Did you really have to kill my dog?

An emotional and serious article - message by a dog owner in Cyprus Mail:

“She was my little, happy sister and all she wanted to do was spread joy! I feel blessed to know her and wish I could make it better for you both.”“What can one say to comfort you – we can not stop thinking about what you are going through. How wicked some people are. Our hearts and love go out to you.”“She only wanted to give joy to people”“She was full of joy and was the village character’“She always took the letters from me”All the above quotes are about my beloved Ellie who was cruelly poisoned on December 18 in our own garden – one minute a fit young joyous dog, a few minutes later found foaming at the mouth: another victim of Lanate deliberately given in her own garden.Ellie was full of life and a joy to everyone who met her. Boisterous, lively, wanting to help with everything and without a cruel bone in her body. Her life was short. I found this shivering scrap of a six-week-old puppy crying under the post boxes in the village. Riddled with fleas and ticks, she trustingly came to me – a black and white scrap of bones. She was so sick with malnutrition and pneumonia, the vet didn’t think she would live. With lots of TLC and the expertise of the vet, we found ourselves with a beautiful Cypriot hunting dog that no one wanted. What a joy she brought to our hearts – and with a heart as big as her long hind legs. No other dog had it made like her four paws had she found a loving home. She was always carrying something in her mouth and longed to help with everything – that was my Ellie. She had her own stuffed elephant which we called Ellie 2 as she loved to carry it everywhere with her. She would curl up on the couch with me and was a dog who thought she was human that was my beloved Ellie. Now our hearts are broken at Christmas because someone poisoned her with Lanate in our own garden. The tears anger, blame and hate are working through but nothing can replace my friend, with her joy of life and joy that she gave to everyone that met her.Christmas in our family hasn’t been joyful for us as we lost a baby over this period. As we have no children our dogs have been our family. I now feel I have lost another baby and my heart is broken.It is about time Lanate was banned and the sale of it forbidden totally.
A heart-broken dog owner

Study finds hours being wasted in traffic

PUBLIC WORKS delays in major towns means commuters are being forced to sit in traffic much longer and to cover more mileage than necessary.

According to an article in yesterday’s Phileleftheros, traffic congestion is costing towns £25 million on an annual basis, which will only worsen if works are not carried out to help alleviate the heavy vehicular flow.
Drivers are forced to travel longer distances and to go through town centres due to the lack of ring roads. This not only wastes energy and burdens the environment but also forces commuters to spend thousands of productive hours behind the wheel.
According to Public Works department data dating back to 2005, the total distance travelled in three central urban areas (Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos) is over six million car kilometres. Specifically three million kilometres in Nicosia, 2.7 kilometres in Limassol and 540,000 kilometres in Paphos, the local daily said.
As for actual time spent on roads in car hours per day, drivers were spending thousands of wasted hours. Specifically 130,000 drivers in Nicosia, 90,000 in Limassol and 20,000 in Paphos.
Nicosia would benefit greatly from two ring roads that would connect the east and West sides of the city. The projects, included in the Local Plan for Nicosia, are expected to greatly benefit drivers and passengers by reducing travel time, saving fuel and reducing car operation costs.
From the construction of a ring road in the north and south side of the capital 150,000 car hours in travel time will be reduced, equating to £15 million in productivity time.
A further £1 million will be saved in the reduction of movement by 35,000 kilometres, and travel times between east and west Nicosia will be reduced by 35 to 50 per cent, the paper said.

(Cyprus Mail)

Cypriots among EU’s top waste producers

PER capita production of urban solid waste in Cyprus reached 741kg and is one of the highest in Europe, the statistics service said yesterday.Overall, Cyprus produced 571,000 tonnes of solid wasted last year – a 3.2 per cent increase compared with 2005.Around 87 per cent ended up in landfills while the rest was collected for recycling.
Cypriots produced 741 kilograms of urban waste each, one of the highest in Europe where the annual average is 517 kilograms per resident.Cyprus was up there with Ireland, 815 kilograms, Denmark, 737 kilograms and Luxemburg, 702 kilograms.

