Month: July 2022

“We can’t remain inactive in the face of Turkey’s expansionist plans and the two-state solution,” stated Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou at the annual memorial service of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.

“Forty-five years after the death of Archbishop Makarios, the struggle for vindication and the overthrow of the fait accompli continues against the intransigent, threatening and destabilising attitude of Turkey. Without facing consequences, the Erdogan regime is intensifying its transgression in Cyprus, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean,” the Speaker of the Parliament noted.

“Ankara’s unilateral illegal actions in the enclosed city of Famagusta and Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are a dimension of its expansionist policy, which aims to divide the island. Ankara continues to inhumanely deprive refugees of the right to return to their ancestral homes, from the families of the missing persons the opportunity to know what happened to their loved ones and, overall, from the Cypriot people the opportunity to live freely on the island, without the presence of foreign armies and the threat of weapons.”, added Demetriou.

In her speech, the Speaker of the Parliament sent the message that “We do not accept the occupation, the continuation of the unacceptable current situation and we certainly may not stay inactive facing the expansionist Turkish plans and the two-state solution” adding that “no matter how many drilling rigs and gunboats (Turkey) sends to the region, we will not relinquish our sovereign rights, nor will we accept any agreement that would endanger the security of our citizens and the viability of the solution. As the Republic of Cyprus, we are always willing and ready to engage in a new round of meaningful negotiations to achieve a solution based on the resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, as well as the principles and values of the European Union.”

Referring to the importance of national unity, the President of the Parliament stated that “as long as the wounds of the crimes of the Turkish invasion remain open, our debt to our homeland remains on the table.”

“Archbishop Makarios was an emblematic figure, a strong personality, which no one can doubt”, the Speaker of the Parliament noted, speaking about the life and work of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to Demetriou, Archbishop Makarios’ choices “determined and continue to shape to a great extent the present and the future of our national issue and, by extension, of the Republic of Cyprus itself”.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Cyprus Government expects the creation of conditions that will allow the UN Secretary-General to activate the discussion procedures on “the bold” Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) it has submitted, but also the resumption of a new dialogue on equal terms, Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos said on Sunday.

In his speech at the annual memorial service of the heroes of the Troulloi village in Larnaca, Andreas Sourouklis and Nicolas Georgiou, Pelekanos said the Greek Cypriot side which is “always committed to defending justice and peace,” seeks, with its constant efforts, actions and proposals, the resumption of talks and conditions for a viable and functional solution within the framework of a constructive dialogue, based on the principles of international law, the UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union.

The Government Spokesman also said that the President of the Republic has repeatedly emphasized to the UN Secretary-General, “to our partners in the EU, to the permanent and non-permanent Members of the Security Council and to the wider international community, that our will for the resumption of the dialogue is given, having the same determination and goodwill that we have shown so far in all previous efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.”

We expect, he noted, “that the involvement of high-rank officials of the United Nations Secretariat and the related contacts with the parties involved, will allow the Secretary-General to activate the discussion procedures on the bold Confidence Building Measures that we have tabled but will also lead us to the restart of a new dialogue on equal terms, away from blackmail, threats and absurd claims.”

Pelekanos said that the memorial service of the two heroes comes just days after “the sad, dark anniversary of the coup and the Turkish invasion, and at a time of intense and provocative statements and actions by the other side aimed at maximizing the deadlocks, obstructing the resumption of negotiations and promoting its unacceptable claims.”

He added, that the aim of occupier Turkey, “with threats, blackmail and with its ongoing illegal actions,” such as the flagrant attacks in the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, the interventions in the fenced area of Famagusta, and its insistence on “the partitionist faits accomplis, which is constantly cultivating in the occupied territories,” is to nullify the very existence and international status of the Republic of Cyprus.

Through this aggression, he said, “Turkey is trying to blackmail us, in order for us to accept everything it is planning,” which, as he said, are intended to both maintain the occupation and ensure its grip on the island.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Two athletes from Cyprus, Tatiana Bachurina in Gymnastics, and boxer Rafail Pafios, have succeeded in going to the final round and the second round, respectively, in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In Artistic Gymnastics, Tatiana Bachurina, after the completion of Saturday’s preliminary in the Women’s All-round, qualified for the final which will be held on Sunday at 14:30 local time.

In Boxing, Rafail Pafios defeated the Cook Islands’ champion Tawhiri Toheriri Hallett with 5-0 on points in the 1st round of the “32” in the 67-71Kg Category. Rafail’s next opponent in the second round and in the battle of the “16” will be the Tanzanian Champion. The match is scheduled for August 2.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Within the next few days the work required by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, and in particular by the Department of Environment, for the Akamas Local Plan is expected to be completed, said Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis.

In his remarks in Salamiou after the unveiling of the Monument of Hero Dimitris N. Panagi, Kadis said that it is estimated that on August 8 the report of the Environment Department will be sent to the Planning Board at the Ministry of Interior for its own actions.

My own estimate, he said, “is that within the next month the work required by the Planning Board can be done so that by the end of August or early September the Akamas Local Plan can be published.”

He also pointed out that following instructions from the President of the Republic, both the Ministry of Interior and his own Ministry are working on a number of possible measures that can be implemented for compensation to be given to owners, who previously had development rights and are currently losing them with the Local Plan, or even for owners of enclosed plots within the National Forest Park without any development rights.

Kadis also said that developments regarding projects in the National Forest Park for the convenience of visitors are expected, as the examination of tenders for the improvement of the road network is already at an advanced stage, while the tenders for the visitor’s service kiosks are expected to be announced very soon.

