Cyprus Mail newspaper

Cyprus Mail www.cyprus-mail.com

Saturday, March 23, 2013

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‘We all share in the blame’ Ruling DISY says sorry as House reluctantly gives in to pressure

P

ARLIAMENT last night approved bills providing for the resolution of banks and putting capital controls in place and was also poised for a dramatic U-turn on taxing big savers as it raced to clinch a bailout from the European Union to avert financial meltdown.

The island’s legislature also adopted a law that creates a “solidarity fund” whose purpose would be to fund banks and contribute to the state’s financing.

In a session that ended just before midnight, MPs approved a bill that allowed the government to split the island’s failing lenders into good and bad banks, a move that caused uproar as it will be used to resolve the Popular Bank.

The bill was approved with the votes of 26 MPs – DISY and DIKO – while main opposition AKEL abstained, effectively facilitating its passage. Two MPs voted against.

“It is our conviction, that this effort, starting tonight, will be the beginning of fresh suffering for our country,” AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said. “Unfortunately our (EU) partners took decisions not to support us but to lead us to catastrophe.”

Ruling DISY deputy chairman Averof Neophytou apologised to the Cypriot people, admitting that “we all share the blame” that brought the country to the current sorry sate.

He stressed however that Popular’s resolution

spared the overwhelming majority of savers and jobs, as opposed to letting it collapse. MPs unanimously passed legislation giving the government the power to impose temporary capital controls to prevent the outflow of deposits that would put the financial sector in jeopardy.

Cyprus moved perilously close to bankruptcy when its parliament rejected terms of an EU bailout on Tuesday. Cypriots were enraged by a levy on bank accounts, including small holdings of ordinary savers as well as large accounts, many held by foreign investors.

But it appears that the island was prepared to make a U-turn on the matter in a bid to avoid worse consequences. Finance Minister Michael Sarris, fresh from a failed trip to win funds from Moscow, said a bank deposit levy was back “on the table”.

Party officials said that discussions were centred on a levy on depositors (AFP) holding over €100,000. One Employees of Laiki (Popular) Bank protest outside parliament yesterday official said the tax could be limited to big savers at the island’s biggest lender, Bank of Cyprus, at 25 per bling to come up with a bailout deal with the cent. It is understood that By Bejay Browne and Maria Gregoriou European Union to stave off the financial systhe bill must be approved tem’s collapse. by international lenders A Paphos police spokesman said: “We are before it was brought to BANK customers across the island who are withdrawing large sums of cash in the wake of aware that many people are withdrawing sums parliament.

In a sign it expects a so- the shaky financial climate in Cyprus are being of money from cash machines and are carrying a lot more money than they would usually. lution soon, the group of warned by police to be extra vigilant.

Police said security and safety concerns have We have put measures in place which include eurozone finance ministers called a new meeting for been raised by all the extra cash carried around more police patrols in all areas, especially outside bank ATM’s. We haven’t had any reported tomorrow in Brussels, two by people or stashed in their homes.

Long queues have formed at ATM’s across instances of robberies or bag snatching as yet sources in the currency the island with depositors withdrawing as and we hope this will remain the case.”

TURN TO PAGE 5 much cash as possible - amid leaders scram-

Police issue advice to cash-carrying public

TURN TO PAGE 6

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Home PICTURE OF THE DAY

Weather Paralimni

Nicosia 21

12 Troodos

21 21

Larnaca

21

21

Paphos

Limassol

TODAY: A mixture of sunshine and cloud, with rain possible. Temperatures will reach 20C inland and in the south and east, 18C in the west and 12C over higher ground OUTLOOK: Becoming more settled, with a slight rise in temperatures

YESTERDAY:

Max Temp Nicosia 23 Larnaca 22 Limassol 22 Paphos 24 Paralimni 21 Prodromos 15

-

Min 10 13 13 11 14 12

Humidity 54% 77% 73% 74% 74% 99%

SUNRISE: 05:46am

SUNSET: 6:01pm

Pollution Low/Low Medium/No data Low/Medium Medium No data No data

Air quality in Cyprus is assessed with the aid of a network of nine advanced monitoring stations. Data is recorded hourly.

Information provided by the Air Quality Section of the Department of Labour Inspection (DLI)

Worldwide Athens Beirut Budapest Bucharest Brussels Cairo Copenhagen Dublin Frankfurt Geneva Istanbul London

19 23 14 16 1 23 -1 5 6 9 16 6

Cloudy Sunny Clear Clear Light Snow Sunny Light Snow Cloudy Rain Light Rain Cloudy Fog

Madrid Manchester Moscow Oslo Paris Prague Rome Sarajevo Sofia Stockholm Tel Aviv Vienna

12 5 -4 -5 8 7 13 14 13 -4 21 12

Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Clear Light Rain Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Sunny Cloudy

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An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier is pictured behind a blossoming almond tree during a ceremony for a fallen comrade in Srinagar yesterday (AFP)

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Cyprus Mail Established 1945. Number 21,487 NICOSIA 24 Vass. Voulgaroctonou, P.O. Box 21144, 1502 Nicosia Tel: 22-818585, Fax: 22-676385 email: mail@cyprus-mail.com LIMASSOL 5A Nicolaou, Pentadromos Centre, Thessaloniki St, Tel: 25-761117, Fax: 25-761141 email: cyprusmail@cytanet.com.cy

For cryptic crossword and answers to the previous quick crossword see page 21

ON THIS DAY MARCH 23 1888

25 years ago, Friday March 23, 1988

In England, The Football League, the world’s oldest professional Association Football league, meets for the first time.

Former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu was found guilty of espionage and treason by an Israeli court yesterday for spilling Israel’s nuclear secrets over the front pages of a British newspaper. In a Jerusalem District Court, three judges ruled the 34-year-old Israeli collected and passed secret information with the intention of harming State security and aided Israel’s enemies in war.

1905 Eleftherios Venizelos calls for Crete’s union with Greece, and begins what is to be known as the Theriso revolt.

35 years ago, Saturday March 23, 1978 1982 Guatemala’s government, headed by Fernando Romeo Lucas García, is overthrown in a military coup by rightwing General Efraín Ríos Montt.

1983 Strategic Defense Initiative: President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles.

LARNACA Tel: 24-652243, Fax: 24-659982 PAPHOS 62 Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, Office 2, 8046 Paphos, Tel: 26 911383 Fax : 26 221049 email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

WHAT THE MAIL SAID

1989 Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announce their discovery of cold fusion at the University of Utah.

President Carter has urged the Turkish Cypriot leadership and Turkey to develop substantive proposals and to submit them soon, as promised by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. “Our understanding is that these proposals may be completed sometime in March and that negotiations between the two communities could be resumed by the Secretary-General some time thereafter”, the President told Congress.

45 years ago, Monday March 23, 1968 The President of the House of Representative Glafkos Clerides, yesterday sketched the guiding lines of the Greek Cypriot approach to the forthcoming local talks in search of a peaceful and agreed solution. Clerides assured the Turkish Cypriots that they will be treated as equal citizens.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

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Home SHOCK, HORROR, ANGER: THE PACE OF THE UNFOLDING DRAMA HAS STUNNED CYPRIOTS

A packed parliament yesterday as the world waited to hear what they would decide

(CNA)

Protesters outside the House

(AFP)

At the centre of people’s anger, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her finance minister Wolfgang Schauble, discussing Cyprus yesterday (AFP)

An elderly man waits in line at a Laiki ATM

(CNA)

A woman in tears during protests

(Christos Theodorides)

An EU flag has been spray painted with a big ‘NO’ (AFP)

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Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Home End of the great Russia hope as Sarris returns Vultures RUSSIA rebuffed Cypriot entreaties for aid yesterday, leaving the island’s increasingly isolated leaders scrambling to strike a bailout deal with the European Union or face the collapse of its financial system.

“The talks have ended as far as the Russian side is concerned,” Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters after two days of crisis talks with his Cypriot counterpart, Michalis Sarris.

Russians have billions of euros at stake in Cyprus’s outsized and now crippled banking sector, a factor in the EU’s unprecedented demand that bigger depositors take a hit in the interests of keeping Cyprus afloat.

But Siluanov said Russian investors were not interested in Cypriot gas and that the talks had ended without result. Sarris was due to fly home, where lawmakers were locked in yet more crisis talks.

Sarris, after he returned yesterday, said he had established Russia’s willingness to change the terms of Cyprus’ existing €2.5 billion loan from Moscow.

“Strong negotiations were made with the Russian government to see whether private or state companies could create business initiatives in Cyprus regarding hydrocarbons and also if the Russian government could directly loan Cyprus money,” he said.

Sarris said there was not enough time to examine

any proposals in great detail to give a specific answer and that Russia made it clear that any financial assistance it might give would need to be in conjunction with the troika.

“I believe we will be able to renegotiate the terms of the loan which will unburden any debt we have,” he said.

“I would like to underline that this is a very critical period of time where we must rise to the occasion to prevent the worst where the people must back parliament so the decisions which are made, however painful, will help prevent a catastrophic outcome,” he added.

By Poly Pantelides

‘The Russians want to take care of Cyprus’ Famous last words from former President Demetris Christofias only months ago

By Luke Baker ON A HOT morning in July last year, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias sat with a group of journalists on the stage of the sleekly modern National Theatre in Nicosia and beamed as he talked about his warm ties with Russia.

The communist party leader, who met his wife and earned his doctorate in Moscow, told the Brussels-based reporters that Cyprus could easily overcome its financial troubles with help from both Russia and the European Union.

“The Russians, as good friends of Cyprus, want to take care of us,” he said breezily, dismissing a question with a wave of his hand and smiling, his dark eyebrows rising with amusement towards his thick grey hair.

“We could combine both,” the 66-year-old said when asked if he would rather take aid from Russia or the European Union.

Nine months on, that confidence appears to have been dangerously misplaced.

Christofias, whose government took a €2.5 billion loan from Moscow in 2011, is no longer the president of Cyprus and is not involved in the

torrid efforts to try to agree a bailout package with the EU and IMF. But the gap between his perception of events then and the current state of affairs is illustrative of the dilemma facing this small island, where the geopolitical interests of Russia, the EU, Greece and Turkey collide.

If Cyprus had any hopes left that Moscow might provide funds to help bail it out, they were dashed on Friday when Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris left Russia empty handed after days of negotiations.

“The talks have ended as far as the Russian side is concerned,” Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said, with no agreement even to extend the existing, 4-1/2-year loan.

That leaves Cyprus isolated, having earlier rejected Europe’s bailout plan. To prevent its banks collapsing, it must now return cap in hand to Brussels.

“It was very naive of Cyprus to think that Russia was going to help it out,” said Jana Kobzova, a policy fellow and Russia expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Nicosia seemed to calculate that because of the vital role

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Cypriot banks play as a base for Russian funds, Moscow could not afford not to help out, she said.

At the same time, it thought Russia’s involvement would prompt the EU to compete for influence, allowing Cyprus to secure better EU aid terms.

Both assumptions were not based on reality,” said Kobzova.

The net result is a divided island - Turkey has occupied the northern third since 1974 - sitting in the southeastern Mediterranean, where 800,000 people face the prospect of an economic implosion that could leave them destitute.

Its business model, based on low corporate taxes, attractive banking terms, tourism and real estate, is effectively finished, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel telling members of the German parliament on Friday that it had to change.

But a miscalculation over Russian and EU aid is not the only issue for Cyprus. The crisis may change the influential role it has played in geopolitics for the last 60 years.

Britain, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Lebanon and Israel all have interests in Cyprus, whether military, cultural, historical, economic or political. While a member of the EU, Cyprus is not in NATO, yet has good ties with most NATO powers except Turkey.

Whether it is the conflict in Syria, with the EU suspecting that Russian arms have been shipped to Damascus via Cyprus, or Israel’s conflict with

circle to pick the bones of financial sector

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso (L) and Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (R) attend a press conference following their fruitless talks on the Cyprus banking crisis in Moscow, yesterday (AFP) Hezbollah in 2006 which saw tens of thousands of Lebanese refugees flee to the island, Cyprus often finds itself drawn into global affairs.

The fact Russia has decided against providing aid makes it all but certain that the final bailout agreed for Cyprus will be a solely EU-IMF affair - unless Nicosia takes the decision to go it alone, which would

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mean it would probably have to leave the euro currency and the EU. If Cyprus accepts an EUIMF package, it means that for the next 3-5 years its economy will be closely monitored by EU officials, with the banking sector greatly wound down and the overall business model for the island changed.

That could prompt Russian investors - and other wealthy external depositors - to pull out, leaving Cyprus ever more in the bosom of the European Union.

Developments in Cyprus could prove significant for Turkey too. It has been looking to join the EU for decades. Cyprus objects. A more pliant Cyprus under an EUIMF programme may open the way for a resolution of the 40-year standoff with the Turkish Cypriot north of the island, which in turn could alter the balance of EU-Turkey relations.

IT DID not take long for the vultures to gather over the dead carcass of the island’s financial sector trying to drum up business in the wake of parliament’s rejection of the deposit haircut on Tuesday.

By Wednesday, newspapers, including the Cyprus Mail began receiving advertising requests from foreign financial consultants intent on picking over the bones, urging people to move their money out of Cyprus.

They also began approaching individuals working within Cyprus’ banks who could refer clients to them. One person was offered a commission for referring clients to a bank in Asia. Another person working for a corporate firm with large Russian portfolios has been approached from various banks within the EU. None of the banks offered commission in exchange for client referrals, the source said but added that anyway “most of (them) do not have the infrastructure Cyprus does. They can’t handle the portfolios”.

For example, one of the countries that expressed an interest requires their clients to register in person, an unwelcome bureaucratic hurdle.

But one of the most glaring examples of opportunism stemmed from a body within paymaster Germany that was keen to advertise.

Making no disguise of their willingness to get Russian investors, despite the official line from within the EU and Germany of the money being suspect, the ad was in Russian as well as English and German. “Manage your assets in Germany,” the text body said, targeting private equity and stocks, among others.

Another body based in a major financial centre in Europe wanted to target people looking to move money out of Cyprus. Despite having a professionally presented website, the ad must have been put together in a rush, claiming “highly competitve (sic) exchange rates”. The ad said the body followed money laundering regulations, which all bodies within the EU including Cyprus are obliged to follow.

Another company advertising safekeeping of valuables from cash to gold with a screaming headline ‘Move your cash and valuables out of Cyprus now, flights daily’. An EU country was mentioned.

Another advertiser called every day trying to get discounted rates for a full page colour ad, the Cyprus Mail was told.

None of these advertisements have appeared in the local press, which has been reluctant to play a role in worsening the precarious financial situation on the island.

Several people described the development as: ‘vultures circling over Cyprus”.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

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Home

‘We all share in the blame’ Germany wants to keep Cyprus in the eurozone but it must change its ways (continued from front page) zone told Reuters. A Cyprus government official said President Nicos Anastasiades would fly to Brussels over the weekend if a solution is found.

In Finland, an ally of Germany in disciplining eurozone partners, European affairs minister Alexander Stubb told Reuters he was confident Cyprus would accept EU rescue terms: “Because there are no other options”.

The pace of the unfolding drama has stunned Cypriots, who barely a month ago elected Anastasiades on a mandate to secure a bailout.

Lawmakers threw the bill out on Tuesday, calling it “bank robbery” - a stunning rejection of the kind of strict austerity signed up to by Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain and Italy over the last three years of Europe’s debt crisis.

Loss of the ECB lifeline would effectively cause the banking system to collapse and could force Cyprus to give up the euro. Germany warned Cyprus it was “playing with fire”.

Moody’s downgraded its

credit rating on deposits in Cypriot banks to Caa3, just two rungs from the bottom on its 11-grade scale of junk debt.

Eurozone leaders, led by Germany, have offered Cyprus €10 billion, but only on condition it raises €5.8 billion of its own.

They say the only way to find that cash is from depositors who have €68 billion in Cypriot banks, including €38 billion in accounts of more than €100,000 - enormous sums for an island of 1.1 million people which could never sustain such a big financial system on its own.

Many of Cyprus’ biggest depositors are foreigners, including Russians who have been major contributors to the boom in Cypriot banks since the island adopted the euro in 2008.

With banks in Cyprus closed until Tuesday, depositors, who have been besieging bank cash machines all week, lined up again yesterday to withdraw what they could.

“Our so-called friends and partners sold us out,” said Marios Panayides, 65, a protester at the parliament.

“They have completely aban-

doned us on the edge of an abyss.” Retailers, facing cashon-delivery demands from suppliers, warned stocks were running low.

“At the moment, supplies will last another two or three days,” said Adamos Hadijadamou, head of Cyprus’ Association of Supermarkets. “We’ll have a problem if this is not resolved by next week.”

The Bank of Cyprus urged the government to go back and cut a deal with the EU under which larger deposits over €100,000 would be taxed.

It was preferable, it said, to a collapse of the system and ejection from the euro which would wipe out assets.

“There must be no further delay,” the bank said.

EU officials criticise Cyprus for initially insisting on taxing even small savers whose deposits up to €100,000 benefit from a state guarantee.

Cypriot leaders did not want to shift the whole burden to bigger depositors in the apparent hope of saving Cyprus’ offshore banking industry.

EU leaders, notably Germans who face an election in six months, are loathe to

Deputies raise their hands to vote in favour of bailout plan spend European taxpayers’ money on a bailout if rich Russian investors escape with no losses.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers that while she wanted to keep Cyprus in the eurozone, it must first recognise it had no future as an offshore financial centre for wealthy Russians and Britons, two parliamentarians

told Reuters.

Her finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, said that muted reactions to the crisis in financial markets showed the eurozone was able to contain the Cyprus problem.

The Dutch head of the eurozone finance ministers’ group, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said the group wanted to keep Cyprus in the currency union. But

(Christos Theodorides) when asked, he did not rule out an exit. “All kinds of scenarios are possible and the scenarios we’re focusing on are to come to a joint solution in which Cyprus is saved but in which the banking sector continues in a smaller but healthier form.”

(Reporting by Michele Kambas, Costas Pitas and George Psyllides)

Greece’s Piraeus to buy out local units of Cypriot banks

By George Georgiopoulos and Lefteris Papadimas GREECE’S Piraeus Bank has been chosen to take over the Greek branches of Cypriot lenders that are being sold, Greece’s bank bailout fund confirmed yesterday.

The deal is subject to approval by European competition authorities, a statement from the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund said. It did not provide terms of the deal.

The statement confirmed a Reuters report citing banking sources saying Piraeus had beaten out Alpha Bank in the race for the Greek units of Cyprus’s two largest lenders - Bank of Cyprus and Cyprus Popular.

“The Cypriot branches in Greece will be sold to one Greek bank,” a senior official at the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund told Reuters,

declining to be named. “The fund will assess the offers submitted by Greek banks.”

Cyprus’s top three banks Bank of Cyprus, Cyprus Popular Bank (CPB), formerly called Laiki, and Hellenic Bank - have small but sizeable operations in Greece, which have been shut all week in line with a bank holiday in the island nation.

They together hold 8 per cent of Greek banking deposits, 10 per cent of loans and about 300 branches in the country.

Eurozone finance ministers excluded the Greek branches of Cypriot banks from the deposit levy on condition that those units would be transferred to Greek banks, which themselves are being recapitalised by bailout funds from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Greece had been rushing to wrap up a deal since

Monday in a bid to reassure local depositors that their savings were safe, but had to put it on hold after Cyprus rejected the bank levy.

Athens - whose own tottering banks are only slowly seeing deposits trickle back as fears of a Greek eurozone exit fade - was determined to have Cypriot branches reopen after Monday’s public holiday to avoid panic among savers, bankers said.

“The target for the Greek government and the domestic banking system is to fully operate the branches of the Cypriot banks in Greece on Tuesday without restrictions on deposits,” a senior Greek banker said on condition of anonymity.

Investment manager PIMCO, which carried out a review of Cypriot bank capital needs that has yet to be published, had estimated Cypriot banks

in Greece needed to be recapitalised with about €1.5 billion in funds, the banker said. Half of that amount is expected to be covered by the Greek bank support fund HFSF and the other half from a Cypriot bailout deal, if one is eventually agreed with the EU and IMF, the banker said.

A sale will also help Cyprus deleverage its vast banking sector, a key demand from the eurozone and the IMF.

The combined assets of Bank of Cyprus and CPB in Greece alone amount to about €22 billion or 1.2 times Cyprus’s nearly €18 billion economy. With their sale, the leverage ratio of Cyprus’s banking system (assets/GDP) will go down to 6.8 from about 8 times, bankers and analysts said, a step in the right direction in the eyes of international lenders.

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Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Home Supermarkets start to have supply problems And the

By Peter Stevenson SUPERMARKET shelves are in danger of emptying according to head of the supermarket union Andreas Hadjiadamou.

Supplies will only last two or three more days according to Hadjiadamou and there will be severe problems if a solution is not found and if banks remain closed.

“If a solution is not found and suppliers do not revoke their decision to only serve supermarkets that pay in cash then there will be a problem, and gaps on the shelves,” he said. “At present the supplies that supermarkets have will last two or three more days ages but if suppliers don’t revoke

their decision there will be shortages,” he added. He said suppliers needed to show some understanding during the unprecedented developments the country was going through.

He said supermarkets were experiencing severe cash-flow problems as they have been accepting payment with cheques and credit cards. Around 70 per cent of shoppers are paying in this way, he said.

According to deputy of the supermarket union, Nicos Athanasiou, problems had already started being noticed at certain supermarkets in Larnaca. “Most people are making purchases with a certain amount of care and caution, buying the basics,” he said. “Most consumers have been purchasing dry and canned food the last couple of days in case things get

worse,” he added.

Athanasiou said there had not been a large fall in sales although in almost all of the supermarkets there were shortages of goods from suppliers who only accept cash payments.

“Suppliers’ demands cannot be met unfortunately because the majority of consumers tend to pay with credit cards,” said. He revealed that a special agreement had been made between supermarkets and dairy suppliers to make sure there was milk on the shelves. “It is inconceivable that supermarkets wouldn’t have any milk for sale although there have been shortages of coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and certain soft drinks as suppliers of those goods only accept cash,” he added. Athanasiou said he understood the problem as suppliers were required to

pay cash to clear their goods through customs.

Limassol shop owners have also been affected. According to representative Kristis Demetriou, the situation over the last three days had deteriorated rapidly.

“From the moment the public had a limited cash-flow to live off of then they obviously wouldn’t go and spend on retail shopping,” he said. He called on the political leaders to finally come to a decision, confident in the fact that people would support them.

Paphos has also suffered. District secretary of the small shopkeepers union POVEK, Charidemos Papadopoulos described the situation in Paphos as being dramatic. He said shops were doing very little business and not accepting credit cards.

Police advise care with cash More people now stash money at home (continued from front page) “People need to be more careful and more aware and not give opportunities to would-be criminals.” Police have given the same advice in all cities. Police advise people not to be obvious if withdrawing or carrying large sums, not to spend long on foot after withdrawing cash and preferably not to go alone.

Police say that the same applied if money was being kept at home. “Don’t be obvious about where you keep it, and secure your home as best you can,” they advise.

In Nicosia, a 20-year-old student, Constantinos Hadjimanolis said, “I do not feel safe at all because there are many people around the ATM machines lately. The only thing I can do is hide my pin number and put my money in my wallet straight away.”

“No one feels safe now about anything. I am worried about my cash, the future of my children, and my elderly parents who might not have a pension to support them,” another man said by an ATM machine.

“The really rich people took their money out of the banks before things got serious and now we have to pay, just like we had to do when the stock exchange collapsed,” he said.

“The only way we can keep ourselves safe now is by not listening to what the politicians are saying because they only lie. Just like Odysseus saved his men from the sirens by putting wax in their ears, we should save ourselves by not listening to words that will destroy us,” he added.

“I am very worried about the whole situation, not only my

cash but I cannot do anything about it really,” 61-year-old accountant Shavies Bozouio told the Cyprus Mail.

Famagusta police spokesman George Economou said.

“Taking out money during the day is also advised as the light of day makes it harder for a robber to go unnoticed,” he said.

Shop owners are also worried about what to do with their cash. One owner said he was worried about leaving the cash in the shop, and worried about taking it home. “I don’t know what to do. I have to choose from two bad options,” he said.

In Peyia, Paphos, which used to be a hot spot for burglaries and house break-ins, a neighbourhood watch scheme was formally launched in September 2010.

More than 650 households. now participate, from an initial 300. Peyia has a large number of British expat residents and second-home owners, which means numerous properties are often left empty.

Keith Allen, chairman of Peyia’s neighbourhood watch management (NHW) team said: “When this situation first occurred, I thought people would take as much cash out of the banks as they could, and they are…and people are keeping the money at home rather than in the bank .The burglars must be rubbing their hands together.” Allen offered some general advice.

“If you have cash at home, make sure you hide it well and not in obvious places. A lot of homes have safes inside wardrobes in the master bedroom - don’t put it in here. This is the first place thieves will look

and they are easy to prise off the wall and take away.”

Allen noted that if thieves have time, they will ransack houses turning drawers upside down searching for cash and jewellery.

He said: “It’s common sense.

Carry cash with you if you can but be careful not to leave handbags and so on unattended. It’s better not to keep cash all in one place, but to split it.”

John and Pam, Paphos residents who don’t wish to be identified for obvious reasons, told the Cyprus Mail: “We have a large sum of money kept at home due to the uncertain financial situation in Cyprus.

It’s not ideal, but we were concerned about our bank going down and taking our funds with it. This is money which we have worked and saved for all of our lives and we need it for our future and our children and their family’s future.”

Pam said: “The money is not hidden in just one place but many.”

John added: “When things stabilise, we will re-deposit the money into a bank in Cyprus but we don’t know which one yet. These are very worrying times.”

Meanwhile, the British foreign office warned travellers to Cyprus to take appropriate security measures in light of the current economic situation on the island. British nationals receiving pensions payments in Cyprus can contact the international pension centre by phone, text or email with any questions: Telephone: +44 191 21 87777, Textphone: +44 191 21 87280, email: TVP-IPC-Customer-Care@thepensionservice.gsi.gov.uk

A run on ATMs on Thursday after rumours about Laiki

Plenty of fuel, but petrol stations struggle with increased card usage SOME petrol stations may have to close down as they do not have enough cash to pay for fuel shipments, the head of the stations’ owners said yesterday.

“We may have to temporarily close some petrol stations because they have run out of cash. This creates great concerns to those in this profession,” said the head of the petrol station owners’ association, Stefanos Stefanou. “Petrol stations pay for their fuel shipment only with cash and cash is running

out,” Stefanou added. “There are some petrol stations that are still accepting credit cards today, but tomorrow no petrol station will do so,” he said, asking consumers to take cash with them to carry out transactions.