(Cyprus Mail 2007)

Cypriots urged to switch to euro early

Cypriots are being urged to hand in Cyprus pounds and change them for euros in time for the changeover on January 1.
Government departments and public offices will be closed on December 31 in preparation for the euro transfer while banks will only accept cash deposits between 10.00 to 13.00 on that day.
On New Year's Day, key bank branches in town centres will open to the public from 11.00 to 14.00 to enable the exchange of pounds for euros.
Small retailers are also being advised to put in their euro orders early to avoid a crush at the banks and being left without the new currency come έ-Day.
Some businesses have been slow to get euros as they are concerned about having two sets of currency floating around due to security factors.
There is also a question of not having enough liquidity to keep enough stock of both currencies.
The Central Bank also urges the public to deposit any extra cash lying around before the end of the year to avoid a logjam. Banks are also accepting the old coins for the new.
All accounts will automatically switch to euros at the turn of the year, as will ATMS.
The Cyprus pound will remain legal tender until the end of January but all change will be given in euro when paying with the old currency.
And banks are obliged to exchange pounds for euros free of charge until June 30, although the Central Bank will accept Cyprus pound notes until 2017 and coins until the end of 2009.
It is estimated that most Cyprus pounds will be out of circulation within the first 15 days of the euros introduction. The old notes will be shredded while the coins will be melted for scrap metal.
Meanwhile, the dual pricing of goods will continue until September 30, 2008, to ensure the public gets used to the conversion rate.
Cheques denominated in Cyprus pounds and dated January 1, 2008 and after, will not be valid, so the public is advised to avoid accepting cheques in Cyprus pounds dated after December 31, 2007.
However, cheques in Cyprus pounds issued prior to January 1, 2008 will continue to be valid, for a period of six months from the date of their issue and will on presentation be paid in euro.
As the euro is an international currency and more inclined to be counterfeited, the authorities advise the public to make themselves familiar with the various notes to avoid being hoodwinked.
(Cyprus Weekly)

THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAVE LIVED THE POSSESSION OF CYPRUS

The Cyprus Green Party condemns the provocative refusal of the Turkish occupying authorities to allow entry into the ghost city of Famagusta to MEPs, members of the Report Committee of the European Parliament.

The occupation authorities have banned the MEPs’ visit to the area of the city of Famagusta, which since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, has been kept closed without residents, blocked by heavily armed Turkish soldiers.
The Greek Cypriot refugees, residents in the occupied town of Famagusta sent to the European Parliament thousands of signatures calling for the Parliament’s intervention to allow for the return of the city to its rightful inhabitants. The Cyprus Green Party practically supported the efforts of Famagusta Municipality for the collection of the signatures.
The European Union must demand from, as an indication of goodwill, to allow the resettlement of the legitimate inhabitants of Famagusta in their beloved city.

Traffic chaos created by the construction of the Malls

The Green Party’s protest against the mall’s opening was so low-key it was barely noticed. Holding up two banners saying: “STOP the illegalities” and “Promises will not solve the traffic problem”, a number protesters stood opposite the mall during its opening and handed out leaflets on the environmental impact the new building will have on the area. “The Engomi area cannot handle the traffic shock and the congestion it will suffer will be worse than the one created in Strovolos Municipality and the new Nicosia General Hospital area,” read the flier, referring to the traffic chaos created by the construction of the Mall of Cyprus near the new hospital. “The Green Party is expressing its intense concern and opposition over the positioning of such huge trade developments in lived-in areas, which create undoubtedly serious consequences on the residents’ quality of life,” it added.

"NO" to illegal advertising boards

Demonstration against the installation of illegal advertising boards, on Sunday, December 9th, at Athalassas Avenue, Strovolos. The Cyprus Green Party will continue its struggle against this illegality, until all city councils decide to remove them from their council territories.

