Surprise welcome party in Paradise

Spiros: Ate re paidkia kleiste ta fota tze erkete...
Ezekias: kalav eklisa ta
oloi mazi: Surpriiiiiseeeeee
Glafkos: Ooooo poli wraio to surprise, thank you paida
Spiros: Eftixos pou nrtes re Glafko, ma to 8eo epi8imisa se, ebare8ike n psishi mou me tous poushtogerous dame va pezoume spastra oulln mera
Glafkos: Tora va shieroume oksa va klew...?
Makarios: Mia zwn exorattefkes re Glafko
Tornaritis: Kalos to glafko
Ezekias: Glafko mou kalosorises tze mev akoueis to pellov ivta mpou lalei
Spiros: Tora tora pou evva sou doko pasta zinishia pale...
Tassos: Yia...
Makarios: E Tasso, ma pou eisouv mitsis isouv tosos glikos ivtaloeis egives etsi pikris
Yiorkatzis: vai, estasse soroppi, ev eprolaba va posarantoso tze eshise pastn geveka mou o ppezevenkis...
Makarios: Ate kavei mev arkepsete pale.  Glafko mou ivta mpou givete katw?
Glafkos: Ekamev ta mavra tze gerima o Xristofkias... tze tora efkike o Nikos o Anastasiadns, to DYSH diladn
Spiros: Ev o Tassos pou fteei, ekamev ta skata, ego ekama tote minimum programma, efkika tze istera ekatsa tous tnv... o xaxas o Tassos ekamev ta shiovi
Tassos: Htav n perioreousa atmosfera pou eftee
Spiros: Loipov, piastn perireousa tze bartiv mesto kolo sou tora
Glafkos: Spiro, by the way, ksereis piov ekatsav mesa?  To Katshiristra, epiavve rialia me to Akn tov Tsoxatzopoullo tze epirav tov Ellada tze ebalav to filakia
Spiros: Kala to katalaba tote pou mou elalev 'eviaia dogmata' tze malakies, tze egw eipa tou to, mev avakatovvese me tous kalamarades tze va mpertepsis, amma ev akouev
Makarios: Ma toutos pou erkete pios evi?
Tassos: Oooo pittokops? ivta mpou givete, irtes tze esi dame?
Pittokopitis: Kalos sas ibra kopelia
Spiros: Pava.i.a mou, irtev o xorkatos o Pafitos
Makarios: Yiatiii?  Eshis problnma me tous pafites Spiro?
Glafkos: Ma kala re Spiro, afou ev  ntav dikos sas o Pittokopitis?
Spiros: Skoullo Pafitoi, eprepe va tous glifo yia va fkevvo stes ekloges
Tassos: Ev mas ekavev eixame tze to Lillikka tora, alla ev o Basiliou pou tov ebale mesto paixvidi toutov
Spiros: Mev tov sivafervete to Basileiou tze avakatovvete to stomashi mou, va xarite
Ezekias: Basiliouuuu Basiliouuu... aaaouuuuu dkiaole edoke mou klotshia pasto kavvi
Glafkos: E Spiro, ivta tou edokes klotsia?
Torvaritis: Pou va deis ivta gaouropatsous tou ediav toso tzero
Spiros: Eipa sou dkiakoshies shiliades fores va me laleis malakies.  By the way, e Pittokopiti, ev ali8kia oti emilas sto radio pou ekames parembasi tiv ora pou ekatouras tze akouev ollos o kosmos?
Pittokopitis: Ev kala sior, ivta mpou ishe va kamo, va katouri8o pavw mou
Tornaritis: Dostou xorkati shini...
Glafkos: Telika o Lissaridis ev o movadikos pou zn koma
Spiros: Gamo ti ratsa tou, pe pe emplekomeva, exaskiastn tze o 8eos tze eksixasev tov katw.  A, ev tze o Beviamnv akoma katw
Glafkos: Vai, kouliazei oulln mera sto Hilton Park, sivaouvte mia sivopartzia tze lalouv malakies oulln mera.
Spiros: Pale kala pou ev espasev kavevas to Beviamnv sto ksilo... to tzero pou ntav upourgos efakellosev tous oullous.  Ev pasn periptosn sto Hilton stn Makariou o Katsouridis akoma parkari to autokivito tou stn eisodo re Glafko?
Glafkos: Vai vai, tze by the way, tiv santa rosa ekamav tiv leforo Spirou Kiprianou...
Spiros: Ade pou kamvoumev intersect twra re Makarie... Eseva re Glafko poia leoforo evva sou dokouv?
Glafkos: Lalouv yia to veo aerodromio tis Larnakas
Spiros: Tiiii???? Ev ekatalaba, yiati eseva aerodromio tze emeva dromov???? Afou tze ego ekama dkio 8nteies.  Aparadextov touto to prama... eveuriasa tora
Ezekias: Aouuuuu. Ivta mpou eipa tora tze epirkolises mou tnv??
Spiros: Tipote... alla eprepe va derw kapoiov
Ezekias: Tze egw ivta mpou ftew, yiati ev derveis to Glafko?
Spiros: O Glafkos ev filos mou, esi eisai xaxas... lepto version tou Xristofkia... dkiaole, eskotosev ta plasmata tze efkiv tze pou pavw
Glafkos: Afou ev tze iksere pou ev to Mari... xa xa xa...
Tornaritis: Ade ivta mpou ekamev me tnv oikovomia... alla lalousiv oti fteei polla o Bgevopoulos o kalamaras.  O Tassos pou tov ekavovisev toutov
Tassos: O.i. tze ekavovisav tov... ishe va mas gamisi me tov Kiki tov Lazaridi me tes istories tou Milosebitz tze ekamame pisw
Spiros: To tzero pou eshiovovouvtav ta ekatomiria tou milosebitz mestn La.i.kn tze etroav oulloi ntav kala... alla ntav megalos ppezevenkis.  Epia tote va tov ebro sto Beligradi va mesolabiso va afike kati Amerikavous stratiotes eleu8erous, egovatisa pavw alla tipote re gamoto.  Ev kavi eixa tze to Australo to presbi pou mou ta eprise stnv A8nva va mesolabisw tote tze yia kati Australous dnmosiografous alla eksixasa va rotiso to Milosebits...
Glafkos: Oute o gevikos grammateas tou OHE va eisouv re Spiro
Spiros: Ev tze kserete oti ezntnsav mou tote va givo geviko grammateas tou OHE alla ev e8ela va metakomiso Nea Yorkn me sto psofokrio kai to aporripsa...
Glafkos: Siga va mev sou zntnsav va givis o GG tou OHE... ksiklatsiare Spiro tze evva to krouseis... ebales to mesta kotshiva
Spiros: Av ntav n azoula pouza re Glafko, ishe va kameis mpam
Makarios: Ate re kopelia, egw evva paw ve peksw tabli me to Nasser tns Aiguptou
Spiros: prosexe va mev se desmeusouv oi adesmeutoi re Makarie...
Glafkos: Akoma mashiete malakies me tous adesmeutous dakatw?
Tassos: Vai, tze tzivi tis afroasiatikns allilegkiis karterouv to yiatrov to Lissaridi va erti...
Glafkos: E, tote va paw tze egw va ebrw tous pilottous tis RAF pou upnretisame mazi
Spiros: Pievve... ate re Ezekia, pievve ebre tze esi to Mpresmief tze egw evva paw va ebro to Manti tis Skalas... Ate re Tasso pievvete va miliste yia ti Fotini me to Giorkatzi... share notes pou lalouv...

