Day: June 14, 2022

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Anastasiades stresses full consensus of views on the need for a collective approach towards challenges, during dinner in Abbas’ honour

An official dinner in honour of the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, who is paying an official visit to Cyprus, was hosted by the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday night. Anastasiades stressed the full consensus of views the need for a collective approach towards the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

According to an announcement by the Presidency, in his greeting at the dinner, President Anastasiades said that President Abbas’ visit reflects the solid foundations on which the excellent and long-term relationship between the two countries and peoples is based.

In addition, the signing of two Memoranda of Cooperation demonstrates not only the continuous development of Cyprus-Palestine relations, but also the common will to further upgrade them, both bilaterally and at regional and multilateral level, said Anastasiades.

The President stressed the full consensus of views on the need for a collective approach towards the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, on the basis of international law, in order to establish a culture of peaceful coexistence and diplomatic resolution of any disputes between the States of the region.

“With these thoughts, I raise a toast to the health of President Mahmoud Abbas, but also to the health of the Palestinian people and to the friendship between our countries”, the President said, according to the presidency’s statement.

On his part, President Abbas, speaking through an interpreter, said, among other things, that Cyprus and Palestine have excellent relations, noting that his visit to Cyprus is of particular importance for the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

He added that “we have a special relationship that I am proud of and this relationship has been strengthened through our multiple meetings over the last years”. President said added that Cyprus continues to support the just cause of the Palestinian people. “You supported the just demands of our people in international fora, you recognized the state of Palestine, so that the Palestinian people could gain their independence and freedom, a state with sovereignty and territory on the border in 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. We always appreciate your attitude”, he added.

He also expressed hope that initiatives would be taken to promote peaceful efforts to resolve the Palestinian question, and thanked Cyprus for its political and financial support, noting that Palestine hoped to strengthen bilateral relations and intensify bilateral cooperation and the activation of the Joint Interministerial Committee for the extension of the framework of cooperation between the two countries.

Finally, according to the statement, the Palestinian President expressed the desire to convene the tripartite Cyprus-Palestine-Greece Summit as soon as possible.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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President Anastasiades and Palestinian leader highlight the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation and respect for international law

President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, and the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, highlighted the need to further strengthen the institutional framework of cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and the State of Palestine, as well as the need for closer cooperation between the political, business and scientific communities in areas of common interest, after their meeting on Tuesday.

The two leaders also stressed the need to respect the international law and to resolve any disputes on the basis of the provisions of the United Nations Charter, in the light of developments in Ukraine and the two major ongoing problems, the Cyprus and Palestinian issues.

In his statements to the media, President Anastasiades said that the visit of the President of the State of Palestine to Cyprus “confirms not only the historic ties between our peoples, but also our determination and will to further deepen our bilateral cooperation”, and welcomed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding in the field of diplomatic training and development cooperation.

“During today’s consultations with President Abbas, we agreed on the need to further strengthen the institutional cooperation framework between the two countries and the need for closer cooperation between the political, business and scientific communities in areas of common interest, such as tourism, education, medicine, addressing the new conditions of climate change and adopting measures to deal with it,” the President said.

He added that the two sides examined ways of strengthening trilateral cooperation and the necessity of convening a Cyprus-Greece-Palestine Trilateral Summit, “a trilateral summit that complements does not exclude the participation of any third country”.

Referring to the regional cooperation, President Anastasiades thanked President Abbas for the latter’s support for Cyprus’ initiative to address the effects of climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as for offering to assist the Republic of Cyprus in extinguishing the devastating fires of last July, adding that “it is precisely this practical solidarity that led us to take a new initiative to create a regional firefighting base in the Eastern Mediterranean region”.

In addition, the President of the Republic referred to the discussions between the two leaders on Ukraine, as well as on the “two major and long-standing problems, the Palestinian and the Cyprus problem”.

“The recent events in Ukraine once again highlight in the most obvious way the need to respect international law and to resolve any disputes on the basis of the provisions of the UN Charter and the relevant international treaties, principles which, if applied as the Charter envisages, would prevent regional disputes or even revisionist attitudes by UN member states”, President Anastasiades noted, while assuring President Abbas that “despite the equally excellent relations we have with Israel, these are not and will not be to the detriment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians”.

