 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

**************************** UPHOLSTERY, RUG, BLINDS + CURTAIN Cleaning Rugs from 20€ - Carpets from 38€ - Fabric Suites form 85€ - Leather Suites from 95€ - Mattresses from 25€.

Curtains, Roman blinds, Vertical Blinds need to be surveyed.

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

MOLLY is sweet and polite and very gentle. Aged around 2 yrs, 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.

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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES BABYSITTING/CHILD minder for two 3 year old boys in Engomi, Nicosia . All year round Monday – Thursday hours between 15:00 – 18:00 extra hours during school holidays. We are looking for a fun, active and patient English speaking person that can take care of the boys after school hours, preferably with previous experience. Please call at 99 679412 or send your cv at

‘PROPERTY BUSINESS FOR SALE’ ‘Unique Opportunity to purchase FREEHOLD stonebuilt village property currently operating as a Cafe, with fully equipped kitchen.Seating for 40. Potential for further expansion. Easily converted to residential dwelling.

Viewing highly recommended.

Greatly Reduced. Details ring Tel: 99864097’ – Paphos Area

**************************** TIMI, PLOTS, a few selected available, seaview, near the 2 golf courses, Venus rock and airport. 60% Building factor, eu 99,000. Half registration fees till the 31.12.12. Tel. 99 621914

**************************** LARNACA, Alethriko, plots for sale, 525 sqm, 90% building factor, near highway Limassol-Larnaca, 5 min from airport, quiet residential area, eu 109,000. Half registration fees till the 31.12.12.

Tel. 99 621914

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

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049 available. Suitable for immediate development. Ideal for various health facilities and resorts, holiday centres, commercial and shopping centres, entertainment enterprises etc. Information: Tel. 22 674338, 99621554

FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554.

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES 2005 MINI 1 1.6 taxed MOT one owner good all round 6000 Euros O.N.O Tel: 99096902 – Paphos.

ROVER 600. 1998. 126000 km. €1200. Price Negotiable. A Honda-Era Rover, so the engine is a Honda Accord. Has Never had engine problem. Any parts I found at both Rover AND Honda. Oil change, MOT included Tel No: 99564063.

FORD FOCUS GHIA (2006) diesel, 1600cc, 98000km, blue, automatic - tiptronic. dual zone climate control, power steering, electric windows, 6 airbags, central locking, cruise control, computer board, alloy wheels, and many extras. €6900 ono. Contact: 99022779 Nicosia

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA 3 BEDROOM flat 140 sq.metres plus 80 sq.m veranda with extra room (studio). Fireplace, fitted kitchen appliances. Split-units in all areas, covered parking. In Pindarou str, 5 min walk to Makariou. 600 Euro. hadjidas@yahoo.com 0049 17670769271 99067198

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

***************************** FLATS/HOUSES for rent 1 bdrm in Aglantzia near the new university semi-furnished €430, 1 bdrm with furniture in Engomi €280, 1 bdrm in Akropoli near Philips college €450, 2 bdrm €550, Strovolos brand new 3 bdrm €650, Penthouse 3 bdrm roof-garden €850, detached house Aglantzia 2 bdrm big yard €450, detached house Pallouriotissa 3 bdrm €550.

STAVRINOS REAL ESTATE AGENCE A.M. 497 A A 166/E Tel: 99666703 email: yemo@cytanet.com.cy

***************************** FOR RENT or sell: 2 bed-room flat in Nikis Avn in Nicosia, 80 m.

Completely renovated, with electric supplies. Excellent for office or flat. 3 bed-room flat with electric supplies and some furnitures in Nicosia near Central Bank, 140m.

Completely renovated like new.

For info call mob: 99460860.

***************************** STROVOLOS 4 bdrm., house, c/h, a/c from €1000 now €800, Mak/ ssa f/f house, pool, 4 bdrm.,

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 25 Employment Miscellaneous 25 Pets 25 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 28 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia 29 For Sale Limassol -For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 29 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 29 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads --

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

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

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

26 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA 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

***************************** FLATS/HOUSES FOR RENT studio Acropolis €300, 1bdrm P/ ssa €450, Aglantzia €350, Str/ los €350, Acropolis €350 2bdrm Lycavito furnished €530, Acropolis €550, Ag. Dometios €500, 3bdrm Nikis av. €550 Str/los G/F €660, Tymbos independent €800, Ag. Omologites colonial listed building swimming pool maids room €2,500. PROPERTY FINDER LTD. 99474839 99646822 A.M.627 A.A.108/E

***************************** FOR RENT - Spacious one bedroom apartment, on second floor of small block of flats near the American Embassy, big veranda,

TO LET NICOSIA bathtub (not shower) wood floors, concealed lighting in all areas, provision for surround system, granite counters in the kitchen, built-in oven, refrigerator, washing machine, ceramic hob unit, solar water heater, instant water heater in the bathroom, A/C in the bedroom, double bed with side tables, bar furniture, roller blinds on the windows and veranda doors, covered parking. Price €470.00 the month. For Information 99660350

***************************** STUDIO flat in Pallouriotissa (next to McDonald) furnished €280. For info call 99606984.

***************************** TO LET spacious 2 bdrm apartment in a small building in Strovolos area near ARETAIEION hospital (dead-end) with independent petrol heating, 3 a/c, water pressure system, satellite. Directly available. TEL.: 96275151

TO LET NICOSIA ***************************** FLATS TO LET - Nicosia: A wide selection of furnished & unfurnished in all areas of Nicosia. NIKARIA ESTATE LTD Theo Loizides 22761616 / 99660050 nikaria@ cablenet.com.cy

***************************** 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.

TO LET NICOSIA lis, very quiet area between the Grammar School and the European University, also very convenient for Pascal and Highgate Schools and the University of Nicosia. Large front veranda, all appliances, modern fittings, light and bright. Furnished or unfurnished €550p.m. Call 99900177.

***************************** 2 ROOMS €125 each, near McDonald’s Engomi only Philippine girls. Call 99663927.

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

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

TO LET 3 bedroom house situated on a dead end street next to a small quiet park near Falcon School. Has an En-suite master room, large study room, central heating, a/c and fire place in the living room. For enquiries tel 99660758

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

***************************** MODERN 2 BDRM, first floor flat in attractive building in Anthoupo-

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

SONNY’S RESTAURANT WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR CUSTOMERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR !

WE WILL BE OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY, 6PM UNTIL LATE. ROAST DINNERS ON SUNDAY FROM 1PM TO LATE CLOSED TUESDAYS WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! CALL: 96877248

TO LET NICOSIA one car, recently painted. Rent €650pm. (furnished if required).

Tel: 97773358.

***************************** LUXURY HOUSES: 1.

5 bedrs detached house, 550sq.m, built in 2 big plots of land, big garden with grass, big swimming pool with extra fence for children and big covered patio with bbq area, big reception areas with marble floor, fire place and bar, big kitchen with all electrical appliances and sitting room with fire place, maid’s room, floor heating, full a/c, blinds on the windows, master bedroom with en suite bathroom and shower, big bathroom for the other 3 bedrooms and extra shower in the 5th bedroom - Strovolos €2500 (H5ST10001-R), (photos in the website).

2. H3AR0004-R, 3 bedr luxury detached house with central heat-

TO LET NICOSIA ing, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, parquet floor throughout the house, big sitting and dining area, big kitchen with family room opening onto the swimming pool which has big covered area with wooden deck, bbq area, covered parking, in a very quiet area behind Apoel football training ground - Archagelos - €1700 (photos in website).

3. 2 bedr fully renovated semi detached house 120 sq. m, a/c for hot and cold, small yard, FULLY FURNSIHED or not, double glazed windows with aluminum shutters, in a quiet area off Nikis behind Burger King - ACROPOLIS €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 fire place, big kitchen with cooker and oven, dishwasher and refrigerator, nice

27 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

TO LET NICOSIA

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

mature garden with flowers, trees and small garden with grass, covered parking, 3wc, 2 bathrooms in a quiet neighborhood. Available middle of January. Agios Andreas - €1200 - H3AAD0001-R (photos in website).

tral heating, full a/c, 180sq.m, FULLY FURNISHED or NOT, 2 covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighborhood opposite Acropolis park - Acropolis - €1000 - H3ACS0004-R (photos in website).

5. 4 BEDR spacious luxury detached house with central heating, full a/c, 3wc, big sitting and dining area, big separate kitchen with electrical appliances and family room, big bedrooms, blinds, bbq area, garden, 2 parking(one covered), in a very quiet area near Apoel training field – ARCHANGELOS - €1200 – H4AR0016-R (photos in website).

8. H4LAK0002-R, 3 bedr + office space luxury detached house, built on a big plot, 350sq. m, big swimming pool with cover, garden with grass, big sitting and dining room, separate family room, central heating, a/c, curtains on all the windows, cooker, dishwasher and dryer, parquet floor throughout the house,3wc, 2 bathrooms, 2 covered parking in a quiet area on the borders of Strovolos with Lakatamia - Lakatamia- €1600 (photos in website).

6. 3 bedr+big attic room with shower and wc luxury new house, 210sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 4wc, blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, small garden, covered parking near Alpha Mega supermarket - STROVOLOS €1100 (H4ST10007-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, cen-

9. 3 bedr upstairs and 2 separate bedroom in the basement luxury detached house(all the bedrooms with en suite bathrooms/shower), also separate kitchen and sitting room in the basement which has also separate entrance from the house, central heating, full a/c, solid parquet floor all the house, big sitting and dining room with fire place, big fully equipped

TO LET NICOSIA kitchen with breakfast area and family room, big overfloor, swimming pool with covered patio area with fully equipped bar(bbq, fridge, freezer, cooker), mature garden around the house, 2 parking places, alarm system near the Cyprus Conference Centre- PLATY AGLANTZIAS €3500 (H5PAG0002-R), (photos in the website).