THE GREEN Party has criticised the springing up of billboards featuring the main Presidential candidates.In an announcement, the Party stated that the billboards, “are in violation of municipal regulations”, implying that the contenders’ campaign teams are getting round the law by exerting their political influence.Party leader George Perdikis yesterday told the Mail: “The question is, if a candidate is breaking the law from now, what guarantee is there that he will not do exactly the same, if elected President?”He added that the candidates “should publicly come out and admit they’ve made a mistake and stop using billboards, as well as numerous illegal banners that have been seen in the streets. They should instead concentrate on advertising through the traditional channels of the media.”Perdikis also explained that his party has been running a campaign to put an end to the billboards since September.“We’ve personally met with Demetris Christofias, Ioannis Kasoulides and representatives of President Tassos Papadopoulos. Their response was to blame the municipalities, saying it was their responsibility for putting them up.”He added: “Of course, the candidates want to advertise themselves as much as they possible can, but the law must be respected in the process. We don’t want our public areas polluted.”
(Cyprus Mail)

‘Engomi mall another traffic disaster in the making’

(By Elias Hazou - Cyprus Mail)

THE NEW mall in Engomi is a traffic disaster waiting to happen and will be a repeat of the nightmare with the Mall of Cyprus, experts have warned.
During a stormy session at the House this week, Technical Chamber ETEK claimed that area planning in Engomi did not allow for such a grand scale project.
ETEK director Linos Chrysostomou went on to slam the Town Planning Department for interpreting the law arbitrarily.
He said that having a mall in Engomi would necessitate tampering with the road grid, resulting in construction works costing millions, with taxpayers picking up the tab.
He also referred to the location of the Mall of Cyprus and IKEA next to the Nicosia General Hospital, which has worsened traffic congestion in the area, with authorities now rushing plans for an overpass to ease the situation.
“If a permit had not been issued, there would be no need now to build a bridge…I for one am not prepared to pay for this project because of the mistakes of others,” said Chrysostomou.
Town Planning head Yiannis Papadopoulos defended his department against accusations that they changed the designated use of the real estate for IKEA, which was originally slated for a hotel.
He argued this was justified because the change was not deemed “essential” in town planning terms.
Responding, Chrysostomou wondered how Papadopoulos interpreted town planning regulations, pointing out that the issue was straightforward: commercial development was barred in the area in question.
And he mentioned a host of other examples of irregular construction, including the Jumbo stores in Limassol and Nicosia and the Chris Cash & Carry hypermarket in Limassol.
For her part, Communications & Works Minister Maria Malaktou-Pamballi said the government would estimate the cost of the overpass and demand that the Shacolas Group “contribute” to the expenses resulting from the existence of the mall.
Papadopoulos agreed, threatening to revoke the building permit and shut down the mall unless the Shacolas Group paid its share of the infrastructure costs.
The dramatic statement provoked an equally theatrical riposte from Greens leader George Perdikis who, in flawless Cypriot dialect, asked Papadopoulos:
“Are you serious? Do you think that this is some kiosk you’re going to close?”
Perdikis went on to allege that the Shacolas Group was planning two more buildings adjacent to the general hospital which similarly lacked the proper permits.
DISY deputy Lefteris Christoforou said the way Town Planning operated reminded him of a spider’s nest “which large and powerful bugs are able to penetrate, but small bugs get entangled in.”
While it takes years for the average Joe to get a straightforward house extension approved, the bigwigs get permits for massive projects in the blink of an eye, he said.

