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US first lady is dancing on TV and appearing at the Oscars all in a good cause

Ugly, grey asbestos scar on the Troodos mountains is slowly fading

TV and lifestyle supplements to see you though the week

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March 3, 2013

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COFFEESHOP: NIK’S NEW CABINET IS GLORIOUSLY PAPHITE FREE PAGE 17 INSIDE Cyprus Sarris sure of calming money laundering fears 3

World US cuts begin as compromise talks fail 8

Reportage Number crunching apps turn your life into statistics centre

Property What to do in the garden this month 23

Sport Leaders United dismiss Canaries back

Boarding ‘pens’ fury at airport Flyers complain of being left to the elements at airport’s boarding gates

By Bejay Browne

A

NGRY passengers have dubbed as ‘holding pens’ the outdoor areas at Paphos airport where they complain they are left in all weathers, sometimes for more than an hour, before boarding their flights.

“It is disgraceful that in 2013 human beings are being treated worse than animals,” said one British lady who contacted the Sunday Mail.

“Surely this is a contravention of European law to hold people for 40-90 minutes in a pen without toilet facilities?” said the woman who did not wish to be named.

According to airport operator Hermes, many airlines have used these pre-boarding gates at Paphos airport, which frustrated customers refer to as ‘holding pens’ or ‘cattle sheds’.

“The pre-boarding gates at Paphos airport are similar to many used at other international airports,” said Adamos Aspris, Hermes spokesman. “Pre-boarding gates were created at Paphos to cater for the increasing demand by airlines for speedier boarding in view of the limited turnaround times of their aircraft.”

Low cost carrier, easyJet is

one of a number of airlines currently using this boarding facility. They have also been used by Ryanair and British Airways, according to Hermes.

But numerous complaints referring to the pre-boarding gates have been made through easyJet’s Facebook page in particular.

On the Facebook page, passenger John Cook complains of waiting at the preboarding gates for over an hour.

“On our flight back to Manchester in November, the EJ flight was the last flight out of Paphos airport. Before the incoming flight had even landed, we were called to the gate, and herded outside to the sheds, where we waited over an hour to board the plane,” he said.

He said that in January the same thing happened, except it was for a shorter time, around 30 minutes. “However, it was a bitterly cold and windy night. Please, can this stop, and can you (easyJet) reinstate the buses to take us to the plane. It is already stopping people from flying with you.”

The claims have been denied by airlines.

The Sunday Mail contacted Polina Digaletos easyJet’s public relations

TURN TO PAGE 2

President Nicos Anastasiades, with members of his cabinet, paying a visit yesterday to lay wreaths at the cemetery at the Central Prisons for Greek Cypriots hung by the British during the anti-colonial struggle in the mid 1950s (Stavros Ioannides PIO)

Richard Burton finally gets Hollywood star - by Liz HOLLYWOOD legend Richard Burton has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, almost three decades after his death.

The Welsh actor’s posthumous star was placed on the famous road on Friday - Wales’ national St David’s Day celebration - next to that of Elizabeth Taylor, the movie siren he married twice.

The ceremony was held as part of celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the epic film Cleopatra, in which the two stars shared the screen for the first time.

The unveiling was attended by the couple’s

adopted daughter Maria Burton and fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen, who recalled his feelings when the glamorous couple visited the village where he grew up.

“The same beach that I built my boyhood sand castles and learned to flailingly swim, it was that same beach, that one legendary day, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor descended from the heavens, like gods from Olympus, in a helicopter ... and landed on those sands,” Sheen told the BBC. Ms Burton said: “I am very proud and very touched by this. I look at the plaque and it brings tears to my eyes.”

2 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home Paphos airport where travellers complain they can be left in outside pre-boarding areas for more than hour

Weather

Nicosia i

Superglues withdrawn

19

Troodos 14

21 Larnaca

Paphos

Limassol

21

19

TODAY: Mostly fine with cloudy patches. Temperatures will reach 19C inland and along the western coast, around 21C along the eastern and southern coasts, and 14C over higher ground.

OUTLOOK: A mixture of cloudy patches and isolated showers over Monday to Tuesday. Finer weather due on Wednesday. Temperatures set to rise then dip early in the week

YESTERDAY

Nicosia Larnaca Limassol Paphos Paralimni Prodromos

max/min temp 19 - 6 18 - 7 18 - 9 18 - 8 18 - 8 13 - 1

Humidity 44% 53% 48% 52% 50% 65%

SUNSET: 17.44 pm

SUNRISE: 06.14 am

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Fury at airport’s boarding ‘pens’ Outside boarding gates part of the quick turnaround process for many airlines (Continued from front page) office for Greece and Cyprus - who disputed allegations that passengers were left standing prior to boarding for any longer than 17 minutes at a time.

“With our 40 minutes scheduled turn time, it is obvious that none of our passengers will ‘stand’ in the holding gate for more than 15 to 17 minutes,” she said. “The stated timings are also confirmed by our ‘on-time performance’ at Paphos, which is close to 100 per cent.”

She confirmed that the use of these boarding gates was part of the ‘quick turnaround’ process used by a number of airlines - including easyJet - in order to reduce turnaround times and costs.

She also pointed out that Hermes airports designed this facility.

Aspris though stressed that the decision on whether to use the pre-boarding gate lay with the respective airline.

He said that generally passengers were not required to wait for a period longer than 30 minutes in the pre-board-

ing areas.

According to easyJet, their aircraft arrive at the designated stand at Paphos airport and depart from the stand all within 40 minutes.

As soon as the aircraft arrives at the stand, departing passengers move to the pre boarding gate.

The spokeswoman said: “Between 15 to 17 minutes after arrival at the stand, the crew will release the cabin for boarding and the flow of departing passengers to the aircraft will commence.”

SATISFACTORY According to Aspris, pedestrian operations were first introduced at Paphos airport in 2011. They have since been used by many airlines.

“These airlines inspected the mentioned facilities and found them satisfactory.

Over half a million passengers have used the facilities so far,” he said.

But many passengers want the practice stopped altogether.

Marilyn Percival, another

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unhappy recent flyer, complained to easyJet after flying back from Paphos to Gatwick on December 13, 2012.

She says her flight was called for the boarding before the inbound aircraft had landed.

“We were herded out to the pens and forced to stand until we could board about 20 minutes later. Not all of the passengers could fit under the outside cover and the terminal building was empty at the time. We had to walk to the plane. “ The customer noted that passengers who were not able to walk or stand for any length of time needed assistance to get on to the aircraft.

“People in wheelchairs were taken to the pens first, but in fact were boarded last so the able-bodied had to push past them, not a satisfactory example of good customer service by airport staff,” she said.

Digaletos said: “EasyJet do appreciate that the holding gates need certain improvements, and we have already highlighted these to Hermes Airports for further action.”

THE LABOUR ministry’s health and safety department have announced that two superglues have been withdrawn from the market after it was discovered they contained carcinogenic ingredients.

“The products were imported from countries outside the EU,” the head of the Health and Safety Department, Tasoula Kyprianidou, said. Kyprianidou said the glues had appeared recently on a list released by RAPEX, which is the EU rapid alert system. It facilitates the rapid exchange of information between member states and the Commission on measures taken to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers with the exception of food, pharmaceutical and medical devices, which are covered by other mechanisms.

“The department has begun a campaign to make sure all products have the correct ingredients detailed on them,” she added.

British Bases military exercise RESIDENTS in the area of Akrotiri have been warned they may experience inconveniences on roads close to the Akrotiri British Base, due to a military exercise which will begin on March 5 and end on March 28. They have also been warned not to be alarmed by the sounds of any explosions which might be heard.

Bomb damage THE INTERIOR of a Kato Paphos building was damaged on Friday night when a makeshift bomb went off at around 11pm.

The premises were being used as a storage space, and police yesterday were unable to say what the perpetrators’ motives were.

“All possibilities are being investigated,” Paphos police spokesman Nicos Tsapis told state broadcaster CyBC yesterday.

Fine dodgers pay up ahead of cruise DOZENS of people owing the state thousands of euros in unpaid fines were caught on a Greece-bound cruise ship moored in Limassol port, police said yesterday.

Authorities performed checks in Limassol port as part of an ongoing campaign to nab fine dodgers.

Nine people owing €1,329 paid on the spot. Police extracted assurances that 25 others who had 50 courtissued payment warrants on their name and collectively owing €21,818 would pay on their return.

Since the police announced in early January they will be checking for fine defaulters at ports of entry and exit, authorities have collected €2.75 million, though the state is still owed over €130 million in outstanding payments.

3 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

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Woman says she was cheated out of millions after land ‘We can prove once and for all that all these accusations are baseless’ compensation

Sarris confident of calming EU money-laundering fears

By Poly Pantelides

LARNACA District Court yesterday issued an eight day remand for three men in relation to defrauding millions from an elderly Turkish Cypriot woman who said she had been short-changed over her expropriated land.

Three Famagusta-based men, a 70-year-old lawyer, and two businessmen, 66 and 56, are under investigation in relation to the alleged theft of about €3.85 million, that police said yesterday was part of the woman’s compensation for a piece of land expropriated by the state.

The 83-year-old woman, who moved to the UK in 1988, agreed in 2009 to a government expropriation of land in Polemidia near Limassol, appointing a Famagustabased lawyer as her property’s administrator.

STILL WAITING But she told police on February 20 that she was still waiting for the full amount owed to her.

The woman had given the lawyer power of attorney to push forward procedures over the 37 donum piece of land police spokesman Andreas Angelides said. One donum is roughly 1,337 square metres.

Although the Central Bank had issued a cheque to her name for €6.6million, she told police that she had only received €2.75 million, Angelides said.

The rest went into the account of the 66-year-old businessman. Angelides said that other amounts moved into the 56-yearold’s account as well as into the account of a Turkish Cypriot man, 65, whom authorities are now looking for. Larnaca news agency said the Turkish Cypriot man was one of the woman’s four children.

The 83-year-old’s husband died in 2009, Larnaca news agency said.

FINANCE Minister Michalis Sarris yesterday left for Brussels where he is due to present Cyprus’ proposal on a money-laundering audit of Cyprus’ banking system during tomorrow’s Eurogroup meeting.

Sarris told the Cyprus News Agency they would propose that the Council of Europe’s Moneyval should carry out money-laundering checks, with the supervision of Cyprus’ Central Bank and - if necessary - of private experts who are “beyond any doubt”.

During last month’s Eurogroup meeting - the meeting of finance ministers in the eurozone - Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem referred to an “agreement” to appoint a private firm to assess how Cyprus’ banks comply with anti-money laundering regulation, but no official Eurogroup statement was actually issued and it is understood that no consensus was reached on the matter.

Sarris said that at Cyprus’ end, a meeting was held this Thursday to agree on an evaluation model. In addition to Sarris, present at the meeting were the recently departed former finance minister Vassos Shiarly, the central bank governor Panicos Demetriades, and the attorney general Petros Clerides.

“I believe we have reached a formula that will also satisfy those who may want a somewhat different evaluation,” Sarris said.

“In this way we can prove once and for all that all these (money laundering) accusations are baseless,” Sarris said, adding however that moving forwards would be “very difficult without

Wolfgang Schaeuble: size of Cypriot banks must be tackled resolving the matter”.

Sarris is due to have meetings today with his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schaeuble and other eurozone and European Commission top brass, including head of the Eurogroup Working Group of senior officials, Thomas Wieser.

Schaeuble said yesterday the Eurogroup would not rush into any decisions tomorrow in relation to Cyprus.

“Cypriot banks are completely oversized in relation to the country’s gross domestic product. This situation cannot continue. That’s where the problem needs to start being tackled,” he said according to an advance copy of an article due to be published in German newspaper Tagesspiegel today.

Cyprus needs 8-10 billion euros to recapitalise its banks and 7 billion to

repay loans and finance government operations. Such a rescue would increase the island’s debts to around 145 per cent of GDP, a level considered unsustainable.

European policymakers have been split over how to handle a bailout of Cyprus, with Germany and some other countries pushing for bank depositors to bear part of the cost and many other member states worried such a move will cause a bank run.

Sarris said on Friday that any talk of a haircut on deposits was ‘foolish’ and that depositors would not be made to carry part of the cost.

Schaeuble said that the Eurogroup was in close dialogue with Russia that is interested in a solution given that investors hold deposits in Cyprus’ banks and that Russia itself is a creditor to the island, he told the newspaper.

In an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF, Wieser reiterated that Cyprus’ steps to crack down on suspected money laundering will be a precondition for any outside aid but warned against blanket accusations that the country was awash with dubious funds from Russia.

He said it was unfair to suggest all Russian money there was suspect or to assume that other foreigners’ funds in Cyprus were beyond reproach.

Wieser said yesterday that a bailout agreement with Cyprus, on hold for the past eight months, needed to be reached by the end of March.

“It’s getting a bit tight,” Wieser said “The financing of Cyprus is still secured for the coming weeks and months but we have to come to a negotiating result in the course of March.”

AKEL accuses president of turnaround on privatisations PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades said yesterday employees of semi-government organisations should not worry about their jobs amid the growing prospects of privatising some semi-governmental organisations.

He was commenting on statements made by Finance Minister Michalis Sarris on Friday when he said that while many state or semi-state bodies were not in a position to be privatised, strategic investors

could be found for the telecommunications authority CyTA. Anastasiades said yesterday that the “path that the finance minister will follow has been laid” adding that he could “emphatically stress” that workers did not have to worry.

Party AKEL, now in opposition after five years in government, accused Anastasiades of fooling his constituency for votes while going back on his electoral anti-privatisation

statements.

Sarris “has stated that in the hands of the private sector, semi-governmental organisations can work with fewer employees and at a lower cost,” AKEL MP Stavros Evagorou said.

“He even went further, stating that Cyprus is not essentially a modern state since public benefit bodies still belong to it,” Evagorou said.

Sarris had said that Cyprus was one of the few countries in the world where

important and productive sectors are still in the hands of the state.

EDEK deputy Nicos Nicolaides said yesterday that it was clear from the memorandum agreement made during the previous government that if the debt was not sustainable, then privatisation would be discussed.

“Government and political parties need to address themselves to the people with clarity and honesty so that they know what will

happen to state property, which is their property, but also what our stance will be with (our lenders),” Nicolaides said.

He said EDEK is against privatising important semistate bodies, especially at a time of financial instability when electricity, telecommunications, and water access “need to be secured for all”. He was referring to CyTA, the water board, and the electricity authority which are all semi-state bodies.

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4 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Home Madeleine lookalike sighting confirmed

Helping youth fight

By Poly Pantelides

Realising your potential in the workplace in a

A LOOKALIKE of missing British girl Madeleine McCann, who disappeared aged three during a family holiday in Portugal six years ago was recently spotted in the village of Xylofagou in Famagusta, police yesterday confirmed.

“Police headquarters informed us on February 20 that a member of the public had sighted a girl, roughly aged 10, who looked like Madeleine,” Famagusta police spokesman George Economou said.

The girl was one of three children with a British family who were renting a holiday apartment in Xylofagou, Economou said. But by the time police were informed about the sighting, the family had already left their holiday home and were thought to have left the country, Economou said.

Daily newspaper Politis found out about the case this week and police yesterday confirmed the story.

“This person has looked at a lot of pictures of Madeleine on the internet and thought (the girl he saw) was the same one,” Economou said.

But when police checked in with the owner of the holiday apartment on February 20, they were told the family had left roughly two weeks earlier, Economou said.

Soon after the British couple

By Maria-Christina Doulami

Y

Photo of how Madeleine McCann would look now left the Xylofagou apartment, an arrest warrant was issued to their name after the owner of the apartment reported some items were missing, but Economou said their understanding was the family had already left the country.

Authorities have given the couple’s details to INTERPOL. A number of false sightings of Madeleine have taken place around the world, with one of the latest one being in New Zealand where a DNA investigation showed the lookalike was not Madeleine.

Madeleine went missing in early May 2007 from an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz, days before her fourth birthday.

The case received massive media attention but both British and Portuguese police were unable to find the girl and Portuguese authorities suspended their investigations in 2008.

OUTH unemployment is undoubtedly one of the greatest consequences of the economic crisis, and nowhere more so than for the hundreds of young people finishing their university degrees yet unable to find

jobs.

With the crisis challenging people to reassess their priorities, a youth foundation set up in 2007 aspires to help young people explore their potential.

IEEN, the Youth Employment and Training Foundation, was created by a group of 17 adults from different professional sectors

Volunteers repackage and sell second-hand items

and with enough experience abroad to realise that Cyprus’ youth is academically advanced compared to other EU countries, but lacks empowerment, work-related attributes and the ethics to thrive in the labour market.

Filios Savvides, president of IEEN, explained that this is a problem resulting from the post-war period in Cyprus.

“Because of the invasion,” he said, “people were more protective of their children.

They didn’t want them to go and study something that wouldn’t guarantee financial security. They usually went into the profession chosen for them and were not allowed to decide freely for themselves. They therefore had no aspirations for excelling or for professional development.”

IEEN, a registered charity since 2008, believes that young people should begin their training young - ideally while still at school and acts as a link between employers and the young.

Combatting clientelism and nepotism in the workplace is a major focus.

There are currently ten adult volunteers helping to organise various projects and events that involve

young people.

The biggest of these is Second Life.

Inspired by Tigadoo (a Nicosia-based eco-friendly children’s products and services provider) and in collaboration with IEEN, the project aims to change consumer habits and the negative perception that surrounds second-hand objects.

Aude-Marie Auphan, owner of Tigadoo and volunteer at IEEN explained that the project aims at involving young students as volunteers who collect books, toys, clothes and accessories in good condition, clean them up and if needed re-package them, put them on display to be bought and given a second life. All proceeds are given to charities.

SECOND HAND Both Auphan and Savvides referred to the negative perception that second-hand items have in Cyprus.

Savvides said that “people feel that buying secondhand is something beneath them, like it is something only poor people would do.

But that is not the case.”

“The idea is to raise awareness,” said Auphan, “to

5 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

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the crisis creative, ethical way produce less waste and to change the habits we have as consumers.”

It is also about giving young volunteers a different perspective on consumerism and teaching them sustainability and how to become more environmentally friendly in their habits.

“Second Life is not aiming to create a revolution,” Auphan said, “just an evolution. This is the best time to ask ourselves about our consumer habits and change them.”

“The crisis is allowing people to rethink their priorities”, said Savvides, “and in Cyprus people need to reassess their fluidity. They need to understand that just because they are high-income families now, this doesn’t mean that will always be the case. Parents should teach their children to be flexible, as well as other attributes that come along with that sensitivity to others, responsibility etc.”

The Second Life project collaborates with four Nicosia-based private schools - American Academy, Highgate Private School, the American International School, and the Ecole Franco-Chypriote.

Other schools (as well as

other businesses and organisations) have shown an interest and the organisers are hoping to expand it as much as possible.

Second Life organised its first “One Day Boutique” of second-hand children’s items last October, with young volunteers joining forces with the elderly members of the Materia Nursing and Rehabilitation Unit, in order to prepare the secondhand items on sale.

All profits from the event were donated to 12 charities that are each focusing on a specific target group.

The success and the positive reception have led the organisers to establish it as an annual event.

SELF-CONFIDENCE Volunteers participating in the project and other IEEN events are as young as 12 years old and as old as 26.

“IEEN is open to anyone who feels young and uncertain,” Savvides said, adding that IEEN encourages young people to participate in a range of activities that will stimulate self-confidence and social responsibility, and will enable independence and self-reliance.

It even hosts a mentoring

A Second Life display held last October. The organisation works with private schools and all proceeds go to charity and work placement programme where young people can talk to professionals about professions they are interested in.

Auphan said “IEEN is about opening the doors to become curious, so that they are in a position to make their own choices and feel satisfied with them”.

“Business doesn’t mean making money,” added Savvides. “Young people need

to realise there is more to life and they need to be independent and self-sufficient enough to be happy.”

The aim is to avoid the overqualified symptom in Cyprus which leads so many young people to depression because they can’t find a job in their field. If they know what the potential of their chosen profession are, they will be more prepared when entering the labour force

and most importantly, according to Savvides, will become more flexible and better able to respond to the changes in their lives, and even reinvent themselves in times of crisis.

IEEN hopes to have its physical premises available before mid-2013. The charity’s base will host the offices, as well as seminar/workshop rooms.

IEEN operates exclusively

on volunteerism. It receives small funds from various EU and national youth programmes distributed by the Cyprus Youth Board. It is a grassroots charity, encouraging youth to present and indulge in their ideas and to develop a critical approach to life.

For more info on IEEN and Second Life visit www.ieen. org, info@ieen.org.cy, as well as on Facebook.

6 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

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Fresh holiday home appeal for wounded military personnel

By Bejay Browne DUE to a massive increase in applications from wounded and retired British military personnel who wish to holiday in Cyprus, scheme coordinators are desperate for the use of more Paphos properties.

M.A.R.C.H (Military and Retired Cyprus Holidays for Heroes) was set up in Paphos by former British serviceman Alan Wilson. Properties used for the scheme are donated to M.A.R.C.H by the owners for free.

According to Wilson 45 applications have already been made to M.A.R.C.H in recent weeks. This number is already close to the entire number, 60, who used the scheme last year.

Wilson said: “Many of the applications for the free holiday accommodation have come from paraplegics, tetraplegics, double and triple amputees and the blind. We try not to turn anyone away and we would love to be able to accommodate them all. We desperately need homeowners to help.”

M.A.R.C.H currently has the use of around 35 properties and Wilson stressed: “We need to get as many as we possibly can.”

The first guest this year is due to arrive in early March; he is a double amputee and has lost both legs below the knees.

Other service men and women accompanied by their families already booked to visit Paphos this year include a triple amputee and many others with serious injuries.

NO FINANCIAL AID Wilson explained that some guests are still serving as members of the military and others are retired. M.A.R.C.H is currently solely run by donations and fundraising and doesn’t receive any financial aid. In addition, the organisation is on the lookout for a new fundraising coordinator as the present one is leaving Cyprus.

Wilson said: “We need someone who has the ability to coordinate fundraising events.”

Wilson said the scheme was only able to operate last year thanks to the many organisations and individuals who put on fundraising events and those who made donations.

These included Stage One Theatre group, singing group the Paphos Zingers and the Anglican church of Paphos. In addition, individuals arranged quiz nights, film nights, a dog show and many other events.

“Without their help we could not provide our guests with necessities like the mini bus service, welcome packs on arrival and utilities such as electricity supply and laundry services,” said Wilson. “We also have to thank the owners who generously donate their homes.”

The organisation is run and operated solely by volunteers who perform all of the necessary tasks involved, including the airport run to collect and drop off guests and their families; they also undertake the cleaning of the properties.”

“We have the greatest number of injured and amputees coming this year that we have ever had, and we are desperate for caring people to donate suitable properties to us which we can use for a one or two week period,” said Wilson.

For further information visit www.march-cy.org or contact Alan Wilson on 99850355

E-government keeping public informed THE government has set-up a special online service called ‘Inform Me’ which will help civil servants and members of local government keep members of the public up-to-date with news from the public sector.

Visitors can sign up as a member and by specifying their interests can receive relevant material via their email. A message on the site clearly states, “The state closer to its citizens” and “complete and accurate information for everyone about everything”. visit www.kepa.gov.cy/em/

An asbestos scar is slowly fading Re-landscaping of Amiantos mine a long time coming

By Peter Stevenson NTIL the 1990s, the pretty drive up to the Troodos mountains was always marred by the grey, barren hillside scar at Amiantos, the price of 84 years of asbestos mining there.

Even now, 21 years after the state first announced plans to reforest the area, the damage caused to the landscape is clearly visible.

The asbestos mine in Amiantos opened in 1904 and closed in 1988 after financial difficulties, and by 1992 its licence was revoked. It is estimated that in the 1930s around 6,000 people were employed there.

