Day: July 16, 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been urged by the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK to support positions of principle and to exercise his power regarding the Cyprus issue.

In a letter addressed to Mr Johnson ahead of the 47th tragic anniversary of the Turkish invasion and start of occupation of Cyprus, Mr Christos Karaolis stresses that to the Cyprus issue solution must be based on the internationally accepted and agreed model of a bi-zonal, bi- communal federation with political equality and a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship – as defined by relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the High-Level Agreements.

He further notes that substantive negotiations on the Cyprus issue must resume from the point at which they were left off in Crans Montana in 2017; that a reunified Cyprus should be a functional state and a continuation of the Republic of Cyprus, which, among else, is “the only way” of protecting the military and defence interests of the United Kingdom in the island; that any attempt to create fait accomplis must be strongly opposed and prevented, with most pressing the issue of the illegal

re-opening of the Varosha beachfront; that the EU must be allowed to play an active role in the negotiations; and that the guarantees are abolished.

Karaolis informs Johnson that more than 70% of UK MPs have been urged by thousands of British voters over the last six weeks to support the aforementioned positions, as part of the Federation’s online campaign #HandsOffCyprus.

The letter notes that many members of the Cypriot Diaspora are refugees and relatives of missing persons, and that they all remain steadfast in their belief that a reunited Cyprus where all Cypriots could peacefully live and prosper together is “both attainable and viable”.

The Federation President highlights Turkey’s responsibility in not having achieved a settlement, and the UN Secretary-General’s public statements that the “two state solution” proposal by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar is contrary to UN Security Council resolutions and outside his mandate.

He welcomes the UK Foreign Secretary’s participation in the recent informal meeting on Cyprus in Geneva and acknowledges the British government’s clear support for a solution in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

Karaolis underlines the “critical role” the UK Government has to play in persuading Turkey to engage constructively in the next informal meeting and ensure that the Turkish side tables proposals that are within the agreed parameters of UN Security Council Resolutions.

He also expresses the UK Cypriot community’s “deep concern” by President Erdogan’s “increasingly aggressive and authoritarian policies” towards Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean region, and describes as “unfortunate” Mr Tatar’s choice to “increase tensions” and “further poison” the negotiating climate.

“Moreover, President Erdogan’s reported visit to the occupied part of Cyprus, on this tragic anniversary, accompanied with his stated intention for a big announcement, is of particular concern,” adds Karaolis, who asks for “clear action and consequences from the international community”.

The letter to Boris Johnson from the Federation President ends by noting the “close and multifaceted” UK’s relationship with Turkey. “As such, you have the power to make a lasting difference in relation to Cyprus and, on this tragic anniversary, I urge you to exercise this proactively and unequivocally,” he concludes.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and still occupies 37% of the island`s territory.

Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’.

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.

On October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. Both the UN Secretary-General and the EU expressed concern, while the UN Security Council called for the reversal of this course of action.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

A package of new measures to curb the pandemic was announced in Cyprus on Friday by Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas, who said that they will come into force on the 20th of July.

The Minister said that the Council of Ministers assessed the situation and the experts` suggestions and decided to take some additional measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The Cabinet, he said, decided a series of measures including the suspension of summer camps, the introduction of the SafePass in all indoor and outdoor areas where at any time more than 20 people gather, including the employees of the company, until July 31 and the presentation of the SafePass in public services of the wider public and private sector, banks, local administration, public transport, passenger ships etc.

He added that it is prohibited to visit care homes or other facilities for the elderly, with the exception of those who have a SafePass, while he announced an increase of the maximum number of people indoors from 350 to 450 people, provided that all people are fully vaccinated or have been infected with COVID-19 in the last 6 months.

Finally, he said that it is allowed to serve guests in restaurants, nightclubs, receptions, discos and other entertainment venues exclusively in tables with a maximum number of 10 people per table. All visitors must be seated and dancing is prohibited, with the exemption of establishments with fully vaccinated guests or guests who have recovered from COVID-19 and have a certificate for the past six months.

