Cyprus has, so far, fended off an anonymous dream donation of 160,000 computers to equip every child, student and teacher in the country's educational system.
The $400 million package, put forward several months ago and made public last month, involved the installation of computers in nursery, primary and secondary schools and Cyprus University. The donors would design the system and provide technical support for 10 years.
Implementation of the project would take three years. While computer and software suppliers cried foul, the offices of the attorney general and auditor general studied the terms of the offer. The press adopted a negative attitude.
The public became suspicious. The gift horse, whose mouth was being minutely investigated, became a Trojan horse. Faced with rejection, the lawyers said they would whisper the donors' names in the ear of President Glafkos Clerides and Education Minister Ouranios Ioannides.
Public disclosure was demanded. The donors' representatives argued that their clients insisted on anonymity because they did not want a flood of "begging letters". The government stuck to its demand for full public disclosure.
Amazed and frustrated, the lawyers parried the accusatory flack at a press conference. They said the benefactors were "101 per cent Greek". Wags remarked: "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
Greek Cypriots have good cause to be wary of their mainland brethren. The Athens junta mounted the coup against Cyprus President Makarios in 1974 which led to the Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern 37 per cent of the island.
The lawyers claimed the donors had no connection to non-Hellenic interests, although British as well as Greek-owned companies were tipped to provide services for the system. One company, mentioned, Unified Management Technology, employs Mr Yiannis Dukakis, a relative of Mr Michael Dukakis, 1989 US presidential candidate, who visited Cyprus last year.
"Could Mr Dukakis be plotting to run for the presidency here in 2003?" citizens asked. The lawyers retorted that 40 Cypriot firms had expressed interest in being involved.
One of the lawyers, Mr Christos Theodorou, said that in spite of the fuss the mystery donors remained committed to the upgrading of the Cypriot educational system. "The decision to make this donation to the Cypriot people is binding and irrevocable." If the government turns down the offer, "the donation will be made directly . . . to every home where there are students or teacher", he stated. To charges of a hidden moneymaking agenda, he said the offer would not cost the state "a single pound".
Nevertheless, the state turned it down. The government spokesman, Mr Michalis Papapetrou, said the elements of the deal could not be concealed from the public. "It may be a donation, but legally it is still a contract. The government has to be completely sure about whom it makes contracts with."
Members of the parliamentary education committee suggested prosecuting the donors' representatives for wasting valuable government time. It remains to be seen whether the donors will make good on their threat to send mini-Trojan horses directly into Greek Cypriot households.