10. 4 bedr semi detached house with central heating, 4 a/c, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, 180sq.m, electrical appliances, small yard, bbq area, off Kostantinoupoleos street near French ambassador residence.- STROVOLOS €700 (H4ST10043-R), (photos in the website).

11. 4 bedr luxury semi detached house with good size garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area, central heating, a/c units, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, 2 covered parking, FULLY FURNISHED AND EQUIPPED, in a quiet area in a dead end close to all amenities and schools. - ANTHOUPOLIS €1300 (H4ANT0002-R), (photos in the website).

12. 4 bedr luxury detached house,

CYPRUS VOICE FOR ANIMALS Thanks the public for their support to the ‘Charity Line Direct’ a social contribution

by CYTA. During 2011 a total of €1,255.78 was raised

TO LET NICOSIA 350sq.m,central heating, full ac, big garden with fruit trees, grass and swimming pool 6 X 12,2 covered parking, electrical appliances in the kitchen, 4 years old in a very quiet area 25 min from the centre – DEYTERA - €2000 – H4DEF0001-R (photos in 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 in website).

14. 3 bedr detached house with extra room for office, 250sq.m, central heating independent, 4a/c, big renovated kitchen with cooker and oven, big sitting and dining room with parquet floor and fire place, 1bathroom, 2 shower, 3wc, 2 covered parking, double glazed windows and shutters in bedrooms, big verandas surrounded by trees and bushes off 28th October street in the central

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

Tel. Tony on 99176557

TO LET NICOSIA part of Makedonitissa - Makedonitissa - €1100 – H3MAK0004-R (photos in website).

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

***************************** 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 in website).

2. AINIC0006- R, 1 bedr., fully furnished and equipped apartment, 50sq.m, 2AC for hot and cold, covered verandah, covered park-

TO LET NICOSIA ing, nice view, off Makarios avenue between Hilton and DEBENHAMS shop. Nicosia centre, € 450 (photos in website).

3. 3 bedr new luxury big apartment 150sq.m+big 25sq.m veranda with very nice view, big sitting and dining areas, big separate kitchen with all the electrical appliances, big bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, storage heaters, full a/c, shutters and blinds on the windows, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood off Prodromou close Ministry od Defence – Engomi- €600 – A3ENG0026-R (photos in website).

4. A1DAS0010-R, 1 bedr luxury spacious apartment with big sitting and dining room, big bathroom, big bedroom with shutters, covered veranda, storage heaters, 2a/c, cooker and oven in the kitchen, covered parking in a quiet area in a small modern building near Acropolis Park. Dasoupolis €400 (photos in website).

5. 2 bedr new luxury modern furnished apartment , central heating ind, 2 a/c, big covered veranda and covered parking in a

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

Tel. SELEC fencing 99176557

28 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

quiet area behind the Municipal building – Agios Dometios - € 660 - A2ADO0004-R (photos in website).

RENTED ALSO expensive MODERN furnished – Dasoupolis - € 1200 - A3DAS0019-R (photos in website).

6. 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 off Makarios avenue in a quiet area near the centre – Nicosia Centre€ 800 – A2NIC0030-R (photos in website).

10. 2 bedr luxury apartment with 3 a/c for hot and cold, big covered veranda, covered parking and storage room, NICELY FURNISHED, near Acropoli park behind Tseriotis showroom – ACROPOLIS €450 – A2ACS0033-R (photos in website).

7.

4 bedr luxury floor apartment,250sq.m, office, maid’s room, central heating ind, full hidden wall unit a/c,2 showers, 1 bathroom, 3wc, parquet floor, big kitchen with cooker and oven, bbq on the veranda in the kitchen, big sitting area, roller blinds on all the windows, alarm system, big veranda on a small building off Athalasas avenue near Alpha Mega supermarket and Areteion hospital – Dasoupolis - € 1100 - A4DAS0002-R (photos in website).

8. A1ACS0007- R, 1 bedr luxury spacious apartment with 2 a/c for hot and cold, electrical appliances in the kitchen, big bedroom, covered veranda, blinds, covered parking, in a quiet area near Acropolis park. NICELY FURNISHED. Acropolis €450 (photos in website).

9. 3 bedr new luxury finished PENTHOUSE apartment 150sq.m internal areas+120sq. verandas, solid parquet floor all the flat, big bedrooms, big sitting and dining room, big semi separate kitchen with electrical appliances, home cine ma with big screen, LCD tv, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood near CYTA, Laiki + Hellenic bank headquarters and French school. CAN BE

11. 3 bedr luxury spacious ground floor apartment with separate entrance, big verandas and garden, big sitting and dining room, central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, very big master bedroom, electrical appliances in the kitchen, aluminum shutters on windows, parquet laminate floor all the flat, covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighbourhood in a dead end street, off Athalasas Avenue behind Stephanis near English School €650 (A3ST10030-R), (photos in the website).

12. 2 bedr luxury apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds, big covered veranda, in a small 2 storey building in a quiet area behind Tymvos – MAKEDONITISSA - € 500 – A2MAK0008-R (photos in 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 in website).

14. 4 bedr new spacious luxury finished floor apartment with floor heating independent, full a/c,

TO LET NICOSIA 3wc, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds on all windows, very big 50sq.m covered veranda, fire place, covered parking and big overfloor 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 - €2000 - A4ENG0003-R (photos in website).

yds from the beach. It consist of 55sq.mtrs of balcony, private access and swimming pool €750/ month excluding water consumption, electricity and refuge collection. Mob: 96381524(cy) Mob(uk) 0044 7714400279.

GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year. Laminated parke floor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms. Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775

15. 2 bedrs new luxury apartment, sitting room open plan with kitchen which includes cooker, oven, refrigerator and washing machine, 2 wc, central heating, full AC, blinds on the windows, very big covered verandas, covered parking and storage room in a dead end off Athalassas avenue near Laiki popular bank and Hellenic bank headquarters. - DASOUPOLI €500 (A2DAS0006-R), (photos in the website).

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

16. 2 bedr luxury apartment with a/c for hot and cold, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking, off Stavrou Avenue behind Coffee Beanery. PRICE INCLUDES COMMON EXPENSES – STROVOLOS - € 550 – A2ST10051-R (photos in website).

2. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

Stunning two bedroom fully furnished apartment in Oroklini. Ref. TLL1574 Please call to arrange a viewing Tel. 24815926

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 PROPERTY TO LET - A 2 bdrm furnished flat in Yermasoyia (close to Miramare Hotel) and 20

12 months car insurance for the price of 10 Benefit from this fantastic discount through The Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday

Offering readers great value Motor insurance in Cyprus

PLUS

TO LET LIMASSOL

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LARNACA ***************************** 1. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

Town centre, fully furnished one bedroom apartment available for immediate occupation. Ref. TLL341. Tel 24815926

3. www.SuperiorRealEstateLarnaca. com – LARGE RANGE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. From studio apartments to 5 bedroom villas for rent, all properties have detailed descriptions, professional photographs. Interactive Virtual/Video Tours. Please visit our website. www.SuperiorRealEstateLarnaca. com 4. www.SuperiorRealEstateLarnaca. com. License No. 419. LANDLORDS AVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY WITH US FOR FREE. Tel. 24815926 Email. info@superior-

TO LET LARNACA realestatelarnaca.com

***************************** 2 BDRM ground floor semi-furnished in Larnaca, Dhekelia road opposite Marine club 30 metre from the beach €450. Stavrinos Real Estate R.B. 497 L/N 166/E Phone: 99666703 email yemo@ cytanet.com.cy FLAT IN CENTRAL LARNACA, Stasinou St, f/f, a/c, one bedroom, Off street car parking.

Foinikoudes, Zenonos Kiteos shops 200 metres. Rent €350 p/m. Tel: 24 815104/9939 5954

**************************** ON THE PHINIKOUDES PROMENADE. An unobrstructed, panoramic view of the sea and the marina. An exclusive superb 1 bdrm on the 4th floor on the beach. Fully renovated, brand new. Has fitted new kitchen, w/m, fully a/c and sauna room!!

Also suitable for office use. Must see to appreciate. Rent €450.

Call 99222197, 99541828.

**************************** 2 BEDROOM NICOLADES SEA VIEW CITY BLOCK, a/c’s in all rooms, private parking, sea view, walking distance to everything, can be used for office or residential. €750, minimum 12 months contract. 99320077 Larnaca

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

TO LET LARNACA **************************** FULLY FURNISHED one bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca.

Price €370. Tel: 99202543

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

PAPHOS **************************** EMBA, 3 bedroom detached house, with attached separate one bedroom apartment, large garden, mountain and sea views, unfurnished, €600 p/m o.n.o – agents welcome, call : 99683379

**************************** €290 /mnth Acropolis Heights Chlorakas (a) and € 380 /mnth Universal area (b) Both are

PAPHOS LONDON TRAINED HAIRDRESSER **SPECIAL OFFERS** *Free Cut & Blowdry (worth €25) with any Colour Service* *Gents Cut & Style 8 euro* Claim your reward by simply quoting ‘Cyprus Mail’ (valid until 28th Feb ‛13) VENUS BEACH HAIR SALON Find us -1 Venus Beach Hotel, Tomb of Kings.