Small shopkeepers’ union, POVEK, issued an announcement yesterday saying that because fuel companies only supplied petrol stations on cash payments, customers also needed to pay with cash at their end. “Unfortunately there is no other solu-

tion for petrol station owners,” POVEK said. But petrol company Petrolina issued an announcement later yesterday saying Petrolina-Agip stations would continue accepting bank cards. Three other companies are active in Cyprus – EKO Hellenic Petroleum, Lukoil and Exxon Mobil.

Both Stefanou and POVEK said there was enough fuel in Cyprus. “There is no reason for people to rush to petrol stations to fill their tanks,” POVEK said asking consumers to “show understanding”.

poor become even poorer…

By Maria Gregoriou SCORES of people went to the community market in Larnaca yesterday to try and obtain some food as most of them have no means to withdraw money from the banks.

From 7am around 1,200 families, whether they were entitled to food or not, received help from the Larnaca community market.

Many companies and organisations contacted the city hall to donate food.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Louroudjiadis said people should keep calm. “I want to assure the citizens of Larnaca that the municipality will stand by them.

One person’s problem is everyone’s problem. Today, just like every week, the food that is given out is a dose of love and solidarity to our fellow citizens and we will continue to offer the necessary help they need,” Louroudjiadis said.

“Today the Larnaca community market does not separate those who are entitled to food from those who are not. Today we are giving food to anyone who asks for it. This is a very difficult time. Solidarity is very important to us,” he added.

Father Constantine, the director of the soup kitchen of Metropolis Kitou said that “all parishes and churches have been offering help since the start of the economic crisis. Daily rations are given to around 200 people who don’t have enough to eat, at the cultural centre of Saint George Kontos Monestery.

“During the last few days more people have been coming to us for help. This has created problems as we only have enough space and machinery to accommodate 200 to 250 people a day,” he said.

“While the banks have been closed more people have been coming to the soup kitchens for help. We do what we can but our help is based on the offerings of others,” he added.

The volunteer association ‘Solidarity’ in Paphos said it was running drastically out of food.

Paphos councillor George Sofokleous said: “The volunteers currently give out 200 servings for people in need every day. This amount is shrinking week by week. We used to give out 500 servings but yesterday we could only give out 200. The restaurants who prepare the food have already announced that they will only be able to offer food for another one or two weeks due to increasing costs.”

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‘Cyprus must pick itself back up’ Days of being a financial centre are over for now

By Stefanos Evripidou NOBEL PRIZE winner Christopher Pissarides believes Cyprus should not accept the view it must cut its banking system by half simply because certain eurozone ministers think it’s a good idea.

The head of the National Economic Council made the comment at The Economist’s conference in Nicosia yesterday.

He noted, however, that given the stance adopted by the eurozone countries, imposing a bank levy on deposits appeared to be the best solution now available to Cyprus.

Pissarides, who is also the Laiki Bank Professor of European Studies at the University of Cyprus, said he was unable to comprehend why the Eurogroup blocked funding to Cyprus when the economy’s main weakness was its banking system, as opposed to the situation in Greece, a country which received a large amount of EU funding.

“Luxembourg is even more dependent on financial services than us and I did not hear anybody talking about that,” said Pissarides.

“We are not seeking a loan from Germany but from the euro system, which should help our banks,” he added.

The Nobel prize winner questioned whether Cyprus’ treatment by the Eurogroup could really be explained by the fact

that many Russians, who are not wanted by eurozone ministers, use Cypriot banks?

Any member of the eurozone should find the Eurogroup’s stance towards Cyprus offensive, he said.

According to Pissarides, the source of the problem in Cyprus and Europe in general is the issue of banking supervision which was never solved, but simply left to each state, causing a crisis of confidence.

Yesterday’s event was initially meant to discuss Europe’s future and the future of Cyprus under a new government, but most talks understandably focused on the ongoing upheaval in Cypriot society and its now battered economy.

Director of Sapienta Economics Fiona Mullen said Cyprus had to pick up the pieces and look to the future.

“It feels like we’ve woken up and the house got bombed overnight. So, you look around, see what you’ve got and what you can salvage.”

She noted that by Monday, Cyprus’ financial services centre would be wiped out.

“But Cyprus still has a very educated workforce, with the highest tertiary education rate in the EU, which should be the basis for some high skilled sectors… Also, we’ve been governed forever by old men who don’t think outside the box,” she said, calling for Cyprus to make use of its young talent.

The premises of a Russian bank in Limassol. The effects on Russian business to Cyprus will be devastating “There are young people here with good ideas. They were talking to the wall for a long time, but now it’s time to listen and get them involved.”

She added: “We still have a better business environment, in terms of ease of doing business than Greece. You don’t have to bribe people to do business here, you can get on and do your work. We have a geographically competitive position and the sun still shines every day.”

Mullen said it was obvious that Cyprus had to give up its old business model following the damage of the past week and find a new one.

“Whatever you think about the accusations of money

laundering, everyone outside Cyprus believes it, and we’ve taken a massive reputational hit. Doing lots of business with Russia is not a sustainable model anymore,” she said.

Instead, Cyprus should follow the lead of Ireland and provide tax incentives to companies that create jobs and invest in research and development.

SundayMail House whisperer

By Stefanos Evripidou

Volleybody

FORMER CENTRAL Bank governor Athanasios Orphanides launched a scathing attack on EU policymakers for their handling of the eurozone crisis, warning that a Cyprus euro exit would trigger the break-up of the common currency.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Orphanides predicted the eventual dissolution of the EU-bloc.

“The European project is crashing to earth,” he told the Financial Times. “This is a fundamental change in the dynamics of Europe towards disintegration and I don’t see how this can be reversed.”

The former governor also had some choice words for his former colleagues at the European Central Bank (ECB) as well as for the European Commission.

“I would have expected them to support the European project. I would have expected them to protect the citizens of the smallest and weakest member states against discrimination. We have seen a cavalier attitude towards the expropriation of property and the bullying of a people.”

Orphanides added that the week’s events had made “a

fully yet. Banks’ funding costs in the [southern eurozone] periphery will rise further – there is no way we will avoid that. This, in turn, will make the recession in the periphery deeper, adding to the misery that the mishandling of the crisis has caused so far.”

He added: “Financial markets are over-influenced by what happens in London or New York – there, the intricacies and processes of European politics are not very well understood.”

Orphanides took over the helm at the Central Bank of Cyprus in 2008 and was replaced last year by Panicos Demetriades after then president Demetris Christofias refused to renew his appointment.

Christofias and Orphanides were known to have a prickly relationship, with the CB governor having gone on record saying that the president appeared to do his best to avoid seeing the governor despite the latter’s many requests for a meeting.

For his part, Christofias has repeatedly blamed Orphanides for the banking crisis, accusing the former US Federal Reserve senior economist of failing to supervise the banks and prevent overexposure to Greek sovereign debt.

Europe Editor for The Economist John Peet described the Eurogroup’s decision to impose a haircut on bank deposits as “unexplainable”, adding that he was not surprised the Cypriot parliament rejected it. He warned however that Cyprus should work towards staying in the eurozone, as the consequences of an exit would be much worse.

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Ex CB boss Orphanides predicts the end of the European project mockery” of EU treaties, indicating that “in Europe not all people are equal under the law”. He said: “We have seen other eurozone countries, the Netherlands, for instance, put national interests ahead of the European interest by trying to bring down the economic model of countries such as Cyprus or Luxembourg.”

Orphanides questioned the credibility of the ECB’s threat to pull the plug on emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) for Cypriot banks if a bailout agreement was not reached

by Monday.

He argued that if ELA was no longer authorised, this would force the Central Bank of Cyprus to default on its obligations to the ECB, meaning Cyprus would then have to leave the euro area.

“The ECB will have forced Cyprus out. This is the one thing Mario Draghi doesn’t want to happen – he does not want to be the ECB president who triggers the break-up of the euro. It is painful to watch.”

While global financial markets have not reacted aggressively to the Cyprus crisis, Orphanides warned the paper that this would change.

“I don’t think that the full extent of the shattering of the trust that we have seen in this case . . . has been seen

“We’ve been creating lots of jobs for accountants and lawyers but not attracting investment in the real economy,” said Mullen. The economist forecast a significant dip in GDP, followed by growth in three to four years like in the period in 1974-1978.

“We might be able to do that again… we can bounce back because Cyprus is small.”

(AFP)

Could your home be holding you back?

It’s still possible to get yours in time for beach

Cycle challenge The Limassol man trying to raise €30,000 to make children’s dreams come true

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Europe EUROPE TODAY Xi welcomes Putin as friend CHINESE leader Xi Jinping demonstrated the importance of Beijing’s growing ties with Russia yesterday by going to Moscow on his first foreign trip as president and telling Vladimir Putin he was a good friend.

Xi’s choice of destination sent a signal to the United States that the world’s largest energy producer, Russia, and its biggest consumer, China, want to bolster their joint clout as a financial and geopolitical counterweight to Washington.

Putin has long sought to blunt US influence overseas, while China is grappling with the expanded military and economic interest the United States has displayed in its region since 2011. Xi became the first foreign guest to be met in the Kremlin by an honorary cavalry escort created by Putin in 2002, officials said, underlining the importance the Russian president attaches to the relationship.

‘EU abandons atheists at UN’ ATHEIST groups, who say millions of non-religious people face persecution in many parts of the world, accused the European Union yesterday of failing to stand up for their rights in the United Nations.

They spoke as the 47member UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution drafted by the EU calling for an end to religious intolerance and violence and for all governments to observe freedom of religion and belief.

But the campaigners, who had earlier given the council a report on abuse of atheists, mainly in Muslim countries, had sought a text making clear its injunctions included them.

“The wording of this resolution shows how the world, even the secular West, ignores the plight of atheists and other non-believers in many countries,” said Sonja Eggericks, president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

Healer jailed A SELF-styled healer was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in jail yesterday after a Swiss court found the acupuncturist guilty of infecting 16 people with HIV. A Berne court found the man guilty of causing bodily harm and spreading the virus which can cause Aids, court secretary Rene Graf told Reuters. He did not give any further details.

Sarkozy lawyer: heiress party funding case flawed Probe could scupper comeback

by Sarkozy

By Mark John FORMER French President Nicolas Sarkozy came out fighting yesterday after he was placed under investigation for exploiting the mental frailty of the country’s richest woman to raise election funds, with his lawyer rejecting the case as flawed.

A Bordeaux magistrate launched an inquiry on Thursday into whether Sarkozy took advantage of 90-year-old L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, after she was declared in a state of dementia, to help raise money for his 2007 election campaign.

The “abuse of weakness” case threatens to scupper any political comeback for Sarkozy, who was unseated

by Socialist Francois Hollande last year, by leaving him under a cloud of suspicion for months or even years.

The 58-year-old, who says he is innocent, hinted this month he could use his continued popularity among conservative voters to run again for president in 2017.

His lawyer Thierry Herzog said yesterday he would seek

An April 2012 file photo shows graffiti reading “Bettancourt Toujours” on a Paris campaign poster of French 2012 presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy (AFP) to annul the formal investigation, which is the final step before a suspect is accused of a crime and could take years to complete.

“Mr Sarkozy will carry on fighting this but at the same time he believes the treatment that has been meted out to him has been disgraceful,” Herzog told RTL radio.

“Do you really think the case both for the prosecution and for the defence is being stud-

ied here?” he said, pointing to repeated interviews conducted by investigating magistrate Jean-Michel Gentil of members of Bettencourt’s household staff in an effort to get incriminating evidence.

Allies of Sarkozy also leapt to his defence, with one suggesting the timing of investigation was politically motivated to distract attention from a scandal surrounding one of Presi-

dent Hollande’s ministers.

While a formal investigation could take years, a successful appeal could quickly halt the inquiry.

Bettencourt was declared in a state of dementia in 2006 and was placed under the guardianship of her family in 2011.

The public prosecutor said on Thursday that Sarkozy was being investigated “for taking advantage of a vulner-

able person in February 2007 and during 2007 to the detriment of Liliane Bettencourt”, a crime punishable by up to three years in jail.

Initial suspicions over funding were fuelled three years ago when a woman who worked as an accountant for Bettencourt alleged that a large cash withdrawal was earmarked for Sarkozy’s presidential election campaign.

The investigation came two days after Hollande’s Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac stepped down to fight accusations of tax fraud after police said a leaked recording of a male voice admitting to holding a secret Swiss bank account was probably his. Cahuzac denies any wrongdoing.

It also came in the week that French authorities searched the Paris apartment of IMF chief Christine Lagarde, Sarkozy’s former finance minister, in an investigation into her award of a 2008 arbitration payment to a businessman supporter of Sarkozy.

“Nicolas Sarkozy will use all means of recourse possible. I hope that he will shake all this off and return to political life very quickly,” his former chief of staff and interior minister Claude Gueant told French television.

The political gain for Hollande, whose ratings are at record lows over his failure to reduce French unemployment at 13-year highs, is likely to be limited. It could however open the way for a new leader of the French right to emerge.

Anger at marines’ return to India A DECISION to return two Italian marines accused of murdering fishermen to stand trial in India stirred anger in Italy yesterday and calls for Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi to resign.

Mario Monti’s caretaker government on Thursday reversed a March 11 decision not to send the marines back from a home visit after Rome secured a promise from New Delhi that the two would not face the death penalty if convicted, officials said.

The marines, part of a military security team protecting a tanker from piracy, are accused of shooting two fishermen off the coast of the southern Indian state of Kerala in February 2012.

They say they fired warning shots at a fishing boat believing it to be a pirate vessel.

The sailors, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, arrived back in India yesterday aboard an Italian air force plane, Indian media reported.

India and Italy have been embroiled in an escalating row over the marines, who had

been allowed home to vote in the Italian elections in February on condition they returned to India by Friday.

Michele Emiliano, the mayor of Girone’s hometown of Bari, said he had been comforting the marine’s “despairing” family.

“A hypocritical government is trying to end its embarrassment by sending the sailors back to India after exhibiting them as ‘free’ during the election campaign,” Emiliano wrote on Twitter.

Foreign Minister Terzi defended the move in an interview with la Repubblica daily yesterday, rejecting calls from centre-right politicians for him to quit.

“I don’t see a reason to” resign, he said, adding that the temporary stand-off with India had helped Italy ensure the marines would be treated well.

India’s Supreme Court ruled in January that India had jurisdiction to try the marines. But Italy had challenged that decision, arguing that the shooting took place in international waters and that the two should face any trial at home.

In this photograph taken on December 22, 2012, Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre (R) and Salvatore Girone (L) arrive at Ciampino airport near Rome (AFP)

Pope Francis urges West to intensify dialogue with Islam POPE Francis urged the West on Friday to intensify dialogue with Islam and appealed to the world to do more to combat poverty and protect the environment.

Speaking in Italian, the new pontiff said richer countries should fight what he called “the spiritual poverty of our times” by re-forging links with God. “How many poor people there still are in the world! And what great suffering they have to endure!” he

told the diplomats in the Vatican’s frescoed Sala Regia.

Some critics of the Catholic Church, which has been struggling with scandals and internal divisions, say its rejection of contraception in particular harms the poor.

Others say it does much good in the developing world, running thousands of hospitals, schools, orphanages and hospices.

Francis made his appeal in an address to diplomats accredited

to the Vatican, sending a message through them to the leaders of the 180 states with which the Vatican has diplomatic relations.

He urged them to help keep religion central in public life and promote inter-religious dialogue as a catalyst for efforts to build peace.

“In this work (peace building), the role of religion is fundamental.

It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God,” he said.

“But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God while ignoring other people. Hence it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam.”

Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, said he was grateful that many Muslim religious and civilian leaders attended his inaugural Mass on Tuesday.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

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Britain

‘Britain’s gas needs continue to be met’ THE government has denied that the UK is on the brink of running out of gas following weeks of unusually cold weather.

It had been reported that there were only two days’ worth of gas left in reserve as a result of the cold snap, with gas stocks 10 per cent full, compared to 49 per cent this time last year.

But a Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) spokeswoman said: “Protracted cold weather increases demand but the UK gas market is responsive and our gas needs are continuing to be met.

“Gas storage would never be the sole source of gas meeting our needs, so it is misleading to talk purely about how many days’ supply is in storage.”

She said that while half of the nation’s gas needs were supplied from the North Sea, there were also pipelines from Norway and elsewhere in Europe, shipments of liquefied natural gas and storage.

“All can and are providing significant gas to meet the UK’s needs,” the spokeswoman added. “Storage levels are low at the moment as you’d expect towards the end of winter - and the UK gas market is tight.

“But the market is responding as it is designed to do - gas prices are rising and supply is being maintained accordingly. For example in recent weeks gas has been flowing in from continental Europe in high volumes.

“We are in close contact with National Grid, who are able to step into the market to source gas and increase incentives on gas suppliers if they think there is a risk of a supply shortfall.”

A DECC update on gas prices and bills is due to be published next Wednesday.

“We’re doing everything we can to minimise the impact for consumers,” the spokeswoman added.

Clegg’s tough new stance on visa abuse

A snow-covered Pavilion Gardens is pictured in Buxton, north-west England, yesterday

(AFP)

Heavy rain and snow draw chaos warning SNOW was expected to blanket everywhere north of the M4 corridor, with up to eight inches hitting the worst affected areas of north-west of England, North Wales and south-west Scotland.

Higher areas were looking to see up to 16 inches fall, while bitterly cold gale force winds were set to sweep across Britain creating blizzard-like conditions and plunging temperatures down to well below freezing.

Heavy rain sweeping across Northern Ireland were set to turn increasingly to snow, with up to 12 inches across the hills of Down and Antrim, while on the east coast rain and sleet could cause localised flooding.

The Police Service of North-

Harsh weather set to disrupt transport and energy services ern Ireland reported road closures because of stranded vehicles on the A8 near Newtownabbey.

James Wilby, a forecaster for Meteogroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “It is really just nasty conditions across most of the UK. “The snow will fall from the M4 northwards, quite lightly in the south but heavily in the north.

“Along with the heavy rain and flooding in the southwest, there will no doubt be a lot of disruption for the

UK today.

The Met Office issued a number of severe weather warnings, urging the public to be prepared for “severe disruption” to transport and energy services.

The Environment Agency had 18 flood alerts in place along the south-west coast warning of expected flooding, with a further 80 alerts issued to areas at risk.

Between 1.6 to 2.4 inches were set to fall over southern Devon and Cornwall yesterday, and up to 4 inches on exposed southern slopes.

“Wherever you’re going, take plenty of warm layers, check the travel reports before heading out and stick to the main roads where possible,” he said.

The Local Government Association said council gritting and ploughing teams would be out in force to try to ensure main roads remained passable where snow and freezing temperatures had been forecast.

Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association’s economy and transport board, said hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt had been spread this winter, but hundreds of thousands more tonnes were available in council depots and new deliveries were coming in.

DEPUTY prime minister Nick Clegg today scrapped controversial proposals for an immigrant “amnesty” as he unveiled a tough new stance on visa abuse.

The Liberal Democrat leader said plans to allow illegal immigrants to stay in the UK if they have been in the country for 10 years, which were seen as key to the party’s manifesto in the run up to the 2010 general election, risked “undermining public confidence”.

In his first speech on immigration as deputy prime minister, he said: “Despite the policy’s aims, it was seen by many people as a reward for those who have broken the law.”

He added: “That is why I am no longer convinced this specific policy should be retained in our manifesto for the next general election.”

Taking a harder line on immigration, Clegg unveiled plans for bail-like security bonds, which would be paid as a cash guarantee from visa applicants coming from highrisk countries.

Liberal Democrat plans for a so-called “earned route to citizenship” were rounded on by Conservatives and Labour in the run-up to the general election nearly three years ago.

The party’s manifesto had said: “We will allow people who have been in Britain without the correct papers for 10 years, but speak English, have a clean record and want to live here long-term to earn their citizenship. This route to citizenship will not apply to people arriving after 2010.”

The Liberal Democrats believed it would help illegal immigrants integrate into the legal economy and contribute by paying taxes.

British judge upholds decision to ban Christian group’s ‘gay cure’ advertisements A BRITISH judge upheld yesterday a decision to ban a Christian group from placing adverts on London buses that suggested people could be cured of homosexuality.

The group, Core Issues Trust, wanted to place adverts on the side of London’s distinctive red double-decker buses that read: “Not gay! Ex-gay,

post-gay and proud. Get over it!”

The proposed adverts were a response to a campaign by gay rights group Stonewall, which had run adverts on London buses that read: “Some people are gay. Get over it!”

In a 35-page ruling, High Court judge Beverley Lang dismissed Core Issues Trust’s claim for a judicial review into

Core Issues Trust said it would appeal, arguing the judgment was “likely to stifle open and free debate” about homosexuality and discriminate against “those who reject a ‘gay’ identity”. The group says it aims to help “people who voluntarily seek to change from a ‘gay’ lifestyle to a gender-affirming one”.

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the ban on the adverts imposed by Transport for London (TFL). “(The advert) was not a contribution to a reasoned debate,” she wrote, saying that the group’s freedom of expression was counter-balanced by the risk of causing grave offence to gay people and increasing homophobic attacks.

ENTER OUR COMPETITION (living page 28)

Tougher stance: UK Deputy Prime Minister Clegg

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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World

Fresh humiliation for S. Korea’s Park SOUTH Korean President Park Geunhye’s nominee for defence chief withdrew his candidacy yesterday, the latest humiliation for her month-old administration as the country faces daily threats of nuclear annihilation from the North.

The blunders with appointments began with the withdrawal of her first choice as prime minister over charges of inappropriate real estate deals even before she took office on February 25.

Park, South Korea’s first woman leader, was also without a finance minister until yesterday, when she finally filled the post and two other cabinet seats.

Her choice for vice justice minister resigned on Thursday amid a sex scandal.

North Korea, which has made no secret of its hatred for Park and last week referred to the “venomous swish” of her skirt, has threatened to attack the South and the United States on a daily basis since she took office.

It has also been blamed for a cyber attack on commercial banks and broad-

WORLD TODAY Lebanon strife continues TWO people were killed in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli yesterday in fighting fuelled by the civil war in neighbouring Syria, bringing the death toll in three days of clashes to six, security sources said.

At least 35 were wounded, they said. Machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades rocked neighbouring districts that are home to communities linked to both sides of the Syrian conflict.

One area is dominated by Lebanese Sunni Muslims, who support the Sunni-led uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the other is an enclave of Lebanese Alawites, the same Shi’ite Muslim offshoot to which the Syrian leader belongs.

One of those killed yesterday was a soldier, security sources said, a dangerous sign that the army could be dragged into the bloody onoff street conflict. The army blocked the main northsouth highway through Tripoli as sniper fire was reported there and residents said soldiers exchanged gunfire with the militants.

Congo warlord is ICC bound A CONGOLESE warlord accused of war crimes charges was flown out of Rwanda bound for the International Criminal Court in the Hague yesterday, four days after he surrendered to the US Embassy in Kigali, the Rwandan foreign minister said, “Bosco Ntaganda has just taken off from Kigali in custody of ICC officials following cooperation between Rwanda, US and Dutch governments,” Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said on Twitter.

The ICC confirmed he was on his way to the Netherlands, stating it would soon set a date for his first appearance in court to confirm his identity.

casters this week.

Retired Gen. Kim Byung-kwan withdrew his name for the post of defence chief amid opposition objections to his failure to disclose activities as a lobbyist for a defence contractor.

Park’s refusal to drop Kim when the criticism first surfaced was seen as a sign of an ineffectual leader unwilling to change her mind. Critics say her private and introverted management style is taking its toll as her popularity ratings start to sag.

They say she has stumbled because of her reliance on a group of loyalists who served her well for more than a decade as a legislator but have now rendered her actions ineffectual.

Kim’s decision to step aside came amid growing political pressure on her to make a move in the face of the threats from the unpredictable North.

The presidential Blue House later announced Park will keep the defence minister from the previous administration,

Kim Kwan-jin, because “the situation is too urgent to be holding up time for political debate and nomination hearing” to select a new candidate.

“She made the decision so that we can focus on stabilising a crisis situation and easing public anxiety,” Park’s spokeswoman, Kim Haeng, told a briefing.

Political analyst Yu Chang-seon said Park displayed a style of decision-making where she just can’t seem to change her mind once she’s reached a decision.

“The impact on her ability to govern has been growing considerably with the problems with appointments basically overwhelming everything,” Yu said.

Park also faces challenges to Asia’s fourth-largest economy from a weaker yen that has made Japanese cars and electronics more attractive than their Korean counterparts.

Park is the daughter of assassinated leader Park Chung-hee, who took power in a military coup in 1961 and ruled the country with an iron fist until 1979.

Stumbling: South Korean President Park Geun-hye

Myanmar riots stoke fears of widening sectarian strife Unrest is challenging government reforms

By Andrew R.C. Marshall MYANMAR declared martial law in four central townships yesterday after unrest between Buddhists and Muslims stoked fears that last year’s sectarian bloodshed was spreading into the country’s heartland in a test of Asia’s newest democracy.

Whole neighbourhoods were still smouldering yesterday and agitated Buddhist crowds roamed the streets after three days of turbulence, said Reuters reporters in the city 540 km (336 miles) north of the commercial capital Yangon.

State television said President Thein Sein had declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law in the four districts, placing the military, rather than local police, in charge of security. Authorities imposed an overnight curfew on Wednesday.

Twenty people, including a Buddhist monk, have been killed and dozens wounded since Wednesday, said Win Htein, a lawmaker for the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Muslim residents evacuate their houses for a temporary relief camp under police escort in riot-hit Meikhtila, central Myanmar yesterday (AFP) Two camps now held more than 2,000 people displaced by the fighting, he added.

The unleashing of ethnic hatred, suppressed during 49 years of military rule that ended in March 2011, is challenging the reformist government of one of Asia’s most ethnically diverse countries.

Jailed dissidents have been released, a free election held and censorship lifted in Myanmar’s historic democratic transition. But the government has faced mounting criticism over its failure to stop the bloodshed between Buddhists and Muslims.

“I am really sad over what

happened here because this is not just happening to one person. It’s affecting all of us,” said Maung Maung, a Buddhist official in Meikhtila.

Hundreds of Muslims have fled their homes to shelter at a sports stadium, local officials said. “When I jumped off from the car, a group of people

started attacking me. They struck me with swords and knives,” said a Muslim evacuee who was attacked while being driven to the stadium.

The unrest is a reprise of last year’s violence in Rakhine State in western Myanmar, which officially killed 110 people and left 120,000 homeless, most of them stateless Rohingya Muslims.

Locals had complained there were too few police in Meikhtila to quell the unrest.

It erupted after an argument between a Buddhist couple and the Muslim owners of a gold shop spiralled into a riot involving hundreds of people, said police.