State-funded rejuvenation works, which began in 1994, have not been sufficiently generous to fully restore the area, so a large chunk of the project has been financed by the European Economic Area (EEA) grant fund.

Last month a further agreement was signed between the planning bureau

U

and the forestry department for the financing of a biodiversity conservation project. The EEA grants will provide 84.3 per cent of the total project budget of €1.35 million, with the government contributing the rest.

Chief Forest Officer, Marios Christodoulou said the project aimed to establish at the lowest possible cost, a stable, self-maintained forest ecosystem with features similar to that of the neighbouring forest.

“This will then help to cover certain exposed surfaces that are potential sources of asbestos fibres being released into the air, to conserve catchment and to restore the initial potential uses of the area and its aesthetic and other environmental values as much as possible,” he said.

He explained that the project will begin with the appointment of the project management team, which will require two experts, one in hydro-seeding and a second in mine restoration

who will evaluate current restoration techniques, train personnel and submit technical reports. They will help evaluate and improve the current mine restoration techniques.

BIODIVERSITY Christodoulou added that a biodiversity workshop will be organised in the second year during which experts from different fields will present practical ways for integrating wildlife.

Plans are in place for an artificial pond with a capacity of between 30 and 40 thousand cubic metres to be created to meet irrigation, aesthetic and wildlife needs in the landscaping of the mine core. Some direct measures to favour wildlife are also planned such as the installation of artificial bird nests, provision of water and feeding points, improvement of bat refuges and the construction of stonewalls.

The restoration of an area of 14 hectares around the mine core is planned. This

includes the stabilisation and reshaping of waste heaps, transporting and covering it with natural topsoil, ground preparation, planting and sowing.

The dangerous nature of asbestos makes mine restoration even more pressing, said Christodoulou.

“The surface of the mine is occupied by asbestos wastes and rock fronts, which are potential sources of air-born asbestos fibres, and therefore they should be covered to reduce fibres being released in the air,” he explained.

“The mine is also part of the Troodos National Forest Park with the highest recreational and tourist value on the island. It is also part of a very important watershed, which flows into the biggest water dam in Cyprus, whose water is used mostly for domestic purposes,” he said.

When work finally began on the rehabilitation project in 1994, the main focus was to ensure harmful minerals were no longer released into the atmosphere.

No time target was set even

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7 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

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Clockwise from top left: the asbestos mine before work started in 1995, and the same area today after reforestation.

Robinia Pseudoacacia or Black Locust - an invasive species of tree which will not be planted again.

The central crater where a pond will be constructed

though it was highly desirable to complete the task the soonest possible according to Christodoulou.

“With the knowledge that asbestos is unsafe, our first efforts were to make sure no harm could come to the public first and then to the environment,” he said.

“Bearing that in mind, initial work that was carried out ensured people’s safety, first and foremost.”

COMMITMENT It was also a political commitment to neighbouring communities, to give first priority to the stabilisation of waste tips. These, under certain circumstances could endanger lives and properties downstream, especially at the village of Amiantos situated only one kilometre from the lower edge of the mine.

The rehabilitation programme is progressing well according to Christodoulou who said roughly 125 hectares has already been reforested.

He explained that there are some major problems that management has to deal with in the near future though.

“Plant germinability and growth on steep sites is not sufficient and in many cases this contributes to continuous erosion and further decline of the site’s fertility,” he said. The total volume of topsoil required for the whole mine is huge, two million cubic metres, and it is questionable if such a quantity can be found in the next 10-15 years at a reasonable cost, he said.

“Unfortunately no evaluation of the success of certain reforestation and re-vegetation techniques was made, making the cost too high,” Christodoulou said.

One major addition to the area over the last ten years has been the Botanical Garden situated on the borders of the old asbestos mine of Amiantos, just a short drive off the main Nicosia-Troodos road.

The garden, named after the Anastasios G Leventis Foundation for their financial contribution to the project, has proved a popu-

lar tourist attraction.

“The main objectives of the Troodos Botanical Garden are to contribute to environmental education and enlightening of the public, by providing opportunities for recreation, research on flora and plant communities and the preservation and protection of endangered plants species,” Christodoulou said.

The garden includes both indigenous and selected exotic and cultivated plants of the region. When finished, the garden will host around 500 different plant species.

8 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World Chavez receiving ‘tougher’ treatment VENEZUELA’S ailing President Hugo Chavez has been undergoing “tougher” new treatment for cancer including chemotherapy at the military hospital where he has been for the last two weeks, his vice-president stated.

Speaking late on Friday after a Catholic Mass to pray for Chavez’s health, Nicolas Maduro described how the socialist president had personally given the order to leave Cuba in mid-February, two months after his latest cancer surgery there.

“He said ‘I’ve taken the decision to return to Venezuela, I’m going to enter a new phase of complementary treatments, tougher and more intense, I want to be in Caracas,’” Maduro said.

“Do you know what the complementary treatments are? They are the chemotherapies applied to patients after operations,” he added, standing outside a chapel in the Caracas military hospital.

Apart from one set of photos showing Chavez in a Havana hospital bed, he has not been seen nor heard from in public since December 11 surgery in Cuba, his fourth operation since the disease was detected in mid-2011.

Chavez supporters wave a banner with a portrait of him

WORLD TODAY Last rallies before Kenya elections

US President Obama speaks to the media about sequestration at the White House in Washington on Friday

(AFP)

US spending cuts begin as compromise bid fails PRESIDENT Barack Obama reluctantly set in motion huge spending cuts that will hit the US military and an array of other programmes yesterday, after he and Republican opponents failed to reach a compromise that would have blocked the 85-billion-dollar (£56bn) move.

The cuts are designed to whittle away at America’s enormous debt, but could threaten its still-weak economy.

Both Obama and the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate declared themselves still deadlocked after an 11th-hour White House meeting on Friday night.

The two sides are at odds over the president’s insistence on increasing taxes as part of any plan for attacking the

Obama: Let’s be clear.

None of this is necessary country’s 16.6-trillion-dollar (£11-trillion) indebtedness.

Obama signed an order authorising the cuts, officially enacting the reductions.

Under the law, he had until midnight.

He and the Republican leadership have been battling over that issue since the opposition party regained a majority in the House more than two years ago.

The crude, across-theboard budget cuts were conceived in 2011 to be so unattractive that both sides would be forced to find a better deal. But that has proved impossible despite two years

to find a compromise.

The 85-billion-dollar cuts apply to the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year, which ends on September 30. But the legislation that requires the reduction will continue slashing government spending by about one trillion dollars more over a 10-year period.

“Let’s be clear. None of this is necessary,” the president said after the White House meeting. “It’s a choice Republicans in Congress have made” to avoid closing tax loopholes that benefit the wealthy.

He said “the pain will be real” for the American people, but added that the cuts

were not “the apocalypse, they’re just dumb”.

Republican John Boehner, speaker of the House, walked out of the meeting to say there would be no compromise as long as Obama insisted on higher tax revenue.

Republicans are standing fast against further increasing taxes and will not compromise on achieving debt reduction through spending cuts alone.

The opposition party is still feeling the sting from its most conservative members after agreeing at the end of 2012 to allow the ending of Bush-era tax cuts for Americans earning 400,000 dollars (£265,000) or more a year.

Friday night’s meeting was the first the two sides have held this year on the budget battle - and it lasted less than an hour.

KENYA’S top two presidential candidates are holding their final rally before the country votes tomorrow.

Thousands of people gathered yesterday at two different Nairobi locations to hear deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta and prime minister Raila Odinga speak.

The campaigns were upended yesterday after the Financial Times quoted Odinga as saying his rivals are planning to rig the election and that the consequences of a rigging “may be worse than the last time”.

More than 1,000 people were killed in postelection violence after Kenya’s 2007 vote.

A statement from Odinga said the candidate denied talking about violence in the interview and said he felt “absolutely slandered” by the story.

Kenyatta’s camp condemned the interview and called Odinga’s quoted words “dangerous and inflammatory”.

Boys killed by NATO forces NATO forces accidentally shot dead two boys during an operation in Afghanistan’s south, the alliance said yesterday, in the latest in a series of incidents involving allegations of civilian deaths at the hands of international troops.

The shooting in the southern province of Uruzgan could further strain the relationship between the NATO-led International Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has demanded U.S. Special Forces leave another province over allegations of torture.

The two boys were shot dead when they were mistaken for insurgents during an operation in the northwest of Uruzgan on February 28, ISAF commander, US General Joseph Dunford, stated.

Thai bomb SUSPECTED insurgents detonated a motorcycle bomb in southern Thailand yesterday, killing two military rangers and wounding 11 people, the second serious attack in as many days after one of the Muslim rebel groups operating in the area agreed to hold peace talks.

The blast on a road in Yala province, in which two civilians were among the wounded, followed a similar motorcycle bombing in neighbouring Narathiwat province on Friday that wounded six people.

9 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

World Grillo lists conditions to offer govt. backing

Moscow rallies in support of US adoption ban Protesters call for better care for orphans

By Sonia Elks and Steve Gutterman THOUSANDS of people marched through Moscow yesterday in an orderly show of support for a ban on adoptions of Russian children by Americans, echoing President Vladimir Putin’s demands for better care for Russian orphans in their homeland.

Carrying signs with slogans including “Children are our future” and “America - hands off our children”, activists mixed bitter criticism of the United States with calls for improvements in Russia’s

own care system.

“These children are ours. We shouldn’t give them away,” said Natalya Bakhinova, 56, walking in one of two columns led by marching bands that converged in Moscow’s Pushkin Square.

Police said 12,000 people joined the rally, and organisers denied allegations some were coerced or paid to attend.

Moscow has seized on the death of Russian-born threeyear-old Max Shatto - who died in January in Texas, where his adoptive parents live - as justification for the ban that has increased tensions with the United States.

After improvements under a “reset” President Barack Obama initiated in 2009, ties have been strained by Syria and issues including Putin’s charges of US meddling and his treatment of opponents since he returned to Russia’s presidency last May. Activists yesterday called for Max Shatto’s younger brother Kris to be taken from the family and returned to Russia.

A few held photos of Max Shatto, bearing his Russian name Maxim Kuzmin, and of other Russian-born children who have died in the care of their adoptive American parents.

A man walks with his child, as activists from pro-Kremlin children’s advocacy groups march through Moscow Some Russian officials have suggested Max Shatto died as a result of abuse and lawmakers appealed to US Congress last month to help return Kris, born Kirill Kuzmin, to Russia.

Texas authorities ruled the death an accident on Friday, saying he died from a torn abdominal artery and had bruises consistent with injuring himself.

Kerry message to Egypt: concensus required to secure IMF deal U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will stress the importance Egypt achieves political consensus for painful economic reforms needed to secure an IMF loan, a senior U.S. official said yesterday.

Kerry arrived in Egypt on his first visit to the Arab world since taking office

for talks with the leaders of a country mired in political and economic crisis two years after the overthrow of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

With Egypt’s pound and foreign currency reserves sliding, the official said if Cairo could agree on a $4.8-billion loan from the IMF, this would bring in other

funds from the United States, European Union and Arab countries. However, the official said the US believed Egypt needed to increase tax revenues and reduce energy subsidies.

“His basic message is it’s very important to the new Egypt for there to be a firm economic foundation,” the official

told reporters as Kerry flew to Cairo.

“In order for there to be agreement on doing the kinds of economic reforms that would be required under an IMF deal, there has to be a basic political ... agreement among all of the various players in Egypt,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

THE 5-Star Movement that emerged as Italy’s largest party after a deadlocked election might support a government if it changed electoral law, cut politicians’ expenses and set a two-term limit for parliamentarians, its leader has told a magazine.

Parties have been wrangling over how to form a government as neither 5-Star, the centre-left group led

by Democratic Party (PD) leader Pier Luigi Bersani nor the centre-right group led

by People of Freedom (PDL) party head Silvio Berlusconi won full control of parliament in this week’s vote.

“If Bersani’s PD and Berlusconi’s PDL suggest an immediate change in the electoral law, cancellation of election expenses reimbursement, and a maximum of two terms for any deputies - we would of course support such a government immediately,” comic Beppe Grillo told German magazine Focus in an interview published yesterday.

“But they won’t do that.

They are just bluffing to win time,” Grillo added. “If we get into parliament we would bring the old system down, not because we would enjoy doing so, but because the system is rotten.”

NEXT WEEK IN YOUR BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION VACANCY

SundayMail

LEIV CONSULAR ASSISTANT Full Time 1 Year Fixed Term Contract

SPECIAL REPORT: Private Education

The British High Commission would like to recruit an LEIV Consular Assistant on a fixed term of 1 year, in support of its consular operation on the island. The successful applicant will need to have good interpersonal and customer service skills to provide consular services to British Nationals both on holiday and resident in Cyprus. They will need to be resilient and tactful when dealing with potentially difficult and distressing consular cases. They will also be responsible for the preparation of Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) and for organising outreach sessions and citizenship ceremonies. Other administrative duties include preparing prisoner packs, dealing with hospitalisation cases and other general consular support assistance.

This is a responsible and demanding job, especially in the peak summer season.

Although previous consular experience is not essential - as full training will be given, a successful track record in dealing with members of the public would be an advantage.

Hours will be 36.25 hours per week. The salary is €1,252 monthly. The successful applicant will need to undergo security clearance procedures.

The key skills required are: Excellent command of both spoken and written English Strong administration skills Customer Service Skills Organisational/team skills (ability to work under pressure and as part of a team) Self-motivation and initiative Full Driving Licence The interview will be competency based and these are; delivering results, customer focus, working with others, communicating and learning and developing.

Interviews will be held during the week beginning 25th March 2013. To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to nicosia.consular@fco.gov.uk by 17:00 on Wednesday 20th March 2013. Applications received after this time will not be considered. Please note that only those applicants who are invited to interview will receive a response to their application.

A look at private schools on the island from kindergarten to university level

10 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World

Michelle’s spotlight is put to good use But critics accuse US first lady of ‘unbecoming frivolity’

By Deborah Charles

U

S FIRST lady Michelle Obama knows she has star power, and she has used it for four years to champion her causes of fighting childhood obesity and helping military families.

But now that she has successfully made it through the last political campaign for her husband, President Barack Obama, the first lady is also having fun with her popularity - raising questions over whether she has gone too far in becoming a pop culture icon.

Her surprise appearance at the Academy Awards - where she was beamed in from the White House dressed in a sparkling evening gown to announce the Best Picture award - provided ammunition for her critics.

The first lady has enjoyed a steady positive approval rating over the past four years, even at times when her husband sank in the polls.

But the Oscar appearance coming on the heels of the “mom dance” that she did with late night comedian Jimmy Fallon, which quickly went viral on the internet - sparked a debate on the proper role of a first lady.

Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy, who often writes about minority issues, described Obama’s Oscar appearance as “unbecoming frivolity” and urged the first lady to “raise her game” and take up a more expanded role in the second term championing more serious causes.

“Enough with the broccoli and Brussels sprouts,” Milloy wrote this week in the Washington Post.

“Where is that intellectually gifted Princeton graduate, the Harvardeducated lawyer and mentor to the man who would become the first African American president of the United States?”

His column sparked hundreds of comments, ranging from people who thought Obama was doing a great job raising awareness about the childhood obesity problem to others who thought she was trying too hard to be like a Hollywood star.

The first lady said she was not surprised by the controversy over

her Oscars appearance, but said she would use all forms of media to get out her message and would reach out to all demographics including filmmakers who could help with her efforts to introduce children to arts and culture.

“Anyone in this position has a huge spotlight,” Obama told a small group of reporters travelling with her on a three-city tour to promote her Let’s Move programme to fight childhood obesity.

“We’ve always thought about that spotlight. And taking it, while it’s looking at you, to stand in front of something good so it shines on that too,” Obama said, before jumping and dancing with more than 6,500 kids gathered in Chicago to highlight the importance of daily exercise.

Obama gained much of her popularity because Americans could relate to her, whether she was recounting stories of struggling to pay student loans early in her marriage with President Obama or talking about the difficulties of raising daughters Sasha and Malia on her own in Chicago while her husband worked as a US senator in Washington.

As she travels about the country championing the Let’s Move programme, she talks of how she was forced into rethinking her daughters’ eating habits several years ago after their pediatrician warned that they could be on the road to becoming overweight.

She said the Obama administration was the first to face such intense media scrutiny - from 24hour news cycles to Twitter to innumerable blogs - so it was just inevitable that there was more of a focus on everything she does.

Her programmes have shown some progress, with healthier school lunches now being served across the country and childhood obesity rates dropping in some states like Mississippi.

But should Obama be dancing on TV with a comedian dressed in drag or stunning 40 million viewers and the actors attending the Academy Awards?

“You don’t really have a job description as first lady. And you’re held up to this standard where it’s impossible to please everyone all the time,” said Anita McBride,

Clockwise from top: Michelle Obama in the ‘mom dance’ with comedian Jimmy Fallon, announcing the Best Picture at the Oscars and championing the Let’s Move programme for children in Chicago this week former chief of staff to Laura Bush when she was first lady.

“I wouldn’t say this has crossed the line. But coming on the heels of the very popular ‘Mom Dance’ ... It’s saturating. You have to say - how much is too much?,” said McBride.

Although the second Obama administration has only just begun, the first lady said she was aware that time was short for her to have an impact.

She said she planned to keep working on her two main projects - Let’s Move and the Joining Forces military families programme but was also trying to decide what other causes she might champion in the next four years.

She said in the coming weeks she would decide what to pursue, but it would certainly focus on kids. Obama said she might begin to get more involved in the international arena but it would have to dovetail with her domestic projects.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, in Chicago with Obama to announce a new public-private partnership to help kids get 60 minutes of exercise a day, said when the first lady was involved

in a cause it added weight to the programme.

“I think having the first lady leading that effort - as the momin-chief, as she’s called - I think that can be really, really powerful,” he said. “She is beloved, she

Bling comes to smartphones as makers target China’s wealthy

By Lee Chyen Yee FANCY a smartphone with a sapphire crystal screen, or one encrusted with precious stones?

Taking aim at consumers with deep pockets, Vertu - a former unit of Finland’s Nokia Oyj - is among just a few of the companies that have come up with niche handsets with swanky features to help customers stand out from crowds of more plebeian phones.

Vertu, whose phones are said by the media to be popular with celebrities like Madonna and David Beckham, rolled out the leatherclad TI (pictured right) in Hong Kong on Friday.

Costing as much as HK$167,000 ($21,410), the TI - which is cased in titanium - runs Google’s Android operating system and has

a ruby key for access to concierge services.

“It’s not selling a phone. It’s selling a lifestyle for Vertu, so there will be people who get hooked to it, especially for people who want to feel privileged,” said Teck Zhung Wong, an IDC analyst in Singapore.

With the demand for smartphones rising sharply globally, traditional makers of networking and connectivity equipment have been hoping to bank on the booming market.

Major markets for luxury phones include China, Japan, Russia and the United States, Euromonitor said.

In China, the world’s largest mobile phone market, the market size for luxury phones alone is expected to grow to 1.64 billion yuan ($260 million) in 2017, up nearly 60 per cent from 1.05 billion yuan in 2012.

The TI joins earlier Vertu offerings, such as

a handset created with French jeweler Boucheron that is made from gold and encrusted with precious stones.

While not as heavy on the bling, Russia’s Yota Devices will also plunge into the Asian smartphone fray with the YotaPhone, which has an LCD screen on one side and an e-reader display on the other, he e in the hopes of appealing to readers on the road.

“If you look at the big brands, in the last six years, there was not much innovation in the user experience space,” Vlad Martynov, CEO of Yota Devices, told Reuters in Hong Kong.

Yota plans to launch the phone in the third quarter in Russia initially and to global markets after that, with pricing not yet set but likely to run to several hundred US dollars.

is respected and I think people will pay attention.”

A 2007 study said only four per cent of elementary schools and eight per cent of middle schools provide daily physical education courses for the entire school year.

11 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

News Review Nicos in centre CYPRUS’ problems are far from over, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Sunday, as he pledged to conclude a bailout agreement as soon as possible in a bid to put the island back on the path of stability and growth.

Speaking to his supporters after cruising to victory in Sunday’s run-off vote, the DISY leader sought to unite Cypriots in the face of adversity.

The 66-year-old lawyer took 57.48 per cent of the vote, 15 points ahead of his anti-austerity AKEL-backed rival Stavros Malas.

A group of demonstrators gathered at the presidential palace on Wednesday night to ‘see off’ President Christofias and to pay tribute to the 13 victims of the Mari explosion (Christos Theodorides)

No defeat THE MOOD may have been sombre at the Stavros Malas campaign headquarters on Sunday night but the AKEL top brass were quietly relieved that the outgoing ruling party survived the global and national economic downturn relatively unscathed.

The campaign team may have been disappointed but by all accounts, Malas, the political newcomer, did well with his 42.52 per cent of the vote.

Considering Greece’s socialist party PASOK imploded after ruling during the economic crisis, as did other European parties recently, AKEL sources said that they feel that the party came out relatively unscathed.

‘Horsemeat’ balls CYPRUS was one of 13 countries from which Swedish giant IKEA halted sales of its trademark Swedish meatballs after tests in the Czech Republic on Tuesday showed the product contained horsemeat.

IKEA, the world’s No. 1 furniture retailer and known also for its signature cafeterias in its huge out-of-town stores, said it had stopped sales of all meatballs from a batch implicated in the Czech tests.

Tax collection The Inland Revenue Department on Tuesday announced a 20 per cent increase in tax collections for January compared to the same month the year before.

The €40.5 million increase is mainly due to a 47 per cent increase in revenue from the special contribution to the defence fund and a 28 per cent increase in company tax revenues.

Poor elderly PERSONS aged 65 or older in Cyprus were at a higher risk of poverty

Island’s new president moves in to the palace A 66-yearold Limassol resident was buried in a private field on a site earmarked for a cemetery by the Old Calendarists

or social exclusion than in any other eurozone member-state in 2011, the European Commission’s statistical services, Eurostat, said on Tuesday.

In the rest of the bloc, only Bulgaria, at 61.1 per cent, posed a higher risk for the elderly in 2011.

Drug ring THE DRUG squad believe they have broken up a drug-ring after two customs officials, aged 58 and 53, were arrested on Monday afternoon, police said on Tuesday. The arrests came after German authorities were tipped off by Dutch authorities, and found more than 12 kilos of cannabis at a courier’s in Frankfurt on February 2

QUOTES OF THE WEEK “We want Europe on our side. We will be absolutely consistent and meet all our obligations. Cyprus belongs in Europe” President Nicos Anastasiades “I appeal to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, and send a message of peace, friendship and sincere intention to seek a solution that will lead to a modern and European homeland” p Anastasiades

“I want to be absolutely clear.

Absolutely no reference to a haircut on public debt or deposits will be tolerated. Such an issue isn’t even up for discussion.

We do not ask for special treatment, only for fair treatment” Anastasiades “I think this was the best Malas could achieve under the circumstances, given the deep economic crisis and the Mari e incident” in Political analyst Christoforos P Christoforou C ““It’s true, foreigners are more positively disposed toward p Anastasiades. But it’s the nittyA gritty that counts” g Political commentator Louis P Igoumenides Ig ““Christofias you are leaving with your head held high but you’re y leaving exposed! The 13 demand justice,” Banner held by relatives of the 13 soldiers and sailors killed in the Mari blast outk side the Palace this week s

“I still think that living in Peyia is much safer than living in the UK, but we all have to be more careful than we used to be. I don’t leave my doors or windows open and I don’t answer the door after dark” Peyia resident, Betty Smith “If one sought to find the big mistakes committed for us to arrive where we are, they are essentially two: the excessive zeal to show solidarity beyond our capabilities to another eurozone country. The other (mistake) is that for consecutive years now we have created excessive public deficits, that have accumulated and reached the point where we can no longer take them” Former finance minister Vassos Shiarly “I thought I had put in enough work to justify my re-appointment.