Call Michelle: 99760543 or 26949200 (ext 350) Visit: facebook.com/VenusBeach HotelHairSalon for more info.

29 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

TO LET PAPHOS 2-bed houses, beautiful locations, in Cul-de-sacs, 10 years old, 90 sq. mts, Furnished, OpenPlan Lounge/Kitchen, Front Carport, Garden, (a) is Ground floor, 1 W.C/bath. (b) is 2-Floors, 2 W.CS/Bath and part air-conditioned. Call 99-632388.’

**************************** LONG TERM RENTALS 1. Geroskipou A large 2 bed apartment with large balcony facing the sea, fully furnished, covered parking, a/c €345 pcm 2. Tala 2 bed fully furnished apartment. Stunning sea views, large balcony, well kept gardens, communal pool, and quiet area. €350 pcm 3. Peyia Large 3 or 4 bed detached villas, secluded position, large private pool, a/c, and parking. Unfurnished or furnished.

Very nice, well worth seeing. €650pcm & €750pcm 4. Kato Paphos Furnished 1 bedroom apartment, a/c, private parking, well kept garden, communal swimming pool, large balcony with sea view. From €300 pcm REDUCED THIS IS JUST A SMALL SELECTION 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.

**************************** KILI – PAPHOS, 3 bedroom villa, with swimming pool and garden, unfurnished, gas central heating, large verandas, lovely mountain views, very quiet and tranquil area, €500 per month o.n.o. Call: 99479006

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

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

APHRODITE HILLS - Villa share at this amazing resort? Now availa-

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

ble for discerning people, luxury double rooms, each with own en suite and heating unit and plus of large lounge/dining/kitchen area, external patios, gardens and swimming pool. Fully furnished and equipped €800pm plus share of running expenses, min period 6 months or yearly contract renewal. To enquire (or view from January 2013) ring 99178141. A chance not to be missed!

**************************** 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. UNIVERSAL AREA €450 spacious 3 bedroom first floor apartment, master with ensuite.

Situated on small complex with no pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher. Balcony leads to a large private roof terrace with shaded barbeque area offering views of the sea, storage & sunbathing deck.

2. SEA CAVES €500 we are delighted to offer this detached 2 bedroom villa situated on a corner plot in a quiet residential area offering sea views. Gated drive for off street parking. Fully enclosed good sized low maintenance garden with private pool offering privacy and shaded areas. Available unfurnished or part furnished. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_482 3. KISSONERGA €550 modern detached 3 bedroom villa situated in a quiet residential area.

Master bedroom with ensuite, separate kitchen, downstairs guest wc. Enclosed garden offering private pool & off street parking. Available unfurnished though can include kitchen appliances. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_501 4. PEYIA €700 price includes pool cleaning. If you are looking for a villa with breathtaking views & privacy than this property is for you. This modern detached 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa is furnished with modern furniture, including satellite TV. One bedroom & bathroom on ground floor. A spacious enclosed garden with private pool offering stunning views. Off street parking. Website reference number: RTL_401 5. CHLORAKA €750 modern detached 4 bedroom 3 bathroom

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)

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

villa with ground floor bedroom & bathroom. Beautifully furnished with good quality modern furniture includes sky satellite, fly screens & feature fireplace with modern gas fire. Private pool offering views of the sea. Off street parking. Situated within walking distance of bus routes & shops.

Website reference number: RTL_611

FLOWRON PROPERTY SERVICES LTD: PROVIDING AN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS: PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR RENT LONG TERM RENTAL, PROPERTIES WANTED: FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WITH KEY HOLDING AND RENT COLLECTIONS OFFERED

TALA: A family home offered part furnished in a quiet residential area, property has off street parking, private pool, central heating and AC, modern kitchen, sitting/ dining area, guest wc, upstairs 3 bedrooms with master en suite, family bathroom, sea views. Ref: 988 Price: 750

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 accommodation offering an enclosed garden with c/pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture & solar panels. Website reference number: RTL_442

ANAVARGOS: 1 to 3 Bedroom apartments available near to the general hospital, furnished or unfurnished. All properties, have white goods and are modern.

The building has a lift and off street parking. Prices from 300400 Euros per month. Ref 7777 Price 300-400

7. ANAVARGOS €895 we are delighted to offer this unique 5 bedroom 3 bathroom rustic country home offering spacious living accommodation with large gardens, private pool & stone built bbq & entertainment area.

Fully furnished with log burner for those winter months. A real character home worth viewing.

Pets allowed. Website reference number: RTL_635 offers considered.

8. TALA €900 a charming detached 4 bedroom villa with character, situated on a corner plot in a quiet residential area with breathtaking sea views. Spacious living rooms with central heating & real fireplace. Separate kitchen & dining room. Good sized garden offering private pool and stone built barbeque area. Undercover parking. Available fully furnished. Website reference number: RTL_638 TEL: 97790883 OFFICE: 26271858 VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MANY MORE PROPERTIES www.mrrent-paphos.net Email: info@mrrent-paphos. net

**************************** 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 Or please view at are website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus

**************************** A DELIGHTFUL AND SPACIOUS 1 bedroom apartment, F/F, top floor, new, located at a peaceful location just 500 from St. George hotel in Chloraka. A+ quality apt. Within walking distance to amenities, part of a beautiful building with swimming pool, list and other amenities. Only €250p/m Other apts also available near Carrefour in the Centre of Paphos. Call 99403261, 26934650

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

ANARITA: 3 bed nicely furnished villa in the centre of Anarita village with private pool, off street parking. Property has a modern kitchen with granite work tops, sitting and dining area, guest wc. Upstairs 3 bedrooms Master with en suite shower, separate family bathroom. Outside shaded pergolas. Ref 855 Price 600 SECRET VALLEY: 3 bed villa fully furnished 3 bedroom villa with private pool. Nice furniture, master bedroom with on suite shower, family bathroom, 2 bedrooms with twin beds. Dining area, kitchen, guest WC, off street parking, private pool. Modern Villa. Ref: 1035 Price 700 SERCRET VALLEY: 4 bed beautiful furnished bungalow to the highest of standards, with large bedrooms - en suites, Modern large kitchen fully equipped, sitting and dining area with fire place. Outside heated pool, off street parking, landscaped gardens and great views. Ref: 1151 Price 1800 TIMI: 3 bed nicely furnished villa with large sitting and dining areas, fire place, full AC. Upstairs large family bathroom, 3 bedrooms, master bedroom having en suite shower and walk in wardrobes. Off street parking, private pool Ref: 722 Price: 600 PEGEIA: 4 bed villa with stunning situated in a lovely quiet location in Pegeia offered unfurnished.

The property has 2 down stairs bedrooms, a large sitting room with fire place, central heating, kitchen with Stylish design, dining area. Upstairs 2 bedrooms, large outside veranda. Outside stunning views Private pool. Ref: 765 Price: 900 MESGOI: large unfurnished villa situated in a residential area.

Property is very modern with fire place, downstairs bedroom with en suite, kitchen and separate utility room, 3 additional bedroom upstairs with master en suite, family bathroom. Outside private pool, fully fenced and private, nice views, pets welcome, suit family with children going to local international school. Ref: 783 Price: 750

FOR SALE – PAPHOS CATERING EQUIPMENT: • 2 stand up freezers • industrial oven • chafing trays • thermo boxes • catering tables • tablecloths with frills

Drug Info & Poison Control ............... 1401

• glassware, cutlery

Cyprus Samaritans ... 77777267

• All in excellent condition at reduced prices

Police Duty Officer ......... 1499 (Confidential Information)

Forest Fires ..................... 1407 Airports Larnaca ..........................77778833 Paphos ...........................77778833

please call : 99532841

OFFICE: 120 MAKARIOS AVENUE, PAPHOS. OFFICE: 26600450 MOBILE: 97614070 many properties available on WEB: www.flowron.com Email info@flowron.com

**************************** 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 on an elevated position on this prestigious development. Open plan living area.

Good sized kitchen. 2 double, bedrooms, master with en-suite shower room. Family bathroom.

Large patio areas with enclosed gardens and lovely sea views.

Covered parking and security gates.. Comm swimming pool. €425.00 or near offer 2 EMBA 3 bed 2 bath unfurnished villa in handy location close to the shopping areas. Property also has separate 1 bed apartment on the lower level. Large open plan living area and dining area. Fully fitted dining/kitchen with appliances . Guest WC. 3 double bedrooms one with ensuite. Family bathroom. Separate 1 bed apartment on lower level.

Perfect for dual living. Small garden & and parking. €550.00 a month.

3. GIOLOU – 5 bed unfurnished villa consisting of 3 bed, 2 bath 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.

Lnadscaped gardens €750.00 per month or close offers only 5. TRIMITHOUSA – 4 bed, 3.5 bath unfurnished villa set in quiet location. Open plan living area.

Fully fitted kitchen. Ground floor bedroom with en-suite shower.

Guest WC. Stairs to 3 more bedrooms, one with en-suite and family bathroom. Garden areas, large terraces and feature BBQ area and pergola. Private pool, garage. Never been occupied.

Available 1 Feb. €725.00 per month OVNO. 6. UNIVERSAL AREA – 2 bed fully furnished apartment. Living area, fitted kitchen. 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom. A/C, Enclosed garden

TO LET PAPHOS area. Comm pool and parking. €375.00 a month or offers. 1 & 2 bed apartments available on Universal starting at €250per month.

