Month: August 2021

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UK continues to advocate a solution in line with UN parameters, Foreign Office says

The UK continues to advocate a solution in line with UN parameters based on the model of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federation with political equality – a model that is internationally accepted, the British Foreign Office says in its reply to a letter sent by the Board of British Cypriots.

Referring to Varosha it says that the UK continues to fully support UNSC Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) and that following the announcement made during the visit of Turkish President Erdogan to Cyprus on 19-20 July 2021, the UK issued a National Statement expressing concern and strongly supported the 23 July UN Security Council Presidential Statement which condemned the announcement.

The Board of British Cypriots had sent a letter to British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, to mark the 47th anniversary of the illegal second military invasion of the Republic of Cyprus b

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Our thoughts are with Greece and its people, President says

Our thoughts are with Greece and its people, President of Cyprus said Friday referring to the devastating, deadly wildfires in Greece.

The President also expressed Cyprus` support saying that it is a firm and given support.

Meanwhile, Cyprus firefighters were battling along with their Greek colleagues on Friday evening at the Afidnes area in Attica region, Spokesman of the Cyprus Fire Department Andreas Kettis wrote on twitter.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Turkey`s unilateral actions cause tension, President of Latvian Parliament says

Turkey`s unilateral actions cause tension and hinder the prospects of a Cyprus solution, President of the Latvian Parliament Inara Murniece said Friday during an online meeting she held with President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou.

According to a press release by the House of Representatives, Murniece said that herself and the competent parliamentary committee will continue to monitor the issue of Famagusta.

Demetriou said that the EU is faced with common challenges in the field of security and stability and noted that Turkey`s actions in the fenced off area of Famagusta (Varosha) are contrary to international law and the UNSC resolutions, undermining the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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House President receives Famagusta municipality delegation and twinned municipalities from Greece

President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou received on Friday a delegation of the Famagusta Municipality, headed by Mayor Simos Ioannou, and representatives of twinned municipalities from Greece, who are currently in Cyprus to participate in the anti-occupation rally organised on Saturday by the Municipality of Famagusta.

According to a press release by the House of Representatives, Demetriou told the delegation that the participation of Greek officials in the anti-occupation rally reaffirms the solidarity and support of Greece to the efforts for justice and reunification of Cyprus.

She also pointed out that these are difficult times for Cyprus since Turkey is violating once more the international law and the UNSC resolutions and referred to the Parliament`s initiatives and actions at international level to address the Turkish provocations ag

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cyprus reports Friday four deaths, 525 new cases, 292 patients in hospitals

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday the death of four people to COVID 19, bringing the total number of deaths to 437 (286 men and 151 women). Their median age is 77.1.

In addition, it announced that 292 patients are receiving treatment in state hospitals, 96 of whom in a serious condition, while 90.07% of those hospitalised are not vaccinated.

In the last 24 hours 59,278 tests were conducted and 525 new coronavirus cases were found. Since the outbreak of the pandemic 104,994 people have been infected with the virus.

The four people who died were three men, aged 71, 77 (died on the 5th of August) and 90 years old and a 91-year-old woman.

Out of the 96 patients who are in a critical condition, 48 are intubated. In the Famagusta General Hospital there are 64 patients, in the Nicosia General Hospital 40, in the Limassol Gener

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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EU official expects Turkey to contribute to resumption of Cyprus talks, respect European Court rulings

It is imperative for Turkey to undertake responsible actions and contribute in concrete terms to an environment conducive to a swift resumption of the Cyprus settlement talks, an EU official said on Friday. Replying on behalf of European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to a letter by professor Andreas Orphanides, a Greek Cypriot refugee with property in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, Katarzyna Marzec, the Commission’s Turkey Acting Head of Unit, also said that the bloc continues to be guided by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions regarding Varosha “which must be respected in full.”

Brussels also expects from Turkish authorities to follow-up on the legally binding rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Marzec added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Board of British Cypriots calls on Raab to increase pressure on Turkey in relation to Varosha

The Board of British Cypriots sent a letter to British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, to mark the 47th anniversary of the illegal second military invasion of the Republic of Cyprus by the Turkish army, in August 1974, asking London to remind the Turkish President that attempts to settle any part of Varosha are illegal under international law. This is the second time within a month the Board of British Cypriots is addressing a letter to Raab.

In their letter, dated August 4, 2021, British Cypriots also stress that Turkey’s provocation in the fenced off part of Famagusta or in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone “must stop immediately.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cyprus general government deficit up by 0.4% annually in first six months of 2021

The general government deficit rose by 0.4% or €100.4 mn in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period of 2020.

The preliminary General Government fiscal results, announced Friday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (CYSTAT) showed a deficit of €711.9 mn (3.3% of GDP) for the period of January-June 2021, compared with a deficit of €611.5 mn (2.9% of GDP) during the period of January-June 2020.

EXPENDITURE

During the period of January-June 2021, total expenditure increased by €523.5 mn (+12.1%) and amounted to €4,840.3 mn, compared with €4,316.8 mn in the corresponding period of 2020.

The increase in specific expenditure categories was a result of support measures taken to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Social benefits increased by €203.1 mn (+12.6%) and amounted

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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UNFICYP mandate renewal resolution circulates as official Security Council document

UN Security Council`s resolution renewing the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus` (UNFICYP) mandate until January 31, 2022, which was unanimously adopted on July 29, has circulated as an official Security Council document.

The resolution was circulated as an official document of the UN Security Council S/RES/2587 (2021) on August 3, a press and information office (PIO) press release issued today says.

Among other things, the resolution reaffirms the Security Council’s Presidential Statement of the 23rd of July 2021 regarding the Turkish illegal actions in Varosha and condemns the Turkish President`s and the Turkish Cypriot leader`s statements on the 20th of July 2021, c

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cypriots satisfied with fixed broadband access market, according to Eurobarometer

Cypriot consumers are satisfied with the fixed broadband access market, according to the Eurobarometer.

According to a press release, the EU DG Connect published recently a report with the results of the Eurobarometer that was conducted between November 20 – December 21, 2020, with the title «E-Communications in the Single Market», according to which 85% of Cypriot consumers are very or quite satisfied with the download speed they have at home. The satisfaction rate is by 4 points higher than the EU average and Cyprus ranks 11th in the EU.

Source: Cyprus News Agency