Furthermore, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment said that he was very pleased to see that following the agreement reached by all stakeholders, big cheese dairies have started the process of joining the protected designation of origin as regards the production of halloumi. He also estimated that in the next few days they will start producing halloumi based on the PDO procedures and specifications and will be certified by the international organization Bureau Veritas. In any case, said Kadis, from September there will not be any products in Cypriots markets bearing the name halloumi without the PDO seal.

He also noted that any changes included in the agreement are not of major importance for a special file to be sent to the European Commission, but are minor changes which can be made with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture in Cyprus and do not change the characteristics of halloumi.

He added that in the next few days he expects that proposals will be submitted by stakeholders for these minor changes and if proper documentation is provided, these will be published in the official government gazette, hopefully in August.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The delegation of the Cyprus Commonwealth Games Committee won the second medal in the “Birmingham 2022” Commonwealth Games.

Cyprus secured the bronze medal in the Men’s All Around Final in Artistic Gymnastics with the Gymnast Marios Georgiou. England won both Gold and silver medal.

Georgiou with an excellent performance mainly in the last two events, in Parallel Bars and in Horizontal Bar, left behind two athletes who were in front of him and with 81,750 points in total he secured the third place and the bronze medal.

The two English gymnasts, Jake Jarman and James Hall with scores of 83.450 and 82.900 won the gold and the silver medal respectively, while in 4th place was the Scotsman Pavel Karnejenko who had a total score of 80.650.

Cyprus’ second participation in the final, George Angonas, took the 13th place with a total score of 75.900.

In his statement to CNA, and asked how this bronze medal came, Georgiou said that it came through a very difficult race. “The final was up and down all the time, it was difficult because it was very early in the morning and secondly, I had a little pain in my shoulder which may have affected me a little bit in the execution of the exercises, and it was especially noticeable in the doubles and singles,” he said and thanked his physiotherapist for the great work during the final.

Asked about his next goal at the Games, he noted that in every final the target is the medal. Tomorrow the goal is the pommel horse and the day after tomorrow the Horizontal Bar and the Parallel Bars, he said and underlined that he does not want to say big words but to speak with his actions.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

A Yellow Warning for “extreme high temperature” was issued for Monday by the Cyprus Department of Meteorology.

According to the warning, that will be valid between 1100 and 1700 on Monday, the maximum temperature is expected to reach around 40 degrees Celsius inland and around 33 degrees Celsius in the highest mountainous areas.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The delegation of the Cyprus Commonwealth Games Committee won the first medal in the “Birmingham 2022” Commonwealth Games.

Cyprus secured the bronze medal in the Men’s Team Final in Artistic Gymnastics. England won the Gold medal and Canada secured the Silver, while Cyprus won the Bronze leaving Australia in the fourth place.

The Cypriot team with Marios Georgiou, Ilias Georgiou, Giorgos Angonas, Sokratis Pilakouris and Michalis Chari, secured the third place with a total of 239,650 points, while England had a total of 254,550 points and Canada 241,200.

Australia had a total of 239,000 points, Scotland followed in the fifth position with 237,800, Wales in the sixth with 236,300 and New Zealand in the seventh with 231,600.

In the rest of the rankings, India ranked 8th with 108,900, Bangladesh 9th with 100,600, Sri Lanka 10th with 91,850 and Northern Ireland 11th with 42,250 points.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Government exerts every possible effort to modernize but also improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, having implemented all available European financial tools, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis his said.

In his speech at the annual Festival of Cultural Heritage, organised by the Union of Cypriot Farmers’ (EKA) Famagusta district branch and the Municipality of Ayia Napa, the Minister stated that, it is well known that the agricultural sector in Cyprus is currently facing many challenges. He said that “the economic crisis of the previous decade was followed by the coronavirus pandemic, which made and continues to make the economic life of our country more difficult, having significant effects on the agricultural sector as well.” In addition, he said, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created an energy and food crisis, with energy and feed prices, and therefore of manufactured goods, rising rapidly.

Kadis said that the Government, taking into account this situation, and the difficult conditions that have arisen, has supported, during the last two and a half years, the agricultural activity and farmers, with amounts reaching €50 million. “At the same time, we are exerting every possible effort to modernize and improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, having implemented all available European financial instruments.”

He also said that, since 2014, when the current implementation period of the Common Agricultural Policy began, until this year, when its transitional period ends, “a total of more than €850 million have been allocated to our rural world, from European and national funds.”

The Minister also pointed out to the inclusion in the Recovery and Resilience Plan and in the “Cyprus-Tomorrow” Plan, of a significant number of projects and reforms that are expected to have a direct or indirect positive effect on the country’s agricultural activity.

Among other things, Kadis, also referred to the “special importance given by the Government to highlighting the uniqueness of Cypriot products.” The registration of halloumi as a Protected Designation of Origin product, he said, was “a collective success, while our constant pursuit is the registration of other of our agricultural products” to the EU geographical indications system. At national level, he added, “we created a bill for the establishment of the awarding of the Cypriot Label to quality local agricultural products”.

He also said that EKA, has contributed to a large extent to the implementation of the specific policies and measures, for the benefit of Cypriot farmers.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

A Yellow Warning for “extreme high temperature” was issued for Sunday by the Cyprus Department of Meteorology.

According to the warning, that will be valid between 1100 and 1700 on Sunday, the maximum temperature is expected to reach around 41 degrees Celsius inland and around 33 degrees Celsius in the highest mountainous areas.

Source: Cyprus News Agency