“I want to help everybody regardless of race and religion.

We are all human,” a Buddhist monk told Reuters.

Reuters saw some residents arming themselves with knives and as occurred in Rakhine in 2012, when battles between the two communities turned into orchestrated attacks on Muslim communities by organised gangs of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

The United Nations warned the sectarian unrest could endanger a fragile reform programme launched after Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government replaced a decades-old military dictatorship in 2011.

“Religious leaders and other community leaders must also publicly call on their followers to abjure violence, respect the law and promote peace,” Vijay Nambiar, UN special adviser of the secretary-general, said in a statement.

Nigerian literary great Chinua Achebe dead at 82 NIGERIAN novelist and poet Chinua Achebe, widely seen as a grandfather of modern African literature, has died at the age of 82, publisher Penguin said yesterday.

Achebe made his name more than 50 years ago with his novel Things Fall Apart, about his Igbo ethnic group’s fatal brush with British colonialism in the 1800s. It was the first time the story of European colonialism had been told from an African perspective to an international audience and was translat-

ed into 50 languages, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide.

Anthills of the Savannah, published in 1987 is set two years after a military coup in an imaginary African country where power has corrupted and state brutality silenced all but the most courageous.

In 1983 Achebe published a pamphlet, “The Trouble With Nigeria”, which painted a bleak picture of his native country, but also expressed hope that endemic corruption could be ended

if it could be made unprofitable for Nigeria’s elites.

As a writer, broadcaster and lecturer, Achebe served as a bridge between Africa and the West, and became a yardstick against which generations of African writers have been judged ever since.

A car accident put him in a wheelchair in 1990, after which he wrote no books for more than 20 years. He spent most of his later years in the United States, where he lectured at universities.

Bridging Africa and the West: the late Achebe

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

11

World

Obama brokers Israeli-Turkish rapprochement

Free Syrian Army fighters seen in Binnish in Idlib province

Israel apologises to Turkey over flotilla killings

By Jeffrey Heller ISRAEL apologised to Turkey yesterday for killing nine Turkish citizens in a 2010 naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla and both feuding US allies agreed to normalise relations in a surprise breakthrough announced by US President Barack Obama.

The rapprochement could help regional coordination to contain spillover from the Syrian civil war and ease Israel’s diplomatic isolation in the Middle East as it faces challenges posed by Iran’s nuclear programme.

In a statement released by the White House only minutes before Obama ended a visit to Israel, the president said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erodgan had spoken by telephone.

“The United States deeply values our close partnerships with both Turkey and Israel, and we attach great importance to the restoration of positive relations between them in order to advance regional peace and security,” Obama said.

The first conversation between the two leaders since 2011, when Netanyahu phoned to offer help after an earthquake struck Turkey, gave Obama a diplomatic triumph in a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories in which he offered no new plan to revive peace talks frozen for nearly three years.

The 30-minute call was made in a runway trailer at Tel Aviv airport, where Obama and Netanyahu huddled before the president boarded Air Force One for a flight to Jordan, US officials said.

Israel bowed to a longstanding demand by Ankara, once a close strategic partner, to apologise formally for the deaths aboard the Turk-

US President Barack Obama waves from the steps of Air Force One prior to departing from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv yesterday (AFP) ish vessel Mavi Marmara, which was boarded by Israeli marines who intercepted a flotilla challenging Israel’s naval blockade of the Palestinian-run Gaza Strip.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed an apology to the Turkish people for any error that may have led to the loss of life, and agreed to complete the agreement for compensation,” an official Israeli statement said.

Netanyahu and Erdogan “agreed to restore normalisation between the two countries, including returning their ambassadors (to their posts),” the statement added.

A US official said “Erdogan accepted the apology on behalf of Turkey.”

Ankara expelled Israel’s ambassador and froze military cooperation after a UN report into the Mavi Marmara incident, released in September 2011, largely exoner-

ated the Jewish state.

Israel had previously balked at apologising to the Turks, saying this would be tantamount to admitting moral culpability and would invite lawsuits against its troops.

Voicing until now only “regret” over the Mavi Marmara incident, Israel has offered to pay into what it called a “humanitarian fund” through which casualties and their relatives could be compensated.

A source in Netanyahu’s office said opening a new chapter with Turkey “can be very, very important for the future, regarding what happens with Syria but not just what happens with Syria”.

Before the diplomatic break, Israeli pilots trained in Turkish skies, exercises widely seen as improving their capability to carry out long-range missions such as possible strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Also earlier yesterday, Obama made a pilgrimage to the traditional birthplace of Jesus, receiving a subdued reception from Palestinians at the end of a Holy Land visit heavy on symbolism and lacking in practical steps toward peace.

“Gringo, return to your country,” read a sign held by a small group of Palestinian protesters who watched the presidential motorcade roll into Bethlehem from Jerusalem after it passed through Israel’s controversial barrier in the occupied West Bank.

Sparse crowds of onlookers were on the streets of the wind-swept Biblical city, where Obama spent only 35 minutes, the final stage of his three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

At the Church of the Nativity, built above the grotto where Christians believe Jesus was born, Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chatted amiably.

Israeli, Norwegian tourists abducted in Sinai MASKED gunmen in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula kidnapped two tourists, an Israeli man and a Norwegian woman, travelling between two coastal resorts, Egyptian and Israeli officials said yesterday.

The pair were travelling in a car between Taba, near the Israeli border, and Dahab, a sea resort further south when Bedouin gunmen in a pickup truck captured them, Egyptian security sources said.

Egyptian security agencies were contacting the kidnappers to try to secure the pair’s release, the sources said.

Security in the Sinai desert region has deteriorated since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak two years ago.

It did not appear that the Israeli had been targeted because of his nationality, two Israeli officials in Jerusalem said.

“Our initial assessment is that this was

criminally motivated,” one said.

Bedouin kidnappers have captured tourists in the past to push for the release of fellow tribesmen from jail. Earlier this month kidnappers briefly seized the country boss of US oil major ExxonMobil and his wife.

Bedouin have attacked police stations, blocked access to towns and taken hostages to show their discontent with what they see as their poor treatment by Cairo authorities.

Two American female tourists were kidnapped in Sinai in February last year but Egyptian authorities negotiated their release a few hours later. Two other US tourists were seized in late May that year, and two more US tourists in July.

The captives were released within days in both cases.

‘Syria to wipe out attackers’ PRESIDENT Bashar al-Assad vowed yesterday to purge Syria of “extremist forces” he accused of assassinating a leading Sunni Muslim cleric who backed his two-year battle against rebels and protesters.

Assad made the pledge in a message of condolence over the death of Mohammed al-Buti, who was killed along with dozens of worshippers by an explosion in a Damascus mosque on Thursday. State media put the death toll from the blast at 49, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which monitors violence across the country said 52 people died and the final figure was likely to be more than 60.

The mass killing inside a place of worship shocked many Syrians, long accustomed to the

daily bloodshed of a conflict which has killed 70,000 people, displaced millions of others and devastated whole districts of Syria’s cities.

Authorities announced a day of mourning today, when a funeral is expected to be held for Buti, who often delivered his sermons in the historic Umayyad Mosque.

“Your blood ... and that of all Syrian martyrs will not be shed in vain,” Assad said. “We will adhere to your thinking to eliminate their darkness and extremism until we purge our country of them.”

The mosque bombing took place in the same Mazraa district of central Damascus where a car bomb killed more than 60 people one month ago.

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

12

Opinion

Eurozone clamour drowned out Cypriot bank warnings Euro adoption benefits distracted from risks posed by lending boom

By Laura Noonan ypriot politicians and bankers were so swept up in the short-term benefits of the Mediterranean island’s adoption of the euro that they ignored warnings over the resulting lending boom.

C

The island’s 2008 eurozone entry was the first in a series of events which have led to a situation in which ATMs in Cyprus may soon run out of cash.

Before joining the euro, the Central Bank of Cyprus only allowed banks to use up to 30 per cent of their foreign deposits to support local lending, a measure designed to prevent sizeable deposits from Greeks and Russians fuelling a bubble.

When Cyprus joined the single European currency, Greek and other euro area deposits were reclassified as domestic, leading to billions more local lending, Pambos Papageorgiou, a member of Cyprus’s parliament and a former Central Bank board member said.

“In terms of regulation we were not prepared for such a credit bubble,” he told Reuters.

Banks’ loan books expanded almost 32 per cent in 2008 as its newly gained eurozone status made Cyprus a more attractive destination for banking and business generally, but Cypriot banks maintained the unusual position of funding almost all their lending from deposits.

“The banks were considered super conservative,” said Alexander Apostolides an economic historian at Cyprus’ European University, a private university on the outskirts of Nicosia.

When Lehman Brothers collapsed in the summer of 2008, most of the world’s banks suffered in the fallout, but not Cyprus’.

“Everyone here was sitting pretty,” said Fiona Mullen, a Nicosia-based economist, reflecting on the fact

Cypriot banks did not depend on capital markets for funding and did not invest in complex financial products that felled other institutions.

Marios Mavrides, a finance lecturer and government politician, says his warnings about the detrimental impact on the economy of so much extra lending fell on deaf ears.

“I was talking about the (property) bubble but nobody wanted to listen, because everyone was making money,” he said. The fact that the main Cyprus property taxes are payable on sale made people hold on to property, further fuelling prices, Papageorgiou added.

A separate source with direct knowledge of the Central Bank’s board said supervision was inhibited by outdated regulations that largely date back to the 1960s.

Michael Olympios, chairman of the Cyprus Investor Association that represents 27,000 individual stock market investors, said he too criticised the Central Bank for “lax” regulation that facilitated excessive risk taking.

Athanasios Orphanides, the former Central Bank governor who was ultimately responsible for banking supervision from May 2007 to May 2012, declined to comment.

He has previously denied any supervisory failings.

A source at one of the banks, who asked not to be named, said his institution did not have “serious problems with lending”, adding that Cypriot banks typically demanded a down payment of 30 per cent for home loans, well above the average in most countries.

The rapid expansion left Cyprus with a banking system eight times the size of its national output, as its accommodative regime of not taxing foreigners’ dividends and capital gains lured investors from countries like Russia.

A senior European Union official said the European Commission advised the Cypriot government in a November 2011 telephone call to

The rapid expansion after Cyprus adopted the euro in 2008 left the island with a banking system eight times the size of its national output reduce the size of its banking sector but the advice was ignored.

Cyprus also offered rates which could not be matched.

A depositor would have earned €31,000 on a €100,000 deposit held for the last five years in Cyprus, compared to the €15,000 to €18,000 the same deposit would have made in Italy and Spain, and the €8,000 interest it would have earned in Germany, according to figures from UniCredit.

Bulging deposit books not only fuelled lending expansion at home, it also drove Cypriot banks overseas.

Greece was the destination of choice for the island’s two biggest lenders, Cyprus Popular Bank - formerly

called Laiki - and Bank of Cyprus.

The extent of this exposure was laid bare in the European Banking Authority’s 2011 “stress tests”, which were published that July, as the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) were battling to come up with a fresh rescue deal to save Greece.

The EBA figures showed 30 per cent (€11 billion) of Bank of Cyprus’ total loan book was wrapped up in Greece by December 2010, as was 43 per cent (or €19 billion) of Laiki’s, then known as Marfin Popular.

More striking was the banks’ exposure to Greek debt.

At the time, Bank of Cyprus’s €2.4

billion of Greek debt was enough to wipe out 75 per cent of the bank’s total capital, while Laiki’s €3.4 billion exposure outstripped its €3.2 billion of total capital.

The close ties between Greece and Cyprus meant the Cypriot banks did not listen to warnings about this exposure.

The banks sold down some of their Greek holdings, but then got back into the market as yields rose. “When the Germans were selling, they were buying,” said Apostolides, referring to the German banks’ 2011 dumping of Greek debt.

A former executive of one of the banks, who did not sit on the management team and asked not to be named, said the exposure and the banks’ overall expansion stemmed from greed. “To help deliver profits, they lent and lent and lent and invested in Greek bonds,” the person said.

“That (the way the exposures were allowed to build) was a problem of supervision,” said Papageorgiou, who was a member of the six-man board of directors of the Central Bank at the time.

The board, which met less than once a month, never knew how much Greek debt the banks were holding, both Papageorgiou and another person with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Orphanides also clashed with leaders of the AKEL government.

Apostolides says the Central Bank governor had told Cyprus’ president that the banks could survive a maximum 25 per cent loss on their Greek bonds.

The “haircut” ultimately agreed by European leaders, including Cyprus’ president Demetris Christofias, was more than 70 per cent, heaping losses of €4.5 billion on the banks.

When Orphanides’ five-year contract expired in May 2012, it was not renewed. He had criticised government spending and Cyprus’ growing indebtedness for years, culminating in an especially sharp report in his last week in office.

Last year, the Central Bank board appointed consultants Alvarez and Marsal to carry out an investigation into what really went wrong in the banking sector. It is expected to be completed in April.

Our money is not in Cyprus, Russian oligarchs say

By Polina Devitt and Katya Golubkova IF RUSSIAN oligarchs still have money in Cyprus, where a lot of them base their businesses, they aren’t letting on.

“You must be out of your mind!” snapped tycoon Igor Zyuzin, main owner of New York-listed coal-to-steel group Mechel, as he dismissed a suggestion this week that the financial meltdown in Cyprus posed a risk to his interests.

His response is typical across the oligarch class of major corporations and super-rich individuals, reflecting the assessment of officials and bankers on the Mediterranean island who say the bulk of the billions of euros of Russian money in Cyprus comes from smaller firms and middle-class savers.

The collapse of an economy 75 times smaller than its own may not have much impact in Russia, though the crisis has strained relations with the European Union, raised questions on Russian influence over Cypriot politicians and highlighted geopolitical competition for new offshore gas fields. But some would suffer.

As much as losses likely to be sustained on deposits held in Cypriot banks, pain for the Russian economy could come from a disruption in money flows between Russians which

pass through the island - transfers that dwarf Cyprus’s own national income.

Light regulation and taxes, cultural ties through Orthodox Christianity and the weather have long attracted the capital and savings of Russians - many keen to keep their wealth out of the sight of often predatory bureaucrats at home. Yet precisely because investors can hide their wealth behind nominee structures - often held in the name of a local lawyer - it is difficult to say just how much Russian money is tied up on the Mediterranean island. Or how much has already left.

Where it is going is also unclear, though a possible rise in Russian deposits in fellow EU member Latvia, a former Soviet republic that hopes to enter the eurozone next year, has raised concerns of displacing instability northward.

Russians are believed to account for most of the €19 billion of nonEU, non-bank money held in Cypriot banks

at the last count by the Central Bank in January, when total non-bank deposits were €70 billion, 60 per cent of them classified as “domestic”. Of €38 billion in deposits from banks, €13 billion came from outside the EU. But the ease with which Russians can establish residency and local corporations in Cyprus muddies the data. One senior financial source in Moscow said a total of €20 billion held by Russian firms in Cyprus was a “significant underestimate”.

Cypriot central bank chief Panicos Demetriades was asked by Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper this week how much Russians held on the island. He replied: “It depends how you count it.”

Deposits formally identified as Russian totalled €4.9 billion, he said. Add the funds of shell companies believed to be linked to Russia and the figure rose to €10.2 billion.

But many Russian and other analysts think

‘It won’t affect me or my company. But they have put Cyprus to the knife and what has happened is a disgrace’

the sums are much higher.

One Cyprus-based lawyer reckons $2 billion in Russian money fled in the 10 days before banks were shut down this week, while Nicosia argued over an EU bailout. Phones are ringing from Malta to the Isle of Man as that cash seeks a new safe haven.

Russian business leaders criticised the EU bailout plan, and the “haircut” it would impose on depositors. However, if Cyprus stands by its rejection, heavier losses could result.

“There will be a serious outflow of capital from Cyprus,” said Vladimir Potanin, the chief executive of Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest nickel and palladium miner. “It won’t affect me or my company. But they have put Cyprus to the knife and what has happened is a disgrace.”

Sources in the wealth management, advisory and banking industry in Nicosia say Russia depositors are typically smaller savers and entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, Cyprus charges foreigners no tax on dividend income and capital gains. A double taxation treaty with Russia provides attractive incentives for Russians to use Cypriot banks. Even on Thursday, with Nicosia in crisis, one adviser said he had had two new requests from abroad to set up Cyprus shell companies.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

13

Opinion

We hope the parties have finally learnt their lesson LAST NIGHT’S news that a deal with the troika was close, after hours of negotiations at the presidential palace came as a relief, even though there is still some way to go before the bailout agreement is finalised. After the approval of the series of bills, including the one for the resolution of banks, last night, consultations would move to Brussels where President Anastasiades, accompanied by the party leaders, will fly today.

This is a positive development, indicating we are heading towards a conclusion of the week-long saga during which our political parties had once again demonstrated their irresponsible populism and penchant for cheap rhetoric. Today in Brussels, the probability is they will agree to conditions for a bailout that are worse than those they had mindlessly rejected on Tuesday evening in the name of patriotism and national dignity.

The announcement of the forced restructuring of Laiki Bank on Thursday, was obviously a wake-up call for deputies, who two days earlier had voted against the government bill for the haircut on deposits, on the grounds that this would force the government to negotiate a better deal.

Some had even boasted that the heroic ‘no’ would cause turmoil in the markets and put the euro under pressure, forcing the Eurogroup into retreat.

How deluded and foolish they were proved two days later when they were powerless to stop the collapse of Laiki Bank which could only be salvaged through restructuring.

Yesterday morning there were impassioned pleas by veteran politicians and state officials as well as newspapers, to politicians to act responsibly in order to save the country. It is incredible that at such a critical time for the country, people have to beg their political parties to do the obviously right thing for the country.

There was a change of attitude, at last, party representatives assuring the pubic that they would not allow Cyprus to go bankrupt.

Of course, conditions had changed, the troika took a tougher line and the government spent all of yesterday in negotiations with the sole objective of preventing the Bank of Cyprus suffering the same fate as Laiki. The troika had maintained the Bank of Cyprus should also be restructured.

This danger was averted but uninsured depositors of the bank would now take a hit of between 20 and 25 per cent.

This is subject to the approval of Eurogroup and subsequently of our legislature.

We can only hope that our political parties will have learnt their lesson and approve the bill, because they will not be given a third chance.

The spectre of bankruptcy should banish any thought of defiant posturing.

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In defence of Germany T

HIS is not an endorsement of Germany’s government’s policy regarding the Cyprus bailout or the eurocrisis at large. While I do indeed support the case for intelligent austerity and deep structural reforms throughout the Western world, I admit that the course advocated by Berlin has not been successful and that a complimentary growth based strategy is needed to ward off a European Great Depression, which will only make the debt situation more unsustainable.

I also admit that Berlin and the troika may have failed to take account of the sensitivities of the population of other countries and the risk to the European project when they took their decisions.

The first thing that should be made clear, is that, however genuine the grievance, however deep the suffering caused by a failed austerity heavy strategy, the politicians of Southern European creditor countries, the media, and the public at large, should not invoke the memory of WWI and WWII. They should not refer to Chancellor Merkel as the “Fuhrer of the Fourth Reich”, “Hitler’s demon love child” and they should not declare that Germany is launching WWIII, with the weapons of choice being euros instead of blitzkrieg panzer divisions.

They should not be implying that Germany intends to turn countries like Greece and Cyprus into giant versions of Auschwitz, as SYRIZA’s Tsirpas did when he called the austerity a “Holocaust”.

It is wrong in that it trivialises the bravery and suffering of all those who fought Nazism.

Do you think it is right to label the people who are supposed to save us as “barbaric Krauts” or “Teutonic Brutes”? Do you think this will rebuild a united and dynamic Europe?

My second line of argument concerns the cultural misunderstanding between Southern European debtor nations and Northern European creditor nations, particularly Germany.

Southern Europeans, because of Roman Catholic and Orthodox views of community and different political development, have an interpretation of solidarity.

Unfortunately, this communal idealism has translated into thinking that the Northern Europeans in general, and the Germans in particular, are unfeeling asset strippers and deficit scolds at best, or jack-booted Lutheran fascists at worst.

Merkel’s father was a Lutheran pastor from Hamburg. Beyond the influence of her father’s preaching, Merkel believes in German economic efficiency and rigour so it is not very surprising that she has adopted a tough line on the euro-crisis.

As part of its efforts to atone for the past, and lay the groundwork for a mutually prosperous future of a union of European nation states with strong market economies and healthy welfare states, Germany was ready to put its financial muscle - essentially the money of German voters and taxpayers, towards achieving that goal.

The EU had a couple of big waves of enlargement. Each time, it was expected of the Federal Republic of Germany, as the biggest economy, to contribute the bulk of aid funds to incoming neighbours so that they

Comment Timothy Spyrou could get their economic fundamentals up to scratch.

One would think that the German voter and taxpayer would expect that the funds would be wisely invested.

One would also expect that the German voters and taxpayers who provided these funds would be quite angry that their partners had landed themselves in such dire straits that the continent’s very economic existence is threatened.

The current anti-German feeling gripping Southern Europe, particularly in Greece and Cyprus, adds insult to injury, and is a source of angry confusion to the German voters and taxpayers.

True, the unwillingness to consider complimentary panEuropean fiscal and monetary stimulus policies, as well as a series of half measures on the part of Merkel’s government and the German dominated European Central Bank have massively contributed to the crisis, but they were not the origins.

German voters and taxpayers know in their gut that they did not cause the crisis. They did not set the standard for Western budgetary profligacy.

They did not tell Ireland to ignore its strengths its Diaspora and its status as a good place for start ups, investors and new economy giants and exporters so that they could ape the British and require a bailout.

They did not tell Greece’s two mainstream parties to cook the books to enter the eurozone, to pretend root and branch change was not needed decades ago and for Greece’s Antonis Samaras to practice scorched earth opposition to Papandreou when he could have used centre-right connections throughout Europe as an unofficial ambassador to persuade Merkel that Greece is a worthy case and that growth had to be kick-started.

They did not tell the Greek public and vested interests to engage in endless protests, strikes and demonstrations that only worsened the economic climate. They did not tell Italians to ignore 20 years of steadily declining job opportunities for youth and competitiveness by electing a rakish, clownish crook who couldn’t care less about governing.

They didn’t tell Portugal to binge on civil servants and

‘The current antiGerman feeling, particularly in Greece and Cyprus is a source of angry confusion to the German voters’

This kind of knee-jerk reaction is wrong in that it trivialises the bravery and suffering of all those who fought Nazism, including some Germans themselves overspend on infrastructure and they didn’t tell Spain’s local government linked co-ops to go crazy on real estate. They most certainly didn’t tell the Cypriots to erect a sign that said “Eastern European Underworld welcomed” by voting for Tassos Papadopoulos, whose law firm busted sanctions on behalf of war criminal, dictator and Mafia don Slobodan Milosevic.

They did not tell us to elect a prevaricating Cold War throwback who strung the troika along as he tried to dictate terms according to his party’s manifesto, and they did not tell him to not pay attention to the Central Bank governor about the losses that would be imposed on the idiotic Cypriot banks as a result of a Greek haircut on bondholders.

They did not tell us to continue running to Mother Russia when it was our relationship with that country that indirectly led to the blowing up of our economy at Mari.

Lastly, a final justifiable grievance of the German voter should be noted. Germany’s governments, especially the left leaning Social Democrat-Green Coalition of 1998-2005, had implemented a continuous raft of austerity and reform related measures, as its business community engaged in restructuring. Germany was hit with two shocks at once the rapid emergence of new economic great powers like China, and the reunification of its own country with the collapse of the Iron Curtain.

The West Germans had inherited a mess when they welcomed East Germany back into the fold. Hundreds of billions of dollars were needed to invest in East Germany so that it could converge with West Germany’s economy. The ordinary German worker, voter, and taxpayer had to accept a temporary slowdown in the growth of living standards and they didn’t ask anyone for

help or special favours.

They expected to be rewarded for their efforts, but then the Great Recession happened.

They were told everything was currently unstable and any great reaping of the fruits of their labours could rock the boat and that they should be patient. It’s been over four years since Lehman Brothers, and really, it has been five since the crisis started to come into view with the American slump in 2007. The German voters, workers, and taxpayers are still waiting, but they see the fruits of their labour going to other people who appear ungrateful, spiteful and insulting.

While German taxpayers, workers and voters have indeed tried to be good cultural Lutherans, it is hard for them because, it is not only other people messes they are expected to help clean up.

The messes aren’t events that were out of the victims’ control.

It was in the hands of the various national political and business elites, and unfortunately, their voters for not realising problems were ahead. However, that still could be tolerated somewhat.

What couldn’t be tolerated is the perceived ungratefulness and sometimes expressions of even envy and hatred from the people that they are trying to help.

They cannot tolerate the lack of appreciation of previous German sacrifices that were often wasted, as is the case with the Greek bureaucrats often stealing the EU structural funds.

When they reluctantly agreed to give up their beloved Deutschmark as a price for a reunited Germany, they expected other countries to fulfil their side of the bargain. We should help them by handling our differences with dignity, not by trying to degrade them through psychological abuse and emotional blackmail.

14

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Showbiz

DreamWorks looks to the Stone Age for The Croods

Guitar played

by Beatles stars up for auction

Follows a family of cavemen as they fight for survival

By Jill Serjeant

By Piya Sinha-Roy and Lisa Richwine AFTER mining the worlds of fairy tales, zoos, dragons and martial arts pandas, DreamWorks Animation is going back to the Stone Age with The Croods, in the hope of finding a new box office hit.

The Croods, out in US movie theatres this weekend, is being watched closely by analysts after the weak performance of Rise of the Guardians last year, which led DreamWorks Animation SKG to write down about $87 million in costs.

The Croods follows a family of cavemen as they fight for survival in a mysterious and visually stunning new world that is constantly changing under their feet.

Croods patriarch Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) has to come to terms with daughter Eep (Emma Stone) growing older and falling in love with the more evolved Guy (Ryan Reynolds), who poses the threat of change for stubborn Grug.

“It’s not the meteors or lava or mammoths falling through cracks in the ground. It’s his daughter changing in front of his eyes and leaving with a man that she sees eye-to-eye with,

Cast members Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone arrive for the premiere of The Croods in New York and that we saw as really resonating with people,” said Kirk De Micco, who codirected The Croods with Chris Sanders.

DreamWorks has enjoyed huge success with its Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda franchises.

However, financial losses from last year’s Guardians, a movie that united Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and other childhood icons, didn’t draw in big crowds and con-

Coronation Street star to face child sex trial CORONATION Street actor Michael Le Vell will stand trial in September after being accused of child sex offences.

The star, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, made his first appearance at Manchester Crown Court under his real name of Michael Turner.