“The Republic of Cyprus remains firmly committed to the long-standing and clear position for the achievement of a peaceful and just solution to the Palestinian problem, always on the basis of the United Nations resolutions,” he said, adding that thanks to the excellent relations it maintains with all the states in the region, Cyprus is available, if requested, to play a concrete role towards the achievement of permanent peace in the region.

The President of the Republic also referred to the briefing he provided to the President of the Palestinian State on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the new challenges Cyprus is facing as a result of Turkey’s attempt to create new faits accomplis, while he also conveyed his disappointment at the rejection of the confidence-building measures,

Finally, President Anastasiades thanked the Palestinian state for its principled stance on the Cyprus problem, as well as for its support for the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem.

On his part, President Abbas said that Cyprus is a friendly country of Palestine and praised the level of relations between the governments and the relations between the two peoples.

He added that it is the wish of the Palestinian side that the bilateral relations have a lasting development and said he is convinced “that this visit to Cyprus and all the visits and contacts that follow at the political and economic level, as well as activities of the inter-ministerial committee will bring mumkch to the benefit of strengthening bilateral relations” and thanked Cyprus for its firm stance on the Palestinian issue and its constant call for peace.

Abbas also referred to “the complete stagnation in peace efforts due to the current Israeli government’s stance which has suspended the agreements”, adding that there must be an international rally against the challenges facing Palestine.

“We are ready to assist in any efforts for peace, including the efforts of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, in general initiatives based on international legitimacy,” he added, while also referring to the importance of the European Union’s support to Palestine.

Finally, he extended an invitation to President Anastasiades to visit Palestine, expressing special appreciation to the President of the Republic and to Cyprus for what they offer to the Palestinian people.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Health Minister participates in EU Council meeting on the European Health Data Space and the EU’s global health strategy

The EU’s health ministers discussed the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on the European Health Data Space and the EU’s global health strategy during the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) which was held in Luxembourg on Tuesday.

The proposed Regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS) aims to facilitate patients’ access to their health data in electronic form and the exchange of this data with health professionals within the EU.

Ministers were also briefed on the new emerging health challenges of acute hepatitis in children and of the spread of monkeypox, as well as on the health support and humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine by the European Union.

Cyprus was represented by the Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela, according to a statement.

In his intervention during the EHDS debate, Hadjipantela welcomed the new proposal for a Regulation from the Commission, noting that the European Health Data Space will promote better exchange and access to different types of health data.

He added that investing in the processing of health data with artificial intelligence will also help in research and innovation, as well as in health policy in general.

Referring specifically to Cyprus, Hadjipantela said that the Cypriot government has moved forward with the adoption of the e-Health Law and the establishment of the independent and autonomous National e-Health Authority.

In an intervention during the debate on the revision of the EU Global Health Strategy, Hadjipantela noted that this sector has changed radically since 2010 and that this is why the strategy needs to be updated, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of international developments, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Hadjipantela said that strengthening multilateralism within the World Health Organization, international solidarity towards low and middle income countries, enhanced cooperation, timely exchange of information on serious cross-border health threats and sharing of best practices are essential parts of this strategy.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Ukrainian MPs thank Cyprus for principled stance

Cyprus-Ukrainian friendship group in the Parliament on Tuesday had a teleconference with Ukrainian MPs of the Ukrainian-Cyprus group to whom they conveyed Nicosia’s support and solidarity.

Cyprus group’s Chair, Harris Georgiades, said that Ukraine’s struggle is against autarchy and for democracy adding that Cyprus, as a victim of the Turkish invasion and occupation, can very well relate with this struggle. This is another reason we stand by the side of the Ukrainian people and we offer shelter to refugees who fled Ukraine and arrived in Cyprus.

Georgiades also said that Cyprus has aligned with EU’s decisions including the sanctions on Russia and supports Ukraine’s European course.

All Cyprus MPs noted that Cyprus supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also referred to Turkey’s ongoing provocations and threats in violation of the international law adding that these actions jeopardize stability in the region.

Ukrainian parliamentarians thanked Cyprus for its principled stance and its support to Ukraine adding also that Ukraine supports efforts for the resumption of talks for a solution to the Cyprus issue according to the UN resolutions. During the teleconference the two sides also exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and how to enhance it.

MPs George Koukoumas, Christiana Erotokritou, Crysis Pantelides and Alexandra Attalides attended the video call. Ukrainian group comprised Chair Oleksandr Tkachenko and members Volodymyr Kabachenko, Ihor Nehulevskyi and Olena Moshenets.

Source: Cyprus News Agency