Day: May 6, 2022

The summer period is expected to be a difficult one, as always, Cyprus’ Fire Service Spokesperson, Andreas Kettis has told CNA, pointing out that everyone’s cooperation is necessary to prevent fires.

In an interview with CNA, Kettis, among other things, referred, to a rise in fires in urban areas, but also to the two state-of-the-art drones the Fire Service have at their disposal. He also said that great effort is being exerted to secure more aircraft for firefighting purposes.

He said the Fire Service have been getting ready ahead of the summer season by making sure their equipment is ready for use. The fire season in Cyprus, he said, is generally between May and end of October, but due to the climate change this is not always so, pointing out that three years ago, they had many fires in December.

Kettis said that they have trained staff to use the two state-of-the-art drones for monitoring for prevention purposes but also during operations to have a better picture of the situation and be able to better assess the fire and decide the best way to put it out, through aircraft and crews on land.

He also noted that great effort is exerted by the Forestry Department to secure more firefighting aircraft. Available are the two aircraft of the Forestry Department, and the helicopters of the Police and National Guard, he said, while there is cooperation also with the British Bases, that have sent aircraft several times when asked.

Kettis said the Forestry Department might be able to secure two more aircraft from Spain while there is effort to secure two helicopters as well.

He said that last year the Fire Service received 12,333 calls for fires in rural and urban areas, and for other incidents. Most calls – 7,383 – were for urban area fires, 4,474 were for rural area fires and the rest were for other incidents.

He pointed out that except from dealing with fires, the Service also assists in traffic and labour accidents, carries out rescues in mountains, from rivers, floods and tall building rescues, and deals with situations that concern chemicals, to name a few.

He also said that human activity is the cause of 92% to 93% of fires, while over 90% of the fires occur in rural areas.

Kettis said there has been a 20.51%, rise in urban fires since last year and an around 6% decrease in rural fires, while there has been a steep rise in damage as well. Citing the general assessment of the damage caused by the Arakapas wildfires and some other fires nearby, as recorded by the competent Ministries, Kettis said this was more than €120 million in 2020 and 2021.

He also said that, after the wildfires last July in the Arakapas area, the President of the Republic gave instructions for a study for a monitoring system of rural and mountainous areas for the timely location of fires. This study has been completed, he said, and around €4.5million is needed for the first phase but to fully implement it, more than €20million is necessary because they need to acquire a lot of equipment.

The proposal has been sent to the Finance Ministry to secure the necessary amount. The programme provides for live monitoring of various areas through cameras or other media, he said.

According to Kettis, investing in fire prevention will be an investment that will benefit everyone.

Kettis said that the summer season is expected to be a difficult one, as every year, pointing out that everyone’s contribution is necessary to have a good year as regards fire prevention.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Health Ministry announced 12 deaths, 3,444 new COVID cases and 60 hospitalisations for the week between 29 April and 5 May.

The announcement, on Friday, says that a total of 354,720 were carried out.

The deceased are 7 women and 5 men ages between 63 years and 95 who lost their lives between December 2020 and April 2022.

The total deaths since the pandemic broke out are 1,027 and of cases 483,664. Of the 60 patients who are receiving hospital treatment island-wide, 16 are in serious condition of whom 6 are intubated and 9 are in an ICU. Figures show that 43.34% of the patients are unvaccinated. Moreover the Ministry said that 12 patients who are no longer infectious, are still intubated in an ICU.

The positivity rate now stands at 0.97%. A total of 12,049 PCR tests were carried out and 417 cases were diagnosed (positivity rate PR 3.46%). The rapid tests were 342,671 and 3,027 cases were detected (PR 0.88%).

In the framework of contact tracing a total of 190 PCR tests were conducted and 10 cases were diagnosed (PR 5.26%). On private initiative the PCR tests were 5,090 and 297 cases were detected (PR 5.83%). Moreover, 153,975 rapid tests were carried out and 1,925 cases were detected (PR 1.25%).