The 48-year-old is charged with 19 offences including six counts of raping a child, six allegations of indecently assaulting a child and seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

The alleged offences relate to one complainant and all took place between 2001 and 2010.

During the preliminary hearing, which lasted about ten minutes, Le Vell, wearing a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt and black tie, spoke only to confirm his name.

Six members of his family sat in the public gallery of the packed courtroom.

Le Vell has not yet entered a plea but has stated publicly that he is innocent and will fight the allegations through the courts.

Prosecutor Eleanor Laws told Judge Michael Henshell that a plea hearing will take place on May 17 followed by a two to three-week trial starting on September 2.

Alisdair Williamson, defending, asked for an earlier trial date, saying: “Mr Turner has had this hanging over his head for 18 months.”

But Judge Henshell said the September date should be fixed and granted the actor bail until the plea hearing, at the same court, in May. Asked by the judge if he understood, Le Vell nodded and said “Thank you”, before leaving the dock.

tributed to a decision to lay off 350 employees, DreamWorks said last month.

Sanders joked that they felt “no pressure at all” ahead of the release of The Croods, saying that DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg had been supportive.

“One of the nice things that Jeffrey brings to the party is he never loses sight that we’re making a feature film ... he’ll never try to change the course of the film,” Sand-

ers told Reuters.

Box office forecasters project a bright weekend debut for Croods of $38 million and $45 million in the US and Canada.

De Micco and Sanders set about creating a vivid 3-D backdrop of the changing prehistoric landscape, with exotic mythical creatures, drawing inspiration from the Cretaceous era in Earth’s evolutionary history.

“We wanted the audience

to go on the very same journey that the characters are going on. At every turn, no one, including in the audience, knows what’s going to be around that next corner, so it kept everyone on their toes,” Sanders said.

A furry sloth named Belt, voiced by Sanders, is a scenestealer with his prophetic “duh-duh-dun” phrase at tense moments. Sanders said his character provides “terrific comedy relief.”

Fergie ‘unprepared’ for baby

The Black Eyed Peas singer with husband Josh Duhamel

THE Black Eyed Peas singer is currently expecting her first child with husband Josh Duhamel and while the couple are “thrilled” about their exciting news, the blonde beauty is relying on her maternal “instincts” to help her be a good parent.

Speaking on TV show Good Morning America, Fergie said: “We’re thrilled. I know that my husband told everybody what I said. My quote when we found out: ‘This s**t just got real.’

“But it’s true, when that moment occurs to you, there’s going to be a human being growing inside of you ... it’s reality. It’s amazing, we’re thrilled.

“I have no idea what I’m doing! I’m just going to play it by ear and see how things go, and let the natural instincts kick in.”

Fergie, 37, has been feeling good so far and she knows she is lucky to not be suffering from severe morning sickness.

She added: “I’m feeling great.”

AN electric guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison at the height of the Beatles’ fame is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000 at auction in May, Julien’s Auctions said this week.

The VOX custom-built guitar, the centrepiece of a ‘Music Icons’ auction, was played by the two late pop stars during the British band’s Magical Mystery Tour period.

Harrison used it to practice the 1967 song I Am the Walrus, while Lennon played the guitar the same year while recording a video session for Hello, Goodbye.

Both songs were included on the Magical Mystery Tour album.

Beverly Hills-based Julien’s Auctions said the guitar was given as a gift in 1967 to Yanni ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas, the electronics engineer for the band’s Apple Records label.

Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions, called the guitar “one of the most historical pieces of music memorabilia” ever offered by the auction house.

Other Beatles items for sale at the May 18 auction in New York include a copy of the band’s 1963 debut album Please Please Me, signed by all four band members and which has an estimated price of between $30,000 and $50,000. A copy of Lennon’s whimsical 1964 book of stories and drawings In His Own Write - also signed by the band - could fetch up to $30,000.

Costumes, personal effects and memorabilia from Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, The Grateful Dead, David Bowie and 1970s teen heartthrob David Cassidy are also up for sale.

The VOX guitar will go on display from April 16 to May 5 at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland, ahead of the New York auction.

Lennon was shot dead in New York in 1980, and Harrison died of lung cancer in Los Angeles in 2001, leaving Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as the surviving members of the Fab Four.

The VOX custom-built guitar was played by John Lennon and George Harrison

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

15

Tech

Campaign to foster European tech innovation Startup Europe a bid to rival Silicon Valley

By Teddy Nykiel

The hands of Japanese engineer Yasushi Matoba are seen projecting lights on water as if on a screen on March 20, 2013, during the 15th edition of Laval Virtual, an

international meeting on vitual reality, augmented reality and 3D real time, in Laval, western France. The technology event runs till tomorrow (AFP)

ANGRY Birds, Skype and Spotify may all be the product of European creativity, but if the old continent is ever going to challenge Silicon Valley for tech supremacy, it’s going to have to do a lot better.

Acknowledging the global dominance of United States brands such as Facebook, Google and Apple, the European Commission launched a campaign this week to encourage more technology entrepreneurship on Europe’s side of the Atlantic.

“Europeans need to be creative and fearless,” Neelie Kroes, the European commissioner responsible for digital issues and technology, said as she launched Startup Europe on Wednesday.

“That’s how dozens of the world’s most exciting web and tech companies were born in the EU, and I want the world to know it.”

Kroes’s campaign aims to help local innovators create and develop businesses while remaining in Europe.

From January next year, it will be accompanied by a separate programme to provide research funding

Skype, the web-based calling service now handles a third of international calls for the benefit of European startups.

“We’re trying to show that running to America or selling out your company to America isn’t necessary to be successful,” said Ryan Heath, the EU Commission’s spokesman on digital issues.

Tech startups create around three million new jobs in the United States each year. But in Europe, the track record is more mixed. Finland and Estonia may provide a good envi-

ronment for innovation, but Greece, Spain and Belgium are more difficult places to be a small business developers, Heath said.

European innovators have shown they can do it in the past, so the hope is that specialist funding and support, including guidance from successful entrepreneurs, will help innovators achieve big things in the future.

The role models in Europe include Skype, the webbased calling service that now handles a third of international calls, and Angry Birds, a Finnish-designed app that has branched out into merchandise, advertisements and a movie.

“I’ve long believed that Europe’s technology entrepreneurs should come together to discuss important issues that affect us all,” said Daniel Ek, the founder of Spotify, an online digital music service created in Europe.

Speaking after entrepreneurs held an inaugural meeting on Wednesday to share ideas about supporting innovation, Ek said he was glad to “help shape policy in areas that will create the growth and jobs of the future”.

Virtual head expresses emotions YouTube has 1b monthly active users A VIRTUAL talking head which can express human emotion could see the creation of lifeliked computerised personal assistants, similar to those seen in sci-fi films.

The new system, called Zoe, can recite text while realistically recreating emotions like happiness, anger and fear.

According to its designers, it is the most expressive controllable avatar ever - and students have already remarked upon the similarity with the disembodied head and Holly, the ship’s computer, in cult comedy Red Dwarf.

Developed by Toshiba’s Cambridge Research Lab and the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, the face is actually that of Zoe Lister, an actress best known as Zoe Carpenter in the Channel 4 series Hollyoaks.

Professor Roberto Cipolla said: “This technology could be the start of a whole new generation of interfaces which make interacting with a computer much more like talking to

another human being.”

The system is light enough to work in mobile phones and uses could include smartphone personal assistants or face messages to replace texts.

It works by using a set of fundamental emotions. Zoe’s voice, for example, has six basic settings: happy, sad, tender, angry, afraid and neutral.

The user can adjust these settings to different levels, as well as altering the pitch, speed and depth of the voice itself.

Scientists hope the software could soon be adapted to allow people to upload their own faces and voices in a matter of seconds.

If this can be developed, then a user could, for example, text the message “I’m going to be late” and ask it to set the emotion to “frustrated”.

Their friend would then receive a face message that looked like the sender, repeating the message in a frustrated way.

GOOGLE Inc’s YouTube said 1 billion unique users were now visiting the video-sharing website every month, or nearly one out of every two people on the Internet.

“If YouTube were a country, we’d be the third largest in the world after China and India,” YouTube said in a blog post on Wednesday.

Expanding high-speed data networks worldwide and increased availability of internetenabled smartphones have helped connect billions of people to the Internet, fuelling growth in social media and video-sharing websites.

Facebook Inc reached 1 billion active users in September, a level of global penetration that has made its quest for sustained growth more challenging.

The popularity of music videos such as South Korean singer Psy’s Gangnam Style has contributed to an explosion in viewership on YouTube. The video has so far clocked up 1.45 billion views.

YouTube was an instant success after its

Samsung said to be working on wearable digital device to rival Apple’s SAMSUNG Electronics Co is developing a wearable digital device similar to a wristwatch, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, joining rival Apple Inc in creating new products as growth of smartphone sales slows.

The Samsung device will perform many of the tasks of a smartphone, the source said this week, without giving further details.

The source declined to be identified because Samsung did not want to reveal to the public any information about its new product line at this time.

Samsung would not discuss its detailed

product pipeline. “We are constantly exploring new technologies and developing various form factors,” said company spokeswoman Chenny Kim. Last month, the New York Times reported that Apple was experimenting with the design of a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone and would be made with curved glass.

Shares in both Samsung and Apple have taken a hit as the world’s top two mobile device manufacturers keep underwhelming consumers with their latest smartphone models.

Samsung shares dropped nearly 5 per cent, or around $10 billion, in just two trading sessions after it launched its latest Galaxy S smartphone late last Thursday, partly hit by concerns that its flagship product lacks the ‘wow factor’ and may not live up to expectations.

The Galaxy S4, unwrapped to much fanfare in New York to challenge Apple’s iPhone on its home turf, offered some incremental evolutionary improvements, but media reports have since suggested these features may not be sufficient to excite buyers in an industry that lives and dies by innovation.

A designer’s concept of what Apple’s wristwatch might look like

founding by three former PayPal employees in 2005, adding millions of users in its first year.

Google bought it for $1.65 billion in 2006.

The fast-growing video site, which had about 800 million unique monthly users a year ago, now represents one of Google’s key opportunities to generate new sources of revenue outside of its traditional internet search advertising business.

Google does not break out revenue from advertising on YouTube, which is a free site, but its contribution in terms of Google’s overall revenue is relatively small.

AdAge reported in January that Google planned to offer paid subscriptions to some content later this year.

YouTube had reached out to several video producers, asking them to submit applications to create for-pay “channels,” AdAge said, adding that the first such channels could be available by the second quarter for between $1 and $5 a month.

CYPRUS MAIL Satu

16

Reportage

From teenage graffiti Syria’s two years rs of re What started out as peaceful demos has become a bloody battle, report Dominic Evans and Suleiman AlKhalidi

Syrian refugees hang clothes out to dry in the ancient Roman city of Serjilla

O

N A cold winter’s night in early 2011, some Syrian schoolboys drew a few slogans on a wall in a town the world had barely heard of.

Two years on, more than 70,000 people have died in the bitter conflict that ensued, and calls for the West to give more help to the Syrian rebels are rising.

It was in the southern town of Deraa that 16-year-old Mohammad and five friends gathered to scrawl graffiti demanding the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family had ruled the country for 40 years. They chose to vent their anger at the pervasive fear and repression in the country at their school in the Hay al-Arbeen district.

“We never told our parents because we knew it would get them into trouble,” said the teenager, who fled to neighbouring Jordan last month.

So on the night of February 22, 2011, one student scribbled on the school wall: “No teaching, No School, Till the end of Bashar’s Rule.” Another simply wrote: “Leave, Bashar”.

“I started writing ‘Your turn is coming, Doctor’,” said Mohammad, using a popular nickname for the president, who studied eye surgery before his father, Hafez al-Assad, died in 2000, bequeathing him sweeping powers over Syria’s 23 million people.

But Mohammad was spotted by the ubiquitous security forces.

“We did not expect the

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s Space Vehicle

Syria’s leader Bashar al-Assad making a rare public appearance this week

school guard to see us,” said the youth, speaking in the northern Jordanian town of Ramtha three weeks after he crossed into Jordan with the help of Syrian rebels. He asked that his full name not be disclosed.

The boys fled their homes, but over the next few days Mohammad’s five friends - aged between 13 and 15 were rounded up along with up to a dozen other young protesters.

Their detention and abuse brought long-buried anger in Deraa boiling to the surface. It erupted in protest on March 18 - exactly two years ago on Monday.

Security forces opened fire and four people were killed, launching a cycle of protests and crackdowns across the surrounding, agricultural region, where poor rains and subsidy cuts had brought a sharp fall in living standards.

A monument portraying Assad’s father was torched, and the chants of “God, Syria and Freedom” spread to the urban sprawl east of Damascus and other cities across Syria. As more demonstrations were crushed, protesters took up arms.

In the ensuing carnage, a million have fled the country, and millions more remain uprooted, homeless or hungry.

Whole districts of historic cities lie in ruins, and Syria’s economy will take years and tens of billions of dollars to fix.

The sectarian elements of the conflict, with mainly Sunni rebels battling a president from the Alawite minority linked to the Shi’ite Islam of Iran, are also straining religious faultlines that cut through the heart of the Middle East.

Mohammad says he now lives in limbo: “My family and friends’ lives have changed,” he said. “I am in Jordan, living a wretched life and just count the days until Bashar falls and we return to our

home.”

Still seen as a potential reformer, despite a decade of unfulfilled promise Assad waited two weeks to respond to the Deraa violence. When he did, he offered no roadmap for change.

Scoffing at “a new fashion which they call ‘revolutions’”, he said Syria faced a conspiracy but would emerge victorious. “Such conspiracies do not work with our country or our people. We tell them that you have only one choice, which is to learn from your failure,” he told parliament at the end of March.

Though reforms trickled out, including a new cabinet, concessions to stateless ethnic Kurds and an end to decades of emergency rule, opponents said the political moves were empty gestures, undermined by the violent crackdown.

By the end of April, tanks were sent into Deraa to try to crush dissent. Thousands were arrested. Rights activists later reported that torture and summary executions were rife.

As the protests spread to Syria’s Mediterranean coastline, the rural northern re-

gions bordering Turkey and the eastern oil-producing province of Deir al-Zor, so the demands quickly hardened to call for “the execution of the president”.

Syria said it faced an international conspiracy and accused foreign-backed militants of fomenting violence.

That accusation was at odds

Syria said it faced conspiracy a foreign-back of fomentin with scores of videos released by activists showing peaceful protests apparently broken up by gunfire.

In Hama, where 10,000 and possibly many more had been killed in 1982 under Assad’s father, a human wave began taking over the city’s central square in June for protests after Friday prayers.

“I remember hundreds of thousands of peaceful people that were demanding, above

rday, March 23, 2013

17 Television

20

Crossword

21

Sport

28-32

to a country in ruins: ebellion

A Syrian refugee child looks out from a tent supplied by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at a refugee camp in Al-Marj village, Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon

all, less corruption, more freedom,” said Eric Chevallier, the French ambassador to Syria who visited Hama at that time.

Robert Ford, the US ambassador, said he toured Hama one Friday morning that month and witnessed a largely calm city.

“The police were sitting on

d an international and accused ked militants ng violence white plastic chairs in the shade under the trees, drinking tea,” he said “We went by the Baath party headquarters - it was entirely normal.”

The Baath is Assad’s ruling movement.

Estimating the crowd after Friday prayers at a more conservative 50,000, Ford said protesters told tales of corruption and mistreatment by authorities.

“People wanted to bear wit-

ness to what they had undergone. But there was a lot of fear, too,” he said. “I told everyone: You have to keep this peaceful, because if you don’t and it becomes violent, the whole country will be dragged into a terrible conflict.”

He was right. Local uprisings began spiralling out of control. That month, June 2011, the authorities reported that 120 security personnel were shot dead in the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour.

The move towards a militarised revolt crystallised with the announcement that an army officer, LieutenantColonel Hussein Harmoush, had defected and joined “the Free Syrian Army”, which was to become the main rebel umbrella force.

Assad ratcheted up his military response with a crackdown in the restive cities of Deir al-Zor, Homs and Hama.

As the death tolls rose, a divided UN Security Council was stymied: China and Russia blocked draft resolutions condemning Assad, leaving Western countries to fall back on rhetoric and sanctions.

The West, quick to help in the rebellion against Libya’s

Muammar Gaddafi, was reluctant to intervene in Syria, seeing potential for regional conflict in its complex sectarian and ethnic mix and Assad’s close ties to Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and to Palestinian militants.

Reports from the central city of Homs, home to Sunni Muslims and a large Alawite minority, spoke of escalating kidnappings and tit-for-tat killings. Sunni districts became increasingly fortified rebel strongholds. Alawites said they were driven from their homes in mainly Sunni areas, and Sunnis said army snipers had turned their neighbourhoods into death traps.

Assad stepped up military action in Homs early in 2012, raining mortar and artillery fire on insurgent strongholds.

Rebels pulled out of Baba Amr, their last big bastion, after 26 days of siege that symbolised the conflict’s new ruthlessness.

“We could smell the bodies buried under the rubble all the time,” said a resident who fled Baba Amr. “Bodies are in the streets, many are decomposed, but we could not bury them.

Syrian supporters of President Assad displaying a 2,300m national flag during a rally in Damascus in June 2011

“We saw so much death that in the end the sight of a dismembered body of a relative or a friend no longer moved us.”

Six months after the battle for Homs, a new front opened in Aleppo when rebels poured in from the rural hinterland to fight for Syria’s biggest city and northern commercial hub. Already in control of much of Aleppo province and Idlib, the rebels seized border crossings with Turkey and Iraq, reinforcing a sense that Assad was losing swathes of Syrian territory as he focused on holding Damascus, Homs and two Mediterranean coastal provinces.

Within days his forces had lost half the city of Aleppo and, for the first time, resorted to deploying helicopter gunships and jets against the lightly armed insurgents.

As the frontlines hardened into stalemate, rebels acquired more effective weapons - some seized from military bases and others

smuggled in from Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. In response Assad’s forces raised the stakes again and by early 2013 were firing missiles, some possibly Scuds, into residential areas.

Several missiles slammed into Aleppo neighbourhoods in the last week of February, burying whole families, activists said. Human Rights Watch said 141 people were killed.

Though the rebels are outgunned, the 47-year-old Assad has seen his power severely eroded. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London says now that his army’s strength has halved to around 110,000 men due to defections, desertions and battlefield losses.

“The regime could only be certain of the loyalty of the mainly Alawite special forces, Republican Guard and elite 3rd and 4th Divisions - perhaps 50,000 troops in total,” it said.

A Syrian shepherd

At the same time, however, Iran and Hezbollah have built up a 50,000-strong army of Syrian militiamen to support the army, Israel says.

Assad’s forces face an uprising that is slowly becoming better trained and equipped.

A senior Syrian rebel commander said US officers have almost completed training a first contingent of Syrian rebels in Jordan to use antitank and anti-aircraft weaponry. Rebels, now controlling an arc of land from the eastern suburbs of Damascus to the south-west of the capital, also have armour-piercing ammunition and tanks commandeered in their battle with Assad’s forces.

Nevertheless, the president, clearly freed from any lingering qualms over the use of force - he has compared the blood on his hands to that of a surgeon operating to “save his patient” - has so far managed to keep the rebel fighters away from taking ground in the centre of Damascus.

The rebels still appear unevenly matched against their opponents - hence moves in recent days by some EU countries to ease the arms embargo on Syria in order to help them.

Assad’s options may be narrowing, but he has repeatedly vowed to crush the rebels and rejected any notion of seeking asylum abroad as part of a deal to end the conflict.

“I am not a puppet. I was not made by the West to go to the West or to any other country,” he said in an interview with Russian television in November. “I am Syrian; I was made in Syria. I have to live in Syria and die in Syria.”

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

18

CINEMA WEBSITES: K-Cineplex: http://kcineplex.com, Friends of the Cinema Society: http://www.ofk.org.cy

What’s on

films

(K) All Audiences (12/15/18) No admittance to Under-12s/ 15s/ 18s (N/A) Not Available

Times are subject to change, so check first with cinemas before you head out

Telephone no: K-Cineplex: 7777-8383 Rio Limassol: 25-871410 Rio Paphos: 26-207000

NICOSIA

10.10pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 10.10pm

Jack the Giant Slayer (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 5.40, 7.55 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 1) at 5.40, 7.55 and 10.15pm, weekends at 11am, 1.10pm and 3.25pm Hitchcock (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.10am, 1.20pm and 3.30pm The Last Stand (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.40, 7.50 and 10.10pm, weekends also at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) at 7.50 and 10.10pm

Warm Bodies (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.05pm Lincoln (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.15pm Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.45pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 7.45pm Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 11.30am, 1.20pm and 3.30pm

subtitles) Cine Studio, tonight only at 7pm.

Tel: 96-420491

Warm Bodies (12) Rio 4 at 7.45pm, weekends also at 3.30pm

LIMASSOL

Lincoln (12) Rio 6 at 7.30pm, weekends and Monday also at 4.30pm

Jack the Giant Slayer (12) Rio 2 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends also at 3 and 5.20pm, Monday also at 5.20pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 5.40, 7.55 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.25pm Hitchcock (12) Rio 1 at 7.45pm; Rio 4 at 10pm, weekends and Monday also at 5.20pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm The Last Stand (15) Rio 5 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends and Monday also at 5.30pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 7.50 and 10.10pm

Identity Thief (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.55 and 10.15pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) at 7.55 and 10.15pm

Sammy’s Great Escape (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 3.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 11.20am, 1.15pm and 3.20pm

Oz the Great and Powerful (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11am and 3pm

Monsieur Lazhar (in French, with Greek subtitles) Cine Studio, Sunday at 8pm, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 9pm. Tel: 96-420491, www. ofk.org.cy

Oz the Great and Powerful (12) Rio 3, weekends only at 3 and 5.20pm, Monday only at 5.20pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3pm

Mama (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at

Men and Banners (in Hungarian, with English

Mama (15) Rio 1 at 10pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.10pm

Identity Thief (12) Rio 3 at 7.45 and 10pm; KCineplex (Screen 2) at 7.55 and 10.15pm

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.45pm Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) Rio 1 (in Greek), weekends only at 3, 4.30 and 6pm, Monday only at 6pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 3.30pm

7.50 and 10.10pm, weekends also at 3.30pm

Hitchcock (12) Rio 7 at 6, 8 and 10pm

Identity Thief (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.55 and 10.15pm

The Last Stand (15) Rio 4 at 5.30, 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends and Monday also at 3.30pm

Oz the Great and Powerful (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3pm Mama (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.10pm Warm Bodies (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.05pm

A Good Day to Die Hard (15) Rio 6 at 10.10pm

Lincoln (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.15pm

Sammy’s Great Escape (K) Rio 5 (in Greek), weekends only at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 3.20pm

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.45pm

LARNACA Jack the Giant Slayer (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 5.40, 7.55 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.25pm Hitchcock (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm The Last Stand (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.40,

Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 3.30pm Sammy’s Great Escape (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 3.20pm

PAPHOS Jack the Giant Slayer (12) Rio 1 at 5.45, 8 and 10.10pm, weekends and Monday also at 3.30 and 5.45pm

Identity Thief (12) Rio 5 at 5.30, 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends and Monday also at 3.30pm Oz the Great and Powerful (12) Rio 6 at 5.15, 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends and Monday also at 3pm Mama (15) Rio 2 at 9.45pm Warm Bodies (12) Rio 3 at 5.30 and 7.30pm Lincoln (12) Rio 3 at 9.45pm Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (15) Rio 2 at 7.30pm, weekends and Monday at 5.30pm Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) Rio 7 (in Greek), weekends and Monday only at 3 and 4.30pm Sammy’s Great Escape (K) Rio 3 (in Greek), weekends and Monday only at 3.30pm

listings Today Exhibition Colourecievers Solo art exhibition by Savvinos Pareskevas. Opens March 23, 7.30pm until April 12. Gallery Kypriaki Gonia, 45 Stadiou Street, Larnaca. Monday-Saturday: 10am-1pm & 4.30pm-8pm. Sunday:11am2pm & 4pm-7pm. Tel: 24-621109 Aphrodite Lovestoned Photography and book presentation

by Anna Würth. Opens March 23, 8pm until April 6. Chiaki Kamikawa Contemporary Art Gallery 10 Solonos Street, Paphos. Open Tuesday- Friday: 10am-1pm & 4pm6pm. Saturday: 10am-1pm. Poetry reading evening: March 30, 8pm.

Tel: 99-311225

Music The You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Tour The Classic songs of Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand with Ross Neil, Tina Chester & Andrew Oliver.

March 23. Michael’s Tavern, Erimi, Limassol. 7pm -Showtime 8.30pm. €18 inc. half meze dinner. Tel: 25934104/ 99-83253.

Antypas and Despina Vandi Popular Greek singers perform live.

March 23. Pavilion, Lakatameia, Nicosia. 11pm. €40/80. All prices include a bottle of Scotch Whisky or Vodka every 4 people. Tel: 22-322222 Flamenco Night a journey to the world of Flamenco with songs full of passion and joy.

March 23. Weaving Mill, old Nicosia.

10.30pm until late. Free

Theatre The Eulogy A black comedy that breaks the mould on what we consider a typical monologue by Greek poet, playwright Iakovos Kambanelis. March 23 until April 20. Epigoni Theatre, Kyriakos Karaolis Square, Old Aglantzia. Every Saturday at 8.30pm. In Greek. €8.

Tel: 99-222974 The True Women Show An interactive play mocking female perceptions towards men and society.

March 23-24 & 30-31. Scarabeo Bar, 4 Nikokreontos Street, Nicosia. On Saturdays and Sundays at 9pm. In Greek. €7. Tel: 96-349216/99-386898 Below Zero Drama directed by Photis Georgidis.

March 23-25, 28 & 30-31. Melina Merkouri Hall, Famagusta Gate, Athina Avenue. 8.30pm. €15. In Greek. Tel: 70-007410/99-308232

Other Events Storytelling Club Club aiming to bring young ones closer through the culture of reading and encouraging interaction between children across the divide in Cyprus.

Fairytales will be read in three languages -Greek, Turkish and English with children’s activities will follow.

March 23. Home for Cooperation 28 Marcou Dracou Street, UN Buffer Zone, Nicosia. 11.30am-1.30pm.

Suitable for ages 2-7 years. Tel: 22-445740 or +90-5488345740.

Please note that all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult

Keep on Dancing Dance the crisis away and bring in your own message about how you wish to live in the present time, with live streaming. March 23. Saripolou Street, Limassol. 9pm-midnight.

Tel: 99-383379. http://ooopa.com/ argyrisargyrou/keepondancing

Tomorrow Music The Firebirds America’s 1950s greatest hits played live. March 24. Chasers, Seafront, Limassol. 8pm -Showtime 9pm. €10 inc. bangers and mash or pork goulash. Tel: 99-284118/99-832538 Natasa Theodoridou Well-known Greek singer in Cyprus for a unique performance. March 24.

