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/ Pilots picket for their demands
/
YESTERDAY's papers again devoted most of their attention to the Cyprus
Airways pilots' strike.
_Haravghi
_ said that "Pasypi pilots were not in the air yesterday, but were on the
ground, picketing for their demands." The paper said that many passengers
had been inconvenienced by the strike while the government was considering
the national airline's privatisation.
The paper also reported that intense negotiations had been carried out at
the United Nations on two new Resolutions on the Cyprus problem. The paper
said that one was for the renewal of Unficyp's term on the island and the
other on the UN Secretary-general's involvement in Cyprus.
_Phileleftheros
_ said that a liberalisation of air-space announced by the government in an
attempt to combat the effects of the walk-out, was temporary but of
undefined length. The paper quoted Commerce and Works Minister Leontios
Ierodiaconou as saying that the duration of the liberalisation would depend
on the pilots' attitude and behaviour.
The paper also said that an unscheduled meeting between Cyprus Airway's
management and the pilots' union Pasipy the previous night had not provided
a solution to the problem, and that the 48-hour strike began as planned
yesterday.
_Simerini
_ said that the government was threatening to make the air-space
liberalisation permanent thereby allowing any airline to carry passengers
to and from Cyprus. The paper continued that Pasipy would be deciding
whether to extend the strike.
The paper also reported on the symbolic pupil registration at occupied
schools carried out at Nicosia's Ledra Palace check-point on Thursday.
_Politis
_ said that the national airline would be in private hands by November.
According to the newspaper's sources, Thursday's Cabinet meeting not only
discussed permanent liberalisation of air-space but also the possibility of
speeding up Cyprus Airway's proposed privatisation.
_Politis
_ said that the government's goal was for the foreign investors which have
already shown interest in purchasing the company, to be called forward to
make their offers as soon as possible.
_Alithia
_ said that the government and pilots were "playing their cards close to
their chests." The paper referred to the Cabinet meeting after which no
official statements were made, and to the fact the pilots were not
revealing whether they would extend the strike.
The paper also said that on Thursday the aeroplane mechanics had decided
not to service planes that had been scheduled for flights by Cynika pilots
replacing their Pasypi colleagues. Cynika is another pilots union, which is
not taking part in the strike.
_Machi
_ said that no problems had been caused to flights because of the strike.
The paper also said that the Cabinet had put the strike under the
"microscope" during its meeting.
The paper also reported that another 16-year-old Nicosia schoolboy had
attempted suicide after disappointing exam results. This followed another
16-year-old's suicide, again after disappointing grades, last week.
© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999