Cooling Down

Happy New Month - still enough time to get some tan lines

Είναι οι Αμερικανοί πιο ζοππόβορτοι που τους Κυπραίους τελικά;

Ομιλία του Τζώρτζ Μπούς, Νέα Υόρκη, Ιανουάριος 2007:

"America's businesses and entrepreneurs are creating new jobs every day. Workers are making more money -- their paychecks are going further. Consumers are confident, investors are optimistic. Just today, we learned that America's economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006. That means our economy grew at 3.4 percent last year, which is up from 3.1 percent in 2005. Ladies and gentlemen: The state of our economy is strong. (Applause.) And with the hard work of the American people and the right policies in Washington, we're going to make it even stronger."

"Across our nation, small businesses and entrepreneurs are creating millions of new jobs. Retail sales are up, consumer spending is strong, exports of goods and services have jumped by nearly 35 percent. The Dow Jones has set new records 26 times in the last four months. Productivity is strong, and that's translating into higher wages."

"When people across the world look at America's economy what they see is low inflation, low unemployment, and the fastest growth of any major industrialized nation. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the United States. There is one undisputed leader in the world in terms of economy, and that's the United States of America. (Applause.)"

Tούτα έλεε πριν μόλις κοσιένα μήνα μπροστά στα κκελλούδκια της Ουώλλ Στρήτ.

Τωρά βκαίννει τζιαι ζητά που τον Αμερικανό φορολογούμενο εφτακόσια δις για να γλιτώσει την Ουώλ Στρήτ:

Τηλεοπτική ομιλία Τζώρτζ Μπούς, 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2008:

"We've seen triple-digit swings in the stock market. Major financial institutions have teetered on the edge of collapse, and some have failed. [...] We're in the midst of a serious financial crisis [...]"

"Financial assets related to home mortgages have lost value during the house decline, and the banks holding these assets have restricted credit. As a result, our entire economy is in danger.
So I propose that the federal government reduce the risk posed by these troubled assets and supply urgently needed money so banks and other financial institutions can avoid collapse [...]"

"developments allowed more families to borrow money for cars, and homes, and college tuition, some for the first time. They allowed more entrepreneurs to get loans to start new businesses and create jobs. [...] Easy credit, combined with the faulty assumption that home values would continue to rise, led to excesses and bad decisions."

"mortgage-backed securities [...] were sold to investors around the world. Because these companies were chartered by Congress, many believed they were guaranteed by the federal government. This allowed them to borrow enormous sums of money, fuel the market for questionable investments, and put our financial system at risk."

"Investment banks [...] found themselves saddled with large amounts of assets they could not sell. They ran out of money needed to meet their immediate obligations, and they faced imminent collapse. [...] lending dried up, and the gears of the American financial system began grinding to a halt."

"More banks could fail, including some in your community. The stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account. The value of your home could plummet. Foreclosures would rise dramatically. And if you own a business or a farm, you would find it harder and more expensive to get credit. More businesses would close their doors, and millions of Americans could lose their jobs. Even if you have good credit history, it would be more difficult for you to get the loans you need to buy a car or send your children to college. And, ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession."

Δηλαδή, μαλάκες Αμερικανοί φορολογούμενοι, εγώ ο μαλάκας Πρόεδρος σας που πριν ανάμιση χρόνο ήμουν μέσα στην πελλή χαρά για την κατάσταση της οικονομίας, τωρά εξύπνησα ξαφνικά τζιαι ανακάλυψα ότι αν δεν ξεράσετε εφτακόσια δις για να γλιτώσετε την Ουώλ Στρήτ, εννά χάσετε τα σπίδκια σας, εν θα μπορέσετε να γοράσετε καινούριο αυτοκίνητο τζιαι εν θα καταφέρετε να πέψετε τα κοπελλούδκια σας να σπουδάσουν.

Τζιαι εν εβρέθηκε κανένας να τον πάρει με τα γιαούρτια.

Είναι οι Αμερικανοί τελικά πιο ζοππόβορτοι που τους Κυπραίους;

Agean yia Londino

Toulaxistov oi kalamaroi exouv humour. Yia tous Kipreous omos ti va peis... a88imoume se mia plateia stn Praga pou akoueis kapoio va fakka to podi tou kato tze va lalei "pppaaaa" tze va lalei "dkiaole re... ev foouvte ta pezouvia damesa..." Allo pale sti Praga sto aerodromio va lalei o Kipreos stn Kiprea "Korn ma lalei toutoi ev saravta kila n balitsa... ivta mpou ebales mesa, papaorotsous????"

8a katebw upopsifios stes proedrikes

Afou apofasisa oti ev uparxei kalos upopsifios, apofasisa va balw upopsifiotita... 8a ekmetalleutw tis adivamies twv Kyprewv tze dev uparxei periptwsn va mev ifko...
Exoume kai leme:
1. Rossides
Oles oi Rossides 8a mporouv va zisouv sti Kypro xwris visa, adeia paramovns/ergasias klp. Va gemosei n Kypros Rossides va gamouv oi Kypreoi aberta, ara ekerdisamev olous tous avtrikous psifous pavw twv 16 xrovwv, ektos apo gay pou ev sxetika xamnlo pososto tze ev mas evdiaferei
2. Stratos
8a dnmiourgi8ouv GEEF se oles tis polis tis Kyprou tze oloi 8a upnretouv sta GEEF tze ka8e mera eksw, sti grammn avtiparataksis 8a feroume afgavous yia 50 lires tov mnva.
3. Givekes/Kibervitikoi/Lisi Kipriakou
Oles oi givekes 8a exouv siouri doulia sto dnmosio tomea kai epidotoumeva shopping trips stn A8nva, epidotoumeves tsavtes Luis Vitton, foremata, klp klp. Evva exouv problnma sto va ebrouv kapoio va tes gamisi tes kiprees, alla isos va to kavovisoume touto me Tourkokiprious etsi 8a baloume tes givekes va pisouv tous avtrades tous yia eleu8ern metakivisi metaksi twv dio pleurwv. Sto sxedio 8a evtaksoume tze tes Tourkokipries dioti ev oi movadikes pou emivav etsi kai 8a gamiouvte me Epikous n' tous afgavous epaggelmaties stratiotes. Episis 8a dikeouvte oles oi gevetzes xalitiko oikopedo tze atoko daveio yia va ktnsouv etsi ev 8a trwv oi rossides tiv periousia tze 8a tes pavtrefkouvte oi Kipreoi yia va exouv spiti va mivouv.
4. Taksitzides
Exouv polla divato lobby tze etsi tze allios exouv controled access stes Rossides ara evva exoume problnma dame. Touto mporei va li8i av dosoume adeies leitourgias kapare se ka8e taksitzi, goal eivai ka8e geitovia tze kapare, ka8e xorko tze artista
5. Autokivita
Dev 8a uparxei kavevas foros sta autokivita, opoios 8elei fervei oti 8elei tze movo 10 lires registration.
6. Sivtaksiouxoi
Dame evva exoume problnma me touto to group, alla elpizw oti ta kopelloudkia tous 8a tous pisouv oti eimai o kalliteros ipopsifios
7. Katw twv 15
Me tous mitsious exoume problnma, alla ev psifizouv ara st'arxidia mas