But the decision has been taken” Former environment commissioner Charalambos Theopemptou “I will love her until the end of my life” Demetris Christofias speaking about his wife Elsi (left)

destined for Cyprus. The drugs would have a street value going on €400,000 on the island.

All-male cabinet PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades on Wednesday announced his cabinet, which included a couple of new faces but no women, which resulted in some criticism.

Anastasiades has also announced plans to create several junior minister positions, a move that will require new laws before it can be implemented.

Familiar faces included Ioannis Kasoulides as foreign minister and Michalis Sarris as finance minister.

Other appointments included Socratis Hasikos as interior minister.

In all, DIKO got four ministries and EVROKO one, with the rest going to DISY members.

the last week despite Peyia having a neighbourhood watch scheme.

Thousands of euros worth of jewellery, laptops and other electrical equipment have been taken from properties in recent days.

‘National pride’ THE SEVENTH president of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades pledged on Thursday to do all he could to put a near-bankrupt country back on its feet and to restore a sense of national pride.

With the confirmation address broadcast live from the House, Anastasiades sounded a note of caution that tackling the nation’s economic woes would be no simple task. Much of his speech expectedly focused on the upcoming talks with Cyprus’ international lenders and the obstacles so far to concluding a bailout deal.

Burial dilemma Fine success FINDING themselves on the wrong side of the law after burying their father in a private field, the family of an Old Calendarist – a group that separated from the Orthodox Church in 1924 – were shocked to hear on Wednesday they might have to exhume their father’s remains.

A 66-year-old Limassol resident was buried in a private field last week, on a site earmarked for a future cemetery by the Old Calendarists, who split from the Orthodox Church when the latter adopted a form of the Gregorian calendar, rather than sticking with the old Julian calendar.

The interior ministry’s permanent secretary Andreas Assiotis said the family had violated the legislation on burials.

Peyia warning RESIDENTS and home owners in Peyia in Paphos are being encouraged to install added security measures to try to curb burglaries in the district.

The warning comes in the wake of a spate of burglaries in the area in

POLICE ARE looking at ways to expand the methods used to “encourage” citizens to pay their debts to the state, following the successful and ongoing campaign targeting debtors at the island’s airports.

Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said on Thursday that the decision to target those who haven’t paid fines by stopping them at airports has led to a deluge of offers from offenders seeking to pay their outstanding debts.

Since the new campaign started on January 7, 2013, police have collected €2,750,000 to settle 8,000 warrants from the 155,000-odd still pending.

Teenage tenor A YOUNG Cypriot tenor has been invited by the world-famous Spanish tenor and conductor Placido Domingo to sing in this year’s Europa Nostra awards in Athens.

On the initiative of EU Education and Culture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, the pupil Giorgos Ioannou had an audition with Domingo in Vienna last week.

12 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion It’s unfair if the EU makes us pay for AKEL’s lies TALK ABOUT a possible haircut of deposits of Cypriot banks has become a very fashionable topic of debate among EU officials and politicians. A day rarely seems to go by without someone making a statement on the matter or a leaked document about the EU Commission’s options being published in a newspaper.

On Wednesday a European Central Bank official, speaking on the future of the eurozone, did not rule out the possibility of a haircut on deposits in excess of €100,000 so that Cyprus’ debt is reduced to a manageable level. On Friday, the German daily Die Welt, quoting a confidential European Commission report, said the haircut was one of three options with regard to the Cyprus rescue package. In this way, the cost of the bailout would be more fairly shared and not just footed by EU taxpayers, some argued.

Our EU partners are proposing a political solution to what is unarguably an economic problem.

A haircut of deposits would satisfy

public opinion in several northern European countries, where politicians and the media have been protesting that their taxpayers’ money would be used to protect the bank deposits of Russian oligarchs and money-launderers.

This explains talk about the cost of the bailout being more fairly shared.

But all that a bail-in of depositors would achieve would be to create the impression of a fairer distribution of the cost, because by the time a decision is taken by the EU authorities the Russians would have transferred their money to banks in other countries. In fact, this is already happening. According to the Central Bank, deposits reached their lowest level in three years in January with an outflow of €1.73 billion. February’s withdrawals were probably much higher, given the prevalence of reports about a haircut.

This political solution may satisfy the German taxpayer, but apart from dealing a fatal blow to the Cyprus banking system and the

SundayMail Cyprus economy, it could cause financial instability in eurozone.

The markets could well start betting on which eurozone country would be next in line for a deposits’ haircut. It might not come to this, but once such a decision has been taken there is no guarantee that contagion would be avoided.

There is of course an economic solution to the issue of debt sustainability which has sparked all the talk of a haircut. There should be a fair and balanced assessment of the re-capitalisation needs of the Cypriot banks, which unfortunately has not taken place. The PIMCO figure, in the region of €10 billion, is grossly exaggerated, because our communist former government decided to blame the country’s economic difficulties, which it had caused with its profligacy, exclusively on the banking sector.

For the last nine months the Christofias government engaged in a merciless campaign against the banks, helped by the Central Bank governor it appointed last May, in order to deflect attention away from its criminal mismanagement of the economy. They were leaking to the media information that the banks would need €10 billion before independent consultants PIMCO had even been hired.

The assumptions given to PIMCO by the steering committee, on which the governor chose not to sit, were designed to maximise the banks’ re-capitalisation needs. Worse still, PIMCO’s technocrats were not allowed to have any contact with the banks as had happened in Ireland and Greece when their banks’ capital needs were being calculated by consultants. In effect, the anti-capitalist government went out of its way to punish the banks, barring any consultations between them and PIMCO when their capital needs were being assessed; it was no co-

incidence that the Central Bank agreed with the troika suggestion that PIMCO used the adverse macro-economic scenario in its calculations thus adding an extra €3 billion to the banks’ capitalisation needs.

It is true that the over-bloated figure for bank assistance was arrived at with the consent of the Central Bank, which was following the government’s political agenda.

But would it be fair, now, for the EU to condemn Cyprus to decades of economic depredation because it had a government that put the interests of the communist party above those of the country?

We would hope our EU partners would help us overcome the destruction wreaked by five years of communist mismanagement rather than make the situation worse. The way forward is a fair and balanced assessment of the banks’ capital needs, which, we are certain, would make the debt sustainable and render the drastic measures being discussed by the EU unnecessary.

Letters to the Editor We desperately need young, well-educated, politicians After reading Melpo Napoleontos’ letter in the Sunday Mail, February 24, I believe every politician on the island should hang their heads in shame. What have they done and what example have they shown that one so young should be so despondently disillusioned with politics and democratic politics?

It usually takes people until their thirties to become so depressed with politics and to realise that most politicians are driven, primarily, by self interest and greed but, if we do not vote and at least attempt to change things we let down our forbearers who, in some cases, died for us to gain the vote and condemn

ourselves to rule by a class of professional politicians or, at worst, have our government taken over by extremists.

Melpo, please, study hard, read everything you can, gain your degree in whatever your discipline also, get involved in politics be it left or right-wing but always remember the politicians and policies that let you down and try to improve the lot of the people of your locality.

We desperately need young, well educated, politicians who are motivated by an ethos of service and betterment.

Democracy lives because people fight for it.

Michael F Roberts, Peyia

Nicos, this is your chance As a humble townsman I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. N. Anastasiades on his election as 7th President of our Republic and being fully aware of the very difficult and critical times we face as a young nation, I wish to recall to him the words of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who said: “Never let the future disturb you, you will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present”.

It is also written that there are no moments in our life that are without consequence or significance for the future, and now, it is

your moment in the life of this country to shape its future and guide it to prosperity and peace where all its citizens enjoy equal rights irrespective of ethnicity and where meritocracy reigns.

For the past six months we have been hearing over and over again how our bailout requirements exceed by far our “Gross Domestic Product”. It may therefore be the right time for our politicians and economists to read Lorenzo Fioramonti’s book “Gross Domestic Problem”, the world’s most powerful number”, which I’m told reveals the insanity that rules economic thinking.

Barkev Mihranian, Nicosia

I’ve heard of junior ministers but...

When Nicos Anastasaides said he would be appointing ‘junior ministers’, it seems he was not exaggerating. Has his red-haired grandson - thrust into the limelight at every turn - already been sworn in then?

Damien O, Nicosia

‘Forget about your parcels’

Why British tourism is really declining I would refer to your article in the Sunday Mail on February 17 about the loss of the British tourism market.

Whilst I can agree with many of the comments contributed to your article and the reasons given for the decline of the British market in the areas of both tourism and property sales, the one major fact causing such decline has been missed.

As I am sure you will be aware from the many articles published in your paper over the years, Cyprus suffers from extensive collusion and corruption – mainly affecting the property market. Similarly, there has been extensive cover in both the press and on TV in the UK of these same situations.

Sadly, the Brit has become more aware of these situations, and the effect is as shown in your article. I am afraid that British tourism will continue to decline, as will the sale of prop-

erties. Equally sadly, I am aware that this information is now being passed to websites in both Russia and China. We have one of these cases, with extensive cover over the years – both in the British press and on British TV. Our advice to friends who have considered visiting has simply been – “Don’t bother, and under no circumstances think of renting or buying a property in Cyprus”. Perhaps we have become jaundiced over the years, but having fought a developer who delivered properties that were not in compliance with the building permit issued, and which are – as a result – in a state of collapse, we feel fully entitled to warn others. Interestingly, when we referred our case to the Attorney General, who in return referred our complaint to the Chief of Police, we were advised that no crime had been committed.

I agree with the letter in the Sunday Mail on February 24, regarding the abysmal state of the post. I was sent three parcels from the UK for Christmas and when they had still not arrived at my PO Box by the beginning of this month - after weekly visits leading up to Christmas and beyond -. I was told there were no parcels for delivery left anywhere now and I should more or less forget about receiving them.

The reason given was that the UK was not sending the post, but given that the three parcels were sent from three different parts of the UK it sounds a bit implausible.

Roger Brooke, Paphos

Diana Reynolds, Paphos

Dear Mr New President Where are the Russians hiding?

With the success of Mr Anastasiades we may see a better future, and I suggest many from the expatriate community, amounting to 10 per cent of the population, will be happy for him and for Cyprus.

But through these coming five years it is to be hoped the new President will support the notion of an expatriate vote by the time of the next presidential election.

Having received a plethora of regular mailings in Greek from DISY in seeking expatriate interest I responded by pointing out that we could be of no help since we are disenfranchised.

This is in direct contrast to the 300,000 Greek Cypriots in the UK who have the right to vote in any and all elections

there from the day they land. There is no logical reason why we should be denied a reciprocal arrangement. We pay our taxes. We own property.

We contribute in countless ways.

We suffer or enjoy the same political decisions, and we ought to be included when it comes to choosing the island’s political leader.

Yet none of the repeated correspondence seeking Mr Anastasiades’ view on this issue has been acknowledged or answered, which seems somewhat inexplicable and disappointing from a man claiming modernity of vision and an imperative to bring about visible improvement and measurable progress.

Clive Turner, Paphos

Before coming to Cyprus, I was reliably informed in the year 2000 that there were some 35,000 Russians in Limassol alone. This appeared to be borne out by a report in the Cyprus Mail on June 24, 2003 which said that “an estimated 50,000 Russians live on the island”, but was sadly contradicted by the statistics of the 2001 census which recorded only 4,952 Russians resident here.

I was much heartened by the report in last Sunday’s Mail that Limassol is “home to over 30,000 Russians”, but therefore somewhat puzzled by the October 1, 2011 census which reveals a modest 8,663 Russians on the island on that date. Even throwing in the Ukrainians who showed up in the census the total is only 11,686 for the entire island. I can only conclude that the Igors and Svetlanas of this world move in the same mysterious ways as God. Brian Lait, Maroni

Dual carriageway is not necessary It is true that the Paphos-Coral Bay road needs upgrading, resurfacing and proper pavements together with parking areas however, this road does not need to become a dual carriageway.

The only benefit a dual carriageway will give is to the people who build it. What tourist wants to eat a meal or have a drink sitting alongside a dual carriageway? I know I don’t, and

won’t. The fact that it is currently a single lane helps to keep the speed down, it would become a racetrack if it were to become a dual carriageway. What is the benefit of the intended upgrade? it will cut the drive time between Paphos and Coral Bay by a few minutes.

The money could be better spent.

Brian Taylor, Paphos

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13 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Opinion Normally, revolutions are followed by dangerous times. The Middle East is no exception

Preparing for the worst The most likely outcome in Syria is that the human catastrophe will continue until President Bashar alAssad’s regime collapses

Comment Joschka Fischer

T

WO YEARS after popular uprisings began to convulse the Middle East, few people speak of an “Arab Spring” anymore. Given Syria’s bloody civil war, the rise to power of Islamist forces through free elections, the ever-deepening political and economic crises in Egypt and Tunisia, increasing instability in Iraq, uncertainty about the future of Jordan and Lebanon, and the threat of war over Iran’s nuclear programme, the bright hope of a new Middle East has vanished.

Add the region’s eastern and western peripheries - Afghanistan and North Africa (including the Sahel and South Sudan) - and the picture becomes even grimmer. Indeed, Libya is increasingly unstable, al-Qaeda is actively engaged in the Sahel (as the fighting in Mali shows), and no one can foresee what will happen in Afghanistan after the US and its NATO allies withdraw in 2014.

All of us tend to make the same mistake repeatedly: we think at the beginning of a revolution that freedom and justice have prevailed over dictatorship and cruelty. But history teaches us that what follows is usually nothing good.

A revolution not only overthrows a repressive regime; it also destroys the old order, paving the way for a mostly brutal, if not bloody, fight for power to establish a new one - a process that affects foreign and domestic policy alike. Normally, revolutions are followed by dangerous times.

Indeed, exceptions to this pattern are rare: South Africa is one, owing to the genius of one of the century’s most outstanding statesmen, Nelson Mandela. The alternative option can be observed in Zimbabwe.

Central and Eastern Europe after 1989, though a very interesting reference point for analysts of the Arab revolutions, is not an appropriate reference point, because the region’s new domestic and foreign order resulted from the change in external conditions stemming from the collapse of Soviet power. Internally, nearly all of these countries had a very clear idea about what they wanted: democracy, freedom, a market economy, and protection from the return of the Russian empire. They wanted the West, and their accession to NATO and the European Union was logical.

Nothing of the sort applies to the crisis belt of the Middle East. No power anywhere, within the region or without, is willing and able to implement the barest vision of a new regional order - or even a vision for parts of

‘Chaos is a constant

threat, with all of its accompanying risks and threats to world peace’ it. Chaos is a constant threat, with all of its accompanying risks and threats to world peace.

In addition to poverty, backwardness, repression, rapid population growth, religious and ethnic hatred, and stateless peoples (such as the Kurds and the Palestinians), the region has unstable borders. Many were drawn by the colonial powers, Great Britain and France, after World War I, and most, with the exception of Iran’s and Egypt’s, have little legitimacy.

As if this were not enough, some countries - including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and even tiny (but very rich) Qatar - have ambitions to be regional powers. All of this worsens an already tense situation.

All of these contradictions are currently exploding in Syria, whose population is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe, while the world stands by, up to now unwilling to intervene. (If chemical weapons are deployed, intervention will become inevitable.)

Although intervention would be temporary and technically limited, everyone seems to be avoiding it, because the stakes are very high: not only a devastating civil war and massive human suffering, but also a new order for the whole of the Middle East.

Any military intervention would entail a confrontation not only with the Syrian military (supported by Russia and China), but also with Shia Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. Moreover, no one can guarantee that intervention would not quickly lead to another war with Israel. The dangers of both action and inaction are very high.

The most likely outcome in Syria is that the human catastrophe will continue until President Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapses, after which the country very likely could be divided along ethnic and religious lines. And

Syria’s disintegration could further balkanise the Middle East, potentially unleashing new violence. Frontline states like Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan will not manage to remain aloof from a disintegrating Syria. What will happen with Syria’s Kurds and Palestinians, or its Christians, Druze, and smaller Muslim minorities? And what about the Alawites (the backbone of Assad’s regime), who could face a terrible destiny, regardless of whether the country splits up?

Unanswered questions abound. Of course, even in the face of this misery, we should not lose hope in agreements reached by diplomatic means; but, realistically, the chances are dwindling every day.

The whole of the Middle East is in motion, and a new and stable order will take a long time to establish. Until then, the region will remain very dangerous, not only internally, but also for its neighbours (including Europe) and the world.

Joschka Fischer, Germany’s foreign minister and vice-chancellor from 1998 to 2005, was a leader in the German Green Party for almost 20 years © Project Syndicate/Institute for Human Sciences, 2013

How Papadopoulos’ revenge came to haunt us all Comment Loucas Charalambous NOW THAT we have at last been relieved of the Christofias plague, it might be worth taking a brief look at the nightmarish five years and recalling how we were lumbered with him. Though Christofias has now left, he has bequeathed massive problems, the effects of which will be felt by Cypriots for many years to come.

By the most optimistic of estimates, the repayment of any loan we receive (if it is given) from the troika will take 40 years until 2053. In other words, even if everything goes smoothly, when Cyprus is paying the last instalment of the loan, most of us over the age of 35 today will not be around to ‘celebrate’ the event.

I mention this because I think it shows the scale of Christofias’ appalling legacy. I am not suggesting that the departed president was the only person responsible for the state’s sad predicament.

All presidents, all political parties and all politicians, including Nicos Anastasiades are responsible.

All those who in the last 40 years, either as members of a government or of the legislature, fed the beasts of the public sector and semi-governmental organisations which in the end bankrupted the state thanks to deficits of a billion euro or more every year, are to blame.

However Christofias and the AKEL leadership are burdened with additional culpability because when the alarm bells of the impending catastrophe started ringing in 2009, they obdurately

refused to take corrective measures. Thus, they led us to the economic hell that we are living in today.

Equally catastrophic was the course followed by Christofias in the handling of the Cyprus problem. He was elected promising he would be a ‘solution president’, but once he was installed in the presidential palace his only concern was his re-election in 2013.

As a consequence he followed the formula proposed recently

by Giorgos Lillikas - he removed from the table everything that had been agreed after 34 years of negotiations and started the talks from scratch. As part of his filibustering he embarked on an incredible re-negotiation procedure for everything taking the problem back to 1977.

He knew that if he reached April

2010 without a deal, Mehmet Ali Talat would be removed from office and his personal ambitions served by the hard-liner Dervis Eroglu who would take over in the north. His efforts to get rid of provisions of the Annan plan that not even Tassos Papadopoulos objected to, and replace them with absurd proposals for a presidential system, with rotating presidency and weighted voting, allowed two years to be wasted and brought the deadlock that was his obvious objective.

He could never have imagined that the dream of re-election in 2013 would be shattered by the Mari explosion. Ironically, Christofias was the only person who could have enabled Anastasiades to become president and he achieved this.

The only remaining question is who was to blame for the fact

that this walking disaster ended up becoming president in 2008?

In this respect DIKO and EDEK, Marios Garoyian and Yiannakis Omirou and more so the Papadopoulos clan (father and son) who put him in power in 2008 bear a huge responsibility that will never be written off.

A well-known politician told me that Christofias was Tassos Papadopoulos’ revenge on all of us who had voted against him. Having lost in the first round of the 2008 elections, he decided to lumber us with Christofias. This was why he forced DIKO to change its original decision to vote for the DISY candidate Ioannis Kasoulides and back Christofias instead.

Judging by what has happened since then, I have to say that the late Tassos’ act of vengeance was extremely successful.

14 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Opinion

A bitterly sad affair Christofias may finally be gone, but I will never forget the Mari disaster

T

WO DAYS before the second round run-off between Nicos and Stavros, I received an outstanding payment from the General Accounts of the Democracy in respect of the Mari disaster insurance excess.

On 11 July 2011, considerable material damage was caused to 300 odd mobile homes (mine among them) and cars at the Kalymnos Camping Site, situated not 1,000 metres from the epicentre of that infamous explosion; physical damage to the health of residents was also inflicted - post traumatic stress in particular.

Unfortunately, proving liability for health issues is both an expensive and pointless exercise in a country where well-heeled guilty parties tend to get off scot free and public liability insurance cover is virtually unheard of.

Since the 2011 explosion, those same guilty parties have confined within an area of two square kilometres a restored power station (Vassiliko), a naval base (Evangelos Florakis), a more than one hundred oil storage tank supply hub and loading pier, and a soon-to-be-constructed gas liquefying plant at a cost of 10 billion euros.

Cyprus with her gas will become a prime target for terrorists - vulnerable to any enemy seeking to destroy our economy in one fell swoop! The next explosion, if ever, will be nuclear in size and residents within a radius of ten kilometres will be blown to smithereens.

That aside, why, just two days before the run-off, did I receive reimbursement of that insurance excess for which I’d been kept waiting this past 19 months? Was it a bribe in the hope that I’d forgive and forget this past government’s most serious of a series of unforgettable bungles and vote for Stavros? If so, I regard the timing of the payment as an ignominious attempt to undermine my integrity. I, unlike mainstream AKEL voters, am not beset by blind fanaticism and a short memory. Pote den xehno Mari! (Never will I forget Mari!).

During the TV head to head, Stavros defended AKEL’s position not to apply for

Comment Hermes Solomon membership of NATO-affiliated Partnership for Peace on the grounds that ‘our lads’ would die in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. Nicos interjected cynically that they’d died instead at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, he reminding Stavros that our then president failed to apologise to families of victims and reneged on his promise (for what it proved to be worth) to abide by the findings of the Polyviou Inquiry which, much to the then president’s surprise, indicted him as the principal protagonist of that bitterly sad affair.

In contempt of the Polyviou inquiry report, our then president sought to escape responsibility for the unpremeditated manslaughter of 13 innocent victims by in-

Proving liability for health issues is a pointless exercise in a country where well heeled guilty parties tend to get off scot free

Vassiliko and the devastation of innocent people’s lives structing his ‘pal’, Attorney-general Petros Clerides to conduct an independent police investigation, the outcome of which held six ‘others’ responsible, their trial underway this past six months at the Larnaca courthouse, where over 130 witnesses have thus far been called to give evidence.

This trial, not unlike many others, dragged on interminably with contradictory evidence espoused by witnesses denying justice in the eyes of the families of victims, who cynically expect the AG to instruct the Larnaca court trial judge to fully pardon the ‘six’ culprits, thus exonerating his ‘pal’?

William George Bunter (aka Billy Bunter, the “Fat Owl of the Remove”) is a fictional character created by Charles Hamilton in the late 1890s. Billy was derived from three persons: a corpulent editor, a short-sighted relative, and another relative perpetually trying to raise a loan on the strength of the anticipated arrival of a cheque. As Bunter’s prominence grew, so did his cunning, enabling his actions to drive a wide variety of nefarious plots at Greyfriars School.

Like Bunter, the AG is seen to manipulate the law with ‘a certain smile’ and cannot claim ignorance of it when bailiffs are sent to seize assets of the state. Those who drove off with the cars in violation of that order were in contempt of court and should have been arrested, but instead the AG tore strips off both the bailiffs and judge responsible for issuing the warrants. The Supreme Court then censured the AG who responded likewise - farcical events typical of any episode of Billy at Greyfriars.

Helios, Mari, Papasavvas of the ‘teeth’, Christofias’ exoneration from prosecution, and a myriad of court cases adjourned ad infinatum, suggests that we endure a legal system that swirls in its own mire.

Our own Billy Bunter seems to believe himself above the law and rewrites it daily,

even ‘threatening’ refugees (those few still remaining alive) not to approach the Immovable Property Commission in search of redress for their lost property.

