Day: July 18, 2022

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday presented teen track athlete Eleftheria Panayiotou, with an honorary plaque for receiving last May a Fair Play Award at the World School Sport Games, also known as the ISF Gymnasiade, for assisting a fellow athlete who had an accident during the 200 metres race.

The high school pupil was received at the Presidential Palace with her parents, where President Anastasiades congratulated her both for her good performance at the games but also her ethos.

The President said he felt the need to invite Eleftheria at the Presidential Place and present her with an honorary plaque to express the gratitude of the State for the fact that, rather than focusing on finishing in one of the top spots she chose to help a fellow athlete who had an accident during the race. He said this was an act, which, “sets an example for all our young people.”

He also said that he feels “particularly proud” because 21 of the 22 athletes from Cyprus who participated in the Gymnasiade, managed to be in the top eight. “We received a total of 12 medals which proves the important work carried out through the sports schools but also through the important efforts of the physical education teachers and coaches,” he said.

Around 3,500 athletes from 67 countries took part in the Gymnasiade that took place in Normandy last May.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations, Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, expressed to Cyprus News Agency his concerns and his disappointment over the reports concerning the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission, noting that there is no mention anywhere of a Cyprus settlement.

The Ambassador focuses on three key points, the reports should emphasize on. “First, there is no explicit, clear mention on the basis of a solution. Secondly, the gravity of the situation in Varosha, with the ongoing violations by the Turkish side, with the obvious aim of absorbing and exploiting this region economically, is not outlined. The third point we are not happy with is that the report contains no reference to future prospects, as the political process is concerned, because there is no political process” Hadjichrysanthou says.

He adds that Turkey refuses to negotiate unless its preconditions to recognise the sovereign equality and equal international status for the pseudo-state are met, which, according to the Ambassador, comprises a clear violation of Security Council resolutions. “We cannot accept such a thing” he notes.

While Turkey remains intransigent, Turkey’s violations on the ground continue and the report describes things in a way as if there is an attempt to normalize the existing regime through work, such as the one by the technical committees, says Hadjichrysanthou.

He also points out that the Cyprus issue is not a problem created by the lack of trust between the two sides, but rather a problem caused by a foreign invasion and occupation.

Asked if he believes there is room for improving the reports, he says that “these reports are more problematic than the previous ones because they suggest that the only thing we can do now, instead of sitting at the negotiating table and trying to solve the Cyprus problem, is for the two sides to cooperate.”

The Ambassador expresses hope that the reports to be voted on July 28, will contain a strong verbal condemnation of the ongoing violations in Varosia and will also encourage the Secretary General to continue with efforts to resume negotiations.

Replying to another question, the Ambassador says that it is also very important that the House passed the amendment blocking the sale of F-16s to Turkey.

“Certainly upgrading the Turkish war machine with any additional weapons, including those from the USA, does not contribute to normality and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean” he notes.

Asked if he considers the amendment to be a small victory for Greece and a message for Turkey, Hadjichrysanthou says “yes, it is a positive step.” “Unfortunately, Turkey never acknowledges the messages, because it feels that it is so valuable to its neighbors that it be allowed to continue undeterred” he says, noting that this stance is provocative.

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

The Union of Former Members of the House of Representatives condemns the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, along with the murder of hundreds of civilians and prisoners, the rapes and the ongoing occupation of 37% of the Republic’s territory.

Ahead of the 48th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, former MPs also condemn the demographic change and ethnic cleansing in the Turkish-occupied areas, following the displacement of Greek Cypriot refugees and the destruction of cultural heritage.

Former MPs pledge that they will keep fighting, along with the people of Cyprus, for a just and permanent solution, in line with EU values and principles, that will safeguard all human rights for all of Cyprus’ residents, regardless of their community, religion or ideology.

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

It is not an exaggeration to say that the enclaved have remained in their homeland, in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus, under dire conditions and are struggling on a daily basis for their survival until the day the island is freed and reunified.

Fourty-eight years since the dark days of the invasion, the enclaved remain fighters in the land which gave birth to them, being an example of resistance to the occupation and the time that goes by.

Numbering around 345, most of them are elderly. Young couples from the government-controlled areas decided to relocate back to the occupied north. The number of the relocated persons is 335.

Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou told CNA that the aim of his office is to provide facilities and incentives to make the life of the enclaved as easy as possible and to remain there. At the same time, incentives are being offered to young couples to return to their occupied villages.

In Rizokarpaso there are 245 enclaved, in Agia Triada 50, there is an elderly couple at Agios Andronikos while at Kormakitis there are 45 enclaved and another three in Karpasia. Those who have relocated to Rizokarpaso amount to 50, another 10 at Agia Triada, 260 at Kormakitis and 25 at Karpasia.