Blinkers Club, 5 Andrea Avraamidi, Engomi, Nicosia.10pm. Tel: 22351550

Monday Theatre Two Voices – International Theatre Day A night of theatre with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot authors. March 25. THOC THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia.

8pm. With Greek and Turkish subtitles. Tel: 22-674920/99-388160

Ongoing

sevelt Avenue, Limassol. Tuesdays, Saturdays at 8.30pm and Sundays 6.30pm. In Greek. Tel: 25-877827

Other Events

The Children of Cain Theatro Ena presents the psychological thriller by Andreas Thomopoulos.

Until March 31. Theatro Ena, 4 Athinas Avenue, Nicosia. Every Friday through Sunday at 8.30pm. In Greek. €15/12. Tel: 22-348203

Second International Motion Graphics Festival Screenings of selected motion work, keynote lectures by industry professionals and workshops relating to motion graphics and broadcasting software and tools. March 22-24.

European University of Cyprus, Nicosia. All presentations/talks and workshops will be in English. Festival participants will be able to register on all three days from 9am to 8pm. www.motionfestivalcyprus.com Fifth International Cartoon Exhibition Exhibition of cartoons by Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and foreign cartoonists from around the world on the theme of Troika. Until March 27.

Journalist’s House, 12 CyBC (RIK) Avenue, Aglantzia, Nicosia. Open daily: 10am-1pm and 5pm-8pm. Tel: 96-683786. cartoonscy@gmail.com

Theatre Woyzeck Multi-media performance of one of the most performed and influential plays in contemporary German theatre. March 22-23. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. 8.30pm. In Greek Language with English songs and text fragments. Tel: 22-674607 Tone Clusters The Second Stage of ETHAL presents work of famous American author Joyce Carol Oates. Until March 24.

Technohoros ETHAL, 76 Franklin Roo-

How to Rob a Bank Skala Theatre presents a three act comedy by Samy Fayad. Until March 31. Skala Theatre, 15 Kyriakou Matsi Street, Larnaca. Saturday at 8.30pm and Sunday at 6.30pm. In Greek.

Tel: 99-490102 The Firebird Theatro Versus presents drama based on the play by Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman. Until April 7. B Municipal Market (Theatro Ena), Limassol.

Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays.

8.30pm. In Greek. Tel: 96-458399 Pinocchio Theatre Maskarini unique adaptation of well-known tale. Until April 14.

Russian Cultural Centre, 16 Alassias Street, Nicosia. Premier at 4pm and every Sunday at 10.30am. In Greek.

Tel: 22-761607/22-270420 Tom, Dick and Harry Satiriko Theatro presents comedy by Ray and Michael Cooney. Until April 28. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. On Saturdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 6.30pm. €15/10. Tel: 22-312940/ 22-421609 In the Land of Peter Pan The Puppet Group of Satiriko Theatre

For a full guide to the week’s events and regular meetings, make sure you get a copy of the Sunday Mail

presents work by James Barry. Until April 28. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. Every Sunday at 10.30am. In Greek. €10.

Tel: 22-312940/22-421609 The Dispute The Main Stage of THOC presents tragic comedy by Pierre de Marivaux.

Until May 17. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia.

Friday and Saturday at 8.30pm and Sunday 6pm. In Greek. The performances on March 24 with French surtitles. €12/10. Tel: 77-772717

Exhibition Spontaneous and Raw Solo painting exhibition. until March 23. Argo Gallery, 64E D. Akrita Avenue, Nicosia. Monday-Friday: 10am-1pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday: 10am-1pm. Tel: 22-754009 Cheapart Limassol Group exhibition at affordable prices.

Until March 23. Penindaplinena Gallery, 49 Ellados, Limassol.

Monday-Friday: 4pm-8pm. Saturday: 12-4pm.Tel: 25-340727 The Journey Continues Solo painting exhibition by Andreas Karayian. Until March 23. Apocalypse Gallery, 30 Chytron Street, Nicosia. Monday- Friday: 10.30am1pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday: 10.30am-1pm. Tel: 22-766655 Andreas Savvides Solo painting and sculpture exhibition. Until March 27. Gallery Gloria, 3 Zinonos Sozou Street, Nicosia.

Monday-Friday: 10.30pm-12.45pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday: 10.30pm12.45pm. Tel: 22-760286

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

19 To have your event included for FREE in our listings, send details to: Arts Editor, Cyprus Mail, PO Box 21144, Nicosia. Fax: 22-676385.

Email: whatson@cyprus-mail.com Please send your information as early as possible. Include full details, a contact number and good quality photos

Halik & Co reach for the stars

Thrillionaire Revolution: (left to right) Nik Halik, multi-millionaire, global wealth strategist, best-selling author, and Greece’s first civilian astronaut will be joined by social media strategists Jim Graham and Elise Quevedo for next month’s weekend seminar. Inset: Halik and his book experience weightlessness during space training

Back by popular demand, the self-proclaimed “thrillionaire”, Nik Halik returns to Cyprus to present his signature weekend seminar, on April 6-7 at the Amathus Beach Hotel, in Limassol, with two international guest speakers.

Do you have a dream? What is it - is it something you can achieve? What if your aim was to walk on the moon? Halik wants people to stop putting their dreams on hold - it’s never too early or too late to create a bucket list.

But some of you may be wondering… who is Nik Halik? And is he just another hyped-up motivational speaker? Born in Australia to Greek parents Halik (Nikos Halikopoulos) is something of a living legend. g He became a multi-millionaire and amassed great wealth through savvy investments in property and the stock market in his late twenties. egist, he is a As well as being a global wealth strategist, successful entrepreneur, international speaker and best-selling author. Halik believes life iss about magic not materialism, and since he was an asthma-challenged eight-year-old he’ss been compiling a list of dreams to achieve by 40. d his Now at age 43, he has nearly achieved e walk original Top Ten list and is shy only one ed in space to be complete. He has played avguitar for rock bands in Hollywood, travelled and explored over 100 countries me and managed to conquer some extreme destinations such as having lunch on the Titanic (five miles deep in the Atlantic Ocean) and sleeping in a sarcophaguss rain the Kings Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt. he But by far his most impressive feat is the ualfact that he is the first certified, flight-quale ified civilian astronaut. This adrenaline ace junkie has rocketed to the edge of space to view the curvature of the earth and is also set to become one of the first private space explorers to rocket to the International Space Station.

On The Scene Exhibition Female poets inspire art Despite poetry being regarded as a marginalised genre internationally, the past decade has seen an increase in the number of poetry

Halik believes the difference between being a millionaire and a “thrillionaire” is not about balance sheets, it’s about living life to the fullest. His philosophy is all about dreaming big and using money as the tool to achieve those dreams.

As the founder and C.E.O. of Financial Freedom Institute, Money Masters Global, and co-founder of The Intelligence Group of companies, Halik financially educates and motivates people around the world by sharing his knowledge so they too can experience the thrill of living without limits. He has spoken next to the biggest global business giants and thought leaders.

Appearances over the past year include speaking with Richard Branson in Australia and London. He was also selected byy Steve Forbes of Forbes Media to participate at the Greek Power Summit in Athe Athens during July 2011.

Next month, he’s set to guide local audiences in an inspirational weekend, that will give you tools and resources to transform your life, yo your business and your finances. During the weekend Thri Thrillionaire Revolution seminar, Halik will talk about how you can thrive in any economic environment environment, shape your own financial destiny, achiev achieve your biggest goals and dreams and create a magical life.

Delving deeper, Halik will show you how to insulate your yourself from the crisis and create yyour own ‘personal economy’, instead of being depende dependent on the government’s economy. You will also discover the latest strategies for building wealth, used by the most sophisticate savvy investors. sophisticated, Pay attentio attention to what Halik has to say about which strategies in today’s econom economy are mandatory to ensuring your su survival in the next five to 10 years, what are the untold rules of the money game, how to recalibrate the ‘hard drive’ of your mind to ach achieve excellence and

collections published in Cyprus, and particularly a rise in the number of volumes by female poets.

This week as part of World Poetry Day (March 21), The Office and ARTos foundation in Nicosia hosted a poetry reading and art exhibition entitled: “The Last Bride” with works by Asteris Gkekas. The exhibition runs until April 5, and is a personal anthology of 69 women poets of Cyprus whose verses inspired Gkekas

towards a heretic iconology of female Cypriot poetry.

Each piece is sculpted from walnut, beautifully painted and engraved with verses whose sentiments have inspired the artist. As Gkekas’ love of poetry and background of the works are each shaped like an oversized bookmark, their motifs and use of colour are founded in Greek tradition.

Gkekas says: “Trying to bring

Above: adrenaline junkie Halik explores the Crystal Cave of Giants at Naica, Mexico, located almost 300 metres (900 feet) below the surface of the Earth

which step-by-step success blueprint to follow for turning your passion into profit.

In addition, Halik will present his Sharelord Investment Strategy, which he believes is the most powerful cashflow strategy on the planet for generating 3-9 per cent per month on your investment. Guest speakers Elise Quevedo and Jim Graham, both of whom are leading authorities in generating leads and cashflow through social media, will talk about how to monetise Facebook and Twitter using advanced strategies that are employed by celebrities and successful corporations.

So when it comes to overseas adventure travel and building wealth in any economic environment, check out what Halik has to say, as he knows a thing or two about achieving goals, whether a physical destination or living life to its fullest.

The Thrillionaire Revolution Weekend A transformational weekend shaping your own financial destiny and creating a magical life with self-made multi-millionaire Nik Halik & special guests. April 6-7. Amathus Beach Hotel, Limassol. €69 limited early bird special. Tel: 70-008087. info@thrillionairerevolutioncyprus.com. www.thrillionairerevolutioncyprus.com

By Ledha Socratous forth an image stemming from this whole body of work is like trying to trap a wave with a fishing hook. This is a colorful reference to the pillars of Cypriot poetry through the thick fog of today”.

The Last Bride Exhibition by Asteris Gkekas inspired by female Cypriot poetry. Until April 5. ARTos Cultural and Research Foundation, 64, Ay. Omoloyites Ave, Nicosia. Tuesday-Friday: 9am-5pm. Tel: 22-445455

For a full listing of the day’s events, see facing page

20

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

CYBC 1 08.00

Moiraia Fengaria (rpt) Local drama series.

10.30

Paizoume Kypriaka

CYBC 2 07.00 08.00 17.15

Local game show, asking questions having to do with Cypriot dialect.

13.00 14.00 14.30

Edoxe Ti Vouli Kai To Dimo News Me Kali Parea Vivian Kanari hosts new show featuring a mix of news, information and live music.

16.30

18.00 18.15

18.30

Two episodes of local period drama, based on true events.

20.30

News Patates Antinahtes (rpt)

18.50 21.00 21.10 21.20

02.30 04.30

News Tete-A-Tete (rpt) Savvato Ki Apovrado (rpt) Me Kali Parea (rpt) More Repeats

07.00

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News In English New In Turkish NRG Zone Weekend FILM: Year Of The Dog A secretary embarks on a bizarre journey of self-discovery to fill the void in her life left by the death of her dog.

Comedy drama, starring Molly Shannon.

2007.

23.00

Variety show, with wellknown guests pretending to have a good time for the benefit of You At Home.

23.30 23.45 00.45

Documentary investigating possible connections between UFO sightings and the secret flying saucer technologies developed by the Nazis.

Post-game analysis.

Ego Ki Esi Local Sketch News Savvato Ki Apovrado

05.15 06.00 06.30

Cyprus vs Switzerland.

Local comdey series.

19.30 20.00 21.30

NRG Zone Kids’ TV Nazi UFO Conspiracy

Pre-game analysis.

Vimmata Stin Ammo (rpt)

Local satirical show, using comedy sketches and embarrassing TV clips to skewer local politicians.

18.45

18.00

ANTENNA

Ghost Whisperer (rpt) Fifth season. ‘Blood Money’. A fun night out for three teenagers takes a dangerous turn, and when Melinda steps in to investigate an unsolved kidnapping, she finds herself in more danger than she anticipated.

23.45 00.00

Repeats Euronews

07.30 08.00 08.50 09.40 10.30 11.20 12.10 13.50 15.10 16.45

Aliki (rpt) Proini Enimerosi Dada Yia Oles Tis Doulies (rpt) Cheek To Cheek (rpt) Men Kai Den (rpt) San To Skilo Me Ti Gata (rpt) Steps (rpt) Super Babas (rpt) O Tzizikas Kai O Mirmigas (rpt) Tihi Vouno (rpt) Laikes Paraskeves (rpt) Yia Tin Agapi Sou Niose Me (rpt) Ekeino To Kalokairi (rpt)

MEGA 06.00

Two episodes of Greek comedy series.

07.00 09.40 10.20 11.00

23.00

Vals Me 12 Theous News Exairetika Afieromeno Sold Out Greek variety show.

00.05 News 00.250 Sports News 01.00 Vradi Me Ton Petro Kotsopoulo Late night talk-show.

01.40

Blackout Greek game show in which places contestants in complete darkness to compete in challenges.

02.40 03.50 04.40

Mavros Okeanos (rpt) News Eftyhismenes Meres (rpt)

Proino Mou (rpt) Kid’s TV Mia Stigmi Dio Zoes Klemmena Oneira (rpt) Greek drama series.

12.10 13.00

Proino Mou (rpt) Chuck A computer geek finds himself in charge of the government’s most sensitive data.

13.20

07.00 08.30

15.00

10.00

16.40 18.00 18.20

14.00 15.40 17.00

20.15 21.20 22.20 00.00 00.10 01.00 02.00 03.20 04.00 04.30 05.00 05.40

PLUS TV 07.50 12.05 13.00 13.40 14.20 15.40

Aspra Balonia (rpt) The Cooking (rpt) Annita SoS Pame Paketo (rpt) Popular talk-show that deals with human interest stories such as reuniting people, fulfilling dreams and connecting individuals who want to correct past mistakes in their lives.

20.15 21.20

News Stin Igeia Mas Variety show, with wellknown guests pretending to have a good time for the benefit of You At Home.

00.20 00.25

16.30

19.30

02.20 04.00

12.05 13.15 16.10 16.15

Fotis - Maria Live Best Of Mila (rpt)

21.15 22.00

Exelixeis Sti Showbiz FILM: Get The Girl A young man who is trapped in a small town finds escape in the video game, Guitar Master, and soon learns how to use it to win the heart of a beautiful girl. Romantic comedy, starring Adam Salandra. 2009.

23.30 00.10 01.05 01.40

Kouzina Me Apopsi Greek FILM: I Zavoliara Telemarketing Greek FILM: Tapeinos & Katafronimenos News FILM: Betrayed An undercover FBI agent is sent to expose an extreme right-wing group, but things take a complicated turn when she becomes romantically involved with chief suspect.

Thriller, starring Debra Winger. 1988. With News at 17.30.

Greek FILM: O Petheropliktos

Discussions about various issues based on a woman’s life.

News Las Vegas (rpt)

Istories Tou Astinomou Beka (rpt) Mes Stin Kali Hara (rpt) Magazino (rpt)

10.00 10.30

Comedy.

18.00

Drama series focusing on a security team at a large casino.

01.30

Kids’ TV LTV Sports News (rpt) Star News Ta Kopelia (rpt) Mesimeriani Meleti Best Of Stin Kouzina Me Tin Dina (rpt)

CAPITAL

Cooking show, with helpful tips on eating well and nutrition.

Hosted by Dina Nikolaou.

With News at 18.00.

19.00

Anonymous (rpt)

Oi Vasiliades (rpt) News Epta Thanasimes Petheres (rpt) News Anonymous Mousiko Kouti - Live News Kleista Ta Matia (rpt) Mila Mou Vromika (rpt) Eheis Meson (rpt) Mia Stigmi Dio Zoes (rpt) Patir, Yios Kai Pnevma (rpt) Oi Afthairetoi Palirroia (rpt) Ta Epta Kaka Tis Moiras Mou

Mes Stin Kala Hara Weekend variety show, informative and entertaining.

Mousiko Kouti Live (rpt)

Popular local satirical show, poking fun at politcians and celebrities.

Zoi Podilato (rpt) Barbie Fairytopia Feature-length animated adventure, dubbed in Greek.

Greek music game show.

With News at 18.00.

18.30 20.20 21.20

Ta Epta Kaka Tis Moiras Mou (rpt)

SIGMA

18.00 18.55 19.05 19.55 20.05 21.00

Remington Steele News Acapulco HEAT News O Anthropos Tis Thalassas FILM: Ice Bound A female doctor struggles to cope when she goes to work at a South Pole research station. Fact-based drama, starring Susan Sarandon. 2003.

22.45

Vathi Kokkino LTV Sports News Star News Repeats

FILM: Arlington Road A man suspects his all-too-perfect new neighbours are terrorists, but struggles to convince anyone else that he is not being paranoid. Thriller, with Jeff Bridges. 1999.

01.00

FILM: The Grifters Thriller, starring John Cusack and Anjelica Huston. 1990.

X-Men: First Class (Novacinema1, 18.45)

01:10 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 01:45 Live At The Apollo 02:30 EastEnders 03:00 Doctors 03:30 Casualty 04:20 How The Beatles Rocked The Kremlin 05:10 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 06:15 The Weakest Link 07:00 3rd & Bird 07:10 Fimbles 07:30 Jackanory Junior 07:45 Tellytales 07:55 Tweenies 08:15 3rd & Bird 08:25 Fimbles 08:45 Jackanory Junior 09:00 Tellytales 09:10 Tweenies 09:30 The Weakest Link 10:15 Doctor Who 11:05 Doctor Who Confidential 11:15 Drop Zone 12:10 Full Circle With Michael Palin 13:00 The Green Green Grass 13:30 Fawlty Towers 14:00 Casualty 14:50 Casualty 15:40 EastEnders 18:05 ‘Allo ‘Allo! 18:35 The Weakest Link 19:20 Doctor Who 20:05 Drop Zone 21:00 Live At The Apollo 21:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 22:30 Mad Dogs 23:15 Ideal 23:45 The Impressions Show With Culshaw &... 00:15 The Stephen K Amos Show 00:45 Drop Zone

07:00 How It’s Made 07:25 Twist The Throttle 08:15 Fifth Gear 09:10 Mega Builders 10:05 Mighty Ships 10:55 Jungle Gold

14:30 Extreme Engineering 15:25 You Have Been Warned 16:20 Classic Car Rescue 17:15 Fast N’ Loud 18:10 Texas Car Wars 19:05 Mythbusters 20:00 How It’s Made 21:00 Auction Hunters 22:00 Baggage Battles 23:00 Mars Landing 2012 00:00 One Giant Leap: Neil Armstrong Tribute 01:00 Chris Ryan’s Elite Police 01:55 Auction Hunters 02:50 Baggage Battles 03:50 Mars Landing 2012 04:45 One Giant Leap: Neil Armstrong Tribute 05:40 Texas Car Wars 06:35 How It’s Made

09:30 Fitness: The Box 09:45 Ski Jumping: World Cup Slovenia 12:45 Cross-Country Skiing: World Cup Sweden 15:45 Ski Jumping: World Cup Slovenia 16:30 Cycling: Tour Of Catalunya 18:00 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers 19:45 Ski Jumping: World Cup Slovenia 21:00 Curling: World Women’s Championship 23:00 Fight Sport: Fight Club 00:30 Rally: Fia European Rally Championship Spain 01:00 Ski Jumping: World Cup Slovenia 02:00 Cross-Country Skiing: World Cup Sweden 02:30 Cycling: Tour Of Catalunya

05:40 The Gates 06:30 Desperate Housewives 10:20 Raising Hope 11:10 Scrubs 12:00 Happy Endings 12:25 Don’t Trust The B...In Apartment 23 12:50 Masterchef 14:30 Grey’s Anatomy 18:30 Masterchef 21:00 Once Upon A Time 21:50 Revenge 22:40 Modern Family 23:05 New Girl 23:30 Glee 00:20 Bones 04:25 Raising Hope

07:30 Hollywood Buzz 08:00 Finn On The Fly 09:45 Secret Garden, The 11:30 Jackie Chan’s First Strike 13:00 Atl 14:50 Burlesque 16:50 Horrible Bosses 18:30 Dance Flick 20:00 LTV Sports News 21:00 Detroit Rock City 23:00 Piranha 00:35 Hustler TV 02:15 Something’s Gotta Give 04:55 Desert Son 06:30 LTV Sports News

07:00 Kids TV 13:15 Legion Of Super Heroes 13:40 Max Adventures 14:05 Winter X-Games Europe 15:05 2012 American Le Mans Series 16:05 Grand American Series 2012 17:00 Volvo Ocean Race 18:00 E-60 19:00 Nba 201213 21:00 Pba All-Star Shootout 22:00 Grand American Series

York Islanders 20:30 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Minnesota & Iowa At Nebraska 22:30 Big Ten Men’s Golf Big Ten Match Play Championships 00:00 European Tour Maybank Malaysian Open Rd. 3

2012 23:00 Espn Films 00:00 Planet Speed 00:30 2009 Us Figure Skating 02:30 E-60 03:00 Pba World Championship 04:30 2011 Reebok Crossfit Games (Men’s) 05:00 E-60 06:00 2012 American Le Mans Series

07:15 Gossip Girl 08:00 Friends 08:30 Big Bang Theory The 09:00 According To Jim 10:00 Privileged 10:45 Strike Back 11:45 Mentalist The 12:30 Hawaii Five 13:15 Closer, The 14:15 Fringe 15:00 Two And A Half Men 20:00 C.S.I. Miami 00:30 Evita 02:45 Closer, The 03:30 Harry’s Law

Sti Steria 13:50 Footloose 16:40 Bridesmaids 18:45 X-Men: First Class 22:00 Big Miracle 23:55 Contraband 01:50 The Following 02:40 Kane Files, The: Life Of Trial 04:15 Martha Marcy May Marlene

soe 12:30 TheRiver Wild 14:20 A Perfect World 18:35 ThePelican Brief 23:00 Mad Dog And Glory 00:40 Cine News 01:30 Dorcel Airlines: First Class 03:15 Priest 04:45 TheVeteran

08:00 Lionheart 10:00 School For Scoundrels 12:00 Twilight 14:00 Police Academy 16:00 Passed Away 18:00 Haunting Of Bryan Beckett, The (Aka The Skeptic) 19:45 Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows 22:00 Battle Los Angeles 00:05 Daring! TV 04:05 Killer Inside Me, The 06:00 Ed Wood

07:15 Retreat 08:50 Sagan 10:55 Ola Tha Pane Kala! 12:35 Cine News 12:55 Never Been Kissed 14:40 Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked 16:10 Jack And Jill 17:45 Mad On Novacinema 18:25 Manolete 20:00 Con Air 22:00 The Change-Up 00:00 My Super Ex-Girlfriend 01:40 To Tango Ton Christougennon 03:30 Kill Bill: Vol.2

06:05 Cine News 07:05 His Girl Friday 08:40 The Cake Eaters 10:30 Straight Story 12:05 Chalet Girl 13:45 The Smurfs 15:30 West Is West 17:15 The Deep End Of The Ocean 19:10 Love And Other Impossible Pursuits 21:00 Hugo 23:15 A Little Bit Of Heaven 01:10 Taxidi Sti Mitilini 03:00 Korkoro 04:50 Holy Smoke

05:30 The Talented Mr. Ripley 07:50 Cine News 08:20 Hop 09:55 Certain Prey 11:25 Cine News 11:55 Loufa Kai Parallagi: Sirines

06q30 Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption 08:15 Cine News 09:00 Thor 10:55 Robinson Cru-

15:00 European Tour Maybank Malaysian Open Rd. 3 18:00 Nhl: Pittsburgh Penguins At New

06:00 Only Hits 11:00 Pure Local 12:00 MTV World Stage 13:00 McCafé Music Project 13:30 MTV VHI Pop up Video 14:00 MTV Daria 15:00 MTV Crash Canyon 16:00 MTV Mission Lydia 16:30 MTV Everyday Girls 17:00 MTV Movies & Stars 18:00 MTV Megadrive 18:30 MTV Slips 19:00 Only Hits 20:00 Pure Local 22:00 Only Hits 00:00 S7S Lockdown Top10 00:30 MTV Party Zone 04:00 Only Hits

07:00 Courage Of Lassie 09:05 Beau Brummell 11:00 Father Of The Bride 12:30 V.I.P.S 14:30 Ivanhoe 16:15 The Last Time I Saw Paris 18:10 Little Women 20:10 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof 22:00 Butterfield 8 23:45 Courage Of Lassie 01:15 Beau Brummell 03:10 Father Of The Bride 04:40 The V.I.P.S

By Preston Wilder

Detroit Rock City (LTV, 21.00) News arrives that Edward Furlong has been sentenced to six months in jail for violating his parole in a domestic violence case! ‘Oh no,’ you might say, ‘poor Edward Furlong’ - or perhaps ‘Who the hell is Edward Furlong?’, in which case you need to watch this gleefully mischievous teen movie. The year is 1978, and disco is king - but four young boys dance to a different beat, moshing to the sounds of face-painted rock gods KISS. They have tickets to a KISS concert, and couldn’t be happier - at least till one kid’s God-fearing mum (“Don’t you know what Kiss stands for? ‘Knights In Satan’s Service’!”) burns the tickets, forcing the guys to scam their way into the concert by any means nec-

essary. Lots of teenage hi-jinks (including a very gross vomit gag), a jam-packed rock soundtrack, some shamefully funny bits of dialogue (Overheard in high school: “As they say in the tampon biz, see you next period!”) - and yes, Edward Furlong as one of our four heroes, back before the drugs and jail-time and domestic violence. Crazy crazy nights, Ed. Made in 1999.

Big Miracle (Novacinema1, 22.00) 100 million sharks are killed every year, a new study found last week, pushing some shark species close to extinction. ‘Good!’ replied the Person in the Street because, of course, sharks get no love when it comes to big fish. Dolphins get the love (which makes sense)

Big Miracle

and so do whales (which doesn’t really) - hence this pleasant drama, in which three whales get trapped

by Arctic ice somewhere in Alaska. Local reporter John Krasinski covers the story - but his animal-loving girlfriend (Drew Barrymore) does more than that, rallying the community to help the big cetaceans and shaming the Governor into supplying ships to break through the ice. The result is ‘inspired by a true story’ but it’s mostly a case of bubbly Drew being Drew and the whales (named Fred, Wilma and Bam-Bam) doing their best to be cute. “They’re so much like us,” babbles Drew tearfully; “We’re vulnerable, we need help sometimes too...” Personally I think we’re a lot more like sharks, but don’t tell her I said so. Made in 2012.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

21

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 2345 1

2

3

4

7

6

8

10

11

12

13

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved, you solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

With the ‘X’ sudoku, the shaded X must also contain the numbers 1-9.