Erwtnsn twra, eivai pws epidotoume ta programmata pou proteivw. Exw tis akoulou8es lisis:
Ka8e Kipreos/Kiprea ama gama/gamiete 8a pierovvei 1 lira tov orgasmo sto kratos, say 1/2 million per day, that will give us a minimum of 180 million pounds per year. Ev vomizw va eshi kavevas problnma me toutov to metro, ev sav ta diodia...
8a stamatnsn o pevixros mis8os pou dia n EF tous efedrous stratiotes tze 8a pievvei stous Afgavous, yia tous opoious 8a eivai 3 times the money they make in their country. Ev vomizw va eshi problnma o Kipreos va me piavvei touta ta rialia tze va eivai se GEEF tze va fkevvei ka8e mera, etsi tze aliws oi gevetzes 8a lisouv to Kipriako etsi 8a teliosei tze n istoria me to strato. I am not sure if the 180 millions will take care of the no tax on cars deal alla oi amivtikes dapaves pou 8a eksalipsouv should be able to take care of that in the long run, ara evav omologiako daveio ekavovistikame tze short term.

Psifiste Giorgio!!!!! 8a gamate aberta, 8a kikloforite me Mercedes SLK/CLK/S/E klp klp, oi gevetzes sas 8a eivai happy tze 8a lisw to Kipriako me to poio avodivo tropo!!!

Poiov va psifisw?

Prospa8w va ebrw eva logo yiati 8a prepei va taksidepsw stn Kypro va psifisw tze ekataliksa sto oti dev aksizi to kopo...
1. Tassos
Pistefko oti ekame megalo kako sti Kipro, evas pseutns, skatofatsa, misismevos, uperoptns pou opoio rotw stn Kypro ti va psifisw lalei mou "Mev psifisis Tasso tze opoio allo 8eleis psifise...". Prwtn fora eida kapoio upopsifio proedro va to misi toso polla o Kosmos. Osoi tov upostirizouv, ev plasmata pou eite misouv tous Tourkous 8avasima n' exouv megala simferovta apo ti snmerivi katastasn (trwv tze pivvouv pou kratika kovdilia tze kovtrata). Toutos ev o movos logos pou skeftoume va erto Kypro va psifisw, dnladn yia va mev fki o Tassos, alla akoma paramevei to erwtnma, poiov va psifisw, ara sivexizoume.
2. Kasoulidns
Eilikriva ev eimai pepismevos oti toutos o A8rwpos mporei va kamei kati kalo, kati dnmiourgiko. Isos stes sxeseis me to upolipo kosmo va kallitterepsouv alla foboume oti 8a eivai akoma evas Simitis pou zouse sto Heidy land otav ta lamogia (blepe Laliwtns) katatrwgav tnv xwra tze ta arxilamogia (blepe Kokkalns) egamisav tnv Ellada xwris bazelivn. Arese mou polla n koubevta tis gevekas tou, pou lalei "otav egw etsakkovoumouv me tous dikous mou sta 17 mou va paw sto eksoteriko va spoudasw yiatros, tnv Foteivn eferav tiv pou to Parisi stn Kypro va tnv pavtrepsouv...". Skeftoume va tov psifisw but my gut feeling tells me no...
3. Xristofkias
Potte mou ev ekama kala me tous xorkatous... Exw tnv evtipwsn oti o Xristofkias av vav parapavw realistis apo tous upolipous sxetika me ta evtos Kyprou, alla ev perimevw pou to xorkatou.i. va eshi vision and create something extraordinary. Auto pou me apo8ei pou to Xristofkia ev o Katsouridns pou otav ntav sivkebervisi to AKEL, eparkariske me to shioferi tou sti eisodo tou Hilton tze eparpatav pavtes tze ekratav to 8eo pou ta artzidkia alla oute toutos ekamev kati to ksexoristo. To de Xorkatou.i. twra pezei to aplos xorkatou.i. pou epiev me ti mamma tou va graftei ipopsifios (I guess eferev ti stete va avtikrousn ti mamma tou Kasoulidi pou ev afike voumero sti Kipro pou ev to epiase tnlefovo va psifisouv to Yiannakiv tis bouleutn tote), tze me to papa tou xorkou mazi tou, alla o Xristofkias priv 3 xrovia eparpatav tze toutos sav to grand papa. His image says "I'll do the least harm" alla mev ksexvoume to rnto pou lalei "dostou xorkati shivi va fki me tes po.i.ves sto krebati", ara I am very doubtful whether this guy should be president.
4. 8emistokleous
I really know nothing about this guy, I like the fact that his psychiatrist has recommended him for President, but that's not enough. Pistefko aksizi va tov akousoume ti eshi va pei alla the media barons who control Cyprus won't let him talk.
5. Matsakis
Av me to Tasso oi Eurwpaioi e8orousav mas tze ekofkav kavtouvi, pistefko me tov Matsaki proedro the EU will mobilize a multinational force to attack Cyprus and liberate us from the new Taliban Mad-sakis

Summary, I am leaning towards Kasoulidis around 55% and 45% towards Xristofkias, so it might worth a trip sto prwto giro yia to kalo tis Kyprou va apotrepsoume ti katastrofi tis Kyprou apo to Kavlanto Tasso, alla deutero giro ev me kofti poios evva fki, nobody can do something good so let's hope for the least harm to Cyprus...
O 8eos va mas lipi8i...

To xorkatou.i. me tnv mamma tou tiv kiria Annou tze tov Papa tou Xorkou...

Tales from the coffeshop (Cyprus Mail)
By Patroclos

THE ELECTION circus moved to the Hilton Park on Friday morning for the submission of the candidacies and the CyBC broadcast this thrilling extravaganza live, in order to entertain all our countrymen, who were unable to get a life during their last visit to the supermarket.

Commissar Christofias stole the show by walking into the hotel holding the hand of his hapless, black-clad, 86-year-old mother, who is clearly not in very good shape and had difficulty walking. But a beaming Commissar held her hand, like a kid being taken to school for the first time, smiling at the film crews as they slowly made their way into the hotel.