Both he and Papasavvas retire at the end of the year, his job likely to go to Polys Polyviou (a man with a ‘clear conscience’ over his Mari report) replacing an AG who seems, like the then president, not to have any conscience at all.

Five years ago Christofias promised to solve the Cyprob and improve law and order. He failed miserably in both and many other promises besides - caring for the low paid, who now, like the country, lie ‘bleeding’.

Last weekend Nicos also made promises. But with all those Greek flags flying at euphoric victory celebrations, I have my doubts about him ‘solving’ the Cyprob with a bi-communal, bi-federal, bi-zonal byebye! Better he concentrates on solving the economic crisis, restoring law and order, makes friends with Turkey (a loose federation) over fish‘n’chips in Istanbul, and then gets that gas out of the ground damn quick and into our pockets even quicker.

A recent visit to Turkey by Angela Merkel, to be followed by Francois Hollande, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Greek PM Antonis Samaras, presage major economic and geopolitical changes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Nicos’ first 100 days in power could see undreamt of changes to the stagnant Cyprob and hopefully, the immediate removal of the previous president’s presidential immunity along with that Billy Bunter of an AG! Redress, reparations and contrition from those with their ‘heads held high’, bankers included, who led Cyprus into the abyss and left her there, bleeding, should be uppermost on the list of Nicos’ priorities.

Sheryl Sandberg’s good fight in helping women lead IS IT always offensive to advise women to change something about themselves in order to ensure that they can achieve their goals? To suggest the need for any self-scrutiny on women’s part is a minefield; the safe ground is to urge that we remain focused only on fighting all-too-real gender discrimination. But sometimes it is necessary to cross the minefield.

Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, has done something pretty gutsy. She has written a manifesto about breaking the glass ceiling, called Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, and is drawing fire for it, because she argues that women often sabotage themselves.

Critics are already attacking Sandberg on the grounds that she is blaming the victim. Anne-Marie Slaughter, who wrote a much-read article about the glass ceiling last year, has sought an open debate about where the problems lie. Oth-

Comment Naomi Wolf ers, unfortunately, attack ad feminam: Sandberg is rich and powerful, so how can her advice be useful to struggling, underpaid everywomen?

Sandberg is seeking not just to raise consciousness, but to forge a social movement. She wants her “Lean In” circles - all-women spaces to be supported by corporate workplaces - to teach women negotiation, public speaking, and other skills, all merged with upbeat collective support.

I know that this seemingly trivial approach is actually a solid recipe for success. I co-founded a similar programme called The Woodhull Institute; by teaching these skill sets, and adding mutual support in

an all-female space, our alumnae quickly and dramatically outpaced their peers.

At first, however, they struggled to identify their own often-remarkable achievements in publicly making a case for themselves. That effort felt so socially transgressive to them that they found it almost painful. So the opportunity to learn and practise speaking and negotiating skills is hardly inconsequential for women’s advancement.

Indeed, as Sandberg rightly stresses, no one trains women in something as simple but critical as speaking in a strong, declarative voice.

The range of inflections that are culturally valued in women’s voices (especially young women) are those that often undermine their authority in the workplace. So they often start presentations with an apology, use girlish inflections, and end statements with question marks.

But sounding fetchingly unsure about what you are describing is not

an effective way to pitch an idea to a potential investor, publisher, or constituent.

The same hard-to-address truth also goes for body language, to which Sandberg also rightly pays attention (as reflected in her book’s title). The talented young women I trained had great difficulty at first simply standing straight and tall; they often projected a lack of confidence physically, or simply looked as if they would rather be anywhere else than in the spotlight. Young men from elite backgrounds, by contrast, learn to project physical confidence as part of their birthright - just as they learn to speak in assertive, declarative voices and claim their achievements.

The “post-feminist” view that there is no longer a need for allwomen spaces needs to be challenged. There is also the question of how workplaces should respond if all-male groups wish to convene as well. My own view is that there

is nothing wrong with some samesex gatherings in a private setting, whereas in public contexts, discrimination is discrimination. Sandberg will have to explain her position on this issue.

A more pressing obstacle, in a sense, is institutionalised feminism, which often finds it more comfortable to blame well-known villains and attack those who dare to call attention to women’s need to learn for themselves the skills of securing and wielding power.

It’s time to move on. Surely we need both the broad social analysis and the leaders who will take it upon themselves to help the next generation of women entrepreneurs and workers to speak for themselves and get what they deserve.

Naomi Wolf is a political activist and social critic whose most recent book is Vagina: A New Biography © Project Syndicate, 2013

15 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Opinion My reaction when I discovered the grisly truth behind BSCs or Boyzilians, was yet another example of how green I am

The shocking truth revealed about male waxing in London Letter from London

By Alexia Saoulli

uotes of the week “To put the Pope’s resignation into perspective, our own Queen is a year older than him, but she would rather streak naked in front of the grandstand at Royal Ascot than quit. It’s called duty”.

TV’s Piers Morgan, a former Fleet Street editor

H

AVE YOU ever heard of a BSC? No, not BSE. That’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease. Nor does it mean Bachelor of Science (BSc) as my sister thought.

No I mean BSC, which is an acronym for Back, Sac and Crack, or full back and Boyzilian. If you still don’t know, that’s what the Ministry of Waxing - a specialist waxing outfit with boutiques in capital cities across the world - calls its hair removal service for men in their nether regions. Now do you get it?

Back, Sac and Crack? Well, for £79 you can have a BSC at any one of Ministry of Waxing’s London salons. I found this out just the other day when I went for a wax. It actually took me a minute or two to figure out what the price list was referring to when it stated Brazilian/ Boyzilian and then had the symbols for female and male in the adjacent columns.

“So do you wax men also?” I tentatively broached the subject with my 20-something-year-old therapist, who looked very professional in a pair of latex gloves as she got to work on my legs.

“Yes we do,” she replied.

“And um, do you wax them everywhere? Including their balls?” I’ve never been very good at diplomacy I’m afraid. I’d sort of blurted out the word before I could stop myself. I should have been more discrete and used the word scrotum, or even sac, to use their own term.

“Yes we do,” she replied again.

She certainly wasn’t making this easy for me and I felt embarrassed that I was obviously clueless to all this. I mean men in Cyprus wax their backs, legs, chests, armpits and - I’ve even heard - their bikini lines; but I’ve never heard of them getting a BSC. Not so much because the men wouldn’t request it, but because I don’t know many therapists who would comply.

Intrigued and wanting to know more, I decided to try again.

“So are they gay? Straight? Both?”

I asked.

“Both,” she replied.

Hmm, not the chatty type, I started to think, as I studied her French manicured nails through her latex gloves, and which I noticed she’d filed into sharp points like claws. Her hair was also piled up on top of her head into a loose, scruffy ponytail and she looked really cool with her heavy, blackrimmed glasses and perfectly shaped eyebrows. I was really out of my depth here and showing how unhip I was. It was embarrassing. Instead of quitting while I was ahead, however, I decided to press on.

“So, do women wax the men then?”

“Yes. There are only women therapists here, so it’s all women,” she said.

“Oh right. And does it make you uncomfortable? Well I mean not

“I grew up thinking fidelity was not normal”.

Ben Goldsmith, financier and environmentalist In London’s beauty parlours, those waxing strips go even lower you per se, but there must be some women who do feel uncomfortable...

Or at least where I come from women would... I guess here in London though, anything goes and you’ve seen it all, right?” I knew I was babbling but I just felt so green and was trying to backpedal out of sounding so clueless.

“No I don’t get uncomfortable at all.

You’re right, in London you see everything and so nothing fazes you. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” she said.

I then wanted to know what she thought. I mean she was only human after all and having to handle so many crown jewels, some of them quite funny looking I’m sure.

“When you’ve been doing this job for years you get used to it. I really don’t think anything. It’s just another area of skin with hair on it,” she said.

“Oh right, bit like how a pair of breasts are just another pair of breasts to a gynaecologist?” I asked.

“Yeah, I guess so,” she said.

“Unless of course you’re a junior doctor and it’s your first breast examination and then you’re a bit like ‘whoa, nice breasts’,” I added.

She laughed. I’m guessing she was recalling her first BSC. Seriously though, that’s what I love about London. You can ask for a BSC and no one is going to raise an eyebrow, unless you’re an idiot like me who hasn’t even heard of one before.

People are so open here and don’t

‘It’s just another area of skin with hair on it’

balk at anything. No one looks at you like you’re weird, and if they do, they’re weird for doing so. You can be anything you want to be. You could literally reinvent yourself here.

I’ve seen people walk down the street in tutus and others looking like something out of the Rocky Horror Show. Even the Hari Krishnas are making a comeback over here as they clap and dance their way down Oxford Street every so often. And no one really bats an eyelid. You might get the smirk or giggle, but on the whole, most people are accepting of individuality and personal choice. It’s rather liberating.

In Cyprus we are so insular. I know women who are embarrassed to ask their regular beauticians for a Brazilian or Hollywood (the female versions of a Boyzillian) because they’re afraid they’ll be judged. OK younger beauty therapists are all about full frontal waxing but the older ladies who have worked as beauty therapists for the past 30 years are sometimes visibly shocked when one of their clients comes in and asks for something like that.

And even if they’re not shocked, they love to gossip - about their other clients very often. Not so here. You can barely get a word out of them.

You saw for yourselves what it was like for me trying to discuss a BSC. I hardly got a dicky bird out of her. And if I think I can build up a relationship with her and then pump her for more information in future, I can think again. There are dozens of therapists who work at each one of their London outfits and, unless I specifically ask for the same therapist, I could get anyone at my next appointment.

To be honest that’s perhaps a good thing given I likely exposed myself as the unsophisticated Cypriot that I am. Then again, if London is as open as I think it is, she probably didn’t judge me anyway, and I’m just being a Cypriot worrying that she did.

are young.That is their strength. They don’t know how to fiddle the books”.

Comedian Beppe Grillo, whose party has won far more seats than expected in the Italian elections “I don’t like women crying in offices, but then I am not crazy about men crying in offices either.

Even if I am exhausted to the point of weeping, I wouldn’t. I am proud and I never cry”.

Domestic goddess Nigella Lawson “Only someone with the genius of Nick Clegg could have a sex scandal that doesn’t involve sex and turn it into a leadership crisis”.

Tory MP Conor Burns on the Lord Rennard affair

“I suspect for a growing number of us, our confidence has gone skipping off down the road never to return to the supermarket giants.

The meek independent butcher shall inherit the once corporate Earth”.

Broadcaster Chris Evans offers his thoughts on the horsemeat scandal “The prospect of suspending rational thought, behaving like a lemming and having to take seriously those prats who continually spout partyline twaddle seems less appealing than having my toenails pulled out or sharing a bedsit with Jeremy Clarkson”.

Broadcaster Janet Street-Porter has no desire to be an MP

“There are people who will be very abusive about Iraq. It remains extremely divisive and very difficult”.

Former prime minister Tony Blair “It would help if Blair said sorry, but I don’t think he will ever apologise”.

Reg Keys, whose son Tom was killed in Iraq in 2003 “The Prime Minister is not big on humility”.

Labour leader Ed Miliband takes a swipe at Prime Minister David Cameron during Commons exchanges

“We will open up parliament like a tin of tuna. Our candidates

“Daniel Day-Lewis was utterly convincing as Abraham Lincoln. You are utterly convincing as Gordon Brown”.

Mr Cameron hits back at Mr Miliband

16 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

World in pictures

Visitors at the 130 foot Lord Buddha statue during the Dzung ceremony and curtain raiser to unveil the Buddha Park at Rabong in South Sikkim (AFP)

Cows pose for a photocall at the 40th Show of the Best agricultural exhibition in Germany. During the annual show, cows compete for the Miss title in the exhibition’s beauty contest (AFP)

A man walks past a wall sprayed with graffiti reading ‘We need peace in Kenya’ in Nairobi’s Kibera slum a the country gears up for presidential, gubernatorial and senatorial elections tomorrow (AFP)

Models present creations by Rick Owens during the Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 ready-to-wear collection in Paris (AFP)

Cardinals applaud Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives on the altar during his last weekly audience on Wednesday

(AFP)

South Koreans wearing traditional costumes carry torches to celebrate the March 1 Independence Movement Anniversary in Cheonan against colonial Japanese rule (AFP)

A tree decorated with colourful plastic Easter eggs in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (AFP)

Pope Benedict XVI blesses faifthful for the last time upon his arrival in Castel Gandolfo on Thursday (AFP)

A Swiss Guard closes the entrance door of the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo on Thursday as the pope officially resigned (AFP)

17 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Coffeeshop

Amid the horse-trading, cabinet remained gloriously Paphite free WE WERE overjoyed to see our dear Fuhrer, Nice Nik, sweep triumphantly into power last Sunday ending the Terrible Tof tyranny and freeing us from the AKEL yoke that had threatened to turn Kyproulla into the Albania of the Mediterranean.

Communist misrule is over, the People’s Republic of Kyproulla has given way to the First Reich of Zypern, the red hordes will soon go home and the comrade can no longer cause us harm, having retreated to his Kellaki dacha, to produce red wine vinegar for his friends and family.

There is also a selfish reason for our joy. In the previous two presidential elections our establishment had backed candidates that lost and there was a danger that our support would be viewed as the kiss of death, confirmation that a candidate is a loser.

For once, we backed the winner, but our joy soon turned to disappointment when it became apparent that Nik would not reward Patroclos’ loyalty with a ministerial appointment or at least make him a Commissioner of something.

But we assure our new president that we would never allow this bitter disappointment to turn into hostility towards him, for now.

We will wait until he appoints the chairmen of the semi-governmental organisations and if again he chooses DIKO losers ahead of Patroclos, who has a preference for CyTA, it will mean war.

ELECTIONS always turn Kyproulla into the People’s Republic of Arslikhan, with hundreds of leading citizens sharpening their tongues and getting their saliva flowing in the hope that this would enable them to be awarded a ministry.

Names of nobodies appear in newspapers as prospective appointees, the heads of pretenders regularly pop up behind the president-elect during public appearances, others wait outside his office to congratulate him while some recruit the help of influential party to people to advance their claim.

One man successfully used his father-in-law, an influential DISY stalwart, to land a ministerial post in the new government. The formidable father-in-law, renowned for his powers of persuasion, arranged a meeting with Nik and in no time secured a ministry for his daughter’s hubby.

The news was immediately posted on a newspaper website to ensure the appointment was locked.

OTHERS were not so lucky, because not everyone has an influential dad-in-law, with access to Nik. Poor old Professor Philippos Patsalis, head of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, may have been following the Fuhrer during Sunday’s celebrations and he was mentioned as a possible health minister, but in the end he got nothing, because health was reserved for Garoyian’s gang of losers.

Garoyian first proposed the self-important Paphite, Christos Patsalides who had served as interior minister in the Ethnarch’s government and as an unsuccessful health minister in Tof’s. The tribes of Paphos were certain that their man would get the post, but wise Nik, bless him, pooh-poohed the idea, causing mass mourning in the hillbilly district.

Had he been appointed, the principled Paphite for all seasons would have served as minister under three presidents, all of different political backgrounds. Yiorkos Iacovou, whose stellar political career sadly came to an end this week, served under four presidents, but two were from DIKO and under Tof he was only a commissioner.

In the end there was no Paphite in the cabinet for the first time since the 1980s, prompting complaints in Hicksville. Paphite DISY member Simos Tselepos said that Paphos had many personalities, one whom could have been in the cabinet.

Paphos’ loss was our gain, as Nik figured out.

THE HEALTH ministry was given to another Garoyian protégé, Dr Petros Petrides, an appointment that caused much amusement among the medical community. Dr Petrides had enjoyed the patronage of the late Spy Kyp and was vice-president of the state doctors’ union, one of the island’s most irresponsible unions.

In his biographical note sent out by the PIO, it said that Dr Petrides studied medicine at Athens University “with a specialisation in angiosurgery”. But from what we know he obtained this specialisation at a later stage in his career and not from Athens University. Why had he omitted to mention the university at which he trained for this specialisation?

It was good enough for him to land the post of director of the angiosurgery clinic of the Nicosia General Hospital, so why is he reluctant to mention the medical school at which he trained?

Dr Petrides became minister because he got lucky. Nik had already rejected Patsalides and could not bring himself to reject Garoyian’s second nominee for the post, even though he must have known that a former union boss, with specialisation in angiosurgery and mentored by Spy was the last person he could rely on to introduce the national health scheme in the next five years.

STAYING on health issues, there was also a lobby group that tried to prevent the new president from appointing Christos Stylianides to any government post. The pancyprian association of patients of the Stylianides dental practice pulled all the strings to keep him out of the new government, so he could carry on treating them, but failed to avert his appointment as government spokesman.

The argument that their teeth had rights too and an under-employed DIKO lawyer, whom nobody would have missed, could have been appointed spokesman did not dissuade Nik and neither did the

Marios Garoyian gets a season ticket to the Eleftheria Stadium 2003-13 (Photo montage doing the rounds on the internet) threat of dynamic action. He obviously has healthy teeth and could not show any sensitivity for those of us who do not.

EUROCOCK deputy leader Rikkos Erotocritou might not have been appointed minister, but his fans were ready to organise a big party for him on hearing that he would be appointed deputy attorneygeneral, replacing Tof courtier Akis Papasavvas, who was due to retire in June.

Papasavvas however wrecked the party plans, declaring that he would stay in his post until June, because he had no accumulated leave to take. State employees usually take all their accumulated leave (two to three months in many cases) ahead of retirement. As Papasavvas has none to take he will carry on serving the country, and the party for Rikkos’ appointment, regrettably, has had to be put off until June.

CONGRATULATIONS to selfrighteous MEP’s assistant and part-time Brussels correspondent of Sigma TV Yiannos Charalambides who seized the opportunity to explain the high moral standards he expects from our politicians.

The insufferably self-regarding Charalambides took great offence when he heard, during a Sigma debate last Sunday, that Michalis Sarris was almost certain to be appointed finance minister and felt duty-bound to share his moral disgust with the TV viewers.

The morally superior hack felt that Sarris, who had been detained in the north in connection with fabricated vice charges, was unsuitable to be a minister and asked the following question to make his point. “If I was caught in a casino in the north with women of easy virtue would they make me a minister?”

If he was a member of DIKO and had Garoyian’s backing, of course

they would.

But it seems a bit hypocritical that a 24-carat bash-patriot like Charalambides could cite the pseudo charges, brought by the pseudopolice in the pseudo-court of a pseudo-state to make moral case against someone. Is he not afraid that by doing so he is recognising the pseudo-state?

THE AKEL-appointed leadership of the Central Bank, Governor Panicos and his deputy Stavrinakis, wasted no time in paying their respects to the new president. They sent him congratulatory letters on Monday.

In their respective letters, they both “assured” the new president that the Central Bank “within the framework of its authorities as an independent institution, would work closely with the new government to overcome all the problems and challenges faced by the banking sector the economy of our country in general.”

This is the same Central Bank that within the framework of its authorities as an independent institution, worked closely with the previous government to create insurmountable problems for the banking sector and the economy of our country in general.

Change of government, change of policy for the independent state institution, the governors of which could be feeling a bit of job insecurity now that their comrades are no longer around to protect them.

CONFUSION surrounds last week’s London visit by Governor Panicos. The Tass news agency initially sent a report saying that, according to its information, the Professor was having “important contacts” in London “with potential investors for the Cypriot banks”.

No other information was given by the agency, but it seemed bizarre that the guy who had been publicly discrediting Cypriot banks for the last eight months, exaggerat-

ing their problems and inflating their capital needs, was now trying to get people to invest in them.

A few hours later, Tass sent out another story about Panicos’ London visit. It said: “According to Cyprus News Agency information, the main purpose of the trip was to inform the British media about enforcement of legislation relating to the fight against money laundering.”

No mention was made about his “important contacts with potential investors” because he probably did not find any.

COMRADE TOF gave a fine performance at the farewell party given by the staff of the Palazzo de Popolo on Tuesday. There were tears, sentimentality and a touch of humour.

The tears flowed when he started thanking everyone.

There were no tears “for my good friend Yiorgos Iacovou” or his “wave-barrier” Titos Christofides, but when he mentioned the government spokesman Stef Stef, his eyes swelled up and he was overcome by emotion. He had to stop and compose himself.

He also cried when mentioning Toumazos Tselepis, his negotiations advisor, whom he thanked “from the depths of my soul” for saving Cyprus with his proposal on the Cyprob.

But the most tears were shed for the presidential guard “which kept the presidential palace intact at the hour of the big attack, the fabricated attack, after the Mari blast.”

Now that he will have only 15 police guards protecting him they might be unable to repel attacks on his Kellaki dacha.

He also praised the his son in law Nicos Moudouros who “had the courage to marry my daughter, the wild animal known as Christina, who cannot be tamed”.

FAREWELL comrade and we assure you, you will not be missed.

18

SUNDAY MAIL

Lifestyle

Meet-up: getogethers of those counting their movemenbts are held around the world Y last Saturday night I knew things had got out of hand.

Instead of hitting the town for a friend’s birthday, I stayed at home and walked back and forth across my living room until I’d reached my daily goal of 10,000 steps and my Fitbit - the tiny, pager-like caloriecounter/pedometer I keep in my pocket - sent me an email saying, ‘Wowzer!’ It was probably for the best that I didn’t go out for dinner and cocktails anyway, because according to Account Tracker, the app that keeps tabs on my finances, I was veering dangerously close to busting my weekly budget. And don’t even go there with Drinks Tracker, the NHS app that racks up all the units I drink in a week and makes me feel like a really bad person for pouring a third glass of wine. I’d had a ‘higher risk’ (boozy) few days and the bar chart on my iPad was alarmingly littered with red exclamation marks. I logged on to Optimism, my happiness tracker, and downgraded my mood from a seven to a four.

Over the past five years, the proliferation of smartphones

B

How many calories have you consumed today

(27 per cent of UK adults and 47 per cent of teenagers now own one) has coincided with the launch of wearable devices such as the Fitbit and the Nike+ FuelBand which monitor every move you make and bite you take and can be synced with your iPad, computer or phone.

Download a (usually free) app that links to the device and you can see your data presented in graphs and charts, showing everything from how many stairs you’ve climbed to the hours of uninterrupted sleep you’ve had that week. David McCandless, the data journalist and author of Information is Beautiful, explains that “representing data graphically can warm up cold, dry data and reveal patterns and trends in an interesting and colourful way. It helps you to focus on the pattern rather than the atom, so you can literally ‘see’ what you’re doing.”

It’s easy to get obsessed, and lots of people have. None more so than Kevin Kelly and Gary Wolf, the two Wired writers who coined the term the Quantified Self (QS) in their magazine in 2007, defining it as “self-knowledge

through numbers”. Inspired

by Wolf and Kelly, early adopters of tracking gadgets and apps in California began meeting up every month and sharing the findings of their self-experiments. The trend has grown fast; according to a 2011 Pew survey, in the US today 11 per cent of the population uses apps to track health, and QS ‘meet-ups’ take place in cities around the world (13,000 at the last count). The events follow a show-and-tell format: a geeky ensemble of hackers, tech heads and digital navel-gazers answer three key questions: What did you do?

How did you do it? What did you learn?

I had been hooked up to my Fitbit for a week when I went along to a London meet-up at the Google Campus in Shoreditch. I had little to tell the group of about 50 trendy twenty-something techies other than I tended to eat more after exercising, sleep better on weekends and walk up more flights of stairs than the national average every day. The most interesting thing I’d learned was just how competitive my partner and I could be. She had been using the Nike+

FuelBand - a jazzier-looking data-tracking bracelet that counts calories and steps and also an entirely made-up unit of measurement called Nike Fuel points (the more active you are, the more you get). “How many cals you done?” she’d text me at lunchtime. “1,456!!!” I’d reply, knowing full well this was more than she’d have burned (the Fitbit seems to overestimate while the FuelBand does the opposite).