14

15

16

17

EASY

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

19

Across

Down

1 Eat out, but not in a restaurant (6) 4 Mould tar, mix freely (6) 7 It is not bound to be of interest to readers (8) 8 Retained record Katy reportedly took round (4) 9 Swelling bouncer pater produced (12) 13 Choose mother accepting one of the most favourable points (6) 14 Hit by an advertising phrase (6) 15 Electric cars not causing congestion?

(5,7) 18 Not the hairdo for a temp? (4) 19 Strike repeatedly on the forehead to intimidate (8) 20 What to do if you don’t want to be found out (4,2) 21 Poorly converse (6)

1 Go higher to make it more interesting (3,2) 2 Mortar quietly put into Italian lake (5) 3 Principal officiant Bert clean away (9) 4 Came across yours truly before time (3) 5 Mimicking what the stripper is doing (6,3) 6 Showmen I’m going before with an eastern garment (9) 10 Drive away fast as it is offensive (9) 11 Narrow sticky item one has forgotten the name of (9) 12 Source of liquid assets? (9) 16 Adjusted shelf for meat (5) 17 Girl capsizing yacht (5) 19 Order forbidding most of the players (3)

Rating EASY

21

Rating HARD

20

Rating MEDIUM

18

5

Rating MEDIUM

9

PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTIONS

Answers to crossword 2344

HOROSCOPE

CRYPTIC: Across – 3 Americana; 7 River; 8 Dramatist; 9 Serve; 10 Uphill; 13 Whistler; 15 Buddleia; 17 Dither; 20 Naomi; 21 Picketing; 22 Lough; 23 Charlotte. Down – 1 Brushwood; 2 Oversight; 3 Ardent; 4 Rumoured; 5 Catch; 6 Nasal; 11 Indecorum; 12 Logarithm; 14 Libretto; 16 Dangle; 18 Irish; 19 Hiker.

QUICK: Across – 3 Ventilate; 7 Niobe; 8 Rearrange; 9 Banns; 10 Amazed; 13 Stressed; 15 Parallel; 17 Dredge; 20 Argon; 21 Overnight; 22 Essen; 23 Unmarried. Down – 1 Unabashed; 2 Downgrade; 3 Versus; 4 Toreador; 5 Lhasa; 6 Tigr ; 11 Zoologist; 12 Declining; 14 Superior; 16 Abated; 18 Raven; 19 Derma.

ARIES March 21 - April 20

LEO July 23 - August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

If some people find you a bit too full of yourself, things could take a downward spiral. You have tremendous force now, but a combative approach may defeat the purpose of what you’re trying to achieve. Cool it, and try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Romance wise, the Moon in Leo may make for a fun and entertaining evening.

The Moon in your sign may encourage you to feel your feelings. Ask yourself what you want most of all right now?

The answer may be to get away, to take on a challenge or to explore pastures new. It won’t help to impulsively drop everything and make a break for it. Get a plan and try to fulfil stage one today. You’ll get there eventually.

A friend may have a suggestion that offers potential for fun and good times. Invite someone to lunch, as a great conversation could start the ball rolling and inspire a brilliant idea. If you enjoy competitive sports, you may want to get out and get playing. You have a lot more energy at your disposal, and this may be a good channel for it.

TAURUS April 21 - May 21

VIRGO August 23 - September 23

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20

Social opportunities are still in place for you to enjoy.

Make party plans and accept invitations today. A friend may share an unusual offer, or changes to a friend’s circumstances may impact on you as well. Don’t believe all you hear, but do make the most of this day by being with people you care about. Consider cleaning or de-cluttering your home.

A focus on one of the deeper and emotionally challenging parts of your chart may encourage you to take a closer look at unexamined feelings. Right now, you have the perfect opportunity to observe your current mindset, and how your moods may be affecting your performance. Dealing with old issues may free you up to succeed today.

Someone in a dominating position may want to rule the show at home. If your partner seems to be on a power trip, you need to tread carefully. There could be control battles which exhaust you. Somehow you’ll need to strengthen your boundaries and stand up for what you believe is the best course of action. Don’t back down today or any day!

GEMINI May 22 - June 21

LIBRA September 24 - October 23

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

Count on good friends, special mates and people in general to contribute to any social happenings. Some of your most interesting and unique friends may make a party or other event come alive. Romantic tendencies and partnership issues may be on your mind too. Invite someone to lunch, see a movie or maybe do a little shopping together.

There is potential for activities that bring friends, colleagues or business associates together. Social contacts seem to be plentiful, but someone with a different agenda could let you down. You may be keen to collaborate on a project or business idea, but those you deal with may be thinking of themselves. You’ll need to take this into account.

Today brings a burst of optimism, which may override any worries or anxieties you might have felt recently. For now, you may feel as though the world is at your feet. It could be time to make a list of your primary goals and devise a plan to make them happen. Feeling in the zone, you could make progress sooner than you hoped - starting now.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

SCORPIO October 24 - November 22

PISCES February 20 - March 20

It may be a good day to put energy into your career as well as into financial planning. Try not to be too pushy with a professional colleague, as an offer to help may be retracted if you only seem interested in yourself. It may be an idea to take a look at your priorities and goals. You may be looking for something more challenging and fast paced right now.

There is potential for enjoying yourself tonight, so don’t say no to any plans that sound exciting. In the meantime, you may be looking at your lifestyle and deciding what routines can stay, what needs to go and which new habits to adopt. Work wise, you may decide to take on freelance opportunities as a way to supplement your income.

A difference in opinion could make waves. It’s another day to enjoy hobbies and family get-togethers. At work, you may be wondering whether you’re getting paid the right amount, and could be thinking about how nice a pay rise would be. However, with the current accent on spending, any extra you earn may go on personal extravagances.

22

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser

ADVERTISER helps you find what you’re looking for

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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

WANTED

FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554.

***************************** WANTED: Experienced Dog Groomer - Full/Part time hours For wellestablished business in Limassol. For more info please contact: 96578094

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LESSONS

***************************** PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses. Special offers now available. FREE STAIN GUARD FOR LIMITED TIME For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) info@ rcs-cyprus.net / www.rcs-cyprus. net

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PRIVATE TUITION experienced, UKqualified teacher offers full-time 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 – Paphos

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MISCELLANEOUS WANTED: COUPLES OF EU CITIZENS LIVING IN CYPRUS We are currently conducting 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 over 6, and if you are interested in taking part in some research financed by the University of Cyprus please contact us 96530033. Participants will complete a questionnaire and participate in a face-to-face interview.

They will also receive a symbolic amount of money.

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PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH PAINTER AND DECORATOR City and Guilds Advanced 46 years experience of interior and external finishes. Quality work, reliable, estimates and advice freely given. Tala based Phone Terry 96407703

***************************** K.D.FLYSCREENS LTD. We manufacture top quality sliding screens, opening doors and roller systems.

We also do repairs. For a FREE QUOTE please contact Phone: 99119582 Website: www.kdflyscreens.com

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

**************************** DO YOU WANT A SHINY LOOKING FLOOR? Full repair & restoration of chipped, scratched, dull and stained, Marble, Terrazzo, Stone & Ceramic tiled floors and surfaces.

Professional cleaning, repair & sealing of internal/external ceramic tiles & grout lines. For a free professional consultation & demonstration contact Mark at Premier on 70006766 All areas

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PETS

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - CYPRUS Is drink costing you more than just money? AA could be the answer.

***************************** FOR SALE: Electric Cooker, Bosch 4 ceramic hotplates and oven, used 1 1/2 year, €350 Washing Machine LG 7 kg, silent, used 1 1/2 year €200 Big Electric heater, Matestar, used 8-10 times €25 For further information contact phone 9918 2310

************************** OFFICE FURNITURE FOR SALE with 50% discount, price per unit: 1. ECO Desk 160x80x71 – 8 units/ €96.

2. Extention 120x60x71 – 6 units/ €76.

3. Small under-desk Cabinet with 3 pullout drawers – 7 units/ €99.

4. ECO Low cabinet with 2 low doors - 8 units /€107.

Tel: 25 200 600, 99 316 582

************************** FOR SALE – PAPHOS CATERING EQUIPMENT 1. Industrial freezer – CORECO Height 200cm, width 68cm, depth 58cm 2.

Electrolux Freezer, model EUC3109X, width-595mm, height-1800mm, depth623mm, freezing capacity-24kg/24hours, energy class A

3. CONVOTHERM OVEN modelOBG 6.10Combi Oven-Steamer with Gas Steam Generator Extra: Stand with stainless steel shelving, extractor fan, water supply system and gas installation connections, PLUS CHAFING TRAYS & THERMO BOXES, ALL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AT REDUCED PRICES. PLEASE CALL : 99622678

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FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES

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

Larnaca Tuesday (Polish spk) 96616589 Thursday 24645523 / 99259264 Limassol Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday / Saturday 25368265 / 99559322 Nicosia 99013596

Wednesday/Sunday

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

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PERSONAL ***************************** GERMAN MAN, 50 searching a nice Mobil:00491736590562

LOST HUSKY – PAPHOS Answers to the name of Chico went missing on Monday the 4th of February around the International School area chipped Paphiakos Animal Welfare have advised that many large dogs have been taken from the Mesogi/ Anarvagos/Ttremithousa areas.

Please call 99622678 if you have seen him

years, women.

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HONEY is a 3 month old pincher/ terrier mix. She is very small sized and very sweet and playful. Honey is looking for a loving family to be hers forever! She will remain small sized so she is ideal for a family with an apartment! For adoptions call 99 520 511 Monday-Friday between hours 10-2 or email ndsadoptions@gmail.com

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***************************** WANTED: Toyota RAV or Nissan Quasquai built 2007 or younger in a very good condition only.

Nonsmoker car, accident free and with full service history is a must. Tel: 99906823 or 26813975. Email: info@terramarna. com

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FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA FOR RENT a spacious two bedroom apartment, near Hilton and Central Bank. Living/dining room, sitting room, large veranda, kitchen, c/h, s/h, covered parking. Title deeds.

Tel. 99519370.

***************************** HOUSES/FLATS

***************************** FOR SALE plot of land with sea view.

In Chlorakas area. Very quiet and private location. Title deed. Tel. 99519370.

**************************** LIMASSOL 1) GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY PLOT OF LAND FOR SALE 1,789 sq.m, IN THE AREA OF AGIA ZONI BUILDING FACTOR 140% WITH TITLE DEED. The land is located at a central point in the city, very close to various amenities and has excellent accessibility. Tel: 96885030 owner 2) RESIDENTIAL LAND FOR SALE GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY The plot of land is located in the area of Foinikaria Total area 5,686 with a 20% Building Factor Tel: 96885030 owner

**************************** PAFOS 1) PLOTS OF LAND FOR SALE ANAVARGOS AREA GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY The plots can be sold as a single unit or individually. From 626 sq.m up to 776 sq.m with building factor 60% and title deeds. Mountain and sea view with nice villas developing around the area. Tel: 96885030 owner 2) COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE IN KATO PAFOS 96sq.m The shop is within the ‘’Limnaria Complex’’ and faces the main road Melina Mercouri Avenue It’s in good condition with suspended ceiling, recessed lighting, VRV AC, fitted carpet, motorised shutters, CCTV and more. Tel: 96885030 owner

2 bedr. lux. flat, Ayioi Omoloyites, wooden floors €800, 3 bedr.

Acropolis c/h a/c wooden floors €650, Mak/ssa 3 bedr., modern, open plan €1000 f/f €1200, Nicosia 3 bedr., f/f, luxury €1000 f/f, Latsia 2 bedr., pool €430, Strovolos f/f house 4 bedr €1300, Mak/ ssa ground floor house detached €850 Photos www.markidesestates.com Markides 22- 378898 / 99464764 Reg.No. 487 E 16

***************************** LUXURIOUS APARTMENT FOR RENT - A luxurious one floor apartment situated in central Nicosia in an area of exceptional Beauty at 3 Museum Street, is available to let.

It has been recently renovated and consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, big dining and sitting rooms, kitchen and a huge veranda. Approximate covered area 250 sqm. Tel: 99622370.

TO LET 1 bedroom upper floor house, large veranda near restaurant Periyiali in Acropolis 5 Aeantos Street €300 call 99680208 NEW LUXURIOUS spacious (130m²), 2 bedrs flat, 2 balconies, 2 WC, indep. CH, solar system, A/C, granite floors, shutters, Italian kitchen and appliances, storeroom, covered parking in small quiet building (4 flats) in Ay. Dhometios 1.5km form Alfa-Mega Engomi. €590 p.m.

Same building very large ONE bedr flat (75m²) with similar amenities €480 p.m. TEL:99 544141

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SUZUKI VITARA Saloon 1.6 benzini, dark green from 2002, mileage: 135.500 km. MOT till 2015. Road Tax paid all 2013. €2.200. Call 99182310.

LAND FOR SALE MITSERO. 7 skalas. 10% build. South facing, unobstructed views. Access road, water, electricity. Fenced compound with 48sq.meter timber framed 2 bedroom unit, septic tank, grey water system, storage, workshop. €135,000 mobile 99594205 pumpitch@hotmail.com

FLATS/HOUSES FOR RENT Ag. Andreas studio €290, Kennedy €300, 1bdrm Str/los €400, Makarios av. €500, 2 bdrm European University furnished top floor €600 Ag. Dometios ground floor + garden €450, Lycavitos furnished €530, Ag. Paylos rear house newly built €450, 3bdrm M/ssa ground floor €700, Archangelos detached with pool €1,200, 4bdrm Kosta Theodorou new house €1,100, Ag. Andreas g/f €900, Ag. Omologites colonial traditional house pool €2,500. 21 property Finder Ltd. 99474839, 99646822, A.M.627 A.A.108/E

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Ayia Napa Monday 97798043 HONDA 400 TWIN, blue, 1984 in very good condition, chrome exhausts, only 38.000 kms, road tax up to date, €900 o.n.o, please call : 99266282 Paphos area.

TOYOTA IQ 2009. Automatic 1ltre. White pearl, 33.000km.

Medium tinted windows, Zenon lights. Perfect condition only €8500.00. Call 99511737

************************** BLACK HONDA CBR1100XX SUPERBLACKBIRD registered new in June 2011 as new condition with 12000 km. Any inspection welcome. €6950.

Call Philip 99680747

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Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

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FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS

SERVICES

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

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PLOT FOR SALE IN KATO PLATRES in a pine tree area. It comes with title deeds, 1095 square feet.

Tel. 99881051.

**************************** DOG GROOMING BUSINESS FOR SALE Do you like animals? If you do you would love doing this. Well established client base for 7 years.

Willing to train if needs require.

Open to offers for a quick sale this includes training, equipment and transport. For more information please call: 96301768

LUXURY HOUSES: 1. 4 bedr luxury detached house built in 3/4 of a plot, office space, central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining area, separate big kitchen with family room and all the electrical appliances, blinds and curtains on all windows, aluminium shutters, big garden with grass, 3 wc, covered parking, in a quiet area – Strovolos €1000 (H4ST10051-R), (photos in the website) 2. 3 bedr luxury terraced house, 210sq.m,central heating, full a/c,

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 22 Employment Miscellaneous 22 Pets 22 Lessons 22 Health & Fitness -Personal 22 Services 22 For Sale Miscellaneous 22 For Sale Land/ Property Business 22 For Sale Motor vehicles 22 Properties Wanted -To Let Nicosia 22 To Let Limassol 24 To Let Larnaca 25 To Let Paphos 25 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia 27 For Sale Limassol 27 For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 27 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 27 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

23

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA marble floor in the sitting areas and solid parquet floor on stairs and bedrooms,4 wc,3 bathrooms, 2 en suite, big verandas, electrical appliances in the kitchen, 3 covered parking spaces, roof garden access, in a quiet neighbourhood on Mon Parnas hill – Engomi €800 (photos in the website).

3. 3 bedr detached house with extra room for office, 250sq.m, central heating independent, 4 a/c, big renovated kitchen with cooker and oven, big sitting and dining room with parquet floor and fireplace, 1 bathroom, 2 shower, 3 wc, 2 covered parking, double glazed windows and shutters in bedrooms, big verandas surrounded by trees and bushes off 28th October street IN the central part of Makedonitissa – €1100 (H3MAK0004-R) (photos on the website) 4. 3 bedr luxury semi-detached house with character, 200sq.m, central heating, full ac, sitting and dining room with fireplace, big kitchen with cooker and oven, dishwasher and refrigerator, nice mature garden with flowers, trees and small garden with grass, covered parking, 3wc, 2 bathrooms in a quiet neighbourhood. Available middle of January. Agios Andreas - €1200 H3AAD0001-R (photos on website).

FOR RENT 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment in Larnaca near new hospital. €400 per month including service charge and refuse collection Call 99358916

TO LET NICOSIA 5. 3 bedr luxury house, office space, attic room, with central heating, full a/c, separate kitchen, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, 2 verandas, in a quiet area – Lakatamia €680 (H4LAK009-R), (photos in the website).

6. 3 bedr + attic room with shower and wc luxury detached house with central heating, a/c, fireplace, modern kitchen open plan with expensive electrical appliances, blinds, garden with grass, over flow swimming pool, covered parking in a quiet area. – Makedonitissa €1600 (H4MAK0023-R), (photos on the website).

7. 4 bedr luxury detached house with big sitting and dining room with parquet floor, separate big kitchen with family room and all the electrical appliances, small garden with grass and bbq area,3wc, central heating, full a/c, covered parking, in a very quiet neighborhood – Archangelos €1200 (H4AR0017-R), (photos in the website).

8. 3 bedr +office space partially renovated detached ground floor house, 280sq.m, central heating with oil, full a/c, 3wc, separate tv room, big sitting and dining area, big verandas around the house, bbq area, covered parking, private yard near the parking.– Strovolos €1200 (H4ST10048-R), (photos in

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

Tel. Tony on 99176557

TO LET NICOSIA the website).

9. New modern luxury very good quality finished semi detached house built in 3 levels. Upstairs 1st level 3 bedrs all en suite+ laundry room, 2nd level big attic room which can be used for office space or bedroom. Ground floor with 2 sitting areas ,dining area and breakfast area, kitchen with all the electrical appliances, central heating, full a/c units. Basement with kitchen with cooker and oven, dishwasher, microwave and 2 refrigerators, sitting room with fireplace, and 2 bedrooms with one bathroom. Outside private fenced garden with artificial grass, bbq area and covered veranda. The house has blinds and shutters on all windows, false ceiling with spot lights throughout house, pressure system, covered parking, satellite dish, central music and network system, storage room, very good double glazed windows.

Behind General flooring in the centre of Makedonitissa - €2000 (H4MAK0001-R), (photos on 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

TO LET NICOSIA residence.- STROVOLOS €700 (H4ST10043-R), (photos in the website).

11. 4 bedr new luxury finished detached house with central heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, big kitchen with cooker oven, dishwasher and big family room, aluminium shutters in all the house, separate big sitting and dining room with parquet floor, 2 covered parking, alarm system, big covered patio, SWIMMING POOL, in a newly built area near Falcon school – Strovolos €2000 (photos in the website).

12. 3 bedrs luxury 2 storey, FULLY RENOVATED LISTED HOUSE with high ceilings in the centre of Nicosia, 260sq.m, 2 small attic rooms, big sitting room upstairs, big sitting room and dining area downstairs, wooden floor, kitchen with all the electrical appliances, 2 bathrooms(one en suite),3wc,CH independent, A/C, big garden – Nicosia Centre €1400 (H4NIC0002-R), (photos in the website).

13. 3 bedr upstairs and 2 separate bedrooms in the basement luxury detached house (all the bedrooms with en suite bathrooms/shower), also separate kitchen and sitting room in the basement which also

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

Roofing flat & tired roofing repairs and construction Tel. SELECT fencing 99176557

TO LET NICOSIA has separate entrance from the house, central heating, full a/c, solid parquet floor throughout house, big sitting and dining room with fireplace, big fully equipped kitchen with breakfast area and family room, big over flow, 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).

14. 4 bedr very big luxury semi detached house 350sq.m, with big separate basement 80sq.m with 2 rooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Consists of big sitting and dining areas upstairs, big kitchen with big family room and breakfast area, big bedrooms, 3 showers, 1 bathroom, central heating, full a/c, black out blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, covered parking and patio with bbq in a very quiet neighbourhood close to Makarios football

TO LET NICOSIA stadium.CAN BE RENTED FURNISHED, PARTIALLY FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED - Makedonitissa €1500(H4MAK0032-R), (photos in the website) 15. 4 bedrs new luxury detached house, all the bedrooms very big and all with big bathroom/shower, sitting room upstairs, attic room with shower and wc, office space/ maid’s room with shower and wc, central heating, full AC,450sq.m, big sitting and dining areas, big kitchen with sitting area and fitted cooker and oven, 6wc, 2 covered parking, yard with tiles and SWIMMING POOL, bbq area in a very quiet neighbourhood near CYBC ( RIK) station and near a neighbourhood park – Platy Aglantzias €2500 (H4AGZ0005-R), (photos in the website) For many more properties with photos visit our website at w w w.landtouristest ates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-

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24

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA 422225/96 - 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 through, 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 neighbourhood – Agios Andreas- €1300 – A3AAD0005-R (photos on website).

2. 1 bedr spacious fully luxury renovated apartment,60sq.m, big sitting and dining room, big bedroom, fully newly modern furnished with LCD TV 32’, covered veranda, covered parking, storage heaters, full a/c, near Cyta, Laiki and Hellenic Bank headquarters – Dasoupolis €550 (photos in the website).

3. 2 bedr penthouse apartment, 100sq.m + 80sq.m veranda with flowers and bbq, big sitting and dining room with big 60” TV, storage heaters, full a/v, 2 wc, en suite bathroom/jacuzzi, roman blinds,

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

floor, NICELY FURNISHED big covered veranda, big sitting room off Kyriakou Matsi street, 1 km from the centre €460 (A1AOM0002-R), (photos in the website).

cooker, oven, microwave, washing machine and refrigerator in the kitchen, covered parking, near Metro supermarket – Aglantzia €600 (photos in the website).

4. 2 bedr luxury ground floor apartment with central heating-independent, full a/c, structure cabling internet and satellite network, FULLY MODERN EXPENSIVE FURNISHED, with 46”LCD TV, covered parking, double glazed windows, aluminium shutters, on Pericleous street near Klimataria traffic lights – Strovolos €650 (A2ST10054-R) (photos in the website) 5. 4 bedr new spacious luxury finished floor apartment with floor heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds on all windows, very big 50sq.m covered veranda, fireplace, covered parking and big over floor heated covered swimming pool on the ground floor, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighbourhood near a playground and near Ippokration private hospital – Engomi €1500 (A4ENG0003-R) (photos in the website) 6. 1 bedr new luxury apartment in a modern building(TSENTAS),with central heating ind, 2 a/c, cooker and oven, refrigerator and washing machine in the kitchen, parquet

7.

1 bedr cozy luxury apartment,60sq.m,parquet floor, nicely furnished ,all fitted electrical appliances (cooker, oven, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge), roman blinds, provisions for home cinema, big covered verandah, storage heaters, 2 a/c ,covered parking in Dasoupolis near Alpha Mega supermarket and Areteion hospital.

– Dasoupoli €470 (A1DAS0009-R) (photos in the website)

8. 2 bedr spacious renovated apartment 100sq.m with separate big kitchen, air condition for hot and cold in all the rooms, covered veranda, nicely newly fully furnished , off Kyriakou Matsi street very close to the centre on foot– Agioi Omologites €500 (A2AOM0003-R) (photos in the website) 9. New top quality 2 bedr apartment, 93sq.m+20sq.m veranda, on a small modern building with 6 flats only. Central heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 2wc, fully fitted kitchen with all the electrical appliances, water pressure system roller blinds and shutters on windows, big sitting and dining room, big bedrooms, covered parking and storage room, in a quiet neighbourhood near Akropolis park. AVAILABLE end of March – Acropolis €800 A2ACS0002-R (photos in the website) .

10. New luxury finished 1 bedr penthouse apartment with big verandah with nice view, in a small modern building,55sq.m,storage heaters,2 a/c, blinds on the windows, expensive electrical appliances(cooker, oven, extractor, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer),covered parking and storage room, off Kalippoleos street opposite Dessange Day Spa near the University – Lykavitos €420

TO LET NICOSIA (A1LYK0002-R), (photos in the website).

11. 3 bedrs luxury penthouse one floor apartment in a small building with 3 apartments,250sq.m plus big covered verandas, fire place, solid parquet floor,2 bathrooms,3 wc, cooker, oven, fridge, washing machine and dishwasher in the kitchen, CH independent, full a/c, big reception areas opening to the verandas, pressure system and 2 Pcovered with remote control entrance, walking distance to the centre very close to Debenhams €1300 (A3NIC0028-R), (photos in the website) 12. 2 bedr new modern luxury finished apartment with parquet floor, central heating independent, 2 a/c, modern kitchen with all fitted expensive electrical appliances, blinds on the windows, big covered veranda, FULLY NICELY FURNISHED, covered parking in a quiet neighbourhood off Kallipoleos Street - Lykavitos €700 (A2LYK0024-R) (photos on the website) 13. 3 bedr luxury penthouse apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, big sitting and dining room with fireplace, separate kitchen, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, big covered and uncovered veranda, covered parking, in Strovolos near the Municipal building - €650 (A3ST10014-R) (photos on the website) 14. 3 bedr spacious luxury finished apartment 150sq.m+30sq.m covered veranda, central heating independent with petrol, full wall a/c units, solid parquet floor, expensive electrical appliances in the kitchen, 3wc, curtains and blinds on windows, 3 COVERED PARKING, storage room, near Pizza Hut in Strovolos €1100 (photos in the website).

15. 3 bedrs luxury penthouse,165sq. m+80sq.m verandah with bbq, central heating ind, full AC, 3 wc,

TO LET NICOSIA 2 bathrooms, solid parquet floor all the flat, big kitchen with dining area, fully MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking off Athalassa Avenue near Stephanis Electrinics and English school – Strovolos €800 (A3ST10013-R) (photos in the website) 16. New luxury finished 4 bed PENTHOUSE apartment in a small modern building, 186sq.m+90sq.m big veranda with nice view, separate floor heating, fully air conditioned, 4wc, 2 en suite bedrooms with shower,1 bathroom, solid parquet floor all through, big sitting and dining areas with electric modern shutters opening to the veranda, fully equipped kitchen with expensive electrical appliances, 2 parking places (1 covered), in a very quiet neighbourhood ,near the Russian Embassy. AVAILABLE END OF MARCH –Engomi €1900 (A4ENG0005-R) (photos in the website) For many more properties with photos visit our website at w w w.landtouristest ates.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 ***************************** FOR RENT office of around 85m2, with partitions, kitchenette and parking in a peaceful, green yet central area at Helladion House(off.