Mrs Annou proposed him as a candidate and informed journalists that he was the most pampered of her children, because her husband wanted a boy. As for the Commissar, whose campaign has been turned into monumental kitsch-fest peddling nauseating sentimentality, he almost cried when referring to his mummy.

Well, his eyes welled up and he seemed to have lost his voice for a minute, but no tears were seen trickling down his cheeks. Had he managed to suppress his urge to shed some tears or perhaps his thespian skills are not so advanced to allow him to produce tears on demand? Whatever the case, it was a passable performance, which must have won him a few extra female votes.

After holding back the tears, he said: “I want to thank from the depths of my soul my mother – the person who gave birth to me and brought me up.” I loved the explanation he felt obliged to give, in case anyone did not realise that his mother gave birth to him.

THE KITSCH-FEST had a folkloric dimension, with an elderly priest, straight out of a Kypriotiko sketch, also at the side of mummy’s boy when he was submitting his candidacy. Papalazaros, with white straggly hair and white beard, backed the candidacy of the Commissar, presumably to show voters that the commie leader, unlike true communists, believed in God and went to Church.

The general idea was to present Christofias as a traditional Cypriot, who loves his mum, respects the village priest, is proud of being a horkatis, is overweight, over-emotional over-ambitious and embarrassingly uncool. Why he did not wear a vraka as well I do not know?

WE MAY think all this is a big joke but mummy’s boy appeared to have set the agenda on Friday. The parental card appeared to have been playing on all the main candidates’ minds. Ioannis Kassoulides spoke of Glafcos Clerides, who had turned up to back his candidacy, as his spiritual father.

Kass’ father (the man who helped his conception as the Commissar would say) was also mentioned because he was a hard-line, right-wing nationalist and it could help Ioannis to remind nationalist voters about this.

In the end, the only one of the three candidates who did not mention his mum or dad was the Ethnarch, who was also proposed by an octogenarian former politician, Dr Faustus Lyssarides. He could have asked Faustus to adopt him, at least for the elections, as the good doctor has no children of his own and could prove quite an understanding daddy, but Tassos does not go in for such nonsense.

And he was certainly not going to say that a socialist windbag like Faustus was his spiritual father. Great leaders are spiritual fathers by definition and do not need anyone to play this role for them.


NO-HOPER candidate Costas Themistocleous introduced a sense of fun, by being proposed by the crazy psychiatrist and columnist Yiangos Mikellides. Themistocleous said that he was being proposed for the presidency by “my psychiatrist”. There can be no better recommendation for a candidate than this.

The question is would any of the other candidates find a psychiatrist willing to put his reputation on the line and back them for the presidency? Dr Madsakis presumably could not find a psychiatrist, which was why he chose a glamorous blonde to back his candidacy. We can always rely on the crazy doctor to go for the unconventional solution – no priests, no mothers, no spiritual fathers no ex-presidentes and no windbags in sight.

A HAPLESS man who thought that Friday morning was a good time to get his hair cut was in for a big surprise when he arrived outside Hilton Park in his car. Cops, standing guard, informed him that he was not allowed to go in the car park.
“You can’t stop me from going to the hotel,” he told the cops, who insisted that only candidates were allowed to go in. “Well, I am a presidential candidate,” the man announced “and I demand you let me in to submit my candidacy.” Unconvinced, the cops tried to reason with him, asking him why he had to go to the hotel and he insisted that he was a candidate.

In the end, the cops let him through and one asked him again why he needed to go to the hotel. “Look, I am a candidate but I am also going to have a hair-cut,” he finally admitted.


CUSTOMERS may have been pleased not to have read anything about the possible return of Karpasia, which became the central theme of the election campaign at the start of the week and was then dropped completely.

The row centred on claims that the Turks had been willing to return the Karpass peninsula at Burgenstock in 2004 and our Ethnarch was not willing to explore this possibility, presumably because it would have made the settlement plan a bit less of an abomination than he had painstakingly created thanks to his supreme negotiating skills.

The campaign team of the mummy’s boy cited the testimony of the two Georges, Vass and Iacovou, to prove the Ethnarch’s unwillingness to discuss the return of Karpass to the Greek Cypriots. Having failed to convince anyone that there was no such issue, the Ethnarch recruited the help of one of his poodles in our negotiating team – our baby-faced permanent representative at the UN Andreas Mavroyiannis.
Mavroyiannis, purely by coincidence was interviewed in New York by the correspondent of the semi-official mouthpiece Phil. He said that he had spoken to the associates of Gunther Verheugen and they had told him that talk of the return of Famagusta was a joke. This conversation was put on a conference call and all the members of the National Council listened to it, Mavroyiannis told Phil.

Of course it was a joke, one day before the final Annan plan was scheduled to be submitted. What the Ethnarch’s favourite diplomat did not tell the Ethnarch’s favourite newspaper, was that the Turks had submitted a map, with a proposal for the return of a large chunk of the Karpass, to our negotiating team several days earlier.

That was also a joke, which Mavroyiannis forgot about.

WHAT IS peculiar is that mummy’s boy knew all about the map, but his campaign staff, like Mavroyiannis, avoided mentioning it in the last week, even though it would have caused additional embarrassment for Tassos. Why? Because back in April 2004, the Commissar got his poodle and Foreign Minister George Iacovou to make a statement, saying the return of the Karpass was never an option at Burgenstock.

Someone would have mentioned this if the AKEL camp continued to accuse the Ethnarch of doing his best to persuade the Turks not to return the Karpass, so the comrades dropped the matter after a couple of days.

As for our Ethnarch, he was right to not to discuss the return of the Karpass, even though nobody would say such a thing. He had already made up his mind not to accept the return of Famagusta and Morphou, and it would have been a joke if he had to reject the return of the Karpass as well.

THE JOKE about the Ethnarch trying to solve the Cyprob in 2004 is the theme of a documentary prepared by journalist Makarios Droushiotis. Its first showing will be at the Pantheon Cinema in Nicosia this Friday at 8pm. The documentary, titled ‘Dilitirio’ (Poison), looks at the period between the Ethnarch’s election and the A-plan referendum.

The documentary does not deal with the A-plan, but the way our enlightened Ethnarch poisoned the climate in Cyprus, by cultivating fear and insecurity among the Greek Cypriots in the period leading up to the referendum. The documentary is not sponsored by the Ministry of Education or the PIO.

MORE THAN three years after its establishment, the Cyprus Institute last month held the opening ceremony for its first research centre which was attended by the Ethnarch and a posse of our society’s big-wigs. The Institute will eventually be the home of seven research centres, which would be run in collaboration with respected foreign universities, as well as offer postgraduate courses.

The first project of the Energy, Environment and Water Resources Centre which was opened in early December, according to the Institute’s president, Professor Kostas Papanicolas would be a study of the “forthcoming climate changes and the very serious consequences these will have on our region as well as the creation of a programme for dealing with them”.

I do not want to sound too unenthusiastic, but this hardly comes across as a pioneering or very imaginative research project. It is a bit like the other ground-breaking research project carried out by Yiorkos Lillikas’ cousin at his Harvard School of Public Health, which found that a lot of Cypriot youngsters smoked and that tobacco was bad for their health.