Via the Health Ministry’s testing programs 188,696 rapid tests were done and 1,102 came back positive. At testing units the rapid tests were 132,789 and 1,018 cases were detected (PR 0.77%). In elementary schools the rapid tests were 24,902, 24 cases were detected (PR 0.1%), while in high schools 20 cases were detected from 18,249 rapid tests (PR0.11%).

Through the test-to-stay program 2 cases were diagnosed from 409 tests (PR 0.49%) while in special schools 1,029 tests were carried out and no case was reported.

Moreover in nursing homes 5,843 rapid tests were conducted and 35 came back positive (PR 0.6%), in closed units 3 cases were diagnosed from a total of 5,450 tests (PR 0.06%) while in the army no case was detected in 25 tests.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Frederick University ranks 101-200 in the 2022 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, a press release issued Friday, by the University, says.

The press release says that a total of 1,524 academic institutions were assessed this year and Frederick maintains its upward trend with a worldwide recognition and international success.

Frederick says that its recognition is due to its quality education, its student-centered character and approach and its contribution to the UN goals for sustainable development.

The press release more particularly says that the Times ranking evaluates the Universities in accordance to the 17 SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.

Frederick is one of the two Universities in Cyprus and Greece from a total of 15 which were evaluated that ranks in places301-400 as regards the SDGs.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Under the auspices of the Limassol Municipality, and in conjunction with a host of strategic partners from the private and public sector, the organizing team of the Limassol Book Fair announces the first annual book fair in Limassol. The event will be held on November 25-27, 2022 at Carob Mills venue, in the historic medieval castle area of Limassol.

According to a press release, the fair, whose core theme for this year is Bridges, aims at attractingbook industry professionals, publishers, booksellers, municipalities, cultural institutions, authors, artists, children, adults, parents and book lovers. Entrance to the public is free.

It is noted that the Limassol Book Fair aims at stimulating all areas of the local book industry, such as publishing, book-selling, printing and production (physical and electronic), online and offline marketing, editorial and other literary areas. In addition, the event aspires to hold an industry-specific event focusing on challenges facing the local and regional book sector.

Furthermore, the Limassol Book Fair will bring together people from the field of books, publications, culture and letters including publishing houses, booksellers, professionals and speakers from abroad, cultural and research institutions, governmental entities, embassies, municipalities, universities, literary associations and other organized cultural associations. All exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their work, exchange ideas and practices, expand their network, and join forces to further stimulate book culture and highlight local industry production.

In addition, the exhibition will consist of more than 50 exhibition stands and 10 kiosks of sponsors and partners. More than 20 presentations and panel discussions will be held on the main stage of the exhibition, along with 1 industry event, 1 VIP cocktail event, 1 poetry slam and other artistic events, while more than 30 speakers from Cyprus and abroad will attend.

More information coming soon on the Limassol Book Fair homepage.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

A delegation of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association of the Cyprus Army participated at the 125th General Assembly meeting of the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions (EUROMIL) that was held in Trencín, Slovakia, late April, hosted by member association ZVSR.

EUROMIL President Emmanuel Jacob opened the conference by welcoming members and reiterating the organisation’s mandate to achieve better social rights for all workers, in particular military personnel.

The general assembly meeting approvedthe Italian association, ITAMIL, with observer status at EUROMIL. ITAMIL is an Italian association founded in 2020 with more than 1000 members from the Italian army and ITAMIL representatives are present in almost all Italian army barracks.

The meeting continued with the presentation of the national reports of EUROMIL members, followed by breakout regional meetings in which the members present from the various regions could gather together to discuss shared issues. Notably, participants at the general assembly meeting agreed upon a joint statement in support of the Ukrainian people and against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The meeting concluded with a presentation and discussion of ‘useful instruments’ available to EUROMIL members that the organisation can utilise to support them in seeking better rights for military personnel in their country. This included the European Social Charter and EUROMIL’s capacity to make complaints on behalf of members to the European Committee of Social Rights, a process that has already been availed of on behalf of Irish and Portuguese members, as well as the Universal Periodic Review and European Social Dialogue.

The Cypriot delegation referred to the continued Turkish occupation of 37% of the island’s territory since 1974. Regarding regional security issues, the Cypriot delegation talked abut the disproportionate flows of irregular migrants which the Republic is facing and the EU’s contribution to tackle the issue.