302; 3rd floor), 5 Andrea Kalvou Str. For viewing, please call Ms. Jenny on 25-340987(3rd flloor of building; office hours). For further

TO LET LIMASSOL details, please call 25-521873 after 8:00pm.

***************************** FOR RENT IN IPSONAS near highway, first floor house, 3 bedrooms, C/H, A/C, fitted kitchen with all electrical appliances, and TV room.

Roof garden with extra kitchen, BBQ, pergola. Rent €600pm. Tel 99672925

***************************** UN-DETACHED HOUSE for rent in Apshiou village, 2 bedrooms, kitchen, sitting room, bathroom with solar water heater. A/C, satellite, 15mins to roundabout. €350.

Tel 25369219, work 10.30-17.30 25542968 home 99773151

***************************** TO LET Large 4 bedroom unfurnished house in the village of Asomatos nr Akrotiri Limassol. Fully A/C & Heating (storage heaters). 5 wc’s, large kitchen/diner, lounge and sitting room. Large loft with own shower/ wc (suitable for office/playroom/ gym). Carport - prominent position in cul-de-sac - lots of parking. €850 pcm (negotiable). Available from April 2013. Tel. 99831431

***************************** FOR RENT 1,2,3,4,5 bedroom houses, flats and villas furnished or unfurnished and in some cases with swimming pool in all areas of Limassol town, Erimi, Episkopi, Kolossi, Ypsonas, Souni, Kivides, Agios Tihonas, Pyrkos, Pareklisia, Trahoni, Zakaki and Yermasoyia Tel: 99675752

***************************** FOR RENT 4 bedroom detached house situated in a quiet area of Erimi, with spacious, living area, kitchen, guest WC downstairs, and four bedrooms upstairs with ensuite master bedroom, and bathroom. It has central heating, and air-condition. beautiful garden and parking. €800. 99675752 FOR RENT 4 bedroom detached house in Episkopi, on top of a hill

25

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

Advertiser TO LET LIMASSOL

TO LET LIMASSOL

with panoramic views of Curium Beach and garden all around (very private). It has a spacious living area, separate kitchen, utility room, guest WC downstairs and four bedrooms with bathroom upstairs.

Central heating, air-conditioning, parking. €750. (negotiable) Tel: 99 675752 FOR RENT five bedroom villa for rent in Agios Sylas (7 minutes from town of Limassol) detached with beautiful panoramic mountain and sea views. It has large sitting dining area, separate kitchen, utility room, office, laundry shoot, four w/c, en-suite master bedroom with walk-in-wardrobe. Small kitchen area upstairs between bedrooms, large bedroom balconies. Central heating, air-conditioning, barbaque area. Also has a separate apartment below the house with small kitchen and shower with WC. A nice large gargen and covered parking. €1300. 99675752 TRADITIONAL VILLAGE STONE HOUSE IN APESHIA. Very quiet village, 20mins from Limassol.

Road to heritage school/Troodos.

2 bedrooms, office available top floor with veranda great view of mountains. Small courtyard with trees. Electric solar water. A/Ctoilet in main bedroom. Semi/full furnished. Fitted kitchen with elec-

TO LET LARNACA

trical appliances, fireplace. Toilet/ shower. €550pm negotiable. Tel 96891800.

2 bedroom fully furnished apartment, nr the Metro/American Academy Larnaca. Ref. TLL1654

GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year. Laminated parke floor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms. Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775

Please call to arrange a viewing Tel. 24815926

LARNACA HOUSE FOR RENT 3 Bedrooms, 3 WC, A/C, C/H, white goods, VERGINA Larnaca. €570 per month Tel. 99 478749 FOR RENT fully furnished 1 bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca. Price €370. Tel 99202543 1 BEDROOM flat in Ermou Square area Larnaca - 2 bedroom flat in Phaneromenis area Larnaca. Call 96693375

3. www.superiorrealestatelarnaca. com – LARGE RANGE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. From studio apartments to 5 bedroom villa’s for rent, all properties have detailed descriptions, professional photographs. Interactive Virtual/Video Tours. Please visit our website. www.superiorrealestatelarnaca. com 4. www.superiorrealestatelarnaca. com - License No. 419. LANDLORDS AVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY WITH US FOR FREE. Tel. 24815926 Email. info@superiorrealestatelarnaca.com

2. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

STUDIOS FOR RENT

Kings, Tsada, Timi & Kato Paphos Landlord & Owners please call 99329357. Or please view at are website www.cyprussands.com 3 BEDROOM luxury house for rent, 2 bathrooms, furnished, fire place, central heating, a/c, panoramic view, large kitchen and sitting room in Paphos, Armou village. €500 per month. Tel: 99613556 CHLORAKAS: 3 Bedroom unfurnished villa private swimming pool, utility room, walking wardrobes, en suite shower 180 m2 covered area fenced garden fully a/c, € 575 p/m For more information’s phone 99400697

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

PAPHOS

KISSONERGA - Beautiful Detached U/F 3 Bedroomed Villa, Large Pool, 2 Bedrooms Upstairs Master En-suite, Family Bathroom, modern Fitted Kitchen, Downstairs Bedroom with En-suite Shower room, Low maintenance Garden, Large Terraces and Separate Storage Room €600.

FOR RENT a selection of 1 to 5 bedroom houses & apartments F/F & U/F Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the

TALA - Modern 2 and 3 bedroom apartments U/F, P/F and F/F, some with communal pool, A/C, Sepa-

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

***************************** 1. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

3 bedroom detached unfurnished property set on a fantastic development in the village of Tersefanou. Available for immediate occupation. Ref. TLL973. Tel 24815926

TO LET PAPHOS

Are you looking to meet an Attractive, Beautiful, Gorgeous, Successful lady who has a lot to offer, love, beauty and personality.

Very energetic, sweet, pretty and stylish lady. She is divorced 42. Scientist self employed, well-off financially. She prefers to spend her free time playing tennis, swimming and exploring nature. ID-ALAN

Tel: 25-324800 (office hours)

If interested please call 99 314108, 70005150, Email: singles@kronos2.net

EMBA

Fully furnished renovated studios for rent at Dassoudi beach Limassol. They have air-conditioning, balcony and private parking area.

INDOOR MARKET & CAR BOOT SALE FRIDAY – SATURDAY – SUNDAY 8:00AM – 2:00PM ALL YEAR ROUND VISIT US NOW FOR:

ba m ch Le ur Ch

FRESH VILLAGE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES WATCH REPAIRS & JEWELLERY POTTED FLOWERS NEW & USED HANDBAGS & CLOTHES SECOND HAND BOOKS COMPUTERS & TELEPHONE ACCESSORIES SECOND HAND FURNITURE & ANTIQUES INDIAN TAKE AWAY HOME MADE FRESH CAKES & PIES FROZEN FISH CHILDREN’S TOY’S AND MUCH MORE ….

GREAT PRICES FOR ALL !!!

STALLHOLDERS & CAR-BOOTERS WELCOME COFFEE SHOP ALL ENQUIRIES CALL: 96533839/99771532

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

rate Storage and own Parking €325.

velopment, fantastic location €425 pm

TREMITHOUSA - Traditional Spacious 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, and Large Mature enclosed Garden, Open Fireplace, Beautiful Fitted Kitchen, A/C, Wonderful Family Home €400.

Lower Peyia – 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom Modern Unfurnished Villa with beautiful sea views. Spacious villa with wood burner, utility room, white goods, storage area, alarm system, low maintenance manicured garden & private pool €1100 pm

EMBA - Spacious 2 Bedroom Corner house ,U/F, Separate Downstairs Cloakroom, Balcony, no garden €300.

URGENTLY WANTED – 2/3 Bedroom F/F Properties MORE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 99862922

***************************** TOK’s – 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, Immaculate, very high spec top floor apartment, Luxury furnished with Flatscreen TV’s in living room and bedrooms, lift, pool, beautiful de-

Lower Peyia – Good size detached 3 bedroom Villa in lovely residential no through road, separate kitchen, well maintained, large balcony, private pool and garden with sea views €750 pm Universal - 2 bedroom fully furnished ground floor apartment, a/c, large bedrooms, communal pool, o/s parking €350 Please contact us whatever your rental requirements as we have many other properties available. LANDLORDS/OWNERS – We always

26

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS require more properties to list for waiting clients. Please call NOW: 96241965

***************************** PEYIA, luxury villa, 3 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully or part furnished, private pool, quiet location, paved garden area, sea and mountain views. Sky satellite, euro 650 ono, please call: 99771532 – no agents

***************************** KILI – PAPHOS, 3 bedroom villa, with swimming pool and garden, unfurnished, gas central heating, large verandas, lovely mountain views, very quiet and tranquil area, ₏475 per month o.n.o. Call : 99479006

***************************** LOW COST, long term 3 bedroom bungalow, Polis area, Gialia village, on 3 acres of property, large variety of fruit trees, extremely private with panoramic mountain and sea views, unfurnished, swimming pool, a/c and ďŹ replace, fence around the property â‚Ź550 per month ono – available from 1st of April For more info call: 99 442485

***************************** MR RENT PAPHOS, THE LEADING PROPERTY RENTAL AGENCY IN PAPHOS OFFICE: 26271858 (00357) IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT WE ARE THE

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

RENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT OFFERING FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENT COLLECTION SERVICE

out blinds, nilesat satelitte & pressurised water system. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_497

Lovely garden with spacious veranda & private pool. Available unfurnished. Website reference number: RTL_669

1. ANARITA â‚Ź375 beautifully furnished modern 2 bedroom townhouse situated on a quiet complex with air conditioned spacious gym also communal pools & well tended gardens. Townhouse offers modern quality furniture & ďŹ ttings. Guest wc and small patio garden. Viewings highly recommended. Website reference number: RTL_667

4. MESOGI â‚Ź700 spacious 4 bedroom villa plus playroom or ofďŹ ce including gas central heating. one bedroom & bathroom on ground oor. available unfurnished. enclosed low maintenance garden with private pool offering privacy & views over countryside. situated in a quiet residential area. Website reference number: Rtl_618

2. PEYIA â‚Ź550 modern detached 2 bedroom villa situated on private road. Available unfurnished though includes central heating throughout, pressurised water & security alarm system. Modern ďŹ tted kitchen & bathrooms. Roof terrace with sea views & private pool. Website reference number: Rtl_447 also available modern detached 3 bedroom villa on this private road. Website reference number: RTL_572

5. LOWER CHLORAKA â‚Ź750 spacious detached 3 bedroom villa offering stunning views of the sea.

Situated in a quiet residential street opposite orange groves. Gated entrance enclosed good sized low maintenance mature garden with fruit trees & private pool. Spacious living area with real ďŹ replace.

Downstairs guest wc.

Master bedroom with ensuite. Available fully furnished. Website reference number: RTL_550

7. PEYIA â‚Ź950 we are delighted to offer this ultra modern 4 bedroom villa with luxury furnishings & ďŹ ttings.

Offering spacious accommodation with breathtaking sea views. Finished to a very high quality. Spacious living area with modern ďŹ tted kitchen & utility area. One bedroom on ground oor with ensuite & kitchenette. Guest wc. Private inďŹ nity pool & enclosed low maintenance garden. A must to see! website reference number: RTL_670

3. KISSONERGA â‚Ź650 stunning detached 3 bedroom villa situated in quiet residential area with sea & rural views. Private drive with car port. Enclosed low maintenance garden with sea water private pool.

Modern villa, master with ensuite plus downstairs guest wc. Beautifully furnished with good quality furnishing & ďŹ ttings, including black

6. KAMARES TALA â‚Ź850 a stunning detached villa offering 4 bedrooms plus ofďŹ ce in a quiet & private residential area with large parking bay for numerous cars and covered off street parking. Offering spacious living accommodation and breathtaking views of the sea. This property includes a lift to all 4 oors.

8. CHLORAKA â‚Ź2,200 substantial luxury 4 bedroom villa, spacious (350 sq meters), beautifully designed with unique detail. Conservatory with views of landscaped gardens.

Large modern ďŹ tted kitchen, living room with working ďŹ replace. Circular dining room with vaulted dome ceiling. Stunning private pool area.

Available unfurnished. Website reference number: RTL_579 Tel: 97790883 Tel: 99133422 ofďŹ ce: 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

In Op ves p o tm r t en un t ity

Watch Your Capital Grow 68.3% NET GROWTH since launch in July 2008

No Negative Months Since inception just less than 5 years ago this Isle of Man based fund has outperformed the FTSE 100 Index, the Consumer Price Index and the Investment Property Database

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS 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

***************************** MANDRIA PAFOS 2 bedroom furnished bungalow within walking distance of the village. Large bedrooms, kitchen, sitting room/dining area with ďŹ re place, large bathroom.

Outside gated area and fenced off, pets welcomed Ref: 1217 â‚Ź450 AYIA MARINOUDA PAFOS 2 bedroom furnished bungalow in lovely quiet complex with communal pool.

Property has ďŹ replace, off street parking, nice stone features, character property. Ref: 1224 â‚Ź500 MESOGI PAFOS 4 bedroom house offered furnished, near all amenities. Property has sitting,dining area, kitchen, storage, downstairs bedroom, guest wc. Upstairs 3 additional bedrooms, master en suite, family bathroom. Off street parking, back garden with lawn Ref 1211 â‚Ź690 SEA CAVES PAFOS modern bungalow offered furnished or unfurnished, 3 bedroom, master en suite shower, family bathroom, kitchen, sitting area, outside private pool, roof garden, outside shower-toilte, yscreens nice location with sea views. Ref: 1213 â‚Ź750 MELANOS/CHLORAKA PAFOS Partfurnished, modern 4 bedroom villa, with private pool and amazing sea views. Has modern appliances, off-street covered parking in a nice quiet location. Pets welcome. Ref: 1206 â‚Ź800 PEGEIA PAFOS 3 bedroom unfurnished villa with great sea and mountain views. Property has sit-

ting/dining area, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, master en suite, private pool, covered parking. Ref: 1214 â‚Ź550 CORAL BAY PAFOS 3 bedroom Villa offered furnished or unfurnished in a lovely private and peaceful location. Property is cosy with a small kitchen, sitting room and dining area with a ďŹ re place, ac, guest wc, 3 bedrooms master en suite, family bathroom. Nice views Ref: 842 â‚Ź750 CHLORAKA PAFOS 2 and 1 bedroom apartments in a lovely modern complex offered furnished or unfurnished with y screens, nice large kitchen, bathroom, communal pool, nice location. Ref 1219 from â‚Ź300 Please call for a free viewing on OfďŹ ce 26600450 Mobile: 97614070 many more properties on our website at www.owron.com Your Vision is our Mission LANDLORDS IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT, PLEASE CALL US!!!!!!

***************************** PEYIA – 3 bedroom villa with modern quality furniture and ďŹ nishes.

Central heating, sky, alarm, inďŹ nity pool and stunnning sea and mountain views â‚Ź700 per month, call: 99389426 BRAND NEW APT, opposite Poseidonio Gym, near Carrefour, F/F, a/c, great quality, 1 bdrm, from â‚Ź340p.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

7JTJUJOH "UIFOT

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t (B[J "SFB OFYU UP UIF .FUSP 4UBUJPO XJUI GSFF 8J 'J t 'SPN FVSPT QFS QFSTPO

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Departure dates 13 May - ¤399 per person 27 May - ¤369 per person 10 June - ¤439 per person

www.centurycyprus.com

info@centurycyprus.com

70 000 970

27

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS 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.

Euros 400.00 per month 2 FYTI 3 bed, 3 bath furnished villa in a very quiet location. The property offers stylish accommodation and has many luxury features.

Open plan living area with feature fireplace. Dining area. Large fully fitted L shaped kitchen with appliances and breakfast bar Doors out to rear garden and pool. Guest WC. Stairs up to 3 very spacious bedrooms. Master with ensuite.

Family bathroom and storage cupboard. Stairs up to roof garden with panoramic views. Outside there is a feature pergola, swimming pool and landscaped gardens. Euros 700.00 a month.

3. OLYMPUS ESTATE, NR TSADA – 3 bed, 2.5 bath furnished bungalow set on this prestigious estate. The house has central heating, A/C, fireplace, shutters & flyscreens. Spacious open plan living area with dining space.

Large “L” shaped kitchen. 3 double bedrooms all leading to pool and gardens. Master with en-suite.

Covered patio with sea and rural views, swimming pool and garden areas. Feature outside dining area. Breakfast area to the side of the property. Easy care gardens.

Pool with Roman steps. Parking for 3 cars. Bargain price!!! Euros 800.00 per month furnished, unfurnished by arrangement at lower cost.

4. TALA - 3 bed 3 bath quality furnished villa. Set in enclosed gardens the villa consists of open plan living area with dining space.

TO LET PAPHOS Fully fitted kitchen with all appliances, door to rear garden. Storage room. Ground floor bedroom with adjacent shower. Stairs to two double bedrooms both en-suite, one with Jacuzzi tub. Small seating area with adjacent balcony.

Pool and off street parking. Landscaped gardens Euros 650.00 per month 5. AYIOS DEMITRIANOS (POLEMI) – 3 bed, 2 bath furnished villa (bungalow style) set in a private and quiet location. Open plan living area with fireplace. Fully fitted kitchen with quality appliances.

Utility room and storage. Master bedroom with adjacent shower.

Two more double bedrooms with family bathroom with Jacuzzi bath.

Garden areas, large terraces with outstanding views. Private pool 10x5, Covered parking. Euros 700.00 per month furnished, 650 unfurnished.

6. UNIVERSAL AREA. 2 bed, 2 bath fully furnished penthouse apartment. Living area with dining space. Doors out to massive balcony area overlooking the pool and gardens. Fitted kitchen.

2 double bedrooms, master bedroom has ensuite shower. Family bathroom. A/C, Comm pool and parking. Euros 450.00 a month or offers.

7. LOWER PEYIA - 3 bed, 2.5 bath unfurnished villa situated in quiet cul du sac. Open plan living and dining area with doors out 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.

Euros 550.00 per month or close offers only.

8. CHLORAKAS – 2 bed 1 bath large furnished apartment in quiet area.

Spacious open plan living area with doors out to balcony. Good sized modern fitted kitchen and breakfast area. Small balcony off the kitchen.

Two double bedrooms. Family

TO LET PAPHOS bathroom. Off-street parking, comm pool. Euros 380.00 per month.

FOR FULL LISTINGS OF APARTMENTS/ TOWNHOUSES AND VILLAS, PLEASE SEE www.rentalpointpaphos.com ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL LANDLORDS/OWNERS PLEASE CALL WITH DETAILS PLEASE CALL 97648440 or email:inforentals@aol.com

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE NICOSIA ***************************** FOR SALE a very nice, large, two bedroom apartment near Hilton and Central Bank. Living, dining room, sitting room, large veranda.

Spacious kitchen, c/h, s/h, covered parking. Title deed. Tel. 99519370.

***************************** FOR SALE OFFICES, ground floor space, suitable for offices or any other business. Centrally located, off Arch. Makarios Avenue, in the Commercial Centre of Nicosia, near Hilton. Also mezzanine, basement, small kitchen, a/c, parking. Title deeds. Tel. 99519370.

***************************** STROVOLOS, Symi street, Tseriou new one bedroom apartment, 55 sqm, large sunny balcony, airconditioned, private parking, lift, title deeds, reduced price €95.000 (including VAT) (no offers) tel: 99266282 (no agents)

***************************** FOR SALE upper floor house 210 sq.m built on 301 sq. m land, Lapatsa area, Pereous 1a. 4 bedrooms with attic room (not finished), c/h ,4 a/c, aluminium doors& window, covered parking and storage room.

FOR SALE LIMASSOL Price €310.000 pm call 22431095 99330632.

LIMASSOL ***************************** SMART EASILY MAINTAINED BUNGALOW. Pano Kivides. 110 sq.m.

2 beds. Gas CH. Double glazing.

Mains drainage. Plot 730 sq.m. Fruit trees flower beds. Large workshop.

Jacuzzi. Car port. Open view. Easy drive to Limassol. TITLE DEEDS 187500 Tel 99995906.

***************************** EXECUTIVE PENTHOUSE for sale in central Limassol (Glastonas Street area). Five minute walk to the beach.

4/5 bedrooms. Private rooftop walkin swimming pool with large terraces and conservatory. Total area: 800m2 (300m2 covered) €825,000 negotiable Tel: 99169485 Photos & more info: http://penthouse-forsalecyprus.blogspot.com/

rakas area, very quiet and private location. 4 en-suite bedrooms.

Spacious living - dinijng room, sitting room, kitchen with all electrical appliances, breakfast room, two fireplaces, built-in bookcases, eletrical shutters, a/c, swimming pool, garden, patio, garage, store room.

Option for second floor. Title deed.

Adjacent to above. Sold separately plot of land, with sea view. Title deed. Tel. 99519370.

***************************** 2 BEDROOM top floor apartment built in 2006, 75 sqm, large sunny balcony with sea views, 2 bathrooms (en-suite), communal pool, air conditioning. Small block of 9 apartments, located behind dar-

Tel: 99753334

mart store, near the debenhams roundabout, underground private parking, storage room and lift, reduced price: €98.000 (including VAT) with title deeds (no agents) please call: 99266282

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

PROTARAS FOR SALE special offer, €79, 000 first floor apartment in Protaras, fully furnished with 2 bedrooms and a swimming pool. Walking distance to the beach of Ayia Triada and all amenities. Tel: 97 608941.

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

FUN AND FASHION FAYRE - FUNDRAISING EVENT TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY 7TH APRIL WE NEED DONATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING

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

PAPHOS FOR SALE large, beautiful, nice designed, sea view house. In Chlo-

LADIES/GENTS AND CHILDRENS GOOD CONDITION CLOTHING TOYS/GAMES BOOKS BRIC-A-BRAC

Cello & piano duet wide repertoire available for bars, cafes, hotels, receptions etc.

99947442 or 99418282

CAKES/SAVOURIES IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE CONTACT: HELEN 99 447482 OR GEORGINA 99 673841 OR DROP OFF AT: KIVOTOS PET SHOP (COCA COLA TRAFFIC LIGHTS ) Or ANGEL PAWS PET SPA, 35 ARMENIAS STREET, STROVOLOS The deadline for dropping off will be Thursday 4th April. Except for Cakes or saviories which can be brought on the morning of the 7th April.

Thank you for your support – “together we make a difference”

ARIS EMPIRE BINGO Address: Paphos street 207, next to Carrefour Kato Polemidia, Limassol Email: arisempire@yahoo.com

FOR SALE PAPHOS

FOR SALE PAPHOS

A new and very different place has opened its doors today to the bingo world, inviting people to come and try their luck. Aris Empire Bingo is impressively and luxuriously decorated and can host up to 1000 people providing all the comforts for a night of fun or relaxation.

Visitors can have fun, playing bingo, trying to win one of the big money prizes that are handed out each time. People can also choose from the large choice of food on the menu, which is reasonably priced. The meticulous work done by the owner is apparent at every corner, even in the kitchen which is HACCP certified, with everything designed by the CTO. Bingo has now taken-on a different character of being more enjoyable and of more quality for all those who love the game but have kept their distance as they could not find a place that expressed them. The spacious hall has good ventilation and Aris Empire Bingo has a large parking, making it easier for any visitors.

Opening hours is from 8pm till 2am Restaurant hours from 8pm Bingo starts at 9pm

28

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport Serena wins first match back as world number one in Miami American star says she feels as young as ever SERENA Williams, playing her first match since regaining the world number one ranking, made a triumphant start to the Sony Open, thumping Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 6-1 6-1 in Miami.

Playing her first match after a bye in the opening round, Williams made a sloppy start, hitting two double faults in her opening service game, but was unstoppable once she found her rhythm.

“I think I was off, footworkwise, but it’s always good to win a match and then just keep going,” Williams said.

“There’s nothing like when they announce you and they say, ‘the number one player in the world.’

“It definitely gives me a little bit more confidence, I think a little bit more pep in your step. It’s just a great feeling.”

At 31, Williams is already the oldest woman to reach the top of the rankings but says she feels as young as ever and has lost none of her motivation as she chases a sixth Sony Open title.

“Growing up this was dubbed the fifth grand slam - it’s not a grand slam, but it’s definitely a great tournament,” Williams said.

IN BRIEF Capriati charged over assault FORMER world number one Jennifer Capriati has reportedly been charged with stalking and battery after allegedly punching her ex-boyfriend last month.

The 36-year-old three-time major winner allegedly assaulted Ivan Brannan on Valentine’s Day while he was working out at a gym in North Palm Beach, Florida.

According to reports in the United States, Capriati has been issued a summons to appear before a judge at Palm Beach Gardens courthouse on April 17.

Capriati’s attorney, Richard Lubin, insisted his client did nothing wrong and has vowed to clear her name.

He told the Palm Beach Post: “Unfortunately, false accusations against celebrities is an almost daily occurrence in the world we live in.

“Capriati is innocent of these charges, and we intend to vigorously defend her against this nonsense.”

I’ve still got it! At 31, Serena Williams is already the oldest woman to reach the top of the rankings “It would be really cool to have the record. But I have a lot of matches to play these two weeks.”

China’s Li Na also made a flying start to the tournament, winning her first match since losing in the Australian Open final.

Li, beaten by Victoria Aza-

renka in Melbourne, reeled off the last 10 points of the match to beat Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3 6-1.

“My game was pretty good today,” said Li. “I followed the plan of what I should do.”

Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska fired

down six aces in a 6-3 6-2 win over Taiwan’s Hsieh SuWei. “I will do everything to hold the trophy again,” said the Pole. “Winning this tournament is almost like winning a grand slam.”

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and ex-

world number one Caroline Wozniacki also won, but both had to fight all the way.

Kvitova rallied from a set down to beat Peng Shuai 5-7 6-2 6-2 while Wozniacki did the same to beat Czech qualifier Karolina Pliskova 5-7 6-3 6-3.

Cycling success ‘behind Tour start’

By Dave Higgens

Sir Bradley Wiggins became Britain’s first winner of the Tour de France last summer

THE head of the Tour de France has said the recent success of British cyclists is part of the reason the UK was chosen to host the start of the famous race in 2014.

Jean-Etienne Amaury - the president of the race organiser, ASO - was visiting Yorkshire yesterday, where the opening two stages of next year’s race will be staged.

And he said he has not ruled out the Tour coming back to Britain again in the near future.

Amaury’s visit came as Welcome to Yorkshire, the tourism organisation behind the successful bid to host 2014 Grand Depart, was celebrating securing a pledge of £10 million of government funding to help stage the event.