Another barbaric massacre, as colony of rare fruit bats ravaged by gunmen

A PROTECTED colony of rare fruit bats in Cyprus has almost been wiped out by unidentified gunmen using them for target practice, conservation groups and authorities said yesterday.
Dozens of the mammals, which are under threat of extinction, were killed in a shooting spree in the fenced-off Vretsia cave, next to the Xeros river in Paphos. From a colony of about 60, only 10 to 15 survived, conservation experts said.
They said the shooting probably occurred on Sunday, but discovered the carnage only on Wednesday.
"The cave is nowhere close to a residential area so I can only assume people were doing this for kicks," said Harris Nicolaou, a conservation officer with the Cypriot forestry department.
The population of the once plentiful fruit bat has declined rapidly in the past century because of government-sanctioned extermination programmes under British colonial rule before independence in 1960.
The Paphos Forest is a Game Reserve Area and Natura 2000 site, with the cave protected under the EU’s habitat directive.
While the mammal can also be found in the Middle East, Pakistan and north India, there were a maximum of 3,500 left in Cyprus, said Nicolaou, who tracks the bats.
"This is now a strictly protected species, it is the only fruit bat we have, and the only fruit bat in an EU member state," he said.
Bats are associated with superstition in other cultures but in Cyprus, they are considered more as pests that eat fruit.
"That perception is actually wrong," said Nicolaou. "It will only eat over-ripe fruit."
“There was a colony of around 50 to 60 Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in the cave, but their numbers have now been reduced to ten”
He added that this was the fourth such incident at the cave over the last four years.
“Two months ago, after a similar thing happened, we fenced off the cave and put up warning signs,” Nicolaou explained. “However, three or four individuals managed to jump over the fence on Sunday afternoon.
“One went inside the cave and started shooting, while his colleagues waited outside for the bats to fly out, where they were clinically picked off.”
He said that only 20 bodies had been retrieved due to the thick vegetation in the area, while survivors may have been able to fly away.
“These people consider bats to be pests, alleging that they destroy crops. But there are no crops in the area. The fruit bat, as its name suggests, eats fruit, which is not suitable for commercial sale or human consumption.
“It also actually protects crops by controlling numbers of the destructive Mediterranean fruitfly, which causes a great deal of damage.”
According to Nicolaou, there remain around 3,500 Egyptian Fruit Bats on the island, with numbers declining due to similar incidents recorded every year.
Cyprus has 16 species of bat, and is the only EU country to have the Egyptian fruit bat. All bat species are strictly protected by both European and national legislation.
Following news of the killing, the Green Party issued a statement: “Despite measures taken by the Forestry Department and the Game Fund for the protection of the bats’ habitat in Vretsia, irresponsible hunters entered the protected zone and started shooting in the cave, resulting in the deaths of tens of Egyptian fruit bats.”
The statement added that this was not a one-off event. “In the past, hunters have repeatedly damaged bat habitats in different areas of the island, especially in Paphos and show complete disregard for the law. We call on the authorities to take stricter measures to protect bats and punish those who break the law.”
"There are still those who regard bats as vermin, but these were clearly people using these creatures as target practice," said Christos Charalambous, a member of the Green party who has tracked the colony for years.
"This is part of the wealth of our bio-diversity, I cannot understand why it is happening."
Those found in violation face a £1,000 fine and/or six months in prison.
President of the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Association Andreas Kyprianou hit back at suggestions that the culprits were hunters.
“The latest information I have is that the man responsible owns some land in the area and the bats have been eating his fruit. He rounded up a couple of his friends and they went to shoot them.”
He described their actions as “unacceptable”, adding that hunters have no problem with bats, which are nocturnal creatures and do not disturb them.
“In fact, we want to protect bats and feel this is a critical issue,” he said.

Report highlights shocking lack of urban green spaces

THE RATIO of green space available per resident is at its lowest in the capital, according to the Greens, while all Cypriot cities register way below the international standards set for quantity of green spaces in an urban environment.