These are not the kind of projects that will turn Cyprus into the renowned regional research centre our government would like. At least the Energy, Environment and Water Resources Centre could have undertaken a more useful research project like “the forthcoming drought and the very serious consequences of not having water for a daily shower in July”.

HOW IRONIC that a government which has proved totally inept at carrying out the most basic management of our water resources has been pouring money into the establishment of an Energy Environment and Water Resources Centre.

Do we need scientific research to tell us that in a country which regularly suffers droughts, the construction of desalination plants should be a higher priority than the creation of golf courses? Perhaps we do, because in the five years of Ethnarchic rule, the government put all its energy in establishing golf courses while shelving plans for a desperately-needed third desalination plant.

The government is obliged to spend money on scientific research by the EU which sets specific spending targets (a percentage of GDP should go on scientific research). Unfortunately, it does not set any targets relating to water, because it assumes that governments of member states would ensure, as a matter of the highest priority, that their citizens would have an uninterrupted water supply.

It is a mistaken assumption in the case of the soon-to-be regional scientific research centre and drought-stricken golfing paradise.

PRESSURE to spend money on scientific research makes our governments vulnerable to grandiose proposals from academics who can give a good sales pitch about their ideas and capabilities. Lillikas’ cousin became director of the Harvard Public Health School and Professor Papanicolas is president of the Cyprus Institute.

An article by Papanicolas, published in Simerini last December, showed remarkable PR skills and an uncanny ability to say all the things we natives love to hear about the alleged importance – geographical, strategic etc- of our country. He wrote:
“The impressive successes of the Cyprus Institute are owed, mainly, in its convincing development as an institution of regional interest and excellence, which exploits the important strategic advantages of Cyprus: its geopolitical position, its good relations with its neighbours which make it a gate to the EU in the region, the excellent infrastructure of the island and the high educational level of its people. These objective advantages, combined with the progress-geared policy of the government...”

Are these the words of a scientist or of a smart salesman/politician pandering to our delusions of grandeur? When anyone starts talking about our strategic advantages and geopolitical position you suspect he is taking you for a ride. To his credit, the professor avoided mentioning that we are at the crossroads of three continents.
And why mention Cyprus as a “gate to the EU in the region”, when the only people using this gate are impoverished Third World workers and asylum seekers. Are they going to help the Cyprus Institute achieve its ambitions?

Ti Kamnei??

"...oxi, den epitrepountai auta...dysthxws..."

Mac Vs PC

Metafrasn sti Kipriakn:
Mac: Yia sas emai o Mac
PC: Yia sas eimai o PC, Yiati tze pou laleis molis eteliwsa mia spidkiasimi taivia
MAC: Ou dkiaole re PC, ev to pistefko, molis eteliwsa ti diki mou spidkiasimi taivia
PC: Apokliete va ev oso kaln oso n diki mou, alla sikkime ferto va tou sirw miav ammadkiav... avtakose va doumev...
Gisele: Yia sas eimai MAC spidkiasimi taivia
MAC: ev polla epaggelmatiki, evvev?
PC: Loipov, egiw prepei va fiw...
Mac: Pomive, ev 8a doume ti diki sou
Gisele: ate re PC reee
PC: kalav, kalav...
Kafros: Op, ti givete? PC spidkiasimi taivia
PC: evvev teliomevov sior...