The Minister said that unfortunately the epidemiological situation in Cyprus is worsening, as cases and hospitalisations are on the rise.

Our weapons against the virus, he said, is vaccination and personal health protection measures.

Noting that we are on the right path, he said that more than 60% of the population has concluded their vaccination scheme but said that the effort must continue.

Regarding the walk – in vaccination centres, he said that the citizens` response is encouraging adding that the government will continue its efforts to upgrade those centres, where citizens can get vaccinated without previously arranging an appointment.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

It is time to take the matter of everyone’s life and health in our own hands, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday in a televised address to the citizens after the Council of Ministers` meeting, which decided on new measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, as cases have been increasing in recent days.

In his address, the President noted that the measures that the government had to take are based on the positions of the scientific community that “either we get vaccinated or we get ill”. The President said that the government has reserved twice as many vaccines to cover the population.

He added that “it is time to take the matter of everyone’s life and health in our own hands with a sense of responsibility and solidarity,” and expressed his conviction that the citizens will behave accordingly.

Finally, he said that at 1800 (local time) the Minister of Health and the Citizens Commissioner will announce the new decisions.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

One more person has died from COVID-19 with total deaths reaching 384, authorities in Cyprus said on Friday, announcing 953 new cases out of 73,011 tests with the positivity rate standing at 1.31%. At the same time, 190 patients are treated in hospital, 44 of whom in a serious condition.

The total number of deaths is 384, 256 or 67% men and 128 or 33% women. The median age of the deceased is 77.2. Total cases reported since the outbreak of the pandemic have reached 89,410, the Ministry of Health has said in a press release.

The deceased announced on Friday was a 90 year-old woman who passed away at Famagusta General Hospital.

In total, 190 patients with COVID-19 are being treated in hospital, 44 of whom in a serious condition; 19 are intubated and are being treated in an ICU and another 25 are in an increased care unit. According to the Ministry of Health 89.5% of COVID-19 patients treated in hospital have not been vaccinated.

A total of 73,011 tests, 8,260 by PCR method and 64,751 by antigen rapid test method, were carried out on Friday, detecting 953 new COVID-19 cases as follows:

Eighty three people tested positive out of 945 samples through contact tracing; 13 people tested positive out of 2,903 samples tested in the Larnaca and Pafos airports; 131 people tested positive out 4,012 samples tested privately; 12 people were found to be positive out of 276 samples from the General Hospitals Microbiology Labs; 2 people tested positive from 124 samples taken following GP referrals and screening in public health centres; 62 people tested positive out of 1,997 samples tested by antigen rapid tests in private labs and pharmacies and 650 people were detected as positive out of 62,754 samples tested by antigen rapid test in the context of a government testing drive.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has briefed his European counterparts on the increased problem of migration flows in the Republic of Cyprus.

According to PIO, during his visit to Slovenia for the Informal Council Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs, Nouris held a series of bilateral meetings.

Specifically, the Minister held a meeting with his Swiss counterpart Karin Keller Suffer. Nouris told Suffer that due to the emergency situation in Cyprus, there is an urgent need to improve infrastructure as well as the technological equipment of the Asylum Service. Suffer expressed the will to support Cyprus by providing financial assistance amounting to 9.3 million euros, which can be used for new offices of the Asylum Service and the creation of a reception center for vulnerable asylum seekers.

Nouris also met with the German Deputy Minister of Interior Stephan Mayer, who said that he shares the problems and pressures that Cyprus is facing and as a sign of solidarity, Germany is ready to contribute to the returns of migrants to their countries with chartered flights from Germany.

Finally, the Minister had separate meetings with both the Minister of the Interior of Slovenia Aleš Hojs and the Greek Minister of Immigration Notis Mitarakis with whom he discussed the prospects of the new Pact on Asylum and Immigration.

Source: Cyprus News Agency