The Green Party released statistics yesterday (30th Nov.)revealing a shocking ratio of green spaces available per resident in Cyprus. While all cities recorded very low ratios of green spaces per resident, Nicosia came up the worst by far. For every Nicosia resident, there is only 1.4 square metres (sqm) of greenery. According to international standards, the minimum ratio should be no less than eight square metres per resident, while most European capitals have over 10sqm per resident. The total area of green spaces in the capital adds up to 70,000sqm, counting for 13 per cent of the required green spaces as set by international standards, reported the Greens. Limassol records a better ration of 3.9sqm per resident, accounting for 270,000sqm, which still measures in at 40 per cent of the required space. Both Larnaca and Paphos have 3sqm per resident of green space, adding up to 30,000sqm in total, which counts for only 30 per cent of required level.The Greens highlighted that green spaces have a huge role to play in big cities. They change the picture of a city but also the mood of its residents. More greenery leads to a better quality of life and a cleaner environment. The ecologists said the onus was on local authorities to ensure enough green space was available in the cities, instead of sacrificing open spaces to build stadiums or public buildings.“We must all understand the size of the contribution that green spaces make to the quality of life of the citizen and that greenery is a precious social good for today’s residents and for future generations,” said the Greens.All the cities of Cyprus are missing adequate parks to satisfy the needs of a city in the 21st century, to tantalise all the senses by providing a place to rest under trees, smell the earth and flowers, daydream, listen to the birds and relax. Day by day, man is getting angrier and more aggressive, noted the Greens. The movement called on local authorities and the government to tackle the lack of greenery in our cities. One proposal is to adopt spaces for parks and get teams of residents to help maintain them in cooperation with municipalities. “They have an obligation to let citizens enjoy green spaces and live in a humane and healthy environment,” said the statement.

Paphos Municipal pool told: fix it or hand it over

PAPHOS swimming pool has been targeted by the Cyprus Greens Party for its second-rate management. The party says the pool, which is currently under the management of the Cyprus Athletics Organisation (KOA), has been a danger zone since last winter when it was severely damaged by floods, which led a nearby stream to overflow into it. The Greens believe the pool is a valuable location where children and teenagers can socialise without any contact with trouble, alcohol or drugs. According to a press release by the Green Party “the place has been turned into a rubbish dump” and a place where bodies of dead animals lay untouched for days. The party says a recent visit also showed exposed electrical wires, which in combination with the water can be fatal to little children of the area. The Green Party is demanding that if KOA and officials don’t want to fix it they can return the over to the government, who could make better use of the venue

Confusion on future of Limassol conference centre

THE DECISION on where to site the planned state-of-the-art Limassol Conference Centre has received another setback, and has now been dragging since 2005, with no signs of definite progress.All seven initial candidate sites had been rejected by the project’s external consultants and seven more proposed. Presently, there is a degree of confusion among stakeholders as to whether some of the second set of candidate sites have been rejected. In the meantime, the pressure for a decision is piling up, as President Papadopoulos recently stated that the project should be completed by 2012, when Cyprus will hold the EU Presidency.“As far as I know, the last seven candidate sites are still being considered. We have no information of them having been rejected. We have heard various rumours, but none of them have been confirmed,” said CTO Tourism Officer Athena Theodorou, who is responsible for the project.According to reports presently circulating in Limassol, six of the seven latest candidates have been rejected and the only candidate presently being considered is a site between the Old Port and the New Port of Limassol. This information has been confirmed by an official working at the Mayor’s Office in Limassol.But the official dispelled another rumour, according to which Limassol Council is in favour of reclaiming land from the sea opposite the Enaerios strip to construct the conference centre. “We would not be in favour of that site, as we just completed the upgrade of the area there (Akti Olympion) and we would not want to ruin that,” she added. The site opposite Enaerios was actually recommended by the Limassol Commerce and Industry Board, one of the project’s stakeholders involved in the consultation on where to place the project.The Green Party recently issued a statement expressing its opposition to locating the conference centre on reclaimed land at Enaerios beach. “It will cause chaos if they choose to have it on the beach. The upgrade and beautification of the area from the Catholic Church to the Holiday Inn has just finished and the seaside road is frequented by thousands of people who go there for swimming, walking or cycling. It is the only spot that has been saved from ‘development’. Now they want to ruin it by building a huge block of concrete on the beach, blocking the view and creating a dangerous precedent,” said Alkis Papis, Limassol District Secretary of the Green Party.The Greens had also indicated that a Yermasoyia site would perhaps be a better choice, given that Yermasoyia has already been ‘developed’ in ways that are contrary to principles of environmental and social sustainability. Limassol Council, however, insists the conference centre is located within its borders. During his recent visit to Limassol Town Hall, President Tassos Papadopoulos had assured city officials that the project would take place in Limassol.The CTO, however, does not seem to share this view and feels that the definition of ‘Limassol’ includes peripheral councils such as Yermasoyia and Ayios Tychonas. “When they say within Limassol’s borders, they also mean Yermasoyia, as well as areas further up,” said Theodorou.The Conference Centre is estimated to cost between £15 million and £30 million and will have a capacity for 2,000 conference participants. The initial seven sites were selected through a consultation between the CTO, Limassol city councils, the Mayor of Limassol, Limassol Commerce and Industry Board and other project stakeholders.Athens-based companies GBR Ellas and Thymios Papagiannis Ltd, in co-operation with American expert Robin Scott have been assigned responsibility of undertaking the project’s assessment study.
(By Anna Hassapi, Cyprus Mail)