But I wasn’t about to admit this at the meet-up, which is run by the glamorous Adriana Lukas, a 35-year-old internet consultant. “QS is about people solving their own problems, rather than corporations doing it for them. It’s about autonomy,” she said with a transatlantic twang.

QS meet-ups are open, free and advertised on meetup. com (and there are sometimes events in Cyprus). On the third floor of the Campus - an office block converted for digital startups with ‘breakout zones’, pingpong tables and reclaimed furniture - boys with wellgroomed beards and gamine girls, who looked like they’d been the class swots sat on plastic fold-out chairs under industrial strip lights, iPads at the ready. Adriana, wearing leather trousers and bringing a touch of TED lecture-style showbiz to proceedings, introduced the first speaker, a chirpy American Open University lecturer called Blaine Price. He was into “lifelogging” and wore a motion-sensor camera around his neck that took images every few seconds and tagged his whereabouts (his explanation of what happens when he goes to the toilet got quite the ROFL).

Next up was Chris Payne, a middle-aged businessman with a voice like Kenneth Williams. He writes down “every dumb thing he’s ever done”, and keeps mind maps and logs of his most inspiring movies (number one was the Drew Barrymore romcom 50 First Dates), and “moments of bliss” among myriad other things. He made what I call ‘a list’ sound extremely complicated. There were two more

STAN AND B COUN

Do you know how many today, how many steps y your heart was beating?

Quantified Self movemen crunching. Lotte Jeffs tu

speakers including Adam J, who works in ‘memory logging’ and inputs everything he eats, drinks and does into his Google calendar every day: “It’s not quite obsessive yet, but it’s getting there,” he said, before the group decamped to the pub for some real-world data exchange.

McCandless thinks there’s a danger that such data tracking “reinforces the surface of things. It reaffirms the tenacious concept that you are what you do, rather than what you feel or experience in an inner sense. Many classic QS projects turn me off because they don’t track what’s really going on in the emotional or psychological life of the tracker. I don’t really care how many buses and what routes a graphic designer has taken over a year. I’m more interested in

what she felt with her face pressed up against the bus window.”

Adriana says: “Data doesn’t matter, it’s what you mine

Inspired by Wolf adopters of tracking in California began month and sharing t self-expe from it that does. I know some people who stopped measuring as it got too distracting. But self-awareness is always a good thing. It’s like those TV shows about

19

L • March 3, 2013

ND UP BE NTED D

calories you burned ou took and how fast No? Then join the global nt and start number rns her life into data

obese people when they lay out all the food they’ve eaten in a week and it really shocks them. That lifestyle realisation of what you’re

f and Kelly, early g gadgets and apps n meeting up every the findings of their eriments actually doing, that’s very empowering.”

On blogs and forums on sites such as forbes.com and thenextweb.com, 2013 is being declared the year of

the Quantified Self. It certainly seems timely, with the hugely popular 5:2 diet and a post-Olympic fitness frenzy meaning more and more non-geeks are dabbling in the movement, counting calories via gizmos or apps such as MyFitnessPal. Joining the likes of the Fitbit and FuelBand are a number of increasingly more accurate (complicated) apps and devices such as the brilliantly detailed Ki Fit and the highly complex stressmonitoring emWave (see below for a more detailed rundown), which in just a few years will no doubt become the MiniDiscs of QS tracking, as ever more advanced devices hit the market.

The QS movement has been a lifesaver for some people with genuine health concerns. Lukas tells me

Secret eaters: TV host Anna Richardson with the amount of food eaten by an overweight family in the UK

FITBIT ONE

What the…? A small, wireless activity and sleep tracker Best for Competitive pp types: the free online app has a leaderboard Body maths Measures steps, distance, calories burned, stairs climbed, plus how long and deeply you sleep Plus points Strap it to your wrist at night and you can set an alarm that wakes you with a gentle vibration Downside So small it’s really easy to lose From fitbit.com/uk

Jon Cousins founder of Moodscape

NIKE+FUELBAND about her friend Ian who, when diagnosed with terminal cancer, began recording and meticulously analysing how his body was responding to different treatments.

Twenty-five years later, he’s still alive. She also mentions another QS hero, Jon Cousins, who manages his bipolar disorder by measuring and sharing data about his moods on an app he developed called Moodscape, enabling his friends to know when he might need support.

But for those of us selftracking with no real, meaningful goal in mind, I start to wonder: is the ‘quantified self’ a self reduced to little more than an amalgam of facts and figures… all body, no soul? McCandless agrees: “The scene tends to generate passionate, obsessive devotees of quantification - Quantdroids. They have an intense, alert but slight-

ly absent air about them, like your conversation with them is being logged and tabulated in some behindthe-eyes database.”

In the US there are reports of people asking for a potential partner’s credit score before agreeing to a first date; could calorie burn be next?

I don’t keep a diary, but I’m on the way to having months of banal facts about my body stored in cyberspace for all eternity - I’m sure future generations will be fascinated by how many Ryvita slices I eat in a week. Were Descartes alive in the digital age he may well have declared, “I sync therefore I am,” because all this data collecting and lifelogging seems as much about validating our existence as anything else. I may have started walking more and eating, drinking and spending a bit less, but frankly, I’m ready to stop counting and start living again.

Gary Wolf and Kevin Kelly who came up with the term QS

What the…? A wristband that monitors different aspects of physical health Best For Sporty types who don’t take QS too seriously Body maths Measures activity through the movement of your wrist Plus points The most stylish-looking device of the lot, and the simplest to use e into Downside It doesn’t take account your size and gender when measuring your Nike Fuel points From store.nike.com

KI FIT What the…? An armband that measures motion, skin temperature and steps Best for Alternate fasting fans and serious QS geeks Body maths It determines the type of exercise that burns the most calories for you Plus points Input what you eat and it gives you a macro- and micronutrient breakdown Downside It’s slightly cumbersome to wear around your upper arm From kiperformance.co.uk

EMWAVE2 What the…? A gizmo that aims ms to relieve stress by teaching you how to change your heart rhythm pattern Best for Hypochondriacs e Body maths It collects pulse data through a sensor and translates the information to from your heart rhythms into graphics on your computer Plus points The only device that tries to calm you down Downside Too complicated - using it made us more stressed From emwave.co.uk ency measures such as factory closures.

20 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Lifestyle

Why perhaps sorry really should be the hardest word I

t’s 8.02am - and I’ve already apologised four times. The first occurred 15 minutes into my day, around 6.17am, when I apologised for having a shower: “Sorry! I hope I didn’t wake you up - and that I wasn’t too long,” I told my housemate as I exited the bathroom. The second time was five minutes later, when I had to cancel a drink with a friend after realising I’d double-booked her with a work meeting that evening. “I am so, SO sorry,” I texted. “Really hope you can forgive me?”

The third came as I changed Tubes on my way to work. I’d just missed a Circle line train.

“Many apologies but I may be a little late,” read the email to my boss. And the fourth?

Well, when a bloke (carelessly) bashed into me on the Tube I responded automatically: “Sorry!”

By the time I arrived at my desk at 8.02am, two minutes late, I had to stop myself from firing off another “sorry” email to my boss, now in her morning meeting. I was exhausted.

Apologising can really take it out of you. In fact, a recent study has suggested that refusing to apologise may actually be good for us.

“We found refusing to apologise creates a sense of power and control – and those feelings led to greater selfesteem,” says Dr Tyler Okimoto, a social and organisational psychologist who led the study at the University of Queensland, Australia.

During one of two experiments, a group of adults was asked to think of a time they’d upset someone and apologised, while another group was asked to think of a time they’d upset someone and not apologised, and a further group was asked to think of a time they’d upset someone and refused to apologise.

In the second experiment, a third of participants wrote an email apologising for something they’d done, a third had to think about what they’d done but write no email, and the final third had to write an email but refuse to apologise for what they’d done.

Compared with those who had done nothing, participants who apologised lessened their feelings of guilt and slightly boosted their selfworth. However, participants who refused to apologise experienced the most powerful impact on their self-esteem.

“Apologising can leave you at the mercy of the person you are apologising to. You are giving them control, making it up to them to forgive you or not,” explains Dr Okimoto.

“Defending one’s actions dif-

As research suggests refusing to use the S word is good for us, offender Kara Dolman tackles her ‘apolodiction’ fers from apologising.”

Indeed, while the word apology comes from the Ancient Greek apologia, meaning a defence, in today’s society it has evolved to mean an admission of wrongdoing something certain people are more likely to admit to than others.

“People who are more prone to apologising value relation-

ships and harmony - and are perhaps willing to forgo power and control,” Dr Okimoto tells me. “There was also a tendency for women to be more apologetic than men across the study.”

Previous research, including a study at the University of Waterloo, Canada, supports this. However, some experts believe that may be because

men and women view apologising differently.

“Men see apologising as an admission of weakness. They are more alert to words that weaken their status, while women often see apologies as tokens of consideration,” says gender and language expert Jennifer Coates, emeritus professor at the University of Roehampton. “Women are

also more prone to apologising frequently - even when there is no need for them to do so.”

I have to admit, I am a real mug for this. I often find myself apologising for things that aren’t my fault and when I simply don’t have to - and it drives my friends and colleagues mad. “What, you mean like when you say, ‘Sor-

ry, am I going on?’ whenever we’re having a conversation,” replied several delighted friends when I asked if anyone else had an “apolodiction”.

“In this high-octane world it’s time wasting. Unnecessary apologies are dead space - you are just puffing your communication out with unnecessary subservience,” added a worldly colleague. Usually, I would have apologised but today I was conducting an experiment of my own: how long could I go without using the S word?

Things started well. When I arrived at work, my boss was fuming because a colleague hadn’t completed their work.

I bit my tongue - and managed not to apologise on the offender’s behalf. An hour later, another colleague was crestfallen when I (politely) asked them to redo something. I clamped my jaw shut, smiled and strode off. “Just doing your job, there’s no need to apologise,” I reminded myself, hoping I’d soon relish being an apolo-free zone.

Unfortunately, a few minutes later I overheard another apolodicted colleague abusing the S word, which set off my own apology alarm: I was sorry that she was sorry. I mouthed it silently. It marked my decline. By the end of the working day, I’d apologised 12 times.

I left for dinner with a friend thankful that for a few hours I could maintain my moratorium on the S word. But as she filled me in on some recent bad news, I realised this ban just wasn’t meant to be.

I couldn’t help but tell her how I felt, which was, simply, “sorry”.

“Women take it for granted an apology can have different meanings. We tell someone ‘I’m sorry’ when they’ve had a bereavement - or a bad day – which can demonstrate empathy. Female children are socialised to feel empathy from an early age whereas male children are not,” claims Professor Coates. While I can’t say the men in my life are less empathetic than the women, it is always a woman I notice apologising frequently and needlessly. The study at the University of Waterloo suggests this is because women have a lower threshold for offensive behaviour - so they offer more apologies as a result.

With this in mind, while I’m manning up when it comes to frivolous apologies in the future, I’d consider it a sorry state of affairs if I didn’t offer one when truly deserved - or needed. So apologies in advance, friends and colleagues but I’m not about to stop saying sorry anytime soon.

British kids turn to Google instead of grandparents for advice

By Li-mei Hoang BRITISH grandparents are in danger of being overlooked for advice by their grandchildren, who are more accustomed to searching for answers on the internet, a survey showed this week.

Almost nine out of every 10 UK grandparents claimed their

grandchildren failed to ask them for advice for simple tasks, instead turning to online channels such as Google, YouTube and Wikipedia for information.

Answers on how to boil an egg, iron a shirt and even details on their own family history are now easily found by younger generations glued to their smartphones, tablet computers or laptops,

according to research commissioned by cleaning products firm Dr Beckmann.

“Grandparents believe they are being sidelined by Google, YouTube, Wikipedia and the huge resource of advice available on the internet,” spokeswoman Susan Fermor said.

“They are aware that their grandchildren, already with their

noses buried in a laptop, tablet computer or smartphone, find it much easier to search the internet for instant advice.”

The survey of 1,500 grandparents also found that children chose to research what life was like for their elderly relatives in their youth rather than asking the grandparents themselves, with just 33 per cent of grand-

parents having been asked: ‘What was it like when you were young?’.

Almost two-thirds of grandparents felt their traditional roles were becoming less and less important in modern family life, with 96 per cent claiming that they asked far more questions of their own grandparents when they were young.

21 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Business & Jobs

Taxman keeping an ever beadier eye on the wealthy Governments employ more tax inspectors to spy on the rich Investment Bill Blevins Bill Blevins is managing director of Blevins Franks International. Tel: 26-912315 AS EUROPEAN countries struggle to rebuild their economies and reduce their deficits, many are relying on their wealthier residents to provide more tax revenue. Higher earners are being hit with higher taxes, and governments are also looking for other ways to tax the rich.

Besides raising tax rates, governments are taking a closer look at the tax affairs and lifestyles of the wealthy to find those who hide income and wealth from the tax authorities. While this article mainly reviews what the UK’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is doing, other countries are also now taking a much stronger stance against tax evaders.

HMRC has a specific unit to target wealthier taxpayers. The Affluent Compliance Team was set up in October 2011 with a mandate to collect an extra £586 million by the end of 2015. It brought in £75 million in additional tax by the end of 2012, well ahead of expectations.

In January HMRC confirmed that it will recruit another 100 tax inspectors for the team, taking the total to 300.

The remit is also being extended.

The team currently looks at taxpayers with an annual income above £150,000 and wealth between £2.5 million and £20 million. It will now include those with wealth above £1 million.

In some countries, top department stores now have to provide account details and spending habits of their wealthiest customers The UK is not alone in understanding the benefit of hiring more tax inspectors. The Portuguese government plans to employ 1,000 highly qualified inspectors this year. One of their key jobs will be to assess bank accounts.

Back in the UK, in January the Crown Prosecution Service announced it will increase the number of tax files it handles fivefold, with a view to prosecution.

In 2010/11 it secured 200 successful convictions against tax cheats.

This increased to 550 the following year, with the conviction rate remaining high at 86 per cent.

HMRC will now refer sufficient cases to the Crown Prosecution Service to enable prosecutions to rise from 165 individuals in 2010/11, to

565 this year and 1,165 in 2014/15.

HMRC has various ways of collecting data.

There is a large flow of information these days, internally between different government agencies and globally from exchange of information treaties. It has also received information from stolen bank data.

It uses sophisticated data mining techniques to look for anomalies between the income individuals declare and their lifestyle indicators. Internet research is proving increasingly useful.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 allows HMRC to authorise its own surveillance requests. It is increasingly examining records of taxpayers’ emails, text messages, phone calls and websites

visited.

Last year the tax authority piloted a scheme that used credit reference agencies to cross check people’s declared income against their spending patterns. This identifies individuals whose income and wealth do not match what they have declared. This will now be introduced nationally, and around two million people could be scrutinised under the programme.

This is likely to target self-employed individuals who under declare their income, but could also target those with hidden offshore accounts or who receive inheritances or bonuses.

The UK is not the only country to look at spending habits. It was reported last year that the Spanish tax office had won the right to make El Corte Inglés, Spain’s largest department store and popular with wealthy expatriates, provide account details on their customers who had spent €30,000 or more on their store credit cards over 2006 and 2007.

No-one wants to pay more tax than necessary, but you should only ever use tax planning arrangements that are legitimate and approved in your country of residence. Speak to an experienced advisory firm like Blevins Franks which specialises in tax planning for British expatriates in Cyprus.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com

Dividends up by a third at wealth manager St James’s Place BRITISH investment manager St James’s Place has raised its dividend by a third and plans a similar increase in the coming year, channelling the benefits of robust business flows to shareholders.

St James’s Place, which manages money for well-heeled individuals and wealthy families, said this week its continued client appeal had boosted cash flow by more than a third in the year to December 31, a year in which many rivals floundered.

“The continuing growth and maturity in funds under management has, as expected, translated into strong growth in the cash result,” chief executive David Bellamy said.

St James’s Place is majority owned by Lloyds Banking Group and sells a broad range of financial products including a suite of mutual funds hand-picked from across the industry.

It has defied the financial crisis with consistent flows of new funds from its mainly affluent clients who want to protect nest eggs from the ravages of low interest rates as they near retirement.

Bellamy told Reuters that in addition to building up reserves of cash to maintain dividend payments, the company was using cash to build a “strategic pot” for future business opportunities including possible expansion overseas.

“If we do want to look at anything overseas, banking services or discretionary fund management, then we’ve got some capability to go and do that,” Bellamy said.

22 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Business & Jobs

The new government is good news for a bailout But Cyprus must work hard at finding alternatives HIS WEEK has confirmed the old adage that “a week is a long time in politics” what with the elections over, a new government in place and some good news on the economy.

All of a sudden the obstacles in the negotiations of the proposed Cyprus bailout by the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund appear to be dissipating and a reasonable settlement appears doable. Nevertheless, it is clear that the negotiations will be difficult. Therefore, Cyprus should have a clear-cut strategy, do its legal and economic research, and not cave in to the extreme measures aired in some European capitals. There is still the need for a strategy which ensures that public sector funds are available in case the negotiations are drawn out or the arrival of troika funding is delayed, and for fall back positions should the island be faced with unacceptable demands. If Cyprus is well prepared, the chances of getting an acceptable outcome improve.

The good news is that the government is in place for five years - the whole period of implementation of the memorandum - and is determined to complete the negotiation process as soon as possible to dispel uncertainty and ensure funding, and thereby allowing it to examine what growth measures can be taken.

The reception the new government has received from our European partners is positive. Furthermore, the appointment of Michalis Sarris as minister of finance inspires confidence within the EU because he negotiated Cyprus’ entry into the eurozone, and in the IMF because for most of his career he was one of them, working for the World Bank.

The situation has further improved with the statement by former minister of finance Vassos Shiarly that there are now enough funds in the government’s kitty to last until May, which gives time for proper negotiations and to implement the laws and institutional changes required. It is not clear whether troika funds could be provided by May. However, President Anastasiades had stated some weeks ago that he was examining options for state funding during the election campaign. In my view it should be possible to raise funds by providing collateral on bonds issued by the state, which could cover needs until the end of the year.

The indecisive election in Italy and the dismal prospect the EU faces of either no government (or a caretaker government), or, even worse, the return of Berlusconi is a third positive development for Cyprus. The European Union is now under pressure from the markets to get an agreement on Cyprus out of the way and deal with problems in the EU’s third largest economy whenever it has a

T

Currencies USD GBP CHF JPY AUD CAD SEK

01-Mar-2013

1.3031 0.8583 1.2172 120.37 1.2624 1.3301 8.3225

1.3135 0.8651 1.2318 121.83 1.2944 1.3637 8.5331

Comment Costas Apostolides

Michalis Sarris as minister of finance has inspired confidence within the EU government in place.

Further relief comes from the assessment that Cyprus’ debt after the memorandum will be manageable, or “viable”.

This arises from the fact that the dreaded PIMCO report was more reasonable than feared. It is said that the “basic scenario” found that the requirements for bank recapitalisation to be around €6 billion, while the extreme scenario is for €8.8 billion. This level of funding requirement for the banks brings Cyprus’ debt within the realms of viability.

Furthermore if the banks sell their noncore subsidiaries, the levels of support they require will be even less.

There is also the prospect that the new government will agree to a privatisation policy. The new minister of finance implied on Wednesday that the government’s policy on privatisation may change, by stating that “avoiding

22-Feb-2013

1.3159 0.8609 1.2202 122.50 1.2650 1.3266 8.3674

1.3265 0.8679 1.2350 123.98 1.2970 1.3602 8.5792

privatisations was a difficult chapter since they have been linked to debt sustainability”. During the election campaign President Anastasiades’ position was that the state corporations would become public companies on the stock exchange, and that strategic investors would be invited to take a stake in these companies. It was implied that control (50 per cent plus) would remain with the state. This alone should fetch at least one billion euros in cash, while a full privatisation policy including all state corporations, land and other assets could bring in €5 to €10 billion if done gradually and accompanied with economic growth.

In my previous article I stated that if the troika insists on extreme measures in the memorandum, we should have the capability to convince them that we can walk away and deal with our problems through alternatives. In a negotiation process it is essential to strengthen your position by having an assessment of what is your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Settlement (BATNA), and to convince your negotiators that it is a real option. Arriving at the BATNA requires research, examination of legal and economic options and constraints and investigation of whether the options are real and workable.

The extreme positions that have appeared in one way or another in the negotiations so far from the EU itself, member states and the IMF are totally unacceptable because they would either throw Cyprus into deep depression and poverty, or take away its sovereignty.

These positions are as follows: the increase of corporation tax to European Levels (Cyprus is in line at present with Ireland and Luxemburg); a haircut on bank deposits and even on state bonds, and the troika’s insistence on controlling Cyprus’ revenues (and implicitly policy) from the hydrocarbons discovered in the exclusive economic zone.

If any or all of these are insisted upon, Cyprus should walk away from the talks.

In such a case there appear to be two options: Option one is to leave the eurozone and return to the Cyprus pound and get back to the status of the UK, Sweden and Denmark and the states of Eastern Europe. Option two is to negotiate a loan with a group of friendly countries.

Clearly a reasonable memorandum from the troika is the best and least risky option, but doing our homework and developing realistic options would give us a BATNA with which to achieve an agreement we can accept.

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

15-Feb-2013

1.3303 0.8577 1.2244 122.86 1.2726 1.3197 8.3517

1.3409 0.8645 1.2392 124.34 1.3048 1.3531 8.5631

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

USD 0,17 0,20 0,24 0,29 0,46 0,75

EUR 0,03 0,06 0,09 0,13 0,24 0,45

Ad firm WPP sees signs of improving business confidence within eurozone WPP, the world’s biggest advertising company, reported a stronger-than-expected rebound in revenue growth at the end of 2012 and nudged up its forecast for this year, citing signs of improving business confidence.

The British firm, a barometer of business sentiment whose clients include Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Shell, said on Friday many of the economic worries raised by companies last year, including a debt crisis in the eurozone and a potential sharp slowdown in growth in China, appeared to be easing.

“The eurozone looks a little a bit better ... China seems to be motoring again, India (had a) good budget this morning,” chief executive Martin Sorrell said.

“When you pull all that together, there’s probably a little bit more confidence than last year and that may compensate ... for the lack of big events,” he added.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Our client, a company in the renewable energy sector, wants to recruit a high calibre professional with a strong managerial and business background, to manage its fast-expanding operations.

The successful candidate will have: ● A track record of building successful teams whilst mentoring and coaching individuals to achieve their full potential. ● The knowledge to apply financial drivers and key indicators to deliver business success. ● The ability to build board level relationships and successful business partnerships with customers and channel partners. ● Excellent oral and written communications skills. ● A strong trade or customer marketing background. ● Fluency in Greek and English.

In addition, the successful candidate would: ■ Be a strong project manager, able to prioritize multiple projects and execute business and marketing programmes from start to completion.

■ Co-ordinate and implement marketing programmes that increase the company’s brand presence and market share, and improve customer care.

■ Work closely with the sales team to ensure that trade marketing strategies are aligned with sales objectives and revenue targets.

■ Ensure that internal policies and guidelines around financial reporting mechanisms are functional and adequate, evaluate operating data, detect key trends and recommend expenses-saving and incomeboosting solutions.

Degree in business studies or related subject is essential, while a MBA will be considered an added advantage. Applicants should also have had at least five years’ experience in senior management position.

An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the right candidate based on qualifications and experience.