Another day in Paradise - October 07

Torvaritns: Ade re Spiro, ebalav plio oi Tourtzoi va pievvn pou to Barosi sti Syria...
Spyros: e kalo, movo egw eixa kataferei tote va apomovosw tous Tourkokiprious... 8elei artzidkia va kameis etsi prama...
Ezekias: Tze vakko pellara...aaaouuuuuuu dkiaole mabre pareta va mou fakkas
Spyros: Pellos eimai, oti 8elo kamvw, ekatalabes???
Makarios: Tze paei o Lissaridis stous adelfous arabes va kamei kala?
Torvaritis: allos pellos tze toutos... ezilepsev tote me tous adesmeutous pou ekames esi Makarie tze ekame kati malakies "afroasiatikes allillengees" imish o yiatros
Spyros: peripeze re Torvariti, amma n EDEK zn koma me ta rialia pou ekamev tote me tes eksagwges sti Libin. Opoios epempe kati sti Libun epiavvev kkommission n EDEK
Pefkios: Vai, amma elipsav ta rialia, tze ebalav kati movimous priv 2 xrovia va piav miza pou kati kivezika armata yia tnv EDEK alla ekatsev tous pavw o Tassos... o.i. ksapola tous
Spyros: malista... tze re Ezekia, twra o Xristofkias evva katebn stes proedrikes evavtiov tou Tassou? Ma epellavev tellia o pello xorkatos? 8a to fan laxavov o Tassos!
Torvaritis: Ev tze o Kasoulidns, mev iksavvis Spyro
Spyros: e.i. sior, to zaopouttov, to pashioboutirov...
Pefkios: Ma ivta istoria ntav tote re Spyro pou epies me ti balitsa tou Kasoulidn sti Rossia tze tzeivos epiev me tiv diki sou balitsa Ispavia???
Spyros: Eto sior, emplextikav n balitses mesto VIP lounge... avvoiksa tiv tziolas tou Kasoulidi tze eishie kati brakoudkia efarmosta pou to saint michaels... evva mou fki tze proedros, va tou kamw pppaaa evva girefki pou va xosti.... a dkiaole, eprepe va eimouv koma katw tze va sou pw egw pou 8a ntav toutoi oulloi...
Ezekias: Vai... opos me to Basileiou... aaaaaaaaaouuuuuuuuuuuu gamoto shisto mou pareta re Spiro
Spyros: Eipa sou ekatov shiliaes fores, mev iksavasivaferis toutov to malaka dioti avebevvi n piesn mou!
Derbns: Re Spyro, kavei re koumpare, ekostoses tov, to gerimov... e Ezekia, ma etsi sou ekamvev tze pou eziousete re?
Spyros: e kalo... eixame e8viko simboulio tze ev etolmav va katsi dipla mou, etroev kati mpiktes mesta pla.i.tzia...
Pefkios: Egw lalw sas 8a ksavafki o Tassos. To grafeio mou to arxitektoviko epellavev pou tiv douleia pou to febrarn tou 2003... o korn mou ev ikseri pou va balei ta rialia...
Spyros: E kavei, evva poshistosi... evvev mia pashia n korn sou re pefkie, kariv ivta ava88ema ti lalouv? Ev pasi periptosn, av eimouv katw egw tora, ishe va kavovisw mia sivomosia va ferw oullov to lao mazi mou...
Derbns: Kaptain Nemo imish... ivtalos sou ekatabnkev etsi istoria?
Spyros: Edkiabasa to se eva biblio to scenario, ibre tze n CID eva pello kipreo tis anglias tze efkalamev tiv istoria...
Makarios: Kala sior, eva lepto. To Tasso tote ev tov ishes fkali avakatomevo me kati sivomosies tote me to Kiki? E8orouv ta pou dapavw me to Derbn tote, amma ev efkallamev akri...
Derbn: Av ntav movo tzeivo pou ev efkallamev akri ishe va kala... ti apagwgn tou gio sou ivta tiv n8eles?
Spyros: Re paidkia, efkika proedros 2 fores, oksa ev efkika???? Ivta pou mashieste tze avakatovvete... Av dev ntav tze o Malakas o Basileiou va mou kamei xalastres ishe va mou eimouv proedros koma... Ma tov 8eo, av arkepsi kappakotes sto paradiso ama erti, evva tou dio pou pavw ospou va erti n ampoula.
Ezekias: aaaaaaaaaaaouuuu gamotaaaaa, tora ivta fakkas...???
Spyros: esi fteeis afou.... to AKEL ev tov epsifisev? By the way, ishe polli xaznv pavtos n pomishiariki proedria me to Glafkov... aplovvamev tze oi dkio zampav pastes poli8roves tou proedrikou, tze o Glafkos me ti paterimi pou tiv mia, tze ti zibavia pou tiv alln tze elalousamev malakies... tze eixame tze tov Kouro va boura tes douleies...
Makarios: Vai, alla tiv deutern fora ekatses sou tiv
Derbns: Kala tov avteksev o Glafkos 5 xrovia, prepei va tou efkales ti psishi tou pavtos
Spyros: Ma egw??? O.i. sior... eimai easy going...
Makarios: vai... pou tziame eperases amma ev estamatises
Spyros: yiati, ev ekatalaba, ev eimouv kalos upourgos???
Derbns: Ate re Spiro, kopse tes malakies, esivaksev sas tote kopellouroudkia tze ekamvev sas oti n8ele
Makarios: Ev n azoula sou re Derbn pou eisouv movo dnmarxos esi
Derbns: Ev n malakia sou pou paei movodromo
Kokkivou: Yia sas.... Yiatre, ma yiati milas sto Makariotato etsi?
Derbns: Malista... evva mev ebroumev isixia potte... sti gn to leshi o arfotekvos sou re makarie va mas boura pou pisw me ta pistolia, tze sto paradisov n kafka...
Spiros: Pistolero Ouravia...
Kokkivou: Eisaste malakes!!!!! Makarie, pe tous tipote..
Makarios: Aistous mava mou, ev pou tiv azoula tous... afou ev skapoulloi toutoi sto paradiso...
Spiros: kallittera va paizw moutsio mia zwn para va gamisw etsi plasma...
Torvaritis: Ate kavei tze evva tsakko8ite pale... Ouravia, pievve ebrn to Mixalakn tov Triavtafillidn tze pe tou va erti poda va peksoume tabliv
Kokkivou: kalav Kirie Kritova
Spiros: Pavtos, egw tou Glafkou ev tou kratw katziav, pe8imo tov polla malista...
Pefkios: Pavtos re Spiro, esi eisouv o movadikos proedros pou emiviske mesa sto proedriko, oulloi alloi emiviskav esso tous, o de Tassos paei erkete sti Strakkav sti Lakatamia.
Spiros: E afou ev eixa spiti, pou n8eles va miviskw... Kalav, o Tassos efiev pou tov Anv Avtrea, tziame parodos tou Asty Hotel? A88imoume mia fora epievvame esso tou, va tou efxi8w yia tiv giorti tou tze allo llio va ttoumparoume pasto kavtouvi
Torvaritns: afou epievves tappo me tes sirives opos to bouzouvo
Spyros: o.i. ksapolo... tze tora o Tassos miviski sti Strakka tou Lebevtn... dkiaole, amma tixi, va avkastrosi o Lebevtns tiv upnretria, va avagvorisi tnv korn tze va bre8ei o Tassos poliekatomiriouxos...
Sepos: Atokismos.... Tokoglifoiiiii e tokoglifiiiii
Spyros: Re ma toutos o pellos pou to Dali koma mashiete... O.i. Kirie Sepo, ev balloume toko piov
Sepos: 8a sas doko oulous pasta fkia....
Derbns: Ate kavei, ebala quota sto zoppovortilliki, paw va ebrw to Nikov to Laviti va poume kamia koubevta vousimi... see ya

Problnmata Ellnvikns Oikovomias

To akoulou8o ev pou tiv Kathimerini, kataplnktiko ar8ro and a big part of it applies to Cyprus as well:

http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_economy_515265_07/10/2007_244230


Η Ελλάδα μπροστά στη νέα πραγματικότητα

Απαιτειται ριζική επανεξέταση του ρόλου και τρόπου λειτουργίας του κράτους στην οικονομική και κοινωνική δραστηριότητα