Greens vote to back Tassos

THE GREEN Party has voted to throw its weight behind President Tassos Papadopoulos in next February’s presidential elections.Party members voted on Sunday to support Papadopoulos' candidacy with 46 votes, or 79.3 per cent, from 58 elected representatives. Nine representatives, or 15.5 per cent, voted to support the candidacy of AKEL’s general secretary Demetris Christofias.There were three blank votes.Speaking after the meeting, party leader George Perdikis said the decision was subject to the inclusion of ecologists' positions in Papadopoulos pre-election programme and the fulfilment of his commitments given to the party during their meetings.Perdikis said that the important issues on which the outcome was shaped were a poll carried out between the movement members, which showed that a 60 per cent majority favoured Papadopoulos' bid for re-election and the party's support for a multi party government.“The door for a wider coalition of the centre-right party should remain open,” he said.On the Cyprus issue, Perdikis said that the Green Party had differences with Papadopoulos. “But the positions of the other candidates were even further apart from our positions,” he said.

What price an animal’s life?

Hunter who killed pet cat pays £50 for shooting in a residential area

POLICE yesterday (30th Nov.) said they were looking into a case where a hunter deliberately killed a cat at short range, was caught red-handed and apparently then let off with a small fine.Outraged owner Susan Petrides told the Mail of the shocking incident, which took place last Sunday.“Hunters must pass by my house in Polis Chrysochous on their way to and from a nearby field they use. It was around 3pm when I heard tyres screech and a car pull up outside. “A group of three hunters were in the vehicle and one saw my pet cat lying under a tree. He pointed the barrel of his rifle out of the car window, took aim and let off a shot which hit Taz in the head.”She added that the “insane act of cruelty” was witnessed by her father and herself. “My husband and son got into a car and gave chase and they fortunately managed to catch them. Obviously very angry, my husband confronted them. “At first they denied it, then said it was only a cat and then pretty much threatened my husband with a shotgun, while screaming obscenities. They then drove off, refusing to return to our house.”According to Petrides, the police finally arrived after several phone calls and took a statement. “To our amazement though, we were told the hunter would only be fined around £50 for shooting in a residential area. There seemed to be no problem killing someone’s pet cat for the sheer fun of it.”Petrides added that one of the officers told her that there are too many stray cats around, implying that hers was also a stray, meaning the shooting was OK.“We were also told that pursuing the matter through the courts would be fruitless as it could take years and many court appearances.”A police spokeswoman said that according to the law, “any person found guilty of deliberately killing or causing injury to any animal faces up to one year in prison and/or a £1,000 fine. “Repeat offenders will have their punishment doubled.”Asked why the culprit in this case has apparently got off so lightly, the spokeswoman said the exact details of what happened were still being investigated and that she could make no further comment.Petrides stated that ironically, the day after the incident she had a visit from some officials questioning whether her dogs where licensed. “I’m now scared that a similar fate could befall my dogs.“Taz was part of my family for five years and I’m extremely upset over what has happened.“I also later found out that one of the hunters involved has a brother who works for the local police.”She went on to say that this is not the first time she has had problems with hunters in the area. “Earlier this year we had to call the police after hunters started shooting within metres of the house. Of course, nobody ever turned up and we were told that the police aren’t just sitting around waiting for our phone calls.”She also said that other households nearby bear the scars of stray shot and ricochets but complaints always fall on deaf ears.