Please send your CV to: gvchri@cytanet.com.cy REF: Met/CEO

GBP 0,49 0,49 0,50 0,51 0,61 0,93

CHF 0,00 0,00 0,01 0,02 0,09 0,27

JPY 0,10 0,13 0,14 0,16 0,26 0,46

LIBOR RATES (London Interbank Borrowing Rates) AS AT 04/03/2013

CAD 1,02 1,05 1,13 1,19 1,41 1,82

AUD 3,02 3,13 3,15 3,17 3,25 3,55

23 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Property RICS Cyprus publishes Members Directory RICS Cyprus has pububith lished a manual, with which it aims to be a piomarket, neer in the Cyprus market, onsumtrain and inform consumaluation, ers on property evaluation, quantity surveying and on manproject construction agement. ns The manual contains on on relevant information tate the Cypriot real estate uction market and construction tion industry, a description red of the services offered naby RICS, an explanation of the Profesnd sional Standards and he Directives in use, the al Code of Professional Conduct as well as a rdmembers’ list accordn ing to specialisation y. and area of activity.

It also contains all the tion that necessary information n the must be included in valuer’s reports in rela relation to the assessment of a certain property, managing construction costs and successful project management using a project manager. With the brief description of the main standards and certifications that members apply, consumers can receive information according to their needs and the quality of services they will receive.

HIGH STANDARD On a worldwide basis members of RICS are considered high standard professionals whose aim is to provide precise information according to RICS standards. The quality of professional members is based on knowledge and expertise, guided and monitored by the international professional standards of RICS, the strict codes of conduct and professionalism in the areas of evaluations and cost measurement.

The mission of RICS Cyprus is to lead the local market in the development of professional knowledge and standards according to the needs of society, so as to ensure that chartered surveyors (quantity surveyors, property valuers, planners etc) in Cyprus continue to meet the high standards of professionalism and protect the interests of the public, through the best possible regulations, information and transparency.

“The first publication of the list of our members in Cyprus is focused on the consumers who want to be informed and maximise the benefit of the services they require. With our list we aim to gain the confidence of our clients as regards our professionalism and the quality of our services, through a clear understanding of the services we offer but also of the regulations we adhere to,” Director of RICS Cyprus and Greece Liana Toumazou said.

Flowers from the garden The annual Ikebana Club flower exhibition offers much for thought m

I

Most of the displays are in the manner of the Japanese style PLANTOFTHEMONTH Jasminum mesnyi Jasminum mesnyi is better known by its common name Primrose Jasmine. Introduced from south west China in 1900, it was named after William Mesny who lived in China from 1860 for 59 years. It is a large evergreen shrub growing to about 2 metres, which tumbles rather than climbs, and needs to be supported by walls, arches or umbrella stands. The foliage is trifoliate and dark green all year round.

The plant is not fussy about soil conditions and will grow in full sun or part shade. Being salt tolerant, it is a useful plant for coastal gardens.

The bright yellow, semi-double flowers are an asset in the garden as winter begins to ebb but they have no perfume and hardly ever produce seeds. Propagation is by layering and roots will appear where almost every long stem touches the soil. Once they have put down roots they can be severed from the main stem and potted on to grow into another bush. Pruning should take place after flowering or the bush quickly becomes too large to handle. Remove any dead stems and shorten the ends of the other stems. The flowers will appear on new growth next season. Jasminum mesnyi tends to be disease free, so it a good plant to have in the garden.

THINGSTODOINTHEGARDENTHISMONTH THERE is so much to do in the garden in March that it is difficult to know where to start. This is the last month that tree planting is advisable, as the rains tend to peter out. We have been lucky this winter with lots of heavy rain soaking deep down into the earth, th, making tree and shrub planting a much uch easier job.

The air is fragrant with blossom from the fruit trees but the he almond flowers, that weren’t scattered attered by the winds, will be dying by now.

It is not long before the tiny nuts appear on the stems. The he slender stems of freesias, whose e leaves have been above the ground ound for so long, now reveal the beauty of each lovely perfumed d flower.

Poppies also vie for attention. ention.

Having lost my echiumss which attracted so manyy Red Admiral butterflies (right) and bees before they died a year or two ago, I decided to buy some more last year and d planted them in differentt beds, thus encouraging the insects to wander all through my garden.

This is their second year with me and their flowering spikes are

soaring skywards. They are quite shortlived however, lasting for maybe five years at most, but it is very easy to take cuttings and they need no particular treatment to encourage them to make roots from the soft wood stems. They can sulk for a few days when moved s into pots but they get over the move p very ver quickly.

Calla Ca lilies have been pushing up huge hu green leaves for most of the winter.

Now to my great delight the wi beautifully formed virginal white b flowers start to emerge from among o the t dark green foliage.

New growth is appearing on the Damascena roses along with the D tiny leaves of the Banksia roses t but their beautiful flowers will greet us later in the month and g into April. Late winter pruning i always helps the growth, as does a regular feeding. re Now No that the soil has warmed up a little it is possible to sow some som annual seeds, those plants which whi germinate, flower, make seeds seed and die in one season. If you grew annuals last year then you will probably find that some seeds p dropped into the earth and have drop come up on their own. These will probably do better than any that you prob

N MARC MARCH the Philanthes and Ikebana Club of Nicosia, Nicosia which this year celebrated celeb its anniversary, holds it’s 44th anniversa Annual Flower Flow Arrangements Exhib Exhibition at the Hilton Hote Hotel when some of the very tal talented members display th their craft using flowers and branches straight from the garden.

I should modify that statement as in order for the branches and flowers to last throughout the exhibition they have to be prepared in a certain way and much thought over many hours is given to the manner in which they are displayed. Gone are the days when a few flowers and a piece of greenery would suffice to decorate one’s home. Nowadays whole walls can be hung with pictures in flowers and stairways draped with swags and swirls of unusual leaves and berries and not always at Christmas time.

Most of the displays are in the manner of the Japanese style, which is simple yet beautiful. Several of the committee in Nicosia are teachers of their craft, often taking part in various symposia around the world, including Japan and Jordan. Their empathy with flowers is plain to see as you walk around the exhibition. There are always some arrangements in what is known as Western Style, which perhaps those of us who hail from the UK would regard as traditional, being much used

GARDENING with

Patricia Jordan by the late doyens of the flower world, Constance Spry and Julia Clements. A few years ago the European style was much in favour, full of upright and horizontal lines. However not all flowers growing in the garden are upright like guardsmen, and many have gentle curves and graceful lines which can be manipulated to achieve the desired effect.

The Club meets every two weeks at the Hilton Hotel from October to May and anyone who loves flowers is most welcome.

Every year the club is able to support many local charities by raffles and membership fees and in February this year €2,000 was donated to the Archbishop’s Fund for Poor Families.

The exhibition this year takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday March 12 and 13. Contact Lina on 99 671222 for more details

White calla lily

have bought recently, as they are acclimatised to our weather. When I buy packets of seeds I put them into the fridge for a few weeks before I am going to sow them, which makes them think that they are having a winter outside. I remove them a couple of days or so before I intend to sow them and usually have great results. Sweet peas are also annuals and flower much earlier here than elsewhere in Europe, as they get such an early start! I prefer to grow the ‘Heritage’ pea ‘Matucana’ which is an old variety and has been grown in Cyprus for a very long time. It only has three or four flowers on each stem but the perfume is very rich and heady. After the first little set of leaves appear nip out the growth to ensure that the plant will send out more shoots from the bottom. This stops the plant from growing lanky and it will eventually produce more flowering stems.

Some seedlings of bi-annual wallflowers and verbascums which I sowed last autumn are ready to go in the ground now. The white fleshy roots are popping out of the holes in the bottom of the pots, meaning that they either need to be potted into a slightly larger pot or into the ground. This I will do once I have dug over the soil in the spot where I intend them to grow permanently. Wallflowers here will over-

winter once they are mature and they then become part of the spring scene each year.

The early narcissus will have gone over now and it is so tempting to cut back the leaves or tie them up while they look so untidy. Please don’t do that, as this is the time that the flower is forming within the bulb for next year and the plant needs the leaves to help in the process. Only when the leaves turn brown should you remove them. This is the time to feed the bulbs though. A fertiliser which feed the whole plant in equal numbers is ideal for this.

24 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Property LEGAL ISSUES WITH GEORGE COUCOUNIS

A court’s leave to execute a judgment New hotels will have to cater to a new type of tourist

Is it time for added Russian investment?

While there isn’t much money around there are opportunities

By Antonis Loizou FRICS DUE TO the economic recession in most countries, every country is searching for foreign and local investors to help regenerate economies and provide employment. Cyprus is a known holiday, holiday home and permanent destination for Russians, whereas its business centre status is another attraction. Russian companies as well as American and European companies who want to invest in Russia have a preference for Cyprus, which has attracted 23 per cent of the companies investing in Russia. To this end, the favourable double taxation treaty Cyprus has with Russia is a key player. In addition, the existing permanent Russian community in Cyprus, Russian churches and newspapers, schools etc, is an added attraction to the Russian investor or holiday home maker. Interest from Russian tourists is on the up, with 334,083 tourists in 2011 and 474,419 in 2012 – an increase of 42 per cent, and a trend expected to be followed by another 30 per cent increase this year.

Cyprus has numerous schemes to attract overseas investors, large and small (with the acquisition of a €300,000 house a foreigner can acquire a permanent residency visa, whereas with an investment over €10m he can acquire a Cypriot EU passport). But then what type of investment can a possible investor make in Cyprus for it to be worth his while?

Real estate is not very lucrative at this point of time, other than for investors who have access to potential buyers

and can be involved in the marina and golf projects. But even those, there are so many projects around it makes their attraction difficult to sustain. Already one (existing) golf project in Paphos is expanding with another 18 holes and in addition to the existing unsold 300 units will add another 400. Limassol marina is doing well (with 70 per cent of the buyers being Russians and other Europeans), but then it is the first and only one, and its results cannot be projected to the other two marinas and one pending.

In our search for suitable investment opportunities in Cyprus we came up with tourist based projects and health care/ sports and education.

Tourism is on the up, and the future expectations are positive with respect to top quality hotels on the beach. This new generation of hotels must be combined with spas, entertainment and large scale conference halls which can accommodate around 1,000 people. These hotels are more suitable to Limassol and Paphos. There are many hotels available for sale at very reasonable prices.

Private hospitals are another option especially for those that can provide top medical brains and equipment to attract our Arab neighbours. A connection with say an Israeli hospital (European/Russian) is one way that could attract part of the over 200m Arab residents, as well as those from other countries. There are a number of private new hospital buildings for sale – what is needed is top class equipment and doctors.

Higher education is another option usually a branch of a European/US uni-

WHAT YOU GET FOR

versity to cover not only local needs but those from the Middle and Far East.

Sports centres are another option taking advantage of the good weather. A sports venture including football, tennis, swimming, gymnastics etc, to cooperate with local authorities and use the existing dams for sailing, canoeing and other water sports could be an all year operation, attracting foreign teams for training - local sports clubs are willing to provide their own installations for use.

The recent success by a Russian firm to establish a sailing school in Paphos is a start, as is the expected Scuba diving investments (to be) all over the island.

Retirement projects of a comprehensive nature based on the American model are also showing signs of increasing interest.

Beach or near the beach hotels could be converted into retirement homes with full facilities including a 24 hour staff service and doctors in house. It is a relatively low cost investment. An organised project of such a nature can attract all sorts of middle income groups.

Cyprus in general, due to its Christian Orthodox religion which is almost identical to the Russian one, the existing Russian community, the numerous Russian speaking locals, the availability of hundreds of entertainment places and the short distances is very attractive for the foreign market considering investments.

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

ANY judgment of the court is enforceable and can be executed in various ways, such as the issue of a writ of movables against the judgment debtor, the filing and registration of the judgment as a memo upon any immovable property, through initiating bankruptcy proceedings, by filing an application for the payment of the judgment debt by monthly instalments, the issue of a writ of sale of immovable property or writ of attachment, as well as through other legal steps against the debtor or his property.

The judgment is valid and enforceable for a period of ten years and thereafter it must be renewed.

When ten years have elapsed or where any change has taken place by death or otherwise of the parties entitled or liable to execution, the party alleging himself to be entitled to execution may apply to the court for leave to issue the execution accordingly.

And such court may make an order to that effect, or may order any issue or question necessary to determine the rights of the parties be tried. Moreover, such an application for leave to issue execution after ten years may be made ex parte, if the court is satisfied that it is impracticable to serve a summons or give notice thereof and the property on which it is desired to levy execution has devolved by death.

The court must be satisfied that it is not practicable for the summons to be served or notice to be given to the parties affected. The importance of the provisions of the rules is that the judgment creditor is obliged to execute the judgment within the period of ten years while it is enforceable, unless, for reasons attributed to the judgment debtor or beyond the creditor’s control, such judgment was not fully satisfied.

There also may be other

reasons, for example any delay by the Land Registry to place a property for sale in public auction or legal steps taken to cancel such forced sale. After the time period has elapsed, the judgment creditor is entitled to apply to have the judgment or the order renewed for a further two or three years. Before the order is issued, the application must be served on the judgment debtor calling him to appear if he so wishes and be heard in the proceedings. It is paramount for the judgment debtor to be informed of such application, unless there are reasons satisfying the court that it is not necessary or practicable for him to be heard. In the event he was not notified and the order for the renewal of the judgment was issued, he has the right to apply and have the order set aside.

The judgment debtor is always entitled to be informed of the aforesaid application and to be given the opportunity to appear before the court and be heard. The courts are now reluctant to issue an order for the renewal of a judgment or order on an ex parte application, having regard to the provisions of the rules as well as on the basis of the Constitution which provides that in the determination of his civil rights and obligations, every person is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent, impartial and competent court established by the law, and every person has the right to present his case before the court and have sufficient time necessary for its preparation.

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

€275,000 compiled by Peter Stevenson

How much: €275,000 What you get: This two-bedroom flat in Limassol is in a quiet suburb just 1km from the sea. It is a ground floor apartment with a private garden and communal swimming pool.

From: www.chris-michael.com.cy Tel: 25 313135

How much: €275,000 What you get: This four-bedroom detached house in Aradippou comes with a large living and dining room area and is only five minutes drive from the beach.

From: www.propertyincyprus.com Tel: 70003211

How much: €275,000 What you get: This three-bedroom villa is located on small project on the outskirts of Frenaros in the Famagusta district.

It comes with a private pool, barbeque area and gazebo.

From: www.buysellcyprus.com Tel: 80000222

25 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

ADVERTISER helps you find what you’re looking for

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€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 ***************************** WANTED: Experienced Dog Groomer - Full/Part time hours For well-established business in Limassol. For more info please contact: 96578094 *****************************

JOB WANTED ***************************** BOY from Bangladesh looking for job. Any job, has visa. Call 96482658

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

LESSONS ***************************** PRIVATE TUITION experienced, UK-qualified 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

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

PERSONAL ***************************** GENTLEMEN. 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.

Dr. Pathologist self employed, good financially. She prefers to spend her free time playing tennis, swimming, exploring nature. +357 99 314108, 70005150 or Email: singles@ kronos2.net *****************************

MISCELLANEOUS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - CYPRUS Is drink costing you more than

just money? AA could be the answer.

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

Ayia Napa Monday 97798043 Larnaca Tuesday (Polish spk) 96616589 Thursday 24645523 / 99259264 Limassol Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday / Saturday 25368265 / 99559322 Nicosia Wednesday/Sunday 99013596 Paphos Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday 99916331 / 99399240 Details of meetings are available on www.aa-europe. net ***************************

SERVICES ***************************** 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

************************** 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.kdfl yscreens.com ***************************** SWIFT SERVICE AND REPAIRS air-cons, commercial and domestic fridges and freezers, ice machines, cool rooms, supply and fi t 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 *****************************

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND 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

**************************** FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554.

PETS 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 ***************************** DILAN is a male dog approximately 2 years old. He is nice with kids and people. He is looking for a forever home.

For adoptions call 99 520 511 Monday-Friday between hours 10-2 or email ndsadoptions@ gmail.com. Visit by appointments only ***************************** AGAPI is now in a foster home!

She is very sweet and playful!

Agapi is looking for a permanent home! For adoptions call 99 520 511 Monday-Friday or email ndsadoptions@gmail. com ***************************** ENGLISH COCKER PUPPIES FOR SALE (black girl and black and tan boy) will be available for sale at the beginning of April, with an excellent pedigree, vaccinated, microchipped, free from eye cataract, kidney failure and hips dysplasia. Living with a family with kids, other dogs and a cat (€450). Also an adult golden cocker male and a black and tan female, fully vaccinated are given for free to the right homes. For photos look at www.costopa.net or call 99884578 Anna (Nicosia) or email to costopa@gmail.com *************************** VICO KENNEL: Dog Training Centre and Boarding Kennel.

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

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

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

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

Any inspection welcome. €7950 ono. Tel: 99680747 ***************************** BLACK HONDA CBR1100XX SUPERBLACKBIRD registered new in June 2011 as new condition with 12000 km. Any inspection welcome. €6950.

Call Philip 99680747 *****************************

PROPERTIES WANTED ***************************** “WWW.CYPRUS101.COM” We have many clients asking for properties up to 200,000 euros. If you have a property to sell in the Paphos area with title deeds (or AX umber) please contact us via our website www.cyprus101.com or telephone Diane on 99455068.

For automatic updates on new listings and price changes use our Listings Notifier or join us on www.facebook. com/cyprus101” *****************************

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA TO LET 1 bedroom upper floor house, large veranda near restaurant Periyiali in Acropolis 5 Aeantos Street €370 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 FLATS/HOUSES FOR RENT

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

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 TO LET fully furnished upper house in Ayios Dometios. 3 bedrooms, 2 wc 2 sitting rooms, 2 verandas, a/c in rooms. €480pm. Call 99628100 ***************************** 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, 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 (pho-

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 25 Employment Miscellaneous 25 Pets 25 Lessons 25 Health & Fitness 25 Personal 25 Services 25 For Sale Miscellaneous -For Sale Land/ Property Business 25 For Sale Motor vehicles 25 Properties Wanted 26 To Let Nicosia 26 To Let Limassol 27 To Let Larnaca 27 To Let Paphos 27 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia 30 For Sale Limassol 30 For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 30 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 30 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads --

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

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

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

26 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

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tos on website).

5. 3 bedr luxury detached house, 200sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 3wc, blinds and curtains, open plan kitchen with cooker, oven and dishwasher, veranda with bbq, good size garden, covered parking, storage room, alarm system, in a quiet area – Archangellos €1100 (photos in the website).

6. 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. Available end of February – Makedonitissa €1600

(H4MAK0023-R), (photos on the website).

7. 3 bedr detached ground floor house with separate maid’s room, with very big garden with grass (200sq.m) and covered patio with bbq and bar, central heating, full a/c, 180sq.m, FULLY FURNISHED or NOT, 2 covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighbourhood opposite Acropolis park - Acropolis €1500 - H3ACS0004-R (photos on website).

8. 4 bedr very big luxury semi detached house 350sq.m, with big separate basement 80sq.m with 2 rooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Consists of big sitting and dining areas upstairs, big kitchen with big fam-

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TO LET NICOSIA ily 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 stadium.

Available END of February Makedonitissa €1500.

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

TO LET NICOSIA 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 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 din-

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TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

ing 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. 4 bedrs new luxury detached house, 450sq.m, central heating, full a/c, office space, separate maid’s room, big kitchen with sitting room and fireplace and all the electrical appliances, all the sitting areas viewing the garden with grass, blinds on all windows downstairs, very big bedrooms with parquet floor, main bedroom with jacuzzi, 2 covered parking spaces near Alpha Mega supermarket and English School. AVAILABLE END OF JUNE 2013 – Strovolos €2700 (H4ST1003-R), (photos on 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 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. 3 bedr +office space +attic room +separate big maid’s/ playroom in the basement semi detached house, recently renovated with big sitting and dining areas with marble floor, big kitchen with cooker and oven and family room, central heating, 3 bathrooms, 4 wc, 6 a/c units, covered parking, behind Hilton Park near the park – Engomi €1700 (H4ENG0003-R), (photos in

FOR RENT

English-Painter & Decorator

2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment in Larnaca near new hospital. €400 per month including service charge and refuse collection Call 99358916

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Tel. Tony on 99176557

27 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Advertiser

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

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 www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225/96422225/96422226, w w w.landtouris tes t ates . com

hood – 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, 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

***************************** 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 neighbour-

TO LET NICOSIA covered veranda, fireplace, covered parking and big over floor heated covered swimming pool on the ground floor, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighbourhood near a playground and near Ippokration private hospital – Engomi €1500 (A4ENG0003-R) (photos in the website) 6. 2 bedr new luxury apartment, modern nicely furnished, storage heaters, 2 a/c, 100sq.m, big covered verandah with nice view, covered parking off Digenis Akritas street near Debenhams shop, walking distance to the centre. PRICE INCLUDES COMMON EXPENSES. – Lykavitos €450 (A1LYK0020-R) (photos in the website) 7.

1 bedr cozy luxury apar tment,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 €500 (A1DAS0009-R) (photos in the website) 8. 2 bedr spacious renovated apartment 100sq.m with separate big kitchen, air condition for hot and cold in all the rooms, covered veranda, nicely newly fully furnished , off Kyriakou Matsi street very close to the centre on foot– Agioi Omologites €550 (A2AOM0003-R) (photos in

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

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 middle of February – Acropolis €800 A2ACS0002-R (photos in the website) .

10. 2 bedr luxury spacious apartment, 85sq.m, big sitting room, big fully equipped kitchen, nicely modern furnished, storage heaters, full a/c, big bedrooms, covered veranda with nice view, covered parking, off Prodromou street. – Engomi €600 (A2ENG0017-R) (photos in the website) 11. 2 bedr luxury spacious apartment on a small modern building with central heating independent (with petrol), full a/c, solid parquet floor, big bedrooms, big sitting room with open plan kitchen, big covered veranda, FULLY MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking off Makarios Avenue in a quiet area near the centre - Nicosia €800 (A2NIC0030-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 €650 (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 (A4ENG0003-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, 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 – Stro-

TO LET NICOSIA volos €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.landtouristestates. com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225 / 96-422225 / 96422226 w w w.landtouristestates. com ***************************** 2 BDRM flat in the centre of Nicosia. Rent €450. For information call 99453663, 99663927.

LIMASSOL NEAR ELIAS BEACH HOTEL, like new, 2 bed f/f bright apart.

5 mins to beach, solarH/W, A/C, TV, W/M, M/Wave etc.

28 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

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No common expenses. Both inland and sea views. Small quiet building. Just painted.

Cozy. Long let. Tel 99474573.

FOR RENT 1,2,3,4,5 bedroom houses, ats 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 en-suite 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 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 ďŹ ve 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, ofďŹ ce, laundry shoot, four w/c, en-suite master bedroom with walk-inwardrobe. 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. â‚Ź1300. 99675752 TRADITIONAL VILLAGE STONE HOUSE IN APESHIA. Very quiet village, 20mins from Limassol. Road to heritage school/Troodos.

2 bedrooms, ofďŹ ce available top oor with veranda great view of mountains. Small courtyard with trees. Electric solar water. A/C-toilet in main bedroom. Semi/full furnished.

Fitted kitchen with electrical appliances, ďŹ replace. Toilet/ shower. â‚Ź550pm negotiable.

Tel 96891800.