Members will meet again in Berlin in October 2022 for the 126th General Assembly meeting.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The launch of the ferry link between Greece and Cyprus creates great potential for the maritime tourism between the two countries, Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus, Vassilios Demetriades has said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Embassy of Cyprus in Athens, Friday, Demetriades said that the ferry link will start operating on 19 June. After 22 years, the shipping link between Greece and Cyprus will be an ideal opportunity for the maritime tourism of the two countries, he stressed.

He noted that Cyprus succeeded in activating the line and expressed hope that this project will be embraced by the citizens.

“Let us not forget that there are over 50,000 Greeks who want to visit their relatives living in Cyprus,” he added.

The itineraries will be carried out by the Cyprus-flagged ropax type vessel M/V DALEELA, which has carrying capacity of 400 people and 100 vehicles, and is operated by Scandro Holding LTD.

The ferry link is seasonal and subsidized by the Cypriot government for the next three years with €16.5 million, following negotiation and approval by the EU.

The ship will set sail for the first time on Sunday June 19, at 12 noon from Limassol port and will dock at the port of Piraeus at 6 pm on Monday 20 June.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The situation in Ukraine, issues related to the European Youth Year and the action plan for Cyprus, as well as the prospects of the EU in the post pandemic era as regards innovation and research, were among the issues discussed at a meeting on Friday between President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou and EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel.

The European Commissioner is paying Cyprus an official visit and participates in the deliberations of the «Democracy Forum» conference, which is organised by the Office of the Commissioner for the Citizen in cooperation with the House of Representatives.

According to a press release by the Cyprus Parliament, during the meeting they discussed issues related to the European Youth Year and the action plan of Cyprus, the prospects for the European Union in the post-pandemic era in terms of innovation, research and education, the importance of the involvement of young people in decision-making processes, as well as the ongoing war and humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

The European Commissioner praised the importance of the right messages sent to society through the organization of the Democracy Forum and underlined the importance of preserving European values. Demetriou noted the importance of ensuring the participation of young people in the decision-making process, as well as the importance of the role that women can play in matters of policy-making.

Regarding Ukraine, Demetriou said that Cyprus, as a country that was invaded and is still occupied by Turkey since 1974, is fully aware of the consequences of the war and the humanitarian tragedy as a consequence of the Russian invasion and referred to the humanitarian aid that Cyprus has sent to Ukraine, as well as the opportunity he had with nine other women Presidents of EU Parliaments to visit refugee sites at the Ukrainian-Polish border and see the situation up close.

The House President extended an invitation to the European Commissioner to pay Cyprus again a visit.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who met in Athens, on Friday, discussed issues related to the energy sector, the war in Ukraine, as well as developments in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region.

President Anastasiades is paying Athens a visit following an invitation to participate in the 14th Congress of ruling party New Democracy.

Welcoming him, the Greek Prime Minister said that the Cypriot President’s visit comes just before his upcoming official visit to the United States, constituting an opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral coordination “at a time when, unfortunately, expansionist revisionism has made its appearance on our continent.”

Mitsotakis also said that the agenda of the meeting will include prospects of cooperation in the energy sector. As he explained, he will brief Anastasiades on his upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and the arrival of the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince in Greece in the coming period.“Greece and Cyprus are fully aligned in their effort for peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Mitsotakis concluded.

On his part, President Anastasiades said that the coordination of actions between the governments of Greece and Cyprus to achieve goals, such as trilateral cooperation, regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as coordination in Europe, is constantly strengthened.

“It is a great honour for me to address the New Democracy Congress and I am happy because we will have the opportunity to discuss issues such as alternative energy sources for the European Union,” he said.“At the same time, we will also discuss about what is happening in Ukraine, where a flagrant violation of international law is being recorded, using the same arguments that were used in 1974 in Cyprus”, Anastasiades concluded.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Challenges for modern democracies discussed at the first “Democracy Forum” organized in Cyprus

Aiming to foster the debate between political decision-makers, the social partners and civil society about the great challenges that modern democracies face, Cyprus hosted the “Democracy Forum” for the first time on Friday.