7. LOWER PEYIA – 3 bed, 2.5 bath part furnished villa situated in quiet cul du sac. Open plan living and dining area with doors out the 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. STROUMBI – 3 bed 2.5 bath large unfurnished villa in quiet village area. Spacious open plan living area with feature fireplace and dining space Good sized fitted kitchen and breakfast area.

Guest WC with storage area.3 double bedrooms. Master with en-suite bathroom. Family bathroom. Enclosed gardens, pool and off street parking. Realistically priced €550.00 per month.

OVNO FOR FULL LISTINGS OF APARTMENTS/TOWNHOUSES AND VILLA PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL LANDLORDS/OWNERS PLEASE CALL. PLEASE CALL 97648440 or email:- inforentals@aol.com

**************************** REFURBISHED stone-built village house located in Kili Paphos. Consists of 3 large rooms 1 small. Traditional wood burnt fireplace, fully tiled secluded yard and garage. Tel: 99210610.

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE NICOSIA **************************** NICOSIA, FLAT FOR SALE: 2 bedroom flat with title deeds, 110 sqm, fully renovated, best central area, 800m from the european university,excellent view, eu 99,000. Tel 99 621914

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

PAPHOS **************************** UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN LOFOS/ TALA, 2 three bedroom detached villas on large plot. House 1 with studio flat & pool. Both open plan with A/C, provision for C/H, BBQ, pergolas, gardens, private drives, sea/ mountain views, SEPARATE DEEDS. Available together or separately. Tel: 96718163/ 96366419 Price: €399,000 & €299,000

**************************** PAPHOS, FLATS FOR SALE OR RENT: kissonerga, 3 bedroom flat with title deeds, in a block of 4 flats only, fully renovated, 2 baths, 146 sqm closed area, ch, ac, covered parking, excellent view of sea and mountains, half registration fees till 31.12.12.Reduced to eu 135,000,or rent eu 450 pm. Tel 99 621914

**************************** 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.

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

FAMAGUSTA **************************** AYIA NAPA, studio for sale, 38 sqm, furnished and fully renovated, with title deed, in licensed complex, 500m from nissi beach, eu 49,000, tel. 99 621914

30 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser FOR PAPHIAKOS ANIMAL WELFARE SOS HELPLINE, 24 HOUR MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE - CALL 99655581 CONTACT DETAILS FOR PAPHIAKOS. Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare Education/Information Centre, No. 12 Dedalos Building, 8049 Kato Paphos PO Box 61272 8132 Kato Paphos Web. www.cyprusanimalwelfare.com www.facebook/paphiakos Email info@cyprusanimalwelfare.com Larnaca Emergency Service - The contact point for animal emergencies in Larnaca is Maria at the Paphiakos Animal Welfare Charity Shop, telephone 24623494 or 99325897 STOP, SHOP AND GIVE TO THE ANIMALS! ALL DONATIONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR CHARITY SHOPS! PAPHIAKOS & C.C.P. ANIMAL WELFARE Registered Charity No 1529 Contact our shops and we can take your clutter The Charity Shops are located at: Shop No.1 Agapinoros Street, Kato Paphos Tel 26910325 Shop No.2 Ap Pavlou Avenue, Kato Paphos Tel 26942894 Shop No.3 Gr. Afxentiou Avensia Court 3 Larnaca 24623494 Shop No.4 9 Ayiou Ioanni Street 3061 Limassol 25561695 Peyia Information Centre & Shop & T Rooms 26622828 Polis Information Centre & Shop & T Rooms 99223572 Book Exchange Shop Trimithousa 99771763 Our shops are always happy to receive your unwanted goods!

NOW YOU CAN HELP BY COLLECTING YOUR ALUMINIUM CANS AND HANDING THEM IN AT ANY PAPHIAKOS CHARITY SHOP OR THE CLINIC. SAVE AN ANIMAL AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!!

PAPHIAKOS CAR BOOT SALE EVERY SATURDAY at the Ambassador Restaurant and outside in the grounds at Paphiakos. Free parking. Sellers from 7am, buyers from 8am. For information & bookings please call MIKE on 96702600.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR PAPHIAKOS CHARITY NO. 1529 WORLD ANIMAL DAY. On Thursday October 4th Paphiakos will be micro chipping pets for only €20 including all the paperwork. For further information telephone 26953496.

To celebrate World Animal Day on Thursday October 4th Paphiakos will be offering free spaying/neutering for all feral and unwanted animals as they do throughout the year. Contact 26953496 for further details.

PAPHIAKOS SHELTER OPEN DAY The Open Day will be held on Sunday October 7th between 10am and 3pm. It will be a Family Fun Day out with a lot of different activities. There is car parking, toilets and refreshments on site so enjoy and join in the celebration of animals and what they bring to our lives. Entrance is €2 CHARITY HAIR CUT. On Thursday 4th October 09.30-17.30 without an appointment Andri at Atlantic Bay Hotel (2nd Floor) will be charging €5 for a haircut with all proceeds going to Paphiakos. Telephone Suzanne on 99151996 or Andri on 99604783.

SATURDAY SERVICES NICOSIA St Paul’s Church Hall, Byron Ave LIMASSOL ‘Meeting Point’, 193A Christodoulou H’pavlou, opp Molos Park on beach rd BIBLE STUDY FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN 10.00 am Nicosia • 10.30 am Limassol FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE 11.30 am Nicosia • 11.45 am Limassol Pastor: Branislav Mirilov 96702349 Info: Nsia 96207014 • Lsol 99322614 www.adventist.org | www.hopetv.org

PAPHIAKOS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. Saturday November 24th 9am – 3pm at the Crazy Spoon Restaurant. For further details contact 99151996. Stalls, Santa’s Grotto, Donkey Rides, Pirate Pat and many more.

CHEMISTS NICOSIA SUNDAY 13/01/2013 G. Hadjigregoriou, 27A Omirou Ave. Tel: 22673594, 22510112 (H) A. Ttooulas, 22D Kennedy Ave. Tel: 22763805, 22377349(H) A. Panayi, 15B Androcleous St. Tel: 22763575, 22317370 (H) E. Fesia, 173C Tseriou Ave. Tel: 22321499, 22325995 (H) N. Spanos, 1D Thessaloniki St, Anglanja. Tel: 22337761, 22444437 (H) LIMASSOL C. Pastellas, 88 Gladstone St. Tel: 25344040, 25727221 (H) N. Georgiou 258B Fr. Rousvelt Tel: 25821555, 25584237 (H) M. Potamitou 29B Vasileos Konstantinou A’ Tel: 25364000, 25382333 (H)

LARNACA E. Papaioannou, 52. 54 Stratigou Timayia St., Tel: 24633150, 24813135 M. Kyritsis, 107 Dianelou Str., Tel: 24656514, 24625038 (H) PAPHOS P. Savvides, 61 E. Pallikarides St. Tel: 26933568, 26934034 (H) PARALIMNI M. Klepiniotou, 16 Agiou Georgiou, Tel: 23820422, 23822330 (H)

NICOSIA MONDAY 14/01/2013 A. Eracleous, 12 D. Akrita St. Tel: 22433480, 22332622 (H) Th. Kotropoulos, 42A 28th October St, Makedonitissa. Tel: 22350091, 22325801 (H) K. Savvides, 4 Ifigeneias St, Akropolis Tel: 22495463, 22340305 (H) K. M. Leonidou, 177 Makarios Ave, Kato Lakatameia. Tel: 22383566, 22358486 (H) L. Socratous, 24C Peraios St, Strovolos. Tel: 22422279, 22321828 (H) LIMASSOL L. Lisiotis, 36 Thessalonikis St. Tel: 25364775, 25752846 (H) O&S Paraskeva, 98 Makarios III Ave. Tel: 25335220, 25387104 (H) E. Tsogkaraki, 3, Giannou Kranidioti Lemesos. Platres road., Kato Polemidhia, Tel: 25384736, 25366653 (H) LARNACA E. Constantinidou , 64 Z. Kitiea St. Tel: 24655129, 24657435 (H) M. Synesiou, S. Timayia Ave. Tel: 24638765, 24634887(H) PAPHOS H. Irakleous, 62C Ellados Ave. Tel: 26942343, 26954204 (H) PARALIMNI R. Kefala, 111 1st April St. Tel: 23730116, 23821516 (H)

DOCTORS ON DUTY NICOSIA Pathologist: Doros Polidorou, Tel: 99727817 Ophthalmologist: Antonis Glikeriou, Tel: 70000171 Urologist: Achilleas Corellis, Tel: 70007773, 99562642 Gynaecologist: Androula Perikleous, Tel: 22355928, 99623550 Paediatric Surgeon: Panicos Theodorou, Tel: 22469000, 99612311 Dentist: Silvia Perdiou, Tel: 22105161, 99220606 LIMASSOL Pathologist: Marios Simeonides, Tel.: 25581212, 99687510 Surgeon: Akis Pezikis, Tel.: 25733473, 99649943 Neuro-Surgeon: Christos Kyriakides, Tel: 99696706 Paediatric: Vasiliki Ioannidou, Tel.: 25361580 Paediatric Surgeon: Koualis Yiannakis, Tel.: 25731673, 25732256 Ophthalmologist: Andreas Elia, Tel: 25725134, 25353424, 99675811 Doctor: Michalakis Charalambous, Tel: 99616436

AYIA NAPA and DHERYNIA (Anglican Church in S.E Cyprus) Sunday Worship 9.30am Morning Prayer every Sunday morning at St Constantinos & Eleni Chapel, Dherynia (near Hospital in Dherynia) 11am at Scandinavian Church, off Nissi Avenue (opp Tassia Maris Hotel), Ayia Napa nd 6pm at St Constantinos & Eleni (2 week) Chaplain : Revd Simon Holloway M.A. Tel: 97 839349 www.angsecyp.org Visitors especially welcome

31 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Compiled by Rosie Ogden

Motoring

Record-breaking year for MG

MG is the fastest growing British brand in the UK, and the story of the revival of the world-famous MG octagon will be given a major boost in 2013

MOST of us probably think of the famous MGs of the past when we hear the name, but the famous British marque is looking forward to what will be one of the most significant years in its history after a recordbreaking 2012.

