Cyprus News

October 3rd, 2011: The findings of the Investigating

Committee for the explosion at the Cyprus Naval Base

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Guilty as charged!

Polys Polyviou, president of the One Man Investigating Committee for the explosion at the Cyprus Naval Base last July, today presented publicly the committee’s findings on its two month investigation. Mr. Polys Polyviou, who was appointed as head of the committee by the Government Cabinet, concluded that the ex ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense bear serious responsibilities for the incident but mostly responsible is President Demetris Christofias himself, who had full control over the handling of the issue regarding the dangerous seized cargo and who knew or ought to know, but according to Mr. Polyviou’s conviction  at some point did know, of the critical state of the cargo but failed to protect the public from the imminent disaster: A huge explosion that caused the death of thirteen naval and and firefighting personnel, injured many others and left the island’s economy crippled with the destruction of the country’s major power station.

The findings of the Investigating Committee are πολιτιψαλ. independent from the country’s judicial system with a parallel investigation by the Πolicε under the control of the Attorney General, but Mr. Poliviou urged the Attorney General to look into the possibility of criminal offenses by any person bearing political responsibility as per the findings of the committee, implying the president of the Republic himself as one of them.

On appointing the Investigating Committee, President Christofias in a public statement said he will respect the committee’s verdict and will undertake any possible political responsibilities attributed to him by the committee. It remains to be seen if this will lead to the president’s resignation, something that opposition parties strongly request following the committee’s findings.

You can download the complete 643 page report with the committee’s findings in pdf format (8.39MB). The report is in Greek as no English translation has been released yet.

September 6th, 2011: President Christofias

testifies before the Investigating Committee

President Demetris Christofias gave testimony today before the Investigating Committee for the explosion at the Cyprus Naval Base last July. During his initial statement and answering to committee’s questions, the President refused to acknowledge personal responsibility as to the handling of the confiscated explosives issue and blamed for all the wrong doings the military, his advisors and the ex ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs. His response outraged opposition leaders, the relatives of the blast victims and the majority of public opinion. The committee is expected to finalize hearings by the 15th and hand out its verdict  by the end of this month.

August 23rd, 2011: In the aftermath of the

huge explosion at a naval base in Cyprus

The huge explosion of the 98 containers loaded with ammunition at the Evangelos Florakis naval base and the nearby Vasilikos power station on the southern shores of Cyprus left 13 dead, and the island’s electricity supply crippled to approximately two thirds of its total capacity. Cypriots had to endure daily power cuts for more than a month until emergency generators were brought in to compensate for the power lost. There had been no power cuts in Resort areas though, in an effort to leave the flourishing tourist industry, amidst the high season,  untouched from the consequences of the blast. August holidays season helped keep electricity demand low and it is hoped that with vacationers returning late this moth and early September that the recovering power supply, though not at pre-blast levels, will closely match demand until the whole situation is back to normal.

Meanwhile, unprecedented demonstrations are being held, almost on a daily basis concentrated mainly around the presidential palace, with demonstrators demanding justice for the victims and the resignation of the island’s preesident Demetris Christofias who persistently rejects these demands. An investigating committee as to the causes for the blast has been appointed with power to investigate even the President and is expected to publish its findings by the coming October.

There is an ongoing heated debate these days on issues regarding the economy of the island which suffered a severe blow by the explosion amidst the general economic crisis which did not leave the island’s economy untouched.  Proposed bills for financial measures proposed by the government are considered by the majority opposition inadequate and it remains to be seen later this week at the country’s parliament whether the bills will be passed as such or there will be more strict measures added by the legislative body, mainly towards cutting public expenditures and shrinking the public sector paychecks more than the government proposes.

July 11th, 2011: Huge explosion at naval base in Cyprus

A huge explosion at 5.40 AM today devastated the Evangelos Florakis naval base and the nearby Vasilikos power station on the southern shores of Cyprus, leaving the island’s electricity supply crippled to approximately two thirds of its total capacity. Deaths and injuries were reported among navy personnel and firefighters. Confirmed reports raise the number of deaths to 12 and 62 wounded some of them in a serious condition. Early information as to the causes of the explosion speaks of fires in one or two of a total of ninety eight 20-feet containers packed with explosive material that was kept at the base since year 2009 after Cyprus intercepted a ship heading to Syria from Iran carrying the said explosives and confiscated its cargo implementing a relevant UN resolution. The initial fire resulted into a huge explosion with all 80 or so containers blastng into what witnesses described as one of an almost nuclear proportion.

The explosion was so huge that houses in surrounding villages suffered severe damages, whilst cars traveling along the nearby Nicosia – Limassol highway were hit by flying debris wounding drivers and passengers.

It was a tragedy that could be prevented people say, pointing out that the confiscated explosives were left for almost three years unprotected at the mercy of weather conditions, especially with the hot summer Cyprus sun. They speak of heavy responsibilities by the military and political authorities of the island entrusted with the cargo’s keeping and who had – according to reliable information – early warning by experts and the naval base command that the containers were already showing signs of deterioration and swelling due to improper storage.

The power shortage is already evident on the island with frequent power cuts, amongst pleads by officials to the public to use generators where possible and keep air conditioners shut, something more easily said than done with temperatures inland reaching 39 degrees Celsius today. It was also said that it will be weeks until Vasilikos power station is back to production and action is being taken for the use of mobile power units that will at least partially cover the lost capacity so as to meet the island’s needs which reach their top during the summer tourist season.