Day: May 31, 2022

Any unilateral action to disapply parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol by the UK would undermine the peace process and destabilise the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement said Conor Long, Ambassador of Ireland in Cyprus, to CNA.

Ambassador Long was speaking on the sidelines of a media briefing regarding Bloomsday celebrations, which will take place globally, including Nicosia, on 16 June.

Commenting on recent developments regarding Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol, Long said that the Protocol was jointly formulated and agreed between the EU and this British Government to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, while reminding that the same time that Northern Ireland voted very strongly to remain in the EU.

In addition, Long said that the Protocol protects the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process from the challenges brought about by Brexit, and in particular the type of Brexit chosen by the UK Government, including their decisions to leave both the Single Market and the Customs Union.

“The way forward must be through engagement towards agreed and joint solutions. Unilateral action, effectively disapplying an international agreement such as the Protocol, would neither build trust between the EU and UK, nor support the Northern Ireland peace process”, stressed the Irish diplomat, adding that “we should remain sensitive to the Executive formation process that is underway in parallel in Northern Ireland. While a very clear majority of legislative assembly members elected support the Protocol, the DUP remains the largest Unionist party and its support will be necessary for the formation of a new Executive. It is looking for changes to the Protocol before it will re-enter the Executive”.

Long said that the Irish government fully supports the approach being taken by the European Commission and Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic, noting that last October the EU put forward ideas that would reduce checks and cut paperwork, making the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland much smoother, while adding that there is further potential to be explored in the package of proposals it put forward last October.

“There is no lack of flexibility of creativity on the EU side, but what is needed now is a partner who is willing to engage constructively – not further unilateral actions”, said Long, who was also very appreciative of the continued patience, support and solidarity from Cyprus and other EU partners.

Asked about possible risks from a possible negotiations deadlock, the Irish diplomat said that it is regrettable that with so many important issues on the EU agenda, not least the Russian aggression in Ukraine, that new threats of unilateral action have once again put Brexit back in the limelight.

“The EU has proposed specific changes to the implementation of the Protocol in its October 2021 proposals and has shown that it remains open to talking and finding flexible solutions in negotiations with the UK about the implementation of the Protocol. We are still awaiting the response from the UK side. We believe that any possible unilateral action to disapply parts of the Protocol by the UK would undermine the peace process and destabilise the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement” he noted, adding that the Irish government is keen to continue to engage with the UK to try and persuade them to abandon this proposed unilateral approach. “Only jointly agreed solutions can bring the legal certainty and predictability that people and businesses in Northern Ireland need”, he stressed.

Finally, asked to comment on whether recent election results in Northern Ireland affect internal political dynamics, as well as relations with the UK, Long stressed that it is essential to recall that the Protocol protects the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions and fully recognises the constitutional position of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent.

He also noted that the majority of members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly elected in the recent elections are from parties that support the Protocol (53 out of 90), and support immediate formation of the Executive in Northern Ireland.

“Business in Northern Ireland does not support unilateral action. They want certainty and stability and for the EU and the UK to work together to address the practical issues of concern to people and business in Northern Ireland”, said Long and concluded that the views of the people of Northern Ireland are clear from the fact that the majority of members returned in the May Assembly election support the Protocol.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

“The reorganisation of the Cyprus Handicraft Service was born through our effort to save our intangible cultural heritage, to revive it, to promote it and to develop it as a place of economic activity with prospects,” said Minister of Commerce, Natasa Pilides, in an event presenting the work of the Cyprus Handicraft Service during the years 2020 – 2022, that took place in Nicosia, on Monday.

The Commerce Minister referred to the reorganisation and modernisation of the Cyprus Handicrafts Service and noted that the redesign of the strategy for this purpose “has to do not only with what handicrafts are and how handicrafts are produced, but also with how they stand out better, as well as and how we inspire young people to become more involved with the handicraft sector, either as employees, or as customers, or as proud Cypriots who realise the value of Cypriot handicrafts.”

Pilides stated that after the renewal of the corporate identity of the Service, with the creation of the new logo inspired by traditional embroidery, the further upgrade of the Service store in Nicosia takes place, after its recent renovation, and noted that with the transfer of the Service to the Deputy Ministry of Culture could create an interactive space, suitable for educational activities. She also said that the plans include the creation of a modern website and an e-shop.

In addition, the Minister referred to a number of international actions, such as the integration of the Cyprus Craft Service in the World Craft Council Europe and its representation at the opening of the Homo Faber exhibition of the Michelangelo Foundation in Venice. She also mentioned the participation of five Cypriot artists in the 5th Biennale ”Revelations” at the Grand Palais Éphémère at the “Le Banquet” in Paris, as well as synergies between artists, designers and architects, such as the curators of the Cypriot participation in the 17th International Architecture Biennale in Venice.

She noted that craftsmen, in collaboration with designers and artists, can take the Cypriot product to the next level, so that it can emerge as a means of economic activity and entrepreneurship.

Pilides pointed out that a Memorandum of Cooperation that was signed between the Cyprus Handicraft Service and the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus is in this direction, that is to say for the provision of standardised educational programmes in three traditional techniques, ceramics, weaving and embroidery. This, as Pilides pointed out, is a decisive step in the great effort made in the last two years to save the intangible cultural heritage of Cyprus and to promote handicrafts as a place of professional career.

As part of the event, the short films created by the international fashion curator, author and editor at large of Vogue Greece, Filep Motwary, which present the evolution of embroidery, ceramics and embroidery, were screened.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Vouni, Kalopanagiotis and Steni are the first communities that secured the certification of the Ministry of Tourism “Colourful Villages”, in an event held on Monday, May 30th in Vouni, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Savva Perdios.

Through the “Colourful Villages” programme, a Tourism Ministry press release says, the aesthetic upgrade of the image of the villages, the reduction of visual pollution, the maintenance of cleanliness in prominent places, the improvement of the offered services and infrastructure, as well as preserving and making the most of the natural environment, guided by respect for biodiversity are sought.

“The ultimate goal of the “Colourful Villages” Certification label is developing a culture for the preservation of the unique identity, natural wealth and cultural heritage of each community, while providing benefits to the local community in the context of sustainable development,” the statement said.

The awarded villages will receive significant promotion both in Cyprus and abroad, by the Ministry of Tourism, with the aim of increasing their tourism traffic, the Ministry notes.

In an address, the Deputy Minister of Tourism congratulated the communities that achieved certification and underlined the emphasis placed by the Ministry of Tourism in enriching the tourist experience, through authentic experiences in the Cypriot countryside. He also referred to the actions taken through various programmes and plans to improve the services and infrastructure offered by the communities, while highlighting their unique competitive advantages.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The European campaign EUChooseSafeFood, which helps European citizens make?informed decisions about everyday food choices, kicks off on Tuesday in Cyprus.

The campaign, which also aims to explain the science behind EU food safety, is an EU-wide campaign offering practical and accessible information to consumers to use when they buy and consume food – from helping to read labels and understand additives, to providing advice on food preparation and storage.This second year of the campaign builds on the first by expanding the range of topics consumers can learn about, with plant health, novel foods, and food supplements newly added to the mix.

The campaign aims to give answers to European consumers’ questions such as “What’s the difference between a ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ date on my food labels? Are there food hygiene rules I should stick to at home to keep my family safe? Should I be concerned about food additives?”

The launch of the campaign in Cyprus was welcomed by Cypriot European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides, Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantela and Minister of Agriculture Costas Kadis.

An #EUChooseSafeFood toolkit including visuals, short films and social media posts in different languages is available on the campaign website, making it easy for national authorities and associations to get involved in the campaign.

Source: Cyprus News Agency