Official figures just released have revealed that MG is the fastest growing British brand in the UK, and the story of the revival of the world-famous MG octagon will be given a major boost in 2013.

Just as the old year ticked away, MG introduced DTiTECH diesel versions of the award-winning MG6 GT and MG6 Magnette to join the petrol models.

In 2013 an all-new model, the Fiesta-sized MG3 will

start coming off the final assembly line at the company’s Birmingham factory.

Last year was a record year, with more cars sold in the UK than in 2010 and 2011 combined. It was the best year for MG sales in Britain since 2006.

Figures released this week by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that MG sales grew by a staggering 117% in 2012.

Worldwide, the MG brand is growing at a faster rate than at any time in its 89year history. MG is now owned by SAIC Motor, China’s largest automotive company and the eight largest in the world. There are now 190 MG dealers in China and modern MG’s are

sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

MG’s for the UK are designed and engineered at the MG Birmingham site where SAIC Motor’s European Design and Technical Centres (SMTC) are located. Final assembly for the UK market is also carried out in Birmingham.

In 2013 the Design Centre at the MG Birmingham site will become the fifth largest in Britain when a £1.5 million extension plan is completed. This is part of an ongoing investment programme by MG’s parent company which recently saw a £1.4 million Engine Test Cell facility opened at the site in Longbridge, Birmingham.

This year will also see the

MG KX Momentum Racing team compete in the British Touring Car Championship series for a second year. In 2012 MG driver Jason Plato claimed third place in the drivers’ championship in what was supposed to be the team’s ‘learning year’ as MG returned to the track.

Guy Jones, MG Motor UK’s Sales and Marketing Director, said: “In the first quarter of 2013 we will expand the product range with the addition of high technology diesel power train for MG6 and our first special edition model, the MG6 GT BTCC Edition. Later in the year the MG3 super mini will be launched into the largest sector of the UK market. So 2013 certainly promises to be an exciting year for MG.”

Getting all the latest news in your tech-savvy vehicle Drivers ‘staying connected’ even on the move CARS are increasingly becoming a hub of technology, enabling drivers to ‘stay connected’ even on the move.

Almost all models now have the means to play your music from USB sticks as well as digital music players, and before too long (once most countries have broadband access everywhere), you will be able to do all the things you do online at home in your car.

More and more apps are being developed to enable drivers to access things through their smartphones, and Ford has just announced a link with Kaliki Audio Newsstand in the US through which, using Ford SYNC® AppLink™, you can listen to newspapers and magazines being read to you as you drive. Says Ford: “commuting time can now be put to better use by consuming some of the compelling newspaper and magazine content that we want to get to, but just never seem to find the time to read”.

In 2011, the US Census Bureau estimated that 140 million Americans spent more than two hours per day in their vehicles, with 50 minutes spent on commute time alone. “With Kaliki Audio Newsstand, Ford drivers can stay on top of their favourite news and magazine stories without taking their eyes off the road” says Ford.

Kaliki is a new smartphone app for Android devices that

Ford has just announced a link with Kaliki Audio Newsstand in the US through which, using Ford SYNC AppLink, you can listen to newspapers and magazines being read to you as you drive curates the top news stories from major newspapers and magazines and provides an audio version for on-demand playback in the vehicle.

“With people’s lives getting busier and busier, there is unfortunately less time to sit down with your favourite newspaper or magazine and read, so Kaliki reads it to you,” says Bruce Hopkins, vice president of Sales and Business Development for BT Software-Kaliki Audio Newsstand. “What makes Kaliki unique is the fact we have professional voices that read every story, making the

content pleasing to the ear, just like listening to your favourite news radio station or podcast.”

TOP PUBLISHERS Kaliki partners with top publishers in a wide variety of media genres such as Shape Magazine, TV Guide, Men’s Fitness, OK! and Agence France-Presse.

Recently added were local newspapers, starting with the Los Angeles and Detroit markets.

“Kaliki demonstrates how we can quickly work with

new apps that are adding convenience to the lives of our customers and integrate them into the car through SYNC AppLink,” said Doug VanDagens, global director of Ford Connected Services.

“Ford’s goal is to continuously add value to the vehicle through the addition of relevant content and services.”

All of this is available to Ford vehicles equipped with the company’s smartphone interface SYNC AppLink, but customers in Cyprus may miss out: when I called the Ford agent to ask if cars

imported to Cyprus had this feature they were a tad confused – some models apparently have SYNC for Bluetooth, but they hadn’t heard of AppLink!

However, Ford says that when a smartphone is Bluetooth®-paired with SYNC, the driver just needs to press the voice button on the steering wheel to voicerequest Kaliki without ever touching the phone. As soon as the app launches, the driver is prompted to select a publication by speaking the name of the newspaper or magazine. The app will

automatically start playing the list of available stories from that source.

Kaliki Audio Newsstand is free of charge to SYNC users. The SYNC AppLinkenabled Android app is available from the Google Play Store and a version for iPhone will be available in the Apple App Store later this month.

In the US, at least, SYNC AppLink is available on more than 1 million vehicles: 2013 Fiesta, Mustang, Expedition, Fusion, F-150, Super Duty®, Focus, E-Series and C-MAX.

32 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport ‘Button must take number one role,’ says Stewart

Texans’ Schaub facing big test against Patriots New England had crushed Houston in week 14, knocking Texans off their perch

By Simon Evans HOUSTON Texans quarterback Matt Schaub starts his first road playoff game, at the New England Patriots today, with the pressure on.

The Patriots, coming in from a bye week, loom as favourites in the American Football Conference (AFC) divisional round clash as they look to go one better than last season when they lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

New England crushed Houston 42-14 in week 14, a result which knocked the Texans off their perch and started a slump which also affected Schaub.

Although the Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts in week 15, they ended the regular season with successive losses and then were far from convincing in the 19-13 wild-card round win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Schaub has thrown just

one touchdown in those four games and has made three interceptions and given up 10 sacks.

The intense atmosphere of a road game in the playoffs will test all of the 31-year-old’s character.

“I think he will be ready,” said Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson.

BRADY A VETERAN “He’s working his butt off like he’s done every week.

I think just getting his first (playoff) win probably got a monkey off his back because that is something people talked about,” he said.

Schaub missed out on the playoffs last year due to injury but his opposite number Tom Brady has no shortage of post-season experience.

Brady has won 16 playoff games, a league record that he shares, for the moment, with Joe Montana.

He has also played in five

Super Bowls, winning three of them, but he believes track records go out of the window when it comes to the playoffs.

“I played games early in my career when I had no experience and I did pretty well,” he told reporters. “I think it always comes down to who is executing the best and not so much the experience.”

The Texans must hope that their outstanding defensive end J.J. Watt can get to Brady and make life painfully uncomfortable.

“He’s a force on every play, no matter what play you have called, he can run it,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belch of Watt.

“He makes a lot of plays on the backside, disrupts the ball, strip-sacks, causes fumbles, batted balls. He’s an excellent pass rusher, quick and powerful.

“He is a tough match-up with good technique, well coached and he plays hard. He’s a factor on every play.”

Under pressure: Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub had missed out on the playoffs last year due to injury

‘We’re not running scared,’ insists Sri Lanka’s Ford

IN BRIEF

Sri Lanka’s Ford believes his side will perform today

SRI Lanka coach Graham Ford says his side are determined to rectify their poor running between the wickets in today’s second one-day international against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

Chasing 306 to win the series opener at the MCG on Friday, the tourists were in the contest at 111 for two after 25 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (51) and Dinesh Chandimal (73) were starting to get on top before the former was run out thanks to Usman Khawaja’s direct hit.

Glenn Maxwell also threw the stumps down, removing Angelo Mathews (12), before a mix-up saw Lahiru Thirimanne

run out without scoring from the very next ball.

The three run outs came in the space of just 26 deliveries as Sri Lanka lost three for 17, and they were eventually bowled out for just 198.

“There’s been a bit of discussion already,” Ford said in the lead-up to today’s match.

“We have chatted and there was some good fielding which contributed to some of them but you just can’t - when you are chasing a score like that - you just can’t have the guts of your batting taken out through run outs.

“The pleasing thing is that quite a number of our batsmen look in good form and played really nicely but to give away three wickets to run outs makes the job almost impossible.”

Ford felt his side bowled too many “easy boundary balls” in the 107-run defeat but believes they will bounce back well today.

“You want to get on the scoresheet.

We want to get out and play some good cricket and show that we are a good team. We know we have to be good and we know we are up against a good team,” he said.

SIR Jackie Stewart has urged Jenson Button to consider himself McLaren’s number one driver this season.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh this week insisted Sergio Perez will have equal billing with Button following the Mexican’s arrival as replacement for Lewis Hamilton.