Ζούμε σε μια νέα εποχή. Ολα κινούνται και μετασχηματίζονται ταχύτατα. Γεωπολιτικές ισορροπίες, οικονομίες, κοινωνίες, κατανομή πλούτου, συνθήκες διαβίωσης. Κινητήριες δυνάμεις των αλλαγών η παγκοσμιοποίηση οικονομιών και επιχειρήσεων, η απελευθέρωση των αγορών –εγχώριων και διεθνών– η ραγδαία ανάπτυξη του διεθνούς εμπορίου, τα τεχνολογικά και επιστημονικά επιτεύγματα, η ένταση του ανταγωνισμού, η μετατροπή πρώην σοσιαλιστικών χωρών σε οικονομίες αγοράς. Οι παραπάνω αλλαγές διαμορφώνουν πλέον τις κοινωνικές, οικονομικές και πολιτικές εξελίξεις σε παγκόσμιο και τοπικό επίπεδο, σε πρωτοφανή έκταση, τουλάχιστον από το τέλος του Β΄ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου. Ιδιαίτερα, κραδασμοί και κρίσεις μεταφέρονται σε δευτερόλεπτα από χώρα σε χώρα και από αγορά σε αγορά. Οι αγορές επιβάλλουν σήμερα τη δική τους οικονομική πειθαρχία με σημαντικές πολιτικές επιπτώσεις. Ο ρόλος του δημόσιου τομέα περιορίζεται κυρίως μέσω ιδιωτικοποιήσεων, εξορθολογισμού και μείωσης των δαπανών και φόρων, ενώ όλες σχεδόν οι χώρες επανεξετάζουν την αποτελεσματικότητα της κοινωνικής τους πολιτικής και τη διαχείριση των κοινωνικών πόρων, απομακρυνόμενες από γραφειοκρατικά και κρατικοδιοικούμενα μοντέλα. Μέσα σε αυτό το ανοικτό και έντονα ανταγωνιστικό διεθνές σκηνικό, χώρες και επιχειρήσεις επιδιώκουν να αναδείξουν τα συγκριτικά τους πλεονεκτήματα, βελτιώνοντας την αποτελεσματικότητά τους, υιοθετώντας μεταρρυθμίσεις, προσελκύοντας επιχειρηματικά και επενδυτικά κεφάλαια, επενδύοντας στο μέλλον. Χώρες μέχρι πρόσφατα φτωχές προχωρούν με τόλμη, προσελκύουν επενδύσεις, εκσυγχρονίζονται, αποκτούν διεθνές κύρος και αξιοπιστία. Επιχειρούν να τοποθετηθούν επιτυχώς στο νέο παγκόσμιο καταμερισμό εργασίας, που αποτελεί και τη σημαντικότερη προϋπόθεση για μελλοντική ισχυρή ανάπτυξη και ευημερία των πολιτών. Σε αυτό το περιβάλλον ποια είναι η δική μας στρατηγική για το μέλλον; Φοβάμαι ότι έχουμε παραμείνει δέσμιοι νοοτροπιών και επιλογών, που προσιδιάζουν περισσότερο στις συνθήκες του χθες παρά σε απαιτήσεις, ευκαιρίες και προσδοκίες του αύριο. Δέσμιοι ενός νέου πολιτικού και κοινωνικού συντηρητισμού, που φοβάται τις γενναίες αλλαγές και μεταρρυθμίσεις στην οικονομία και την κοινωνία. Βαδίζουμε αργά, ενώ οι καιροί απαιτούν τολμηρά και γρήγορα βήματα. Το κυρίαρχο ζήτημα για μας σήμερα είναι ότι κτίσαμε την οικονομία και την κοινωνία γύρω από τον ευρύτερο δημόσιο τομέα, σε έκταση και βάθος που πλέον δεν συναντιέται πουθενά στην Ευρώπη. Παρά δε τις συνεχείς, μεγάλες και επαναλαμβανόμενες αποτυχίες του κρατικοδίαιτου και κρατικοκεντρικού συστήματος στην οικονομία, στη διοίκηση και στην κοινωνική πολιτική, επιμένουμε πεισματικά σε αυτό. Παραδόξως, στις αποτυχίες του κράτους απαντούμε με πιο πολύ κράτος (μόνο οι δημόσιοι υπάλληλοι αυξήθηκαν κατά 40.000 περίπου και το δημόσιο χρέος κατά 53,5 δισ. τα τελευταία πέντε χρόνια), προσδοκώντας μια καλύτερη διαχείριση, χωρίς να μαθαίνουμε από τις εμπειρίες μας, χωρίς να έχουμε ακόμα πεισθεί ως κοινωνία ότι ο συγκεκριμένος κύκλος κρατικού παρεμβατισμού έκλεισε οριστικά. Ποια είναι όμως τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά και οι επιπτώσεις της μακρόχρονης κρατικής παρουσίας στην οικονομία και την κοινωνία;
Πρώτον, διαμορφώθηκε στον πολίτη μια ψυχολογία εξάρτησης, προσωπική και συλλογική, από το κράτος – σημείο αναφοράς για κάθε ζήτημα που τον απασχολεί. Καλλιεργήθηκε μια καχύποπτη –έως εχθρική– στάση της κοινωνίας απέναντι στην επιχειρηματικότητα, το ιδιωτικό, το κέρδος, τις ανοικτές αγορές, τον ανταγωνισμό, την αξιολόγηση, τη σύνδεση αμοιβής με το ποιοτικό και ποσοτικό αποτέλεσμα, αλλά και τη συλλογική κοινωνική δράση.
Δεύτερον, διαμορφώθηκε μια έντονη, έμμεση και άμεση, σημαντική παρουσία του κράτους στην οικονομική ζωή. Παρά τις αξιόλογες προσπάθειες των τελευταίων ετών να συρρικνωθεί, παραμένει κυρίαρχη με δεκάδες ζημιογόνες κρατικές επιχειρήσεις, οργανισμούς, φορείς και επιτροπές, που αυξάνονται αντί να μειώνονται, παρά τα ελλείμματα και την αναποτελεσματικότητα, χωρίς να αποτιμάται η οικονομική και κοινωνική τους προσφορά. Απτά παραδείγματα: ο ΟΣΕ σπαταλά εκατομμύρια ευρώ, το ίδιο και η Ολυμπιακή και οι αμυντικές βιομηχανίες. Ο ρόλος του κράτους παραμένει κυρίαρχος στις μεταφορές, την ενέργεια, τις τηλεπικοινωνίες, τα τυχερά παιχνίδια, τις υποδομές. Σ’ αυτό το περιβάλλον, παρά τις φωτεινές εξαιρέσεις, καλλιεργήθηκαν νοσηρά φαινόμενα: κομματοκρατία, διαφθορά, αναποτελεσματικότητα, αδιαφάνεια, αναξιοκρατία, ισοπέδωση, που διάβρωσαν σε μεγάλο βαθμό την οικονομία και τον κοινωνικό ιστό. Σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις που τολμήθηκε το άνοιγμα των αγορών ή οι αποκρατικοποιήσεις, όπως στις τηλεπικοινωνίες και τον τραπεζικό τομέα, οι επιπτώσεις ήταν θετικές, με εξωστρέφεια, νέες επιχειρήσεις, επενδύσεις, εκσυγχρονισμό και ανταγωνιστική τιμολόγηση, επ’ ωφελεία των πολιτών και της χώρας. Δεν είναι τελικά τυχαίο ότι κατέχουμε την προτελευταία θέση στην Ευρώπη των «25» στον τομέα της ανταγωνιστικότητας.
Τρίτον, οι επιδόσεις του κράτους στην υγεία, την παιδεία, την κοινωνική ασφάλιση και τις πολιτικές απασχόλησης είναι κατά γενική ομολογία απογοητευτικές. Οι επιδόσεις στην ασφάλεια του πολίτη και την προστασία του περιβάλλοντος, τραγικές. Τις ζήσαμε πρόσφατα. Οι επιδόσεις του κοινωνικού κράτους στην άμβλυνση των ανισοτήτων και στην προσφορά ίσων και νέων ευκαιριών, φτωχές. Το κοινωνικό κράτος λειτουργεί χωρίς κριτήρια αποτελεσματικότητας, ανταγωνισμού και ποιότητας στην κατανομή των κοινωνικών πόρων. Αυτό το μοντέλο κοινωνικής πολιτικής τροφοδότησε, κατά περίεργο τρόπο, την παράλληλη ραγδαία ανάπτυξη του ιδιωτικού τομέα, πολλές φορές χωρίς επαρκείς ελέγχους, κανόνες λειτουργίας και εποπτεία. Κλασικό είναι το παράδειγμα της παιδείας. Το κρατικό και το δωρεάν οδήγησαν σε χαμηλή ποιότητα υπηρεσιών, σε περιορισμό της έρευνας και σε απίστευτη κερδοφόρα άνθηση του ιδιωτικού: εκατοντάδες ιδιωτικά σχολεία και φροντιστήρια, δεκάδες κέντρα ελευθέρων σπουδών και παραρτήματα ξένων πανεπιστημίων, εκατοντάδες φροντιστήρια ξένων γλωσσών, δεκάδες χιλιάδες ιδιωτικά μαθήματα, δεκάδες χιλιάδες φοιτητές στο εξωτερικό. Το σύστημα αφενός απέτυχε να προσφέρει στοιχειώδεις ποιοτικές υπηρεσίες, αφετέρου τροφοδότησε την πιο έντονη παράπλευρη ανάπτυξη του ιδιωτικού και της παραπαιδείας. Αυτή η αποτυχία οξύνει τις ανισότητες, στερεί από παιδιά χαμηλότερων εισοδηματικών τάξεων μια ευκαιρία στο μέλλον, ενώ η παιδεία, το κυριότερο ανταγωνιστικό πλεονέκτημα άλλων χωρών, για μας παραμένει μειονέκτημα, υπονομεύοντας τις αναπτυξιακές προοπτικές της χώρας.
Τέταρτον, τα αρνητικά κοινωνικά χαρακτηριστικά, που αναπτύχθηκαν διαχρονικά μέσα στο κρατικοκεντρικό κοινωνικό και οικονομικό σύστημα, είναι εξίσου ανησυχητικά. Αποσυνδέθηκε η αμοιβή από την αξιολόγηση και την προσφορά, με συνέπεια την ισοπέδωση και την αδιαφορία. Αποδυναμώθηκε η σημασία, ατομική και συλλογική, των εννοιών του καθήκοντος, της ευθύνης, της προσφοράς. Στεκόμαστε παθητικά απέναντι στα φαινόμενα διαφθοράς, αναποτελεσματικότητας, ανευθυνότητας και καταστροφής του φυσικού μας πλούτου.
Πέμπτον, η γιγάντωση του δημόσιου τομέα δημιούργησε ισχυρές οικονομικές και τελικά πολιτικές διασυνδέσεις μεταξύ του ευρύτερου δημόσιου τομέα και επιχειρηματικών / επαγγελματικών συμφερόντων. Δεν είναι τυχαίο ότι τα φαινόμενα διαφθοράς έχουν αναπτυχθεί κυρίως στις σχέσεις επιχείρησης και πολίτη με τον ευρύτερο δημόσιο τομέα και στη διαχείριση των κρατικών φορέων από κομματικά διορισμένους φίλους χωρίς εμπειρία, διαφάνεια και ουσιαστικό έλεγχο στις περισσότερες των περιπτώσεων, παρά τις φωτεινές εξαιρέσεις. Είναι γεγονός ότι η έντονη παρουσία του κράτους και η σημαντική αύξηση των δημοσίων δαπανών ούτε την ανταγωνιστικότητα της χώρας βελτίωσε ούτε ποιοτικές υπηρεσίες προσέφερε ούτε τις ανισότητες γεφύρωσε ούτε τις ευκαιρίες διεύρυνε για τους πολίτες. Σε αυτή τη βάση έχουν ωριμάσει οι συνθήκες για ριζική επανεξέταση του ρόλου και του τρόπου λειτουργίας του ευρύτερου δημόσιου τομέα στην οικονομική και κοινωνική ζωή. Αυτή η ενδοσκόπηση αποτελεί κομβικό σημείο για τη διαμόρφωση μιας νέας εθνικής στρατηγικής με στόχο ένα μικρότερο και αποτελεσματικότερο δημόσιο τομέα, μια νέα σχέση ιδιωτικού και δημόσιου τομέα στην οικονομία και την κοινωνική πολιτική και μια νέα αντίληψη για την υλοποίηση μιας ολοκληρωμένης και αποτελεσματικής κοινωνικής πολιτικής. Πέραν όμως των ιδιωτικοποιήσεων, της αναμόρφωσης του φορολογικού συστήματος και του περιορισμού του μεγέθους του ευρύτερου δημόσιου τομέα, η πραγματική τομή πρέπει να επέλθει στον τρόπο λειτουργίας του δημόσιου τομέα, της δημόσιας διοίκησης και του κοινωνικού κράτους.