Unfortunately, said Photiou, most of the enclaved are elderly, especially at the maronite villages, at Kormakiti and Karpasia. At Rizokarpaso, although there are elderly people, there are also younger people who are the children of the first generation and this gives hope that they will remain in the occupied areas.

Photiou said the Cyprus government’s support is being done in various ways. For years, food and other essentials are being delivered weekly to Karpasia and every two weeks at the Maronite villages. Their health coverage is free through GESY, he added.

There is one nurse at Karpasia and another at Kormakitis. The Greek Cypriot and Maronite nurse, are permanently based in the north and their help is invaluable. They visit patients at their homes and offer their services. During the pandemic, their help was invaluable as they carried out the vaccinations, he added.

The Republic has been sending pharmaceuticals to the occupied areas at the request of the enclaved. These are sent to the Red Cross and the UN pick them up and deliver them. Special arrangements are made for patients who need to be hospitalised in the free areas.

According to Photiou, housing plans are also provided to the enclaved.

“The first one lasted three years and was completed in 2020. It provided financial assistance for the repair and maintenance of the houses of the enclaved. The second is aimed at young families and is already underway and there is a demand. There is also the plan to renovate some houses that were in danger of falling into the hands of the Turks,” he added.

Financial support is also given to farmers with a 950-thousand-euro plan prepared by his office in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. Farmers are given financial assistance after their applications are examined.

The three schools in Rizokarpaso are also centres of knowledge and resistance. The kindergarten, the elementary school and high school cover the needs of the children. “We make repairs to the buildings and provide the necessary equipment”, he said. However, Photiou reminded that the occupation regime does not allow certain books to be included in the syllabus while it also prohibits certain teachers to be transferred to the north, even if they have been approved by the Education Service Commission.

These issues create problems in the normal operation of the schools with human are being violated according to the Third Vienna Agreement as regards education, he added.

The goal, he continued, is to reopen the kindergarten and primary school in Kormakitis in 2023-24. “It is for this reason that we have encouraged through various plans the resettlement of young couples in Kormakitis and at the moment, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the representative of the Maronites and the president of the community, all arrangements needed to reopen the schools are being made,” he noted.

An?ther great project is to complete by October the sports club and stadium at Kormakitis, a project that is being funded by the Republic of Cyprus with a cost of 450 thousand euro. A futsal stadium will also be erected at Rizokarpaso, with the assistance of the Cyprus Sports Organisation and is expected to cost 80 thousand euro.

The churches at Rizokarpaso, Agia Triada and Kormakitis also underwent renovation.

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

Tourist arrivals in the first half of 2022 exceeded 1.22 million which correspond to 74.9% of the respective period of 2019, a historic record year, and 63.2% of the arrivals of the whole of last year, according to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat).

The increased arrivals came despite the absence of arrivals from Ukraine and Russia due to the war in Ukraine. Russia was the second largest market for the Cypriot tourist industry although the Deputy Ministry of Tourism has said that the lack of Russian tourists would be offset by other markets.

According to Cystat, the arrivals of tourists reached 372,324 in June 2022 compared to 184,159 in June 2021, recording an increase of 102.2%.

For the period of January – June 2022, arrivals of tourists totaled 1,221,382 compared to 340,984 in the corresponding period last year and 2021, 255.675 in the respective period of 2022 and 1.631.023 arrivals in first half of 2019.

Tourists from the UK, Cyprus’ largest tourist market, amounted to 41.8% of total arrivals in June with 155,703 arrivals, followed by Israel with 7.3% (27,288), Poland with 5.8% (21,445), Germany with 5.6% (20,906), Sweden with 5.0% (18,478) and Greece with 3.9% (14,435).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Health Union: HERA secures additional vaccine doses in response to the ongoing monkeypox outbreak

Today, HERA, the Commission’s Health Preparedness and Response Authority, has secured an additional 54,530 doses of the company Bavarian Nordic’s 3rd generation vaccine, now bringing the total number of doses purchased for Member States to respond to the ongoing monkeypox outbreak to 163,620. Deliveries of the EU-funded monkeypox vaccines will continue to be taking place over the coming weeks and months and throughout the remainder of the year to EU Member States, Norway and Iceland. Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said: “I am concerned by the increasing number of monkeypox cases in the EU. We now have over 7,000 cases in the EU, an almost 50% increase since a week ago. We have reacted swiftly and ensured a rapid response through the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and have already delivered around 25 000 doses to 6 Member States. We have now secured over 160,000 doses of vaccines to respond promptly to the