It has always been McLaren’s policy that no driver is given preferential treatment over the other, regardless of age or experience.

But with three seasons with McLaren behind him, and ahead of his 14th year in Formula One, Stewart feels Button now has the opportunity to impose himself on the team and push for his second world title.

Speaking to Press Association Sport, three-time world champion Stewart said: “It’s not a question of equal footing this year.

“You’ve someone in Jenson who knows the engineers, telemetry people, knows the business, and who has been there, seen it and done it.

“So I think he can do it again (win the world title) with the right equipment, and there cannot be a better supplier of that equipment than McLaren.

“They are about as good as they come. They’ve got the facilities, so many assets, so yes, he can do it if the car is good enough and he is psyched up enough.

“He no longer has to keep up with Lewis and that’s a mental thing, so he has to see himself as the number one driver, and that McLaren are depending on him.”

For Stewart, the only question mark surrounding Button is whether he can win races on a consistent basis.

Button has won eight races with McLaren, including the final one of last season in Brazil, but never enjoyed back-to-back triumphs.

“Whether he has what it takes to be a serial winner (with McLaren), the jury is still out because he hasn’t done that yet,” he said.

Hill injury heaps more misery on Lakers woes

Ice-cool rookie Henley sets a Sidelined Davies another significant blow for Wales record pace at Waialae

AS if a sixth defeat on the bounce was not bad enough, the injury-hit Los Angeles Lakers faced further gloom on Friday with the news that back-up forward Jordan Hill will likely miss the rest of the season.

Hill, the most impressive bench player for the Lakers in a surprisingly below-par campaign, sat out the 116101 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left hip injury.

The six-foot 10-inch forward had an arthrogram test earlier on Friday which revealed loose fragments along with a possible labral tear and has been advised to have season-ending surgery.

AMERICAN Russell Henley, surprisingly unflappable for a PGA Tour rookie, lived his dream for a second consecutive day at the Sony Open in Hawaii as he charged into a two-shot lead in record style on Friday.

The 23-year-old fired a flawless seven-under-par 63 in warm, windy conditions at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu to post a tournament low of 14-under 126 after the first two rounds.

Five players shared the previous 36-hole record of 128 at the Sony Open, with John Cook the most recent in 2002.

WALES have suffered another significant injury blow ahead of the RBS 6 Nations after Cardiff Blues second row forward Bradley Davies damaged his ankle ligaments in training.

The Blues confirmed the injury, saying it would not be known how long Davies will be sidelined for until after surgery. “Bradley will have an operation early next week and an accurate timescale on his recovery will be assessed after the operation,” the club stated.

Interim Wales head coach Rob Howley must hope it will be a brief spell on the sidelines as he was already facing a lengthy injury list.

33 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Sport

Djokovic, Williams the red-hot favourites at Australian Open

Baghdatis to take on Ramos in Melbourne

Serb is fitter than ever, Serena has stormed back to pre-eminence

By Nemanja Bjedov

By Nick Mulvenney WITH even their main rivals trumpeting Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams as the runaway favourites to win the Australian Open, it is tempting to view the honour roll at the year’s first tennis grand slam as pre-ordained.

But however well the pair are playing, they should perhaps bear in mind that the brutal heat, inspired opponents and the heartbreak of injury have unseated more than a few ‘sure things’ over the years at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic has been backed by no less than Roger Federer to achieve what even the Swiss was unable to do in his pomp by winning three successive Australian Open titles.

The Serbian world number one loves the hot conditions and a playing surface that brings the ball to him high and slow, and has won three of his five majors in Australia.

The conditions favour the fittest and there are few fitter than Djokovic as he proved last year when he beat Andy Murray in five sets in the semi-finals and then prevailed against Rafa Nadal in the longestever grand-slam final.

Nadal’s battered body means he is absent this year, leaving Djokovic in the top half of a draw with the lessthan-imposing figure of David Ferrer standing as his toughest opponent should both reach the semi-finals.

Murray and Federer are in the other half of the draw and, perhaps for the first time, the Scot is more favoured than the 17-times grand slam champion after finally entering the club of major champions at last year’s US Open.

Having also ended Britain’s long drought without a grand-slam champion, and won an Olympic gold medal on home soil to boot, Murray should be freed of the pressure that contributed to his defeats in the Melbourne finals of 2010 and 2011.

Federer, four-times a champion in Australia, cannot be considered a spent force quite yet, particularly after the 31-year-old’s remarkable renaissance at Wimbledon last year which allowed him to briefly recapture the number one ranking.

Spain’s Ferrer, who enjoyed his best year on the tour in 2012, and Czech Tomas Berdych would be

If Djokovic (above) does match Agassi and Federer as the only four-times men’s singles champions in the open era, and Williams (right) equals Court’s open-era record with a sixth women’s crown, few will be greatly surprised better bets as dark horses were they not in the same half of the draw as Djokovic.

Sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro has a good draw and has recovered physically from the wrist injury that almost ended his career in 2010.

However, the tall Argentine has yet to reproduce the form that won him the 2009 US Open at another grand slam and has failed to get beyond the quarter-finals at any of the four majors since his comeback.

Williams is an overwhelming favourite for a sixth women’s title after storming back to pre-eminence last year with titles at Wimbledon and the US Open. The 31-year-old has won 35 of her last 36 matches and is odds on with the bookmakers to take home a third successive grand-slam title and a 16th in all.

Victoria Azarenka is the defending champion but the world number one has such a wretched record against the American (1-11) that their potential meeting in the semi-finals would present a major mental hurdle for the Belarussian.

Azarenka started last year on fire, going 26 matches unbeaten, but this year a freak injury resulting from a pedicure forced her to withdraw from her semi-final against Williams at the Brisbane warm-up.

The 23-year-old said at Friday’s draw that the damaged toe was now okay and she was happy with her preparations for her first grandslam title defence.

Maria Sharapova, the 2008 champion, was humbled by Azarenka in last year’s final and also forced to withdraw from Brisbane with a collar-bone problem.

The Russian also declared herself fit and well to compete in Melbourne on Friday and, seeded second, ended up in the other half of the draw from Williams and Azarenka.

Apart from Williams, the other form player at the start of this year has been fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who put together a winning streak of nine matches to win backto-back titles at the Auckland and Sydney warm-ups.

The Pole, beaten in the Wimbledon

final by Williams last year, will arrive in Melbourne bursting with confidence that her all-court guile might enable her to beat more powerful opponents.

China’s Li Na, a finalist in Melbourne in 2011 before her French Open triumph later that year, is always a threat if she can hold her equilibrium and is also in form after winning her first tournament of the year in Shenzhen.

The Australian Open is now the richest tennis tournament in the world with a prize purse of A$30 million ($31.70 million) and the days when it was considered the least of the four grand slams and threw up more than its fair share of surprise champions are gone.

So if Djokovic does match Andre Agassi and Federer as the only fourtimes men’s singles champions in the open era, and Williams equals Margaret Court’s open-era record with a sixth women’s crown, few will be greatly surprised.

The championships will begin tomorrow.

MARCOS Baghdatis completed his preparations for the Australian Open at the AAMI Classic exhibition tournament in Kooyong with a straight sets loss to World No. 6 Tomas Berdych in the third place play-off yesterday.

The Czech’s performance was a vast improvement after losing in straight sets to eventual event winner Lleyton Hewitt earlier in the week. Berdych needed four match points to finally put away 2006 Melbourne Park finalist Baghdatis, w with the Cypriot driving a ball into the net to end the contest.

The draw for this year’s edition of the Australian Open was made on Friday in Melbourne, with Baghdatis, seeded 28th, set to face Spain’s Albert Ramos in the opening round.

“You think about it, the first opponent for sure,” said Baghdatis. “I have looked as far as Ferrer in the third round, you see the first big name you have and kind of look until there.

Y You start putting it in your mind and slowly, slowly you think about how to start to work on how to play Ramos.”

“He is a lefty, he is a baseline player. I think he plays pretty well, can move well on court, he is solid on the baseline. He will play his match.

“I just have to stay focused and try to play the game I have been playing the last few tournaments. I think if I do that, I will have a good chance,” the 27-year-old Cypriot said.

Baghdatis finds himself in the second quarter of the draw, with a second-round meeting against Japan’s Tatsuma Ito or Australian John Millman should he advance.

He is seeded to face World No. 4 and former Australian Open semi-finalist David Ferrer in the third round.

Tomic and Hewitt give local fans hope, while Ferrer enters record books BERNARD Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt gave local fans some excitement before the Australian Open with victories in warm-up tournaments yesterday while David Ferrer entered the record books.

Smarting from the poor form of women’s world number nine Samantha Stosur, who lost first round matches in Brisbane and Sydney, and the lack of top-class local talent in the men’s draw, Australian fans seemed resigned to another home grand slam without a standard bearer to cheer on

deep into the second week.

Yesterday, however, Tomic captured his first ATP Tour title when he beat South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-7 6-3 in the Sydney International.

“It’s a great honour to win my first title here,” said Tomic, still at loggerheads with Australia’s Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter over perceived attitude problems. “It’s been a long time coming but I’ve finally got one of these trophies.”

Hewitt turned back the clock to thump Juan Martin del Potro 6-1 6-4

and win the Kooyong Classic.

The 31-year-old Hewitt, who has been troubled with foot, toe, hip and hand injuries in recent years, also beat Canada’s Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic at the eight-man invitational tournament.

The 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon champion sealed his second Kooyong title when he ran around a del Potro serve and blasted a forehand winner across court to raucous applause.