H xartomevn astivomikos...

Apo Cyprus Mail:
Lucky escape for policeman as bomb fails to go off By Stefanos Evripidou
A POLICEMAN narrowly escaped injury when a highly explosive device planted under a car opposite Ayios Dometios police station failed to go off early on Sunday morning. Police are looking for two people who were seen leaving the device on Kyriacos Matsis Avenue, just metres from the station’s front gate, before speeding off on a motorcycle. At around 3.20am, a policeman on duty walked outside the station when he spotted two motorists wearing black helmets on a high-powered dark motorcycle. The passenger was seen getting off the bike and putting some sort of device next to the front right wheel of a Mercedes 500 parked opposite the station. When the motorist realised he was being watched, the two made off in haste round the corner. The bike had no number plates. The policeman approached the car for a closer look, spotting the home-made device. The bomb squad was called in immediately. Luckily for the policeman, the highly explosive device failed to detonate even though the fuse had been lit. In their hurry, the perpetrators had failed to light the fuse properly, and it sizzled out before reaching the detonator, allowing the bomb squad time to diffuse the bomb. Nicosia Deputy Police Chief Demetris Demetriou, CID head Yiannakis Charalambous and head of the Crime Investigation Unit Nicos Kerimi arrived on the scene for further investigation. According to Demetriou, the device was sent to the lab for fingerprint and DNA testing. The car belongs to 31-year-old Michalis Savvides; the same Savvides who was injured in another car bomb last year that killed Yiannis Kouyialis. Savvides lives with his mother in a house on a parallel street to the one the police station is on. According to reports, he parks the car away from the house for safety reasons, even though Savvides reportedly informed police that he doesn’t have any quarrels with anyone and cannot think of who would want to do this. Last year on February 4, Savvides was driving Kouyialis’ car outside Makarios football stadium in Nicosia when it exploded, killing Kouyialis, 48, while injuring Savvides and his police sergeant fiance Athena Vanezi. Kouyalis, who had apparent gangland connections, had been warned by police months before that he was a marked man and that his life was in danger. A first attempt on his life had failed in 2002 when an unknown gunman fired several shots at him outside a Nicosia cabaret.

Malista... let me get this straight... a 31 year old has a Merc 500 and lives with his mother... Parks the car away from the house, accross from the police station for safety, he was driving a gangland (see arxi-leshi) last year and someone tried to kill them all, but only killed to arxi-leshi, and the best one comes at the end "His police sergeant fiance"... So, a person connected to the underworld who at 31 drives an 100k+ car, is enganged to a police seargant... Evva mas pellavouv re toutoi... Something tells me that the following scenarion must have taken place in the past:

Leshi: Dkiaole korn Athina, 8elouv va mou katsouv pompav sti mersevtara mou
Cop Chick: Agapiii mouuuu, yiati ev parkaris mprosta stov astivomiko sta8mo??
Leshi: Aaaa tze evva peis tous astivomikous va mou to prosexouv?
Cop Chick: esi ivta mpou laleis poushioule mou???
Leshi: Eisai evas daimovas ra... ev yi'autov pou se xarto8ika, dioti kofki o vous sou...