(By Leo Leonidou, Cyprus Mail)

Pork to be exported as FMD measures are eased

Health Commissioner briefs House committee on next moves

THE export of pork will be permitted next week as measures ordered by the European Commission after the foot and mouth (FMD) outbreak are eased, EU Health and Consumers’ Protection Commissioner, Marcos Kyprianou said yesterday.
The Commissioner, addressing the House Agriculture Committee, said that the EU Commission meeting scheduled for Monday would discuss the next steps to be taken with regard to FMD in Cyprus, restrictive measures are expected to relax and the export of pork will be allowed from the island to other EU countries and elsewhere.
The Commissioner said that restrictive measures in the 10km surveillance zone in the Dromolaxia area are also expected to ease and the transfer of animals from the area to abattoirs for slaughter will also be allowed.
The Commissioner told MPs that the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare would also allow the sale of milk from the 3kms protection zone.
Kyprianou informed the committee on the process of the "strictest" measures taken by Europe with regards to animal diseases, which come under the health portfolio, rather than agriculture and are considered a top priority.
The Commissioner said that the FMD antibodies in Cyprus did not come from vaccines.
He briefed MPs on a European animal health safety strategy and the EU action plan for animal health in EU Member States.
Referring to FMD in Cyprus, the Commissioner said "it is a crisis, not the first one in Europe which will soon be over."
Kyprianou said that exports of animals would not be allowed until Cyprus is declared FMD-free.
The Commissioner was clear that measures taken by the authorities against FMD were those designated by the EU, which has strict regulations on animal health anywhere in the world.
He expressed the Commission’s satisfaction for the measures taken noting that the FMD cases showed clinical symptoms and lab findings and that there is no conspiracy in Europe to cull animals in Cyprus.
In the event of a disease outbreak or of a mere suspicion of one, Europe’s policy is to take the strictest measures from the beginning to avoid any spread of the disease and relax them according to developments of a situation, he said.
"The laboratory results are there, facts are there and I don’t think that the entire EU conspired so that it can serve certain interests in Cyprus," the Commissioner said.
The culling of animals, he noted, is a prevention and eradication strategy and not a euthanasia process, even when there is only a suspicion of the disease.
With regards to FMD in the occupied areas, the Commissioner noted that according to the Green Line regulations, the movement of livestock across the Green Line is not allowed from areas not controlled by the Republic.
He explained that the Commission at this stage cannot organise preventive vaccination programmes, like it did in Thrace, to stop FMD from spreading to the EU from Turkey, where there is a serious problem.
Following the outbreak of the disease in Dromolaxia, there were more fears this week of it spreading elsewhere on the island since suspected cases were detected in Paphos (2) and Nicosia (1).
Veterinary Services head Charalambos Kakoyiannis said that tests continued and that in the last 20 days, 19,000 samples would be sent abroad for testing.
With regard to the disease, Kakoyiannis said that antibodies tested positive but FMD in Cyprus was mild.
Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou said that the problem was created by some people on the island and that the police would soon be on top of it.
The minister said that there were cases of FMD in cattle in Dromolaxia and that further specialised tests would be carried out in the Pirbright Community Reference Laboratory to confirm the disease.
So far 2,200 animals have been culled in the affected Dromolaxia area.
Box
THE government yesterday was expecting a reply from businessmen in Vietnam on whether they would buy most of the 30,000 pigs who were not sold on the Cyprus market, as a result of the FMD outbreak.
If the pigs are exported the compensation costs for local farmers which amount to £2m for the government will be reduced.
Farmers will be compensated for the pigs, which will not be sold, according to a plan, which includes culling, transport and incineration.
Caption
SATISFIED: EU Health and Consumers’ Protection Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou told MPs that the measures taken by the authorities against FMD were the correct ones and in line with the European Commission.