The Forum held in Nicosia, was organized by the Office of the Citizen’s Commissioner in collaboration with the House of Representatives. European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Maria Gabriel was the keynote speaker. The Forum was addressed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the President of the Parliament and the Commissioner for Citizens. The Forum is based on the initiative of the European Council, to build a platform for the promotion of ideas and innovative solutions to key challenges facing democracy and its institutions around the world, and seeks to adopt democratic processes promoted by the citizens themselves.

The President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, in his address delivered to the forum by the Minister of Agriculture Costas Kadis, said that the Government works consistently and decisively to build a society focused on the citizens, a society in which citizens will not be mere recipients of decisions, but active co-creators of those decisions.

He added that the government believes that encouraging active citizenship, that is activating citizens to participate in the public affairs and to effectively intervene in the decision-making centers, is the core of democracy, playing a key role in addressing the challenges that arise. He added that supporting a dynamic civil society, as well as strengthening democratic participation, have been at the heart of the Government’s goals since taking office.

“Relying on the five basic principles of good governance, namely transparency, participation, accountability, efficiency and coherence, we have strengthened the views and actions of civil society through a series of decisions, while enhancing its role,” he added.

House President Annita Demetriou said that the parliament actively supports, both the process of two-way communication between the state and the citizen and the transformation of the proposals into acts and projects, in the context of strengthening active citizenship and participatory democracy, pluralism and transparency, with the aim of highlighting the problems of civil society and consequently solving them.

“As President of the House of Representatives, the leading exponent of the democratic will of the people, I declare that we clearly have an obligation to constantly strive to bridge any gap between citizens and institutions,” she said.

At the same time, she said that young men and women should be more actively involved in the public affairs and present their point of view, energy and dynamics, in order to contribute to the co-formation of a new reality.

European Commissioner Maria Gabriel called on young people to promote their vision and ideas to the decision-making centers thus helping to form a better future, as the EU has decided to designate 2022 as the European Year of Youth.

She said that the idea behind the European Youth Year is for young people to share their vision and ideas and to take part in activities across Europe. She added that the Russian invasion of Ukraine further emphasized the need to uphold the European values of democracy and rule of law, and noted the importance in participating in the elections.

She also called on young people to make their voices heard and to express themselves passionately on the issues that concern them, by participating in the “Voice your Vision” platform created by the European Commission for this purpose.

On his part, Citizen Commissioner Panagiotis Sentonas said that the war in Ukraine was a harsh and painful reminder that neither democracy nor peace are given, adding that “we must do everything in our power to safeguard and strengthen democracy”.

He added that modern democracy faces multiple challenges, given the rapidly changing digital world, extreme polarization, misinformation and the spread of fake news, hate speech, populism and the negative impact of the pandemic.

At the same time, he said that his office, through its action plan, focuses on strengthening participatory governance but also on promoting active citizenship.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Justice Minister, Stephie Dracos, expressed on Friday her satisfaction for a constitutional amendment to allow the use of the English language by two new Courts that are expected to be created, the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court.

The House Plenum on Thursday amended Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus to allow the use of English by the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court. Article 3 stipulates that the official languages of the Republic are Greek and Turkish while the procedure before the courts is conducted in Greek, if the parties are Greek, in Turkish, if the parties are Turkish and in Greek and Turkish, if the parties are Greek and Turkish. The newly-passed law provides for the use of the English language in proceedings conducted only before the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court.

Yesterday’s decision by Parliament, Dracos said in a written statement, paves the way for the voting of the bill for the establishment and operation of the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court, which will be on the agenda of the Plenary next Thursday.

She said that the ability to use English in serious commercial and admiralty court cases is another step in supporting and enhancing the financial product and will help attract new investors. The Minister said that this was “a very encouraging message for the further strengthening of commercial activity and shipping in our country.”

The Minister thanked the President and the members of the House Legal Affairs Committee for the excellent cooperation as well as all the parliamentary parties.

Source: Cyprus News Agency