GROUND FLOOR HOUSE,

U SEFUL PHONE NUMBERS POLICE DIVISION HQ

HOSPITALS ........ 1400

Nicosia ........................22 802 020 Limassol ......................25 805 050 Larnaca .......................24 804 040 Paphos ........................26 806 060 Famagusta ..................23 803 030

Nicosia General .............22-801400 Nicosia Makarios ...........22-405000 Limassol Old ................25-305333 Limassol New ................25-801100 Larnaca Old...................24-630312 Larnaca New .................24-630300 Paphos ..........................26-821800 Famagusta ....................23-821211

Drug Law Enforcement Unit ......................................... 1498 (Confidential Information) Rescue Co-ordination Centre ............................. 1441 (Immediate Response Service for Aeronautical or Maritime Accident & Incidents) Game Fund Service: (Wildlife and hunting) Central offices (Nicosia): 22867786, 22-867897 Nicosia: 22-664606, 99-445697 Limassol: 25-343800, 99-445728, Larnaca/Famagusta: 24-805128, 99-634325 Paphos: 26-306211, 99-445679

furnished renovated this year. Laminated parke oor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms. Rent ₏590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775

LARNACA ***************************** PYLA, quiet area village border. Three bedroom ďŹ rst oor apartment, bathroom, en suite. Downstairs toilet, large lounge/kitchen diner.

Two balconies, rural and sea views. All mod cons, linen etc.

Tastefully ďŹ tted out. â‚Ź550 pcm email Sylval@cytanet.com. cy Tel 99141162/99923884

1 BEDROOM at in Ermou Square area Larnaca - 2 bedroom at in Phaneromenis area Larnaca. Call 96693375 ***************************** 1. Superior Real Estate Larnaca. Simply stunning one bedroom fully furnished property on gated development in Pyla. Available for immediate occupation. ₏250.00 Ref. TLL514. Tel 24815926 2. Superior Real Estate Larnaca. 3 bedroom fully furnished villa, available now Oroklini. Ref. TLL523 Please call to arrange a viewing Tel. 24815926 3. http://www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com –LARGE RANGE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. From studio apart-

TO LET LARNACA

TO LET LARNACA

TO LET PAPHOS

ments to 5 bedroom villa’s for rent, all properties have detailed descriptions, professional photographs. Interactive Virtual/Video Tours.

Please visit our website. http://www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com 4. http://www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com. License No. 419. LANDLORDS AVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY WITH US FOR FREE. Tel. 24815926 Email. info@superiorrealestatelarnaca.com *****************************

Verandas. Central Heating & A/C, Large beautiful Garden, Panoramic Sea & Mountain views. Suitable for Retired People, Long Lease, Unfurnished, Tel. 99490953, 26815534 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, â‚Ź475 per month o.n.o. Call : 99479006 KISSONERGA, ST KONONAS AREA, 3 bedroom apartment, with elevator, private car park, a/c, stove, humidiďŹ er, private roof garden with barbeque, beautiful sea and mountain views, unfurnished, â‚Ź380 o.no, please call: 99553741 ***************************** 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 ***************************** LETYMPOU - Traditional Detached 2 bedroom Property set on a large plot with Spectacular Mountain Views, F/F to a very high standard, Wood burning Stove, outbuildings 500 Euros TALA - Modern 2 and 3 bedroom apartments U/F, P/F and F/F, some with communal pool, A/C, Separate Stor-

age and own Parking 325 Euros TREMITHOUSA - Traditional Spacious 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, and Large Mature enclosed Garden, Open Fireplace, Beautiful Fitted Kitchen, A/C, Wonderful Family Home 400 Euros

PAPHOS TALA: 3 bedroom villa, swimming pool, unfurnished, white goods a/c. Please call. Asking price â‚Ź550 per month. Call 99 400697.

KISSONERGA, 3 bedroom villa, unfurnished, 2 bedroom upstairs one with en-suite+ extra w/c, 1 bedroom downstairs with en-suite, airconditoned throughout, garage for 2 cars, storage room, swimming pool, with established garden, quiet area, beautiful mountain and sea views, ₏600 p/m – o.n.o call : 99553741 LUXURY TWO STOREY VILLA IN PEYIA 4 Bedrooms,3 Bathrooms, Large living/ Dinning area, Kitchen, Large

7JTJUJOH "UIFOT

Narcotics Helpline ......... 1410 (Outside hours.............. 22304160) AIDS Advisory Bureau ................................ 22-302826 Domestic Violence Centre .......................................... 1440 (Emergency Centre for Victims) Drug Info & Poison Control ............... 1401 Cyprus Samaritans ... 77777267 Police Duty Officer ......... 1499 (Confidential Information)

Forest Fires ..................... 1407 Airports Larnaca ..........................77778833 Paphos ...........................77778833

Family, friends? Why stay in a hotel? A new, comfortable, modern and fully-furnished apartment, giving you greater leisure and at a lower price, sounds much better. And with the added bonus of being located in one of the most vibrant areas in Athens.

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Krakow, Poland 4 nights including return flights, private transfers, 3* hotel B&B and FREE day excursion to Auschwitz

Departure dates 13 May - ¤399 per person 27 May - ¤369 per person 10 June - ¤439 per person

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TREMITHOUSA - Stunning Traditional Stone Built House 2 bedrooms, Swimming Pool, Open Fireplace, Fitted kitchen with white goods, P/T or F/F, an early viewing is highly recommended 350 Euros URGENTLY WANTED –Bungalows 2/3 Bedrooms MORE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 99862922 ***************************** MR RENT PAPHOS, THE LEADING PROPERTY RENTAL AGENCY IN PAPHOS OFFICE: 26271858 (00357) IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT WE ARE THE RENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT OFFERING FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENT COLLECTION SERVICE 1. UNIVERSAL AREA â‚Ź450 luxury modern 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment. Available fully furnished with modern furniture including plasma TV & satellite, fully equipped modern kitchen with top brand appliances. Situated on top oor with lift. Complex with communal pools & indoor gym. Great central location walking distance to bus routes & shops. Website reference number: RTL_395 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 & pri-

29 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

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TO LET PAPHOS

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TO LET PAPHOS

vate pool. Website reference number: rtl_447.

Also available modern detached 3 bedroom villa on this private road.

Website reference number: RTL_572 3. KISSONERGA €650 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 & fittings, including black out blinds, Nilesat satelitte & pressurised water system. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_497 4. CORAL BAY €675 detached modern 3 bedroom villa, situated close to the restaurants & beach of Coral Bay. Entry to villa on top floor offering two double bedrooms & bathroom, leading down to an open plan living area & one further bedroom & family bathroom. Enclosed mature garden with pri-

vate pool. Available furnished with good furniture. Website reference number: RTL_544 5. LOWER CHLORAKA €750 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 mature garden with fruit trees & private pool. Spacious living area with real fireplace.

Downstairs guest wc. Master bedroom with ensuite. Available fully furnished. Website reference number: RTL_550 6. KATO PAPHOS €800 large 4 bedroom detached villa situated in the sought after residential area of Limnaria. Walking distance to the beach and the many amenities of Kato Paphos. Spacious living accommodation offering an enclosed garden with c/pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture & solar panels. Website reference number: RTL_442 7. MESOGI €1250 luxury detached 4 bedroom 5 bathroom

villas. One bedroom & ensuite on ground floor. Spacious kitchen with separate utility room. Available unfurnished though includes gas central heating plus real fireplace in living area. Enclosed garden & private pool offering stunning views. Gated entrance with undercover parking. Situated on a private road. Website reference number: RTL_628 8. CHLORAKA €2,200 substantial luxury 4 bedroom villa, spacious (350 sq meters), beautifully designed with unique detail. Conservatory with views of landscaped gardens. Large modern fitted kitchen, living room with working fireplace. Circular dining room with vaulted dome ceiling. Stunning private pool area. Available unfurnished.

Website reference numer: RTL_579 Tel: 97790883 office: 26271858 visit our website for many more properties www.mrrent-paphos.net email: info@ mrrent-paphos.net

***************************** FOR RENT A SELECTION of 1 to 5 bedroom houses & apartments F/F & U/F Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the Kings, Tsada, Timi, Chlorakas & Kato Paphos Landlord & Owners please call 99329357 Or please view at are website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus

ing area, separate utility area with granite work tops, 2 bedrooms on the top level master en suite. Central heating, AC, fly screens, private pool, enclosed and fenced garden.

Ref: 1199 €900 MESOGI 4 bedroom villa with private pool, nice quality fixtures, granite work tops, separate utility room, downstairs bedroom with en suite, fireplace, ac, 3 upstairs bedroom master en suite, separate bath, nice views, pets welcome, offered unfurnished Ref 783 €700 CHLORAKA 4 bedroom large villa with quality fittings , furnished to a very high standard, downstairs bedroom, 3

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30 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

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FOR SALE PAPHOS

ard with central heating, full AC, off street parking, private pool, stunning views, quiet location. Ref: 765 €900 MESOGI Large 3 bedroom apartment with full AC, bathroom, kitchen, separate utility room, clean and tidy building with without communal area, walking distance to all local amenities. Offered unfurnished Ref: 818 €400 SEA CAVES 2 bedroom town house, furnished with central heating, fire place, nice sea views, walking distance to Paphos the sea Ref 819 €300 Please call for a free viewing on Office 26600450 Mobile: 97614070 many more properties on our website at www.flowron.com Your Vision is our Mission LANDLORDS IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT, PLEASE CALL US!!!!!! **************************** PEYIA – 3 bedroom villa with modern quality furniture and finishes. Central heating, sky, alarm, infinity pool and stunnning sea and mountain views €700 per month, call: 99389426 BRAND NEW APT, opposite Poseidonio Gym, near Carrefour, F/F, a/c, great quality, 1 bdrm, from €340p.m.Tel 99403261

PLE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTIES. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL. CALL 97648440 FOR MORE INFORMATION. LANDLORDS CALL IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT.!!!

1. MESA CHORIO– 2 bed 2 bath fully furnished ground floor apartment set on an elevated position on this prestigious development.

Open plan living area. Good sized kitchen. 2 double , bedrooms, master with ensuite 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. 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.

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ing. Close to shops, banks, quiet apartment. Communal pool and gardens 50 metres covered area. Was €90,000 REDUCED €55,000 PAPHOS EMBA 4 bedroom House, 3 bathrooms, Veranda, Large roof terrace. Parking, fantastic central location, lounge, kitchen, fantastic sea views, Near all amenities.

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31 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Compiled by Rosie Ogden

Motoring

Prestigious Geneva Show prepares to open its doors All the usual razzmatazz on show with plenty for visitors to see THE world’s most prestigious Auto Salon, the Geneva Motor Show, kicks off this week with all the usual razzmatazz and plenty for visitors to see: eye-catching concepts, model launches and all the rest.

As the motor industry struggles to stay afloat in these straitened times, shows like Geneva play an important role in assuring the public that research and development continue in the industry, and new ideas can be run past potential customers – they may appear on concepts that will never go into production, but they give us an insight into the way things are developing.

Toyota has released the first images of its FT-86 Open and i-Road concepts ahead of their debuts at Geneva.

The FT-86 Open concept previews a potential future development of the GT86 sports coupe. Toyota is using the concept to gauge public reaction while carrying out engineering tests on a prototype, while the i-Road promises to generate a lot of interest, having been developed as a compact, emissions-free personal mobility concept which is designed to offer fast and efficient urban transport for two people. Also at the Toyota stand will be the production-ready Auris Touring Sports and the fourth-generation RAV4, supported by two design studies – the RAV4 Premium and RAV4 Adventure.

McLaren will debut the P1 in Geneva: at a recent preview the interior was hidden with heavily tinted windows, but pictures show a sparse cabin with a considerable amount of carbon fibre on display – in the dashboard, floor, pillars, doors and rockers, with a single piece shaped for the centre stack.

The exterior seems unchanged from the concept: the front retains the motif of McLaren’s ‘tick’ logo while the rear is still dominated by black outlets and diffusers, bordered by a thin row of LED lamps.

The new Audi RS Q3, meanwhile, follows the German marque’s familiar line of RS tuning: a powerful engine is combined with a fast transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.

The engine in the RS Q3 is the familiar five-cylinder TFSI found in the TT RS. Peak output from the turbocharged and direct-injected 2.5-litre unit is pegged at 310 horsepower and 309 poundfeet of torque, which is available between 1,500 and 5,200 rpm.

Audi says this is enough to accelerate its new crossover from 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds and see it easily reach its limited top speed of 155

McLaren will debut the P1 in Geneva: at a recent preview the interior was hidden with heavily tinted windows, but pictures show a sparse cabin with a considerable amount of carbon fibre on display – in the dashboard, floor, pillars, doors and rockers, with a single piece shaped for the centre stack

The new Citroën C3 (left) will make its world debut at the Geneva Show, having sold almost three million since the model’s launch in 2002. Alfa Romeo meanwhile will unveil the 4C, a ‘compact supercar’ which is designed by Alfa and produced in the Maserati plant in Modena mph. Drive is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive The new Citroën C3 will make its world debut at the Geneva Show. Having sold almost 3 million since the model’s launch in 2002, Citroën says it now has ‘fresh features to strengthen and enhance its appeal’.

Set for launch in early summer in right-hand drive configuration, the new C3 uses ‘Créative Technologie’ with the panoramic Zenith windscreen - a proven success with customers that

provides best-in-class visibility Efficient engines will deliver CO2 emissions as low as 87g/km, with the option of the brand’s new PureTech 3-cylinder petrol powerplants that deliver up to 15% more power and a 25% reduction in fuel consumption compared to the previous generation 4-cylinder units they replace.

New equipment includes a reversing camera to make manoeuvres easier. One of the most compact vehicles in its segment, with a 10.8m turning circle, the new C3 is designed for city driving,

but Citroën says it also offers a ‘spacious and practical interior’.

The 300-litre boot is among the largest in its class and there are lots of storage compartments, while semihigh seats ‘make for easy access and give occupants a commanding view of their surroundings’.

Powered by Citroën’s newgeneration PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines with a 1.0 or 1.2-litre capacity, fuel and CO2 efficiency has improved by around 25%, giving between 62.8 and 65.7mpg, and CO2 emissions between 99 and 104g/km. A

VTi 120 engine is also available with a manual or automatic gearbox.

It will also be available with four diesel engines - HDi 70, e-HDi 70, HDi 90 and e-HDi 115.

Two new Honda Concept models will be making their European debut at Geneva: the Civic Wagon concept will be lining up alongside the next generation NSX Concept and the CR-V featuring the new 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine - giving a taste of what’s to come from Honda over the next couple of years.

The Civic Wagon concept

strongly hints at the design direction of the final production version. Honda hopes this new derivative will strengthen the Civic range while the new Honda NSX Concept suggests a potential direction for the next-generation NSX’s interior design.

The European Institute of Design (IED) in Turin will unveil its new Gloria concept, developed in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, while Alfa Romeo itself will have the world premiere of the 4C, a ‘compact supercar’ which is designed

by Alfa Romeo and produced in the Maserati plant in Modena. The mid-engined rear-wheel drive coupé will be the first car to mark the return of the Italian brand to the United States and thus inaugurate Alfa Romeo’s global growth plan.

Derived directly from the concept which raised many eyebrows at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, the 4C uses technologies and materials derived from the 8C Competizione - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive - and technologies from the latest standard models from Alfa Romeo currently on the market, but “thoroughly developed to enhance the sports appeal of the new car”. It is powered by the new 1750 Turbo Petrol engine with direct injection and aluminium block, has “Alfa TCT” twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA selector with the new Race mode.

32 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport ‘Rory McIlroy will recover from Honda Classic exit’

Maze tops perfect season with record

DWAYNE Wade scored 22 points as the Miami Heat overcame a relatively quiet night from LeBron James to extend their winning streak to 13 games with a 98-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Shooting just four for 14, James scored 18 points, though he did also add 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Marc Gasol paced the Grizzlies with 24 points.

Paul Pierce poured in 26 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors 94-86.

After scoring 52 points for the Warriors in a defeat last time out, Stephen Curry’s relatively modest haul of 25 this time out was again not enough.

Jamal Crawford scored 24 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers ease to a 105-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was the Cavaliers’ first loss in three games played without All Star Kyrie Irving.

DeJuan Blair’s 16 points led eight players in double figures as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 130-102.

Marcus Thornton led the Kings with 25 points.

Vince Carter scored 20 points against his old side as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 98-90.

Dirk Nowitzki also scored 20 for the Mavericks, while Deron Williams led the Nets with 24.

Greivis Vasquez had 25 points and nine assists to help the New Orleans Hornets see off the Detroit Pistons 100-95.

Thirty points from Carmelo Anthony lifted the New York Knicks to a 96-88 victory over the Washington Wizards, while Paul George had 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers beat the Toronto Raptors 93-81.

Enes Kanter shone with 23 points and 22 boards as the Utah Jazz overwhelmed the Charlotte Bobcats 98-68, the Houston Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 118-110 and the Phoenix Suns saw off the Atlanta Hawks 92-87.

McDowell defends champ after ‘mini-crisis’

The defending champion quit midway through his second round on Friday, eventually claiming a sore wisdom tooth was behind his early exit from the Honda Classic

TINA Maze topped an extraordinary season with a new World Cup points record of 2,024 after her victory in the women’s downhill yesterday gave her wins in all five disciplines this season.

The dominant Slovenian - now the first woman to have broken the 2,000 points barrier - did even better than Austria’s Hermann Maier, who totalled 2,000 points exactly when he won the men’s overall World Cup in 2000.

In one minute and 40.46 seconds, Maze bagged her ninth World Cup victory of the season and became only the second woman in modern skiing to win in all five disciplines in the same season after Croatia’s Janica Kostelic in 2006.

“I’ve already been very happy but rarely as much as today,” World Cup champion Maze told reporters as she sported a T-shirt with 2,000 written on.

“I don’t know what I’m happiest about. So many things are happening to me today,” added the 29-year-old, who had only won once previously in the downhill in St Moritz in 2008.

“There’s the 2,000 points but I really needed to prove myself that I could win a downhill again. In St Moritz, I was lucky.

“I could not miss a chance like this. I love the course and the conditions were perfect today,” she said.

Kostelic told Reuters: “Her season has just been perfect.”

place mentally”, according to ESPN. But later released a statement saying: “I sincerely apologise to the Honda Classic and PGA Tour for my sudden withdrawal.

“I have been suffering with a sore wisdom tooth, which is due to come out in the near future. It began bothering me again last night, so I relieved it with (painkiller) Advil.

“It was very painful again this morning, and I was simply unable to concentrate. It was really bothering me and had begun to affect my playing partners.”

McIlroy has 14 days to sub-

Tina Maze set a new World Cup points record

IN BRIEF

Wade leads Heat to win against Grizzlies

GRAEME McDowell backed his friend Rory McIlroy to emerge from his “mini-crisis” after the world number one withdrew from the Honda Classic.

The defending champion quit midway through his second round on Friday claiming he was “in a bad place mentally” on a dramatic day in Palm Beach - then later released a statement to say a sore wisdom tooth was the reason for his early exit.

Beginning on the back nine, McIlroy played his opening eight holes of the round in seven over par, then found the water at the 18th - his ninth hole - and immediately quit the tournament.

It was McIlroy’s first ever withdrawal from a tournament as a professional, but the third time this year he has failed to reach Saturday - playing with clubs from his new sponsors, Nike - having missed the cut in Abu Dhabi and been knocked out of the Accenture Match Play Championship in the first round by Shane Lowry.

Fellow Northern Irishman McDowell, who was tied for 11th going into the weekend, told the PGA website: “I’m sure he knows what he needs to do. Only he knows where he’s at in his own mind. We all experience moments of this in our career.

“This is only a mini-crisis.

I look at the Match Play as a complete anomaly. He’s missed two cuts, big deal.

There’s a lot of golf left.”

Another compatriot to offer support was Lowry, who tweeted: “Gonna put this out there. Rory will win the masters.”

McIlroy initially told reporters he was “in a bad

mit written evidence to the PGA to support his claim, with a fine or suspension possible if the body is not satisfied with his explanation.

The link between McIlroy’s slump in form and his new clubs has already been speculated on, and although he admitted the change had affected his confidence he had insisted on Thursday following his level-par opening round he was rounding the corner.

Whatever the reasons for Friday’s events, playing partner Ernie Els seemd unimpressed by McIlroy’s with-

drawal.

He said: “I’m a great fan of Rory’s, but I don’t think that was the right thing to do.

“He’s feeling terrible about it, I know he is. That’s the last thing he wants to do is walk off.

“Yeah, if he’s seven over or whatever he was, you’ve got something bothering you, (under) the rules of play you can walk off at any time.

“Obviously something was seriously bothering him, and he was not going to make the cut and probably didn’t want to continue playing that way.”

Serena in trouble after trying to photograph Tiger

Real and Barcelona closer to Seabrook scores in OT to reaching Euroleague playoffs sustain Blackhawks streak

TENNIS world number one Serena Williams found herself in trouble with security officials at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic on Friday after she tried to photograph Tiger Woods.

Under PGA Tour rules, spectators are not allowed to take pictures or video of players on competition days.

A short video posted on CBSSports.com shows a tournament official pulling Williams’ phone down as she is about to snap a photograph with her phone during the second round of the Honda Classic. “Apparently you can’t take pictures of golfers. In my defence peeps always take pics of tennis players,” Williams tweeted later.

SPANISH giants Real Madrid and Barcelona moved closer to the knockout stage of Europe’s premier club basketball competition with dramatic wins, while sixtimes Euroleague winners CSKA Moscow also registered an important victory.

Croatia’s American-born playmaker Dontaye Draper hit his only field goal of the game on the buzzer to give Real Madrid a 76-73 home win over Germany’s Bamberg, while Barca ground out a 71-69 success against Khimki Moscow to also improve to 8-1.

Serbian centre Nenad Krstic scored 20 points as CSKA beat Alba Berlin 80-65 at home.

BRENT Seabrook scored in overtime as the Chicago Blackhawks found a way to win once again, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3.

Extending their record scoring streak for the start of a season to 21 games and remaining unbeaten in regulation, the Blackhawks also got goals from Viktor Stalberg, Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell.

Ryan Johansen scored for the Blue Jackets - who also took goals via Vinny Prospal and Artem Anisimov - but it was not enough to stop the Blackhawks making it eight wins in a row.

33 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Sport

‘England to bounce back from shock defeat to NZ’

By David Clough

England’s Chris Woakes said his side were not too low after suffering their first defeat in a first-class tour match for more than seven years

ENGLAND have three days to recover from a shock defeat, and are confident they will in time for the first Test against New Zealand.

Alastair Cook’s tourists will travel to Dunedin today, anxious to get a three-wicket reverse out of their system and determined as ever to accentuate positive aspects and learn from the uncomfortable experience at the Queenstown Event Centre ground.

In the first category they can put the batting of Ian Bell and perhaps the bowling of Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes against a New Zealand XI, who nonetheless yesterday chased 334 to win thanks to BJ Watling’s second half-century of this warm-up match.

The lessons are obvious that they will need more consistent runs from their top six to win the three-Test series and that, on current form, it will have to be Woakes rather than an off-colour Graham Onions who is the back-up seamer if required over the next three weeks.

Watling (89no), New Zea-

Kiwis capture three-wicket win in warm-up encounter land’s Test wicketkeeper, got the second string home with eight balls to spare after England had declared overnight.

The initial task for Cook and coach Andy Flower will be to ensure England do not fret over their first defeat in a first-class tour match for more than seven years.

Woakes, for one, does not think that will happen.

“I don’t think they’re too low,” he said of his teammates.

“Obviously, we want to win every game we go into.

“It’s not ideal losing a warmup game, or a full international, but we feel there are positives to take out of the game.”

On the other side of the equation, Woakes accepts too that England were not always at their best.

“Probably not quite enough runs in our second innings was where we lost the game,” he said.

“If we could have put on another 50 runs, that would

have been very handy - as we saw at the end there.

“It’s not just the top order.

All the way down, we need to chip in when possible - and we probably didn’t do that enough.”

England knew they were giving their hosts a chance by declaring this morning on 256 for nine.

“We knew 330 was probably gettable,” added Woakes.

“It was a good wicket, not really doing a great deal.