(By Demetra Molyva, Cyprus Weekly)

TC clampdown on shopping in free areas

IN flagrant violation of the Green Line regulation, the occupation regime is clamping down on Turkish Cypriot shopping in the free area of Cyprus through threats and intimidation.

The so-called police at the checkpoints seize items from the hands of consumers and arrest anyone who protests.
In an incident at the Ledra Palace reported yesterday in the daily Africa, they confiscated flowerpots being brought from the south and when the buyer Zehra Derebay tried to argue with the "police" she was taken into custody for insulting them.
In an earlier episode, a 2-year old child had a chocolate taken from its hand and thrown away at the Ayios Dometios checkpoint.
The chocolate, of European brand, notes the paper, was purchased in the free areas by the child’s father.
EU diplomats in Nicosia are upset over the growing development, because the whole concept of reciprocity upon which Green Line trade is based has been undermined, according Cyprus Weekly special correspondent Costas Apostolides (see news analysis on page 44).
Although aware of the reactions, the northern regime appears determined to continue and escalate the measures, wanting to revive a "Turk to Turk" solidarity policy that was enforced by the TMT terrorist organization in the years of the Turkish Cypriot mutiny after 1963.
The restrictive measures dampen further the prospects of opening the Ledra Street checkpoint.
Asked about the negative policy of the Turkish Cypriot side on his return from Athens, President Papadopoulos expressed regret and said it went to show who really are forcing the Turkish Cypriots into isolation.
The shopping restrictions have raised an outcry among the Turkish Cypriots. The newspaper Ortam yesterday described the decision of the so-called ‘government’ as fascist, bringing the citizens into confrontation with the ‘police.’
The Turkish Cypriot Teachers Trade Union (KTOS) also condemned the move against shoppers, noting that they so-called authorities imposed their inhuman behaviour using as a pretext the foot-and-mouth-disease in the south.
In confirmation of this, the self-styled ‘prime minister’ Ferdi Sabit Soyer yesterday announced that because of the foot-and-mouth disease, products such as meat, milk and dairies would not be allowed in from the free areas.
He also said that the pseudogovernment was determined to apply the measures included in the Green Line regulation.
The Federation of the Workers Unions DEV-IS said in an announcement that the "customs" measures, as it called them, at the checkpoints are antiquated methods and that the best way of controlling the situation was to reduce prices in the occupied areas in order for a healthy competition to exist with the free areas.

(From Cyprus Weekly)

WE CONDEMN THE DESTRUCTION OF KARPASIA

The puppet state of Turkey in occupied Cyprus is promoting the development of large scale tourist resorts in the peninsula of Karpasia.

Having driven the Greek Cypriot legal residents of the territory away from their homeland, having transported settlers from Turkey and installed them in the houses of Greek Cypriot refugees, having demolished many abandoned houses and villages, Turkey decided to offer the area to developers for tourist development.

In order to create the infrastructure for these huge tourist developments (marinas, hotels, golf courses etc) the occupation administration promoted the construction of a high voltage electricity transfer network, despite the protests of Turkish Cypriot environmental and other organisations.

The Cyprus Green Party aligns itself without any reservations with the Turkish Cypriot environmentalists and other active citizens that are protesting against the environmental destruction of this ecologically significant area of Karpasia.

We also welcome the solidarity of the European Green Party in the common struggle of Greek and Turkish Cypriots for the salvation of two very important habitats, the Akamas and Karpasia peninsula, as expressed in a resolution during the latest Council Meeting of the European Green Party.