“I moved really well and I felt sharp

out there which is a good sign,” Hewitt told reporters. “I hit the ball as well as I have in a long time.”

World number five Ferrer entered the record books with his fourth Auckland Open title, while Elena Vesnina won her first WTA title at the Hobart International.

The 30-year-old Ferrer’s 7-6 6-1 demolition of 2008 Auckland champion Philipp Kohlschreiber in 78 minutes ensured the Spaniard joined Australia’s Roy Emerson as the only four-time winner of the title.

The Cypriot was beaten in straight sets at Kooyong by Berdych yesterday

34 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport ‘Barca not reliant on Messi,’ says Mascherano BARCELONA defender Javier Mascherano has hailed compatriot and team-mate Lionel Messi but stressed the club do not rely solely on his talent.

Messi collected his fourth successive Ballon d’Or earlier in the week after scoring 91 goals in 2012 and his goalscoring exploits have led to Barcelona moving 11 points clear at the top of the Primera Division.

But, ahead of today’s clash with fourth-placed Malaga, Mascherano has praised the abilities of Barca’s other attacking talent such as David Villa and Alexis Sanchez.

“The front line is very important for this team,” he said. “Firstly because they can be trusted and, in addition, we also cannot rely on one player.

“Obviously it’s super important, first for their confidence, and it is important because in a team like

ours, playing three competitions, we cannot always depend on a player”

FATIGUE COULD BE AN ISSUE The trip to Malaga will be Barcelona’s third game in the space of a week and Mascherano is aware tiredness could become an issue but is keen to continue doing well whilst manager Tito Vilanova continues to recover from cancer treatment.

“Playing three games in 10 days with the same team generates some wear,” he said.

“There’s nothing positive about Tito not being with us - but the best way is to leave it alone.

“We just want to be good and do what is needed.”

Malaga welcome the league lead-

ers to La Rosaleda having lost at struggling Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.

Winger Joaquin is hoping to use their home advantage against Barcelona after beating Real Madrid 3-2 last month.

“Playing at home we have to show that we are better,” he said.

“The challenge is greater against Barcelona. We must have confidence and take the initiative.”

Spain international Joaquin is aware that Barcelona offer a different threat to most other teams but is keen for Malaga to stick to their usual gameplan.

He said: “We have to try to continue with our own identity.

“They (Barcelona) tire the opponent physically and mentally. We must seek to take away the ball and be aggressive.”

Messi may have won his fourth successive Ballon d’Or, but Barcelona has other talent too, insisted his compatriot

Giovinco totally devoted to Juve cause

Rodgers seeing consistency ahead of United encounter

SEBASTIAN Giovinco admits he has a lot to be thankful for ahead of his return to Parma, but the diminutive forward is now fully committed to the Juventus cause.

Seven years ago, Juve academy graduate Giovinco was being touted as one of the future stars of Serie A, but his sporadic appearances and inconsistent form saw him loaned out to Empoli and then Parma.

Giovinco became a firm fan favourite during his twoyear spell at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, leading Parma’s scoring charts last season to secure an eighth-placed finish before Juve re-signed him for 11 million euros.

The 25-year-old has excelled on his return to Turin, scoring 10 goals, and is prepared to complete the transition by ending Parma’s lengthy unbeaten home run today.

He told Sport Mediaset: “I owe Parma a lot because they believed in me and relaunched my career. We became a very tight unit under (Roberto) Donadoni, one that was difficult to beat.

“We need to kick on after the defeat to Sampdoria and we will do everything we can to come out on top in a tough challenge.”

The Bianconeri are contesting the Scudetto, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia and Giovinco is wary of the pitfalls of such a busy schedule.

“We will face nine games in 35 days,” he added. “The most delicate stage of the season is on its way, with a lot of important matches that are close together.

“This, however, is a good thing as it means we are in the running for all the trophies.”

Juve are determined to avenge a shock 2-1 loss to Samp by claiming all three points at Parma, something they have not achieved since January 2010 and an outcome that would see Parma lose at home for the first time since March 2012.

Liverpool trail Red Devils by 21 points

By Carl Markham LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers admits his side are still some way off matching arch-rivals Manchester United’s consistent dominance, but he remains confident it can be achieved.

It is almost 23 years since the Reds won their last league title and in the intervening period they have had to watch their arch-rivals accumulate championships with alarming regularity.

Two seasons ago United moved themselves clear of Liverpool’s tally with a record 19th title, and it may be a while before the Merseysiders are in a position to genuinely think they can begin levelling things up again.

“Of course Manchester United have been very dominant over a number of years, but this is a football club that also had dominance for many years,” said the Liverpool manager.

“It’s a long, hard journey but it has to start somewhere, and what I’ve seen in this first period that I’ve been here is that, going forward, we can achieve great things.

While Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the dominance of Manchester United, he reminded critics of his own side’s illustrious history, and said the signs going forward were positive “The root of it is having a competitive squad and that is what we are trying to build, create consistency and an environment which allows you to learn and develop.

“There is no doubt on the day, as we have shown this season, we will be a match for anyone but we are now starting to see that consistency

and that is important if you are going to succeed.

“That will be the benchmark for us going forward and hopefully we can keep progressing up the table.”

Liverpool head to Old Trafford today 21 points behind leaders United.

Only once since Sir Alex Ferguson joined United in 1987

have Liverpool been so far behind them at this stage - in 1994 under Graeme Souness.

This week new signing Daniel Sturridge insisted there was no club in England bigger than Liverpool. It was a statement viewed with scorn and disdain but Rodgers was mindful to agree.

“It’s two of the biggest clubs

in the world, not just in Britain. Two clubs who are renowned worldwide,” he said.

“People will knock (Liverpool) at the moment because of the standards that were achieved here in the 1970s and 1980s, but that doesn’t stop it being one of the biggest clubs in the world, and a club many players want to play for.”

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger expecting all-or-nothing City showdown ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger maintains today’s Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City at Emirates Stadium is an all or nothing showdown for both clubs.

The Gunners host the defending champions needing a victory to close back within striking distance of the top four.

City, meanwhile, cannot afford another poor showing at Emirates Stadium - where they have never won in the Premier League - if they are to hang onto the coat-tails of Manchester United, who host Liverpool in today’s lunchtime kick-off.

Wenger admits anything other than a maximum-points haul will do either

side’s ambitions little good.

“I think they are in a situation where a draw will not be good enough, and we are in the same situation,” said the Arsenal manager.

“The fact that both teams have to absolutely go for a win promises a more open game. When you are in that (title) situation, you don’t want

to drop more points because it can be damaging for your chances.”

Wenger added: “It (the championship) is still very open. When you watch the games, no team today goes into a Premier League game and is sure to win it, therefore I believe every team can drop points. It is much more open than people think it is.”

35 SUNDAY MAIL • January 13, 2013

Sport

Redknapp takes heart with point against his former club

Reading breathe new life into survival bid

Rangers hold Spurs in hardfought tie

Reading 3 West Brom 2

QPR 0 Tottenham 0

By Justin Palmer HARRY Redknapp said the green shoots of recovery were starting to take shape at Queens Park Rangers after they followed up last week’s shock win at Chelsea by holding high-flying Tottenham Hotspur to a 0-0 draw yesterday.

Redknapp hailed a “fantastic performance” by the Premier League strugglers at Loftus Road against a club that sacked him in June following almost four largely successful years at White Hart Lane.

“Every bit as good as the performance against Chelsea - we worked our socks off against a real top team today. I can’t ask for more than that,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

Rangers were well-organised in defence and while goalkeeper Julio Cesar was in top form, making a fine double save early on and denying Jermain Defoe again after the break, Redknapp picked out the efforts of defenders Nedum Onuoha and Fabio.

“We restricted them to very few oportunities. Nedum Onouha and Fabio nullified two fantastic wingers,” he said.

Tottenham could not press home their early dominance with Queens Park Rangers doing a good job on containing Spurs dangerman Gareth Bale (right) “That was the quietest I’ve seen (Tottenham winger) Gareth Bale for many a year - Onuoha did a great job on him and we know what a great player Gareth is. The little left back (Fabio) did exactly the same with Aaron Lennon.”

Rangers are still en-

trenched in the bottom three and the manager, who replaced the axed Mark Hughes in November, said he was eyeing one or two additions in the transfer window.

Redknapp is keen on bringing in Spurs midfielder Jake Livermore on loan

and said Rangers had made an offer to West Bromwich Albion to buy their striker Peter Odemwingie.

“You hope you can get a couple of players in but if you don’t we keep going with what we have,” he said.

“If we can get the right

More woe for Lambert as Saints triumph

Premier League standings Team

Aston Villa 0 Southampton 1

By John Curtis ASTON Villa’s miserable season suffered another damaging blow as a controversial penalty - converted by skipper Rickie Lambert - earned fellow strugglers Southampton victory at Villa Park.

Villa defender Enda Stevens appeared to make no contact on Saints player Jay Rodriguez before he went to ground just inside the box, but stand-in referee Mark Halsey - a late replacement for the ill Chris Foy - thought otherwise.

Lambert made no mistake with his 34th minute spotkick to move Nigel Adkins’ side above Villa and com-

The loss to Southampton capped a miserable week for Villa boss Lambert plete a double.

The harsh reality is Villa have now taken only one point from their last five league games and look set for a season-long battle to stay up.

It completed a miserable week after the Capital One

Cup semi-final, first leg setback at Bradford.