He said he was impressed with the ongoing preparations in Yorkshire.

“It looks fantastic so far,” Amaury said.

“We expect great enthusiasm here in Yorkshire for the Tour de France.

“We had the Grand Depart in 2007 in London and it was fantastic, the atmosphere was great.

And he said the excitement about a British start to the event had even crossed the Channel.

“People in France are similarly excited because British cycling has been doing extremely well for the past years, and particularly in the past year with Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France.

“So people are very much looking forward to this Grand Depart in Yorkshire.”

Asked if this British success was a factor in bringing the Tour to the UK, Amaury said: “Yes. It was definitely one factor. Not the only one.

“The scenery and the quality of the infrastructure in

Yorkshire has been also a very important factor to decide to host the Grand Depart in 2014 here.

“But how strong British cycling has been over the years has been an important factor, for sure.”

But he said he was not going to predict any British victories when the race moves to home soil.

“The best has to win - that’s the true spirit of sport,” he said.

“Considering how strong British cycling has been in the past years, there’s no reason why we would not come back in the next couple of years.”

The Tour will come to Yorkshire in July next year with the first stage going from Leeds to Harrogate and the second from York to Sheffield.

The third stage will move south, starting in Cambridge and finishing on The Mall, in London.

WADA warns the cheats A performance-enhancing substance sold on the black market which contains “serious toxicities” could seriously damage athletes’ health, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said.

WADA said the once developmental drug, identified as GW501516, had been bought and used by some athletes despite being withdrawn from research and terminated when “serious toxicities were discovered.

“The side effect is so serious that WADA is taking the rare step of warning “cheats” to ensure that there is complete awareness of the possible risks.”

Nuggets extend streak COREY Brewer hit three free throws with 2.1 seconds left and the Denver Nuggets rallied from eight down in the final 2:07 to extend their winning streak to 14 games with a 101-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brewer scored the last six points and finished with a career-high 29 as Denver, which trailed 100-95 with 14 seconds left, won its 16th straight at home.

Damien Wilkins led Philadelphia with 24 points but had his potential winning shot blocked.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

29

Sport

Kiwi centurion Fulton downplays emotional milestone

No place like home for Rose at Bay Hill

By Steve Keating WITH seven wins, Tiger Woods may own the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Bay Hill may be ‘Arnie’s Place’ but this is Justin Rose’s home and the Briton showed as much by grabbing the first round lead.

Rose, who makes his US residence in Orlando and lives a few minutes away from Bay Hill, looked as comfortable as if he was entertaining guests in his own living room, outshining his illustrious playing partners Woods and South African Ernie Els. “I’ve got a good little support. I felt like it was good to be me out there,” Rose told reporters after an opening round sevenunder 65 gave him a twoshot lead.

“Obviously, Tiger is the man here at Bay Hill.

He’s won seven times but it’s about what happens inside the ropes.”

While Bay Hill has traditionally brought out the best in Woods, Rose says the presence of the 14-time major winner has often brought out the best in his game. That was particularly true during a sunny but gusty opening round.

England are dominated by NZ in final Test

By Greg Stutchbury CRICKETERS reaching their maiden Test centuries have exhibited all sorts of outpouring of emotion and relief when they finally brought up the milestone.

Exuberant leaps into the air, kissing of the national crest on the helmet, extended hugs with teammates, belligerent waving of the bat at opposing fans, and on some occasions in the general direction of the media box.

Not so New Zealand’s Peter Fulton, who yesterday, in the series-deciding third Test against England simply raised his arms, took his helmet off, spoke briefly to batting partner Kane Williamson then proceeded to set about building on the score.

“A mixture of excitement and relief is a good way of putting it,” a downbeat Fulton told reporters at the conclusion of the first day at Eden Park when his unbeaten 124 had helped his side to an impressive 250 for one.

“If I’m being honest I probably wondered at the start of this season if I’d get another chance to try

and get a Test hundred.

“So I’ve just tried ...to enjoy my cricket and be nice and positive and take it as it comes and not get too caught up in what’s happened in the past and disappointments I’ve had along the way.”

Disappointments have dogged Fulton’s career.

As a top-order batsmen in his previous incarnations in the Test side, Fulton had scored 314 runs in 16 innings at an average of 20.93 and a high score of 75.

However, he had been discarded in 2009 and played first class cricket, revamping his mental approach to the game and transitioning into a highly effective opener for Canterbury.

It was that transition that helped him come back into the focus for new coach Mike Hesson, who selected him for the Test tour of South Africa earlier this year.

Fulton was forced home with a knee injury prior to the 2-0 series drubbing at the hands of the Proteas but recalled by Hesson for the series against England.

“Once you’ve been in and out of the team a few times you get to that stage where you might have had your

last chance,” Fulton said of his desire to get back into the international fold.

“I think I knew I was good enough, but at the back of my mind was always that thing of ‘if I don’t get another chance, I’m not going to be able to prove that I am good enough.

“Thankfully that wasn’t the case.”

The right-hander, nicknamed ‘Two-Metre Peter’ despite standing just 1.98 metres tall (6-foot-6), scored 55 in the first innings in the first Test in Dunedin and 45 in the second innings of the second Test in Wellington.

Fulton, however, admonished himself in Wellington for failing to push on, and told reporters yesterday that ensuring he got a big score was on his mind from about the point he entered the 30s.

“After the last game I’d got a couple of starts but not been able to go on and get a big score so that was at the back of my mind.

Once I got to 30 or 40 I had to try and get a really big score and make it count.

“Yeah, I’m over the moon about it, but it’s one innings and hopefully there’s more to come.”

STUTTERING START Maiden ton: Peter Fulton’s unbeaten 124 helped his side to an impressive 250 for one after the first day’s play

Wallabies skipper Horwill to make long-awaited return

By Nick Mulvenney

In a boost to Australia before the tour of the British and Irish Lions, the lock will skipper the Queensland Reds today

WALLABIES captain James Horwill will finally return to the pitch for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby this weekend after a frustrating 10 months out injured.

In a major boost to Australia before the tour of the British and Irish Lions in June and July, the lock will skipper the 2011 Super Rugby champions against South Africa’s Bulls at Lang Park in Brisbane today.

Horwill, who sustained a hamstring injury in a freak incident in a match against ACT Brumbies last May, had been slated to return in the pre-season in early February but injured himself in the final training session before the match.

“Getting James back on the field has been a long time coming and everyone is extremely excited to see him back after what has been a frustrating 10 months without rugby,” Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said in a news release.

“In a perfect world he would have returned sooner if not for an ankle injury he suffered in an unlucky in-

‘He has handled every challenge thrown at him with class and is now ready to go’ stance at training, but he has handled every challenge thrown at him with class and is now ready to go.”

Nicknamed “Big Kev” after the enthusiastic star of a popular Australian TV commercial, Horwill missed the entire international season last year after leading the Wallabies to the World Cup in 2011.

A long run in the Reds side for Horwill would be welcome to Australia coach Robbie Deans, and not just because of the 27-year-old’s leadership capabilities.

Australia, who are likely to be sorely tested by the Lions up front, suffer from a serious lack of depth in the second row and lost 116-

cap lock Nathan Sharpe to retirement at the end of last season.

Horwill makes his return a week after influential Wallabies and Reds scrumhalf Will Genia, who had been sidelined by knee reconstruction and played in the Reds’ shock defeat to the Perth-based Western Force last weekend.

Reds openside flanker Liam Gill, promoted to second in the Wallabies pecking order behind Michael Hooper by the season-ending injury to David Pocock, will miss today’s match against the Bulls because of a knee injury, however.

“While we don’t consider his injury severe, it’s too early in the season to risk putting him out there and ultimately suffering further damage,” said McKenzie.

Big-tackling outside centre Anthony Faingaa, another Wallabies regular, also returns after being forced to pull out of last week’s match against the Force because of a back injury.

Test winger Digby Ioane is back in the starting line-up after being banned by the Reds for the Force game because of an incident in a Melbourne pub.

The 32-year-old world number five got off to a stuttering start with a bogey at the 11th but it was the only blemish in an otherwise sparkling round highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 16th and four straight birdies from the fourth.

“When you play with Tiger, you’re sharp mentally,” said Rose. “In the first round of the tournament it just elevates the day a little bit because he brings the crowd, he brings an atmosphere with him and I think that helps in a sense.

“It helps get you in the zone. He’s always been the perfect playing partner.

“He’s very complimentary out there and we always have a good time.

Pretty much anybody who plays with him says the same.”

Woods, who is a staggering 118-under par on Bay Hill’s par fives for his career and seven-over on all the other holes, enjoyed Rose’s company as well.

“Justin played a beautiful round of golf today,” said Woods, who went fiveunder on Bay Hill’s four par-fives in his opening round. “He had every single facet of his game working, so we had a good time out there.”

The second round took place in the early hours of this morning.

30

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport Football ‘needs a black Mourinho’

Italy’s Balotelli upstages Neymar in Brazil draw

By Tom Pilcher AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who led a walk-off in a club friendly in January after being racially abused, believes the game needs to be more multicultural.

The Ghanaian player has since decided his protest in the match against Italian fourth-tier side Pro Patria was not the right thing to do but, ahead of a meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Boateng said drastic changes were needed.

“If it’s more multi-cultural, it gets more people and more countries involved and these things can help,” former Portsmouth player Boateng was quoted as saying by the BBC this week.

“Let’s hope that soon there’s going to be a black Jose Mourinho and Pakistani Pep Guardiola,” he added in reference to Real Madrid coach Mourinho and former Barcelona manager Guardiola.

Harsher penalties are also needed for racist players, said Boateng.

“A player who does something wrong, who is racist, can never play for the club again or can never play in the country again,” he added.

Scolari still looking for first win of 2nd spell

By Brian Homewood ITALY striker Mario Balotelli left his Brazil counterpart Neymar in the shadows as he capped an inspiring performance with a majestic goal in a 2-2 international friendly draw on Thursday night.

Balotelli curled an unstoppable shot past Julio Cesar as Italy recovered from 2-0 down at halftime to deny Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari his first win since being reappointed for a second stint in November.

Neymar, 21, billed as Brazil’s great hope for the future, cleverly set up their second goal for Oscar but was not in the same class as the mercurial Balotelli.

Brazil, showing signs of a more physical approach under their 2002 World Cup-winning coach Scolari, produced flashes of flair and lots of bruising tackles as they improved on their display in last month’s 2-1 defeat by England at Wembley.

Brazil remain unbeaten against Italy since their infamous 3-2 loss at the 1982 World Cup but will be more worried about whether they can build a title-winning team in time for the 2014 tournament which they host.

Scolari saw improvements from the England performance after an end-to-end match between two teams committed to attack.

“I think we have definitely progressed. I liked the way the team performed.

We didn’t get desperate when they equalised and I thought they (Brazil’s players) did very well.”

Brazil are languishing in 18th place in the FIFA rankings but Scolari’s opposite number, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli, also saw the possibilities in Brazil’s developing side.

“I’m convinced they are a strong team with great potential,” he said. “We don’t really know how we ended up 2-0 behind but we didn’t lose our balance and we kept our heads. Our young players showed great calm.”

Italy were dominant for the opening half-hour with 22-year-old Balotelli playing a leading role.

The maverick striker had one effort stopped by Julio Cesar, another deflected wide by David Luiz and also provided a cross which Pablo Osvaldo headed wide.

Andrea Pirlo, Italy’s deeplying playmaker, was as elegant as ever, floating one ball over the Brazil defence for Christian Maggio whose effort was blocked by Julio Cesar.

Pirlo curled another effort wide and Balotelli had a rocket shot palmed away by Julio Cesar who also managed to turn aside a flicked effort by Pablo Osvaldo.

Brazil were clearly being outplayed but still found themselves two goals ahead by halftime.

Fred opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Filipe Luis’ cross found him at the far post and he side-footed first time past Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Ten minutes later, Neymar split the Italian defence with a reverse pass and Oscar flicked the ball past Buffon.

Pirlo was substituted at halftime, yet Italy quickly found themselves level.

Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when the Brazil defence failed to clear a corner and he cleverly flicked the ball in from near the penalty area with the outside of his foot.

Balotelli produced his masterstroke three minutes later to raise the roof at the Stade de Geneve and twice came close to a winner but was denied by Julio Cesar both times.

Brazil brought 2007 World Player of the Year Kaka on for the last 20 minutes but he struggled to make an impact.

THINGS THAT HURT

Italy were dominant for long spells, with 22-year-old Mario Balotelli playing a leading role

Injuries robbed me of my lethal speed, says retiring striker Owen

By Tom Pilcher

The 33-year-old, who scored 158 goals for Liverpool in 297 appearances, says he felt most at home at Anfield

MICHAEL Owen enjoyed a stellar career as a prolific striker for England and Liverpool but said he would reflect in retirement on “what might have been” had he not been robbed of his incredible speed due to injury.

Owen, who said on Tuesday he would hang up his boots at the end of the season, burst onto the scene at Liverpool as a 17-yearold and also played at Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United before signing for Stoke City last year.

Owen regularly terrorised defences with his breathtaking speed, most memorably with a stunning goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, although in the latter part of his career he has been plagued by injuries.

The 33-year-old, who

scored 40 times for England in 89 appearances, said he would look back on his long and successful career with pride.

“The second emotion that lives with me is a sense of ‘what might have been’ had injuries not robbed me of my most lethal weapon speed,” Owen wrote on his website (www.michaelowen.com) yesterday.

“Many of my highlights were early on in my career and I can only wonder what more I would have achieved had my body been able to withstand the demands that I was making of it,” added Owen, the 2001 European Player of the year.

“I was almost too quick.

I have no doubt that had I not suffered those ‘pace depriving’ injuries, I would be sat here now with a sack full of awards and a long list of records,” said Owen, who tore his hamstring

aged 19.

Owen scored 158 goals for Liverpool in 297 appearances, the club at which he said he felt “most at home.”

“Winning virtually every trophy at club level is the stuff of dreams but in amongst all that there were some incredible days,” said Owen, who won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup with Liverpool in 2001.

Owen added a first Premier League winner’s medal with United in 2010/11 and said his goal after the current season comes to a close would be to set up a management company in his name on July 1 to help young players in a career “full of pitfalls.”

“I have seen so many horror stories during my own career and have learnt plenty from my own experiences,” said Owen.

“The representation of players is an area I believe I can excel in.”

“These are the things that hurt and I think this is the right way to go. It needs to be) very strict, very hard and make it very clear. Money doesn’t really hurt, it’s not the subject that can hurt you so much.”

English football’s reputation has suffered from players being accused of racism with Chelsea’s John Terry fined £220,000 ($334,000) by the FA in September for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in October 2011.

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was fined £40,000 in December 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Italy has also had its share of bad publicity from racism.

On Monday, UEFA said Inter Milan were under investigation for their fans’ racist behaviour towards Tottenham Hotspur players in a Europa League match.

Last month Inter were also fined €50,000 ($64,600) for abuse directed at Milan’s Mario Balotelli by supporters.

FIFA has set up an AntiRacism and Discrimination Task Force to review the way the sport handles racist incidents, which have increased dramatically in recent years.

CYPRUS MAIL Saturday, March 23, 2013

31

Sport

Cyprus confident ahead of crunch clash with Switzerland

AEK Athens president arrested over owed taxes

Only a win will revive World Cup qualifying hopes

AEK Athens president Andreas Dimitrelos has been arrested over €170 million in taxes owed by the Greek top flight club, police said.

They added that the 54-yearold Dimitrelos, who was taken into custody voluntarily, testified before the public prosecutor yesterday.

AEK said the alleged offences occurred before Dimitrelos’ tenure at the club, which started last year, and said the tax arrears were being settled under a debt restructuring procedure initiated by the club under the country’s bankruptcy code.

Almost the entire first-team squad was sold last year to secure a Super League licence.

By Nemanja Bjedov THE Cyprus national football team hosts Switzerland in the fifth round of their World Cup qualifying campaign this afternoon at 6.30pm at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia.

“After watching Switzerland’s matches it is clear to us that we face the most organised team in our group.

What we need to do is to be as disciplined as possible and try to minimise our mistakes,” said Cyprus coach Nikos Nioplias.

“We will try to give them space and then hit them on the counter-attack,” Nioplias added at the pre-match press conference.

Nioplias has not called up AEL’s experienced forward Michalis Konstantinou as well as APOEL winger Efstathios Aloneftis for the clash. Konstantinou has been left out of the squad as he has only recently recovered from injury, while Aloneftis has declared himself unfit to play.

“Pieros Soteriou, Kostakis Artymatas, Marios Antoniades, Alex Konstantinou and several others are the future of Cypriot football and

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Cyprus will have to be at their best if they are to get anything out of the match with Group E leaders Switzerland in Nicosia I will continue to give them a chance throughout these qualifiers, no matter what,” concluded Nioplias.

Switzerland top Group E with 10 points from four matches, while Cyprus are rock bottom with only three points from four games, with five rounds of matches remaining.

“We are facing a team that plays football at a very high level. This match is crucial for our qualifying campaign as we are currently bottom of the group. However, we will give ourselves a chance if we can beat the Swiss,” said captain Constantinos Charalambides.

“I want to reassure you that we will all give everything we have to get the best result possible. Everyone on the team - players and coaching staff - believe that if we are as competitive as we can be, then we are capable of taking points from any team we play against,” he concluded.

Switzerland’s renowned coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has been suspended for two matches by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee after a ruling said he breached article 57 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, related to behaviour and fair play, during the qualifier against Norway last October, so he will not be able to lead

his team from the bench in either of the two upcoming matches against Cyprus.

“I do not think we are the favourites. Let me remind you that we were in the third group of seeds in the draw, behind Norway and Slovenia, but we managed to start the qualifying campaign well and we are satisfied with what we have done so far,” said Hitzfeld.

“Although we are top of the group we still have not achieved anything as the road ahead is long and difficult. Our group is very balanced in my opinion as anyone can beat anyone and this enormously complicates

the situation,” he added.

“The match against Cyprus is very important for us. The two consecutive matches we have against Cyprus we are taking one at a time.

“We are fully focused on the match in Nicosia and we are well aware of all the problems Cyprus can cause us.

“They have impressed several times so far, especially away to Italy a few years back.

“Of course, since we were drawn in the same group, we have closely watched Cyprus play and it is clear that we need to be at our best to get a result,” concluded the experienced German coach.

FIFA ‘not losing control’ of 2022 World Cup, says Blatter

By Brian Homewood

There are major concerns over the tournament being played in Qatar in extreme heat

FIFA has not lost control over the 2022 World Cup, president Sepp Blatter has said in response to ongoing controversy over whether the tournament should be staged in the European summer as planned.

Blatter reiterated that any request to change the timing of the event to cooler months would have to come from the organisers themselves.

He could not predict whether such a request would lead to a legal challenge from any of the countries who lost out to Qatar in the vote held in December 2010.

“We are not losing control with the World Cup, or 2022,” he told a news conference at FIFA headquarters.

“Concerning the 2022 World Cup, discussions started at the time when the decision was taken and then people have realised that when playing in the summer it will be difficult because it is very

hot.

“But the basic principles of the award of the World Cup were very clear and have not changed in the meantime.

“They are still the same, FIFA’s World Cup is a competition with 32 teams and 64 matches, and has to be played in June and July.

“This has never been put into question by the organisers, who have been given the responsibility.

“If there is a move it must come from Qatar, it is not relevant to the FIFA executive committee which stands by the decision taken in December 2010.”

Blatter was quoted as saying on Wednesday in Spanish sports paper As that other candidates for the 2022 tournament could mount a legal challenge if the conditions of hosting were changed.

However, FIFA said in a statement that Blatter had said: “Any request for change must come from Qatar. But they have not made this request yet, because they

know that if they do so, the other bidders could say ‘ah, there is a change’.”

Blatter told the news conference that he could not predict what would happen if Qatar asked for a change.

“I have put a question mark and that’s all but I’m not a prophet to say what will happen,” he said. “Let us be where we are and let us work on the World Cup 2014, there is enough to do for that competition, and then 2018 and then 2022.

Qatar beat Australia, South Korea, Japan and the United States in the race to host the 2022 World Cup. Organisers said that matches would be played in air-conditioned stadiums which would be dismantled after the competition and shipped to developing nations.

The debate about moving the tournament to the winter months is likely to continue until at least 2016 when a final tournament timetable must be approved by FIFA.

Israel Portugal

3 3

Croatia Serbia

2 0

Bulgaria Malta

6 0

Slovenia Iceland

1 2

Norway Albania

0 1

Andorra Turkey

0 2

Liechtenstein Latvia

1 1

Northern Ireland Russia

P P

Slovakia Lithuania

1 1

Luxembourg Azerbaijan

0 0

Czech Republic Denmark

0 3

Austria Faroe Islands

6 0

Netherlands Estonia

3 0

Hungary Romania

2 2

FYR Macedonia Belgium

0 2

Sweden Rep. of Ireland

0 0

Bosnia-Herz.

Greece

3 1

Poland Ukraine

1 3

Spain Finland

1 1

Kazakhstan Germany

0 3

France Georgia

3 1

Moldova Montenegro

0 1

San Marino England

0 8

Scotland Wales

1 2

Saturday, March 23, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

32 Serena wins first match back as world number one 29

Sport Ice Man Raikkonen makes hay while the sun shines

By John O’Brien KIMI Raikkonen carried the form that propelled him to a season-opening victory to Sepang yesterday after the Finn edged a fascinating first day of practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix in his finely balanced Lotus.

The 2007 Formula One world champion was second to Red Bull’s Mark Webber in the bone-dry morning session but forged his way to the top of the timesheets in the afternoon before the heavens opened with 30 minutes remaining of second free practice.

Raikkonen, nicknamed the ‘Ice Man’ lapped in one minute 36:569 seconds to shade the other Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel by 0.019 seconds, with a resurgent Felipe Massa (1:36.661) clocking the third fastest time of the day in his Ferrari.

Spain’s Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest in the other Ferrari, marginally ahead of Webber, who was quicker in the morning, and the second Lotus of Romain Grosjean, indicating a tight three-way tussle looms between the teams that filled the podium places in Melbourne last Sunday.

Raikkonen easily held off Alonso and Vettel at Albert Park after a poor qualifying session but on a track where he won his first Formula One grand prix in 2003, the Finn proved he was more than capable of matching the one-lap speed of his rivals.

The Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were a little off the pace but with team principal Ross Brawn hinting the cars were carrying a heavier fuel load to gauge tyre wear, they are likely to be closer to the leaders in qualifying today.

The second session was a polar opposite to the first in terms of action on the circuit as the prospect of rain forced all the cars out early

in an attempt to set timed laps on a dry surface.

Fitted with the medium tyres after using the hards in the morning, almost everyone set faster times before the first drops of rain sent the cars back to the pits before they could start their race simulations in the final half hour of the day.

A heavy shower gave drivers a chance to test their intermediate and wet tyres in anticipation of similar conditions during the race tomorrow, before a few drivers braved dry tyres in the final 10 minutes but no one improved on their times.

In first free practice, Webber topped the charts with a lap of one minute 36.935, just 0.068 seconds ahead of Raikkonen, who lost 40 minutes of the session as Lotus mechanics changed the Finn’s KERS battery following his installation lap.

World champion Vettel clocked 1:37.104, marginally ahead of Alonso, who won this race last year, and Rosberg.

Mindful of the rapid tyre wear experienced with this year’s Pirellis, all 22 drivers opted to complete installation laps at the start of the session before returning to the pits and watching the clock tick down to the final hour.

Spectators would have been disappointed to have arrived at the track and not witnessed any action after the early flurry of activity until the cars returned to the circuit to set timed laps on low fuel loads for the second 30 minutes of the session.

“We are trying to find the optimum time to run the cars but we appreciate the concerns of the fans, who want to see cars on the track,” Brawn said in a television interview.

“It may be a good idea to have a sacrificial set of tyres for us to use in practice.”

Keeping his cool: Lotus ace Kimi Raikkonen carried the form that propelled him to a season-opening victory to Malaysia

Cyprus confident ahead of crunch clash with Switzerland 31

‘WE’RE DEFYING GLOOMSTERS WHO SAID IT WOULD BECOME A DUSTY RELIC’

London Mayor Boris Johnson throws a football as West Ham players, youth team players and owners watch in front of the Olympic Stadium

West Ham to move to Olympic Stadium

By Keith Weir

L

ONDON football club West Ham United will make the Olympic Stadium their new home from 2016, ensuring that the £430 million venue remains a lasting feature of the city’s sporting landscape.

The stadium, the centerpiece of last year’s Olympics, will have a 54,000 capacity once it is converted for use by the Premier League club, who have been granted a 99-year lease.

“Through this deal with West Ham United FC, we are defying the gloomsters who predicted this landmark would become a dusty relic,” said London mayor Boris Johnson.

Finding a tenant who can regularly draw big crowds to a once forgotten corner of east London was seen as vital to ensuring the area gets lasting benefits from the billions of pounds invested in it before the Games.

West Ham were named in December as the preferred bidder to move in but Johnson warned that a “Plan B” was being developed in case financial terms could not be agreed.

One of the stumbling

Happy Hammers: how the stadium will probably look on West Ham’s match days blocks to a deal had been who would pay for the stadium to be rebuilt for football.

West Ham will contribute £15 million to conversion costs, with the local council paying £40 million. The government has agreed to pay up to £25 million if more funding is needed for the work.

The London Legacy Development Corporation, the body responsible for the stadium, has also ensured that the taxpayer benefits from any increase in value of the club if owners David Gold and David Sullivan were to decide to sell it within the next ten years.

Gold and Sullivan said yesterday they had no plans to sell the club.

The stadium stands empty at the moment but will host the world’s top athletes at a meeting at the end of July to mark the first anniversary of the London Olympics.

London authorities also plan a series of concerts over the summer to bring the stadium back to life and show that it would not be reliant solely on football for its future.

The club wants to add a new roof to keep fans dry during the winter, executive boxes and retractable seating to go over the running track to let supporters get close to the action.

The running track will remain and the stadium will host the 2017 world athletics championships.

West Ham have played at

the Boleyn Ground, better known as Upton Park, in east London since 1904.

Around three miles from the Olympic site, the ground is big on atmosphere but can only hold about 35,000 fans.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said that yesterday’s decision opens up “limitless” opportunities for the club.

Writing in his Evening Standard newspaper column, Allardyce believes the move will take the Hammers to a new level. “This is one of the biggest and most positive developments in our history,” he said. “West Ham are a traditional, community-based club with a rich past but the opportunities to create a new legacy by moving the few miles along the road to Stratford are limitless.

“By going into the Olympic Stadium, this club have an opportunity to develop and grow bigger than they’ve ever been before.”