“When we got five wickets, we felt like we probably were on top but knew the next two were crucial.”

Despite their disappointment, they are encouraged to have had such useful preparation in a hard-fought match.

“It’s always good to have a competitive game before a Test series,” Woakes said.

“It’s going to be a hard three games we play here.

“We know New Zealand are a very good team, particularly in their own conditions.

“So we’ve got to be on our

game, and no doubt we will be.

“We’ll work on a few things leading up to the Test match, and hope we are ready come Wednesday and on song.”

Woakes will make his debut next week only if an injury befalls one of England’s three established seamers, or in the unlikely event the tourists decide they do not need Graeme Swann’s frontline spin.

But he believes he has done his case no harm, especially with the ball.

“I felt like I got it right second innings,” he said.

“Maybe I was a little bit rusty in the longer format in the first innings, coming from one-day cricket and hitting different lengths.

“I felt the second innings went well, and it would have been nice to pick up a couple (more) wickets and also score a few more runs.

“But generally, I’m pretty pleased.”

Even happier is Kiwi seamer Neil Wagner, added to the Test squad today and able to celebrate by hitting the winning runs in an unbroken stand alongside Watling.

“It was a very special day,” he said.

Chris Ashton: I’m not afraid to tackle ENGLAND wing Chris Ashton is baffled by accusations of defensive frailty and has defiantly rounded on his critics by declaring he still deserves his place in the team.

Ashton was the main culprit when feeble tackling offered Wesley Fofana a path to the whitewash in the first half of Saturday’s 23-13 RBS 6 Nations victory over France at Twickenham.

With Fofana beginning to accelerate, Ashton angled himself for a big hit, only for the brilliant French centre to step inside and sprint free.

For sceptics of the 25-year-old rugby league convert it underlined what they already knew: that he is defensively sus-

pect and should be replaced, most probably by fellow Saracen David Strettle.

Ashton fails to understand why his defence has become such a talking a point.

“I thought there was a lot of heat for one tackle, although I am trying to get better at that all the time,” he said.

“This is new for me. I don’t know where all this defence stuff has come from. I’m not afraid to tackle - I want to tackle.

“I want to hurt people - that was the issue with my shoulder charging - I just want to hurt someone. Sometimes people are bigger than you and they are going to get the better of you.

“One tackle has cost us a try, but I was caught out by an outstanding player and

he scored a try. At some point Fofana is going to do that again.

“I got myself into an uncompromising position and it was unfortunate that I gave him that time to use his footwork on me and get away from me.

“At this level you can’t really afford to let those things happen. I put more than enough pressure on myself to know that.

I’m my own worst critic and I will be trying to get better at it.”

A player who two years ago was being celebrated for his quartet of tries against Italy at Twickenham, supposedly redefining wing play through his predatory support running in the process, Ashton has fallen on lean times.

Indian Wells Masters next stop for Baghdatis

By Nemanja Bjedov AFTER suffering a firstround exit at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Marcos Baghdatis is set to feature at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells which starts Thursday.

The 27-year-old Cypriot had three match points against Argentinean World No. 7 Juan Martin del Potro in Dubai, but he failed to convert any of them and an opportunity to beat another Top 10 player this season, after beating Frenchman Richard Gasquet in Rotterdam two weeks ago, slipped away.

“The only chance I really had was on the second serve at 15/40, but it was a good second serve into my body. I tried to play a forehand, but the ball caught me. There was nothing I could have done better. I gave it my best shot,” re-

The Cypriot will be back in action in California flected Baghdatis.

“The players in Top 10 are very strong mentally, I remember on one match point, he was hitting his forehands and he hit a winner, I tried to fight. I think you need to take a risk. I tried to do it on

that second serve, but it was a good serve and I was not aggressive enough. I cannot say I did anything wrong,” he added.

Despite a disappointing defeat, Baghdatis is taking the positives from the way he has started the season and hopes his luck will turn at the upcoming ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in the USA, starting with Indian Wells where he recorded his best result in 2006 by reaching the quarterfinals. Last season he was eliminated in the third round by Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in three sets.

“Every match I play, I am very close to winning, except against David Ferrer at the Australian Open. That is very positive,” Baghdatis said.

“I will keep pushing. I will keep working hard and I hope it will turn around. I hope I will win some matches that I deserve to (win).”

The detractors of Ashton (left) want him replaced

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34 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

Euro defeat still hurts - AVB MANAGER Andre Villas-Boas has revealed Tottenham want to get one over Arsenal because they are still hurt by losing out to their rivals in last year’s race for the Champions League.

Spurs will move seven points ahead of Arsenal today if they beat their neighbours in a keenly-anticipated north London derby.

Given that they go into the match on the back of an 11match unbeaten run, Tottenham are favourites to take all three points, and go on to pip the Gunners to a Champions League spot.

Villas-Boas is mindful though that Tottenham missed out on Champions League qualification last season after letting a 10-point lead over their local rivals slip through their fingers.

Villas-Boas was not at Spurs at the time - he was dismissed

by Chelsea last March and out of the game until arriving at White Hart Lane in July - but he has noticed a deeprooted sense of disappointment among his players at last year’s collapse, and they want to put it right.

“They are motivated because of what they have suffered in the past and what they want to achieve in the future,” Villas-Boas said.

Tottenham’s failure to qualify was eventually sealed by

Villas-Boas feels he has improved as a manager Chelsea’s Champions League final win in Munich. Finishing fourth was not enough.

“It’s never easy to finish in the position that they did, qualifying for the Champions League in fourth spot and seeing it taken away from them because it’s the rules,” VillasBoas said.

“It’s difficult for them because of the lead they had in the beginning.”

Tomorrow marks exactly one year since Villas-Boas was sacked just 256 days into what was meant to be an ambitious three-year project at Stamford Bridge.

Although he will not admit it publicly, Villas-Boas may think the sacking served him well in the long term.

Chelsea sit two points below

Spurs in the Barclays Premier League, and their interim manager Rafael Benitez is under extreme pressure following a midweek outburst which came after yet more abuse aimed his way from his own club’s supporters.

Reports of in-fighting among the Chelsea squad also continue to dog the Spaniard.

Villas-Boas, on the other hand, has a united squad that includes one of world football’s hottest properties in Gareth Bale.

The Portuguese has won his second successive manager of the month award, and he admits he has improved as a boss during his time in England.

“Everybody learns from experience,” Villas-Boas said.

“I feel like a different manager and a different person. I think I have improved a lot.

The experience has served me well.

“Your man-management, your preparation for the game and your training sessions, everything is experience.”

Villas-Boas has certainly succeeded in bringing the best out of Bale this season. The Welshman had a superb couple of seasons on the flanks under Harry Redknapp, but this season Villas-Boas has turned the 23year-old into a devastating forward who has scored 23 goals for club and country.

Defeat is not an option: the Italian manager said failing to win against Aston Villa tomorrow would be akin to having failed to triumph against Chelsea

Mancini: beating Villa imperative City manager’s men know they can’t let intensity drop ahead of Villa Park clash

By Andy Hampson MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini has told his players their impressive win over Chelsea counts for nothing if they fail to beat struggling Aston Villa on Monday.

The champions have responded well since a dismal defeat at Southampton all but ended their hopes of retaining their Barclays Premier League crown last month.

City thrashed Leeds in the FA Cup and deservedly overcame then thirdplaced Chelsea 2-0 but leaders Manchester United remain in complete control of title race.

Mancini’s men next travel to struggling Villa knowing any they cannot afford to let the intensity drop.

The Italian said: “For us, it will be important. If we don’t beat Aston Villa, it is like we didn’t do anything against Chelsea.

“For this reason it is important to beat Aston Villa and afterwards continue to go.

“The season is not finished. It is impossible we can think it is finished now.

“There are 11 games to the finish. It is our job to play all the games 100 per cent and try to win always.”

City and Mancini, of course, have experience of chasing apparent lost causes having memorably

Mancini and his side have experience of transforming apparent lost causes into eventual victory fought back to pip United to the title on goal difference last season.

Mancini said: “I was not strong in mathematics in school, but with 11 games to play - 33 points - everything is possible.

“Last time we won the title from six games to go, eight points (behind).

“I think everything is pos-

sible,” he added.

City captain Vincent Kompany seems unlikely to return to action at Villa Park.

The Belgium defender has missed five games since suffering a calf injury in the FA Cup fourth-round win at Stoke just over a month ago.

It had been hoped the 26-year-old could return against Chelsea but the problem has lasted longer than expected and Kompany has also had trouble in his opposite calf.

Mancini has not yet ruled him out for tomorrow but the cup quarter-final against Barnsley next week is now looking a more realistic comeback target.

Mancini said: “Vinny is getting better in this moment.

“We hope we can recover him for the next game. We will try for Aston Villa for Monday but it is difficult because he did not train with the team, he trained with the physio.

“We hope for the FA Cup. “The calf is a difficult injury because you think you are okay and then you have a problem. The calf is a strange injury.”

Former Villa midfielder Gareth Barry should be fit to face his old team after two games out with an ankle injury.

Mancini said: “He has trained with the team the last two days and I think he will be ready.”

35 SUNDAY MAIL • March 3, 2013

Sport

Benitez’s week ends well in routine win over West Brom

City to give Madrid a hand before United clash

Claudio Yacob’s foul on Oscar presented Chelsea with a freekick opportunity.

David Luiz’s effort ricocheted off the wall and Foster scrambled it out for a corner, from which Chelsea went in front.

The left-sided set-piece was played short to Oscar, whose inswinging cross towards the back post found Luiz and occupied the attentions of Foster.

Luiz headed the ball back across goal for Ba to sweep it in.

Mata shot wide soon after before Oscar, twice, and Cesar Azpilicueta had efforts blocked.

Lampard, seeking his 200th Chelsea goal, had an effort ruled out early in the second half, with Mata flagged offside in the build-up.

After 60 minutes, Benitez and the Blues fans reacted in unison in appeal for a penalty.

Oscar’s lofted ball forward was brought down by Hazard, who went down under pressure from Jonas Olsson, but referee Kevin Friend was unmoved.

Then Peter Odemwingie finally got his wish to play in west London - albeit not at QPR - and came on as a substitute. Chelsea again threatened and again Foster saved from Oscar.

Azpilicueta’s cross was headed down by Ba for the Brazilian, who scuffed his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Oscar again saw an effort saved by Foster before Cech had to tip over a dipping Odemwingie free-kick.

Cech was called upon from the resulting corner as the ball was directed goalwards off the head of his team-mate Azpilicueta.

A Victor Moses cross was just behind his fellow substitute Torres and Odemwingie had an effort saved by Cech.

Foster came up for a stoppage-time corner, but the hosts held on for three points to the relief of Benitez.

REAL Madrid will take advantage of a favour from Manchester City in the build-up to Tuesday’s Champions League showdown with Manchester United.

Having opted to fly in from Spain today so they do not get caught up in a strike at home, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has opted not to train at Old Trafford, as his side had the right to do.

The Real camp have suggested the decision is due to the state of the Old Trafford pitch even though Sir Alex Ferguson stated last week that he anticipated it would be perfect for yesteday’s visit by Norwich.

Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude there is some element of subterfuge about Mourinho’s decision as he presumably thinks there is less chance of his team being spied upon at the Etihad Stadium than at Old Trafford.

It would certainly be typical of Mourinho’s mindset - and Ferguson too, given United have taken to remaining in Manchester for their eve-of-match training sessions this season, part of which have to be open to the media under UEFA rules.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed a giant mosaic will be unveiled inside Old Trafford on Tuesday, in addition to two surfer flags, in a bid to generate an even greater atmosphere.

Flags will also be placed on the second tier of every stand.

And the supporters waving them may well end up paying homage to Ryan Giggs, who was handed another one-year contract extension on Friday, which will take him into a 23rd season and past his 40th birthday.

“What an incredible career,” said Ferguson.

“He seems to reach a new milestone every week.”

Win is Rafa’s answer to fans as Ba nets winner Chelsea 1 West Brom 0

By Matt McGeehan CHELSEA claimed a routine win over West Brom as Rafael Benitez made a victorious Stamford Bridge return following his midweek criticism of Blues supporters.

Demba Ba’s 28th-minute goal saw Chelsea return above Tottenham to third place in the Barclays Premier League for 24 hours at least, ahead of today’s north London derby.

West Brom had not won a league match at Chelsea in almost 35 years, and although owner Roman Abramovich may be content with Benitez in charge until the end of the season and a fifth win in seven games, that may not be enough to appease Blues fans.

There is recent precedent for a change of Chelsea manager following losses to West Brom, with the Baggies the final Premier League opponents for both Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo.

Many wondered if this would be Benitez’s last stand following his rant against the title of ‘interim manager’ and the fans’ incessant barracking of him.

Much of the focus was on the Spaniard after his midweek deviation from measured politician to rabble-rouser.

Due to his prior association with Liverpool, Benitez’s temporary appointment was nev-

Commanding display: Chelsea’s Ba (second right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against West Brom at Stamford Bridge yesterday er a popular one, but he hoped the crowd would use their energies to back the team.

They came with handmade banners - “The Interim One” and “Rafa Benitez we’re just not that inter im” among them - and would have been unhappy to see captain John Terry named among the substitutes, alongside Fernando Torres, as one of seven changes to the side which progressed in the FA Cup at Middlesbrough.

Benitez says he will decide whether Terry, with his fitness

travails, can play twice a week and the defender’s armband was passed to Frank Lampard, who moved equal with John Hollins as the club’s third-highest appearance maker on 592.

Benitez quietly took his seat and Chelsea almost went ahead in the fourth minute.

Ba crossed from the right for Oscar, but Ben Foster saved instinctively in front of the watching national manager Roy Hodgson.

Juan Mata, on his 100th

FIFA to meet with victims of racism FIFA’s new anti-racism chief wants to meet the perpetrators and victims of racial abuse in the Premier League as part of a fact-finding mission.

Jeffrey Webb, the president of the CONCACAF federation, is to head up a new FIFA task force to tackle racism and is to come to England to see how the Football Association has responded to the Luis Suarez and John Terry cases.

Asked about the two cases, Webb, from the Cayman Islands, said: “It is a huge concern to be honest. During a game for me it is unacceptable, I think the incidents were unacceptable.

“The FA has been very aggressive in their campaign and I think if these incidents do exist in an environment such as the Premier League then it begs the question what happens in some other leagues where they don’t have the resources and the will and the desire as the English FA has had over the years.

“I will be meeting with the FA chairman David Bernstein and visiting the FA. At that time I would also like to meet with some of the players, perhaps have a round-table discussion to talk to the players and get their input, get some suggestions from them and learn from what their experiences are.

“Obviously there’s a number of players who have been victimised, targeted. Plus we would like to hear both sides really.”

Webb, speaking in Edinburgh at the International FA Board, said he hoped to meet the FA before the end of April, and insisted that black players had been let down by football’s authorities.

He added: “We’ve been talking for a long time in football and I don’t really think that we’ve supported the players. I don’t think we’ve necessarily put the right sanctions in place to support them. It’s a travesty that it comes to that.

“We as FIFA and the governing bodies have to make sure that players like Kevin PrinceBoateng and all the players around the world have the same rights and opportunities.

“I really don’t think that financial instruments in today’s world is enough to deal with it.

“With the money that’s involved in football today, the fines that are being established, I don’t think they’re working, obviously.”

Asked if he wanted to meet Terry and Suarez, and the players they racially abused Anton Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, Webb said: “Yes. We would like to hear both sides”.

Chelsea appearance, volleyed wide across goal before Steven Reid’s long-range effort was tipped over by Petr Cech.

Oscar should have had a rare headed goal when he met Mata’s clipped cross to the back post after 16 minutes but could not convert.

Ba then shot straight at Foster after latching on to a loose ball and Oscar screwed another effort over.

Eden Hazard almost took advantage of indecision in the Baggies defence before

Premier League standings Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Manchester United Manchester City Chelsea Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham ManchesterHotspur City Arsenal Liverpool Everton Tottenham Hotspur Swansea Everton West StokeBrom City Liverpool Bolton Wanderers Fulham West Brom Stoke FulhamCity West Ham Utd Newcastle United Norwich City Sunderland Sunderland Aston Villa Newcastle United Blackburn Rovers Southampton Wolves Wigan Athletic Birmingham Aston Villa Blackpool Reading Wigan Athletic QPR West Ham United

P

W

D

L

F

28 37 27 36 28 36 27 36 27 36 28 36 28 37 28 36 27 37 28 37 28 36 28 36 28 37 28 36 28 37 28 37 27 36 27 37 28 36 28 36

23 22 16 21 15 19 15 19 13 17 11 14 10 12 12 13 10 12 8 12 7 10 9 11 7 11 7 10 8 10 6 11 6 8 5 10 5 7 3 7

2 11 8 7 7 10 6 8 8 7 12 14 10 15 4 7 9 10 9 10 12 15 6 11 11 9 12 6 10 9 7 6 15 9 8 15 11 12

3 4 3 8 6 7 6 9 6 12 5 8 8 10 12 16 8 15 11 15 9 11 13 14 10 15 12 14 14 17 13 19 15 13 13 18 15 14 14 17

68 74 50 67 56 69 47 55 52 59 44 51 39 50 38 46 49 52 39 53 26 45 32 51 27 42 31 45 38 43 39 44 33 36 26 53 34 36 21 41

A Pts 31 35 24 30 30 39 32 33 30 41 35 45 34 45 37 44 34 54 44 68 33 41 41 52 45 56 38 58 49 57 51 63 51 54 52 74 54 59 44 64

71 77 56 70 52 67 51 65 47 58 45 56 40 51 40 46 39 46 33 46 33 45 33 44 32 44 30 42 30 40 27 40 24 39 24 39 23 36 20 33

Premiership results Chelsea West Brom

1 0

Everton Reading

3 1

Man United Norwich

4 0

Southampton QPR

1 2

Stoke West Ham

0 1

Sunderland Fulham

2 2

Swansea Newcastle

1 0

Wigan Liverpool

L L

Playing Today Tottenham v Arsenal, 6pm Playing Tomorrow Aston Villa v Man City, 10pm

36 March 3, 2013 • SUNDAY MAIL

Sport

‘England will bounce back after shock defeat to NZ’ 33

Upbeat end to week for Rafa as Blues defeat 35 Baggies

United’s Kagawa (left) scores his third goal past Norwich keeper Bunn

Ramos nods late winner as Barca fall again to Real Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 1

United dismiss Canaries Man Utd 4 Norwich 0

By Simon Stone

S

hinji Kagawa scored his first Manchester United hat-trick as the Red Devils warmed up for their Champions League duel with Real Madrid by brushing aside Norwich to open up a 15point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson had promised his team would be fully focused on the “mundane” domestic fare immediately prior to the most glamorous of European nights, for most of yesterday’s contest they were well below par.

It seemed even the home fans spent much of the afternoon wondering what lay ahead rather than bother about what was in front of them.

Eventually though, United cut loose, netting three times in the final 14 minutes, with Kagawa grabbing two to complete a memorable threetimer before Wayne Rooney belted in a sensational effort as United’s grip on the title tightened.

Given Ferguson’s liking for fooling around with the media, it was no surprise that, after all the eulogies ahead of what would have been the 1,000th

Kagawa hat-trick helps Red Devils to extend League lead to 15 points senior appearance of Ryan Giggs’ career, the veteran Welshman’s duties were no more arduous than climbing the steps of the directors’ box to watch.

Rafael and Rio Ferdinand were other notable absentees ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Real Madrid, deemed so important by Jose Mourinho that he could do without Cristiano Ronaldo for the latest ‘El Clasico’ with Barcelona.

At a rough guess, either six or seven of United’s starting line-up will keep their places next week, and they are bound to do better than the low-key offering served up during a dreadful first-half that only livened up in stoppage time.

Up to that point, a brave Mark Bunn dive at Robin van Persie’s feet and a low Michael Carrick effort that barely troubled the Norwich keeper were United’s only threat.

Van Persie’s form has dipped in recent weeks and a shot the Dutchman ballooned into the Stretford End midway through the half summed up the entire affair.

With Norwich’s defence marshalled superbly by Bradley Johnson and

Robert Snodgrass flying into challengers to expose any trepidation in United ranks, the visitors could feel well pleased with their efforts.

Their good work was undone in those additional couple of minutes though.

Antonio Valencia stepped neatly inside Anthony Pilkington on the edge of the area before floating over a rare left-footed cross.

It was not exactly perfect for van Persie. But when he stretched to control, the ball bounced down for Kagawa, whose shot caught Bunn by surprise as it crept in at the near post.

For Kagawa, it was a welcome moment. A debut season halted by a knee injury in October has not really caught fire again.

And he still looks set to be one of the players to lose their place from the team that performed so well in the Bernabeu.

Patrice Evra is one of the certainties to be retained. Little wonder therefore that Ferguson was so annoyed when Snodgrass launched into the French full-back in the dregs of the half.

Evra was none too pleased either, although he did return for the secondhalf and Snodgrass collected a yellow card.

A sliced clearance over his own bar from Nemanja Vidic straight after the re-start was an indicator not much had changed from the unconvincing first-half display.

Jonny Howson had an effort deflected wide before Grant Holt got above Evra and steered a cushioned header into Russell Martin’s path, only for the full-back to lift his effort over from barely four yards.

That Holt was fouling Evra was not really the point, just the finishing which was so obviously lacking finesse.

And though United continued to coast in second gear, and though van Persie was replaced by Danny Welbeck, they were still too good.

Indeed, barely any pressure had been applied to the visitors’ box when Rooney sped into the box 14 minutes from time and supplied the pass from which Kagawa doubled his tally for the season.

Kagawa was not finished though and another Rooney assist created a further opening for the Japan star, who again finished clinically to complete his hat-trick.

Rooney has a few of those of course.

On this occasion, his goalscoring intervention was more brutal as he lashed a ferocious effort past Bunn in the final minute.

Djokovic extends winning streak to 18 matches with Dubai title NOVAK Djokovic extended his winning streak to 18 matches to claim a fourth Dubai Championships in five years yesterday, underlining his status as the world’s best player after beating Tomas Berdych 7-5 6-3 in the final.

The Serb was ruthless in coming back from a break down in the first set, converting two break points out of three, while Berdych only managed to make one of his four count.

In the second, Djokovic only need-

ed one chance to make the break he needed to go 5-3 up and then serve out the match, a flat forehand into the corner sealing the title.

The 25-year-old is unbeaten since October, did not drop a set in Dubai and he has now won all 13 matches

against top 10 opponents since Andy Murray defeated him in last year’s US Open final.

In that time, he has added the ATP World Tour Finals crown and a third straight Australian Open crown.

REAL Madrid inflicted a second painful defeat on stuttering Barcelona in five days when Sergio Ramos nodded a late winner in a 2-1 success in La Liga yesterday.

Lionel Messi equalled Alfredo Di Stefano’s scoring record for ‘Clasico’ matches of 18 goals with an 18thminute leveller after Karim Benzema’s opener for hosts Real in the sixth minute, but it was little comfort for leaders Barca, dumped out of the King’s Cup by their arch rivals on Tuesday.

Third-placed Real’s victory does little to affect the domestic title race, leaving them 13 points behind leaders Barca with 12 matches left, but is another big boost ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg at Manchester United.

Real’s trip to Old Trafford is the club’s top priority and coach Jose Mourinho left key players including top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil out of his starting lineup for Barca’s visit.

Both Spanish giants appeared content to settle for a draw until Ramos leapt to head home from a Luka Modric corner in the 82nd minute.

The Barca players were furious when their penalty appeals for an apparent foul on Adriano were waved away in the dying seconds, and goalkeeper Victor Valdes was shown a yellow card and then a red seconds later for furiously berating the referee after the whistle.

Ramos netted the winner for Real in the 82nd minute