The defeat further emphasised the need for Paul Lambert to bring in reinforcements during January although he indicated on Friday that there will not be major funding available.

players I’ll bring them in, I won’t bring them in for the sake of it.”

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas conceded Rangers had frustrated his side, who failed to score on their travels in the league for the first time this season.

The third-placed side began strongly, denied an opening goal after five minutes when Cesar turned Defoe’s powerful strike on to the post, then kept out Emmanuel Adebayor’s follow-up.

But they could not press home their early dominance with Rangers doing a good containing job on dangerman Bale.

“They defended very well; we wanted to play with a higher tempo, but they frustrate you,” Villas-Boas told the BBC. “Julio Cesar had a great game. We had some big chances; in a game like this it’s important to score first. It was a difficult game for us, but we got an away point so we are satisfied.”

Redknapp and Villas-Boas exchanged a hug before the game and a brief chat at the final whistle, putting to an end any lingering emnity.

The Portuguese said there were “no hard feelings” after he was upset by Redknapp’s comments earlier this month criticising his stint as Chelsea manager last season when he was sacked by Roman Abramovich after less than nine months in charge.

Redknapp said only “a real dope” would fail as manager of Chelsea.

When asked about Redknapp after yesterday’s game, Villas-Boas said: “I have tried to be respectful and I think Harry is the same.

“He’s been a great example to follow so there are no hard feelings.”

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54 74 41 67 43 69 39 55 35 59 40 51 31 50 34 46 31 52 21 53 24 45 24 51 33 42 24 45 28 43 27 44 23 36 17 53 26 36 17 41

A Pts 28 35 19 30 19 39 27 33 26 41 22 45 30 45 26 44 26 54 24 68 27 41 34 52 38 56 29 58 38 57 39 63 40 54 42 74 42 59 36 64

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By Alex Lowe READING breathed new life into their Barclays Premier League survival bid when two late goals from Adam Le Fondre and Pavel Pogrebnyak completed a stunning comeback victory over West Brom.

The Baggies had been in cruise control after Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku had put them 2-0 up and hit the woodwork twice.

Reading, by contrast, seemed down and out, and a return to the bottom of the table, after QPR’s draw with Tottenham earlier in the day, was looking inevitable.

But Jimmy Kebe grabbed an opportunist goal to set up a tense finish and the Royals snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by completing a dramatic late turnaround.

Le Fondre came off the bench to draw Reading level with an 88th minute penalty after Kebe had been fouled by Jonas Olsson before Pogrebnyak bundled in the winner from an Ian Harte free-kick.

Reading had been hoping their 3-1 FA Cup win at Crawley would kick-start their survival bid and they started with new signing Daniel Carrico in central midfield.

But for 80 minutes they seemed destined for another Premier League defeat - and a return to the foot of the table as Lukaku and James Morrison led them a merry dance.

Their unlikely win over the Baggies gives them some breathing room as they remain in the danger zone.

Premiership results QPR Tottenham

0 0

Aston Villa Southampton

0 1

Everton Swansea

0 0

Fulham Wigan

1 1

Norwich Newcastle

0 0

Reading West Brom

3 2

Stoke Chelsea

0 4

Sunderland West Ham

3 0

Playing Today Man Utd v Liverpool, 3.30pm Arsenal v Man City, 6pm

36 January 13, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

Djokovic, Williams the red-hot favourites at Australian Open 33

Redknapp takes heart with point against former club Spurs 35

Chelsea end Stoke streak Potters suffer biggest home loss since 2008 Stoke 0 Chelsea 4

By Eleanor Crooks

S

City are hoping Aguero, who will miss today’s clash with Arsenal due to injury, will be fit to return for next week’s Fulham encounter

City boss Mancini not bothered about United MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini claims Manchester United are of no concern to him this weekend.

The Italian says he has no interest in his title rivals’ much-hyped clash with Liverpool as he prepares for a testing trip to Arsenal on the same day.

Mancini’s champions trail United by seven points at the top of the Barclays Premier League, a gap that could be 10 by the time City kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.

With a number of key players missing including Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri - Mancini wants to focus only on his own team and not the pressures of the title race.

He said: “We should go our way. We can’t think about United or other teams.

“We don’t see the table in this moment but at the end of February.

“Also it is difficult because we are missing important players but we want to do a good job on Sunday.”

The Toure brothers, midfield star Yaya and defender Kolo, are preparing for the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast, striker Aguero has a hamstring injury and former Arsenal playmaker Nasri is suspended.

Defender Aleksandar Kolarov is back in contention, but Maicon, Micah Richards and Jack Rodwell are still sidelined.

Mancini said: “We can do nothing - Yaya is in South Africa but the problem is we are missing three or four important players, Samir, Sergio and the others.

“But I think if we work hard we can do well.

“Yes, we have had a lot of injuries this year. Last year we were really lucky, this year maybe not.

“We have had important players injured, but this is football. We need to work, we

need to work with players we have.

“We should take one or two young players because we have 16 and we hope we can recover injured players for next week.”

Mancini is not concerning himself with United because he feels there is plenty of time to overhaul the deficit.

With City having memorably recovered from eight points down with six games remaining to win the title last season, he knows there is no need to panic yet.

He said: “I don’t think we deserve to be seven points behind but now we can do nothing, only start to win.

“We have a difficult game now, because we play against Arsenal, but the season is long and is very difficult.

“We have another 17 games. I think we can recover these points.”

City hope Aguero will be fit to return for next week’s clash with Fulham.

The Argentinian, last season’s top scorer with 30 goals, tore a hamstring in the New Year’s Day win over Stoke.

Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez are likely to continue up front in his absence although Mario Balotelli is back in contention after overcoming a virus and scoring twice for the under-21s on Monday.

Alongside Aguero, Dzeko is the team’s top scorer this term with 10, but despite scoring three in his last three starts, is still to shake off a reputation for performing better as an impact substitute.

Mancini said: “It is important Edin plays like against Norwich and against Stoke.

“If he plays like he did against these two teams he could be important.

“I don’t think there is one player that is happy to stay on the bench, but we can play only with 11 players and someone should go on the bench sometimes.

“If Edin continues to score, I don’t think we can have a problem.”

toke’s long unbeaten home run was brought to a shuddering halt as Chelsea chalked up a much-needed victory - with a helping hand from Jonathan Walters.

The Potters had not lost at the Britannia Stadium in the Barclays Premier League since February and have proved formidable opponents for the league’s big guns, but this was their biggest home loss since returning to the top flight in 2008.

It began to go wrong in injury time at the end of the first half when Jonathan Walters headed into his own net, and remarkably the striker repeated the trick in the 62nd minute.

Three minutes later Frank Lampard netted a penalty after Juan Mata went down and Eden Hazard rounded off the scoring with a longrange screamer 17 minutes from time.

Walters was given the chance to at least score one goal at the right end when Stoke were awarded a 90th-minute penalty but in keeping with the rest of the striker’s day he could only find the top of the bar.

Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez made the decision to start Demba Ba for his first Premier League appearance for the club, with Fernando Torres dropping to the bench.

Defender Gary Cahill was absent to be at the birth of his son so David Luiz dropped back into defence alongside Branislav Ivanovic.

Lampard started while captain John Terry was on the bench for the first time since sustaining knee ligament damage two months ago.

Benitez was once again feeling the heat from the Chelsea fans following the Swansea result and defeat by QPR in their last league game, but they began positively and only a well-timed tackle from Ryan Shawcross prevented Ramires getting a shot away.

In the eighth minute a shot from Andy Wilkinson was blocked by Ramires and the ball fell to Kenwyne Jones on the right of the area. His shot beat Petr Cech but rolled just past the post.

Chelsea were rattled and Cech was grateful to hang on to a header from Steven Nzonzi.

The Blues chalked up a much-needed victory, destroying Stoke 4-0 at the Britannia Stadium A break in the 25th minute provided the visitors with a great chance as Ba found Lampard running into the area only for Asmir Begovic to stick out a leg and deny him.

The Bosnian was again the saviour for Stoke six minutes later as Ba outpaced Robert Huth but could not beat the keeper with the angle tightening, while Wilkinson’s crunching tackle stopped Ramires from reaching the loose ball.

It looked like the teams would go into half-time all square but with injury time almost up Cesar Azpilicueta swung in a cross from the right.

Mata was poised to convert but he was beaten to the ball by a diving Walters, who powered the ball past his own keeper.

After Begovic had produced another decent stop to push Ashley Cole’s low drive round the post, Nzonzi tested Cech with a fine strike from 25 yards that the Chelsea keeper pushed over the bar.

Shortly after, Stoke thought they had been given a penalty when Matthew Etherington fell under a challenge from Azpilicueta but referee Andre Marriner had in fact awarded a free-kick to Chelsea for offside.

The killer goal arrived in the 62nd minute, and incredibly it was another own goal

from Walters. This time Mata sent in a corner and the Stoke striker got his head to the ball just ahead of Lampard.

Things got worse for the Potters thereafter when they conceded a penalty.

Mata broke through and went to ground under pressure from both Huth and Shawcross, although it was the contact from Huth that seemed to prompt Marriner to point to the spot.

Lampard smashed the penalty down the middle, and he should have added a fourth moments later but shot straight at Begovic from point-blank range.

The visitors did manage another in the 73rd minute, though, and what a strike it was as Hazard let fly from 25 yards and the ball rocketed into the top corner.

Two minutes before Torres had replaced Ba, while Terry was given a little over 10 minutes. There was still time for the defender to give away a penalty for a foul on Walters, but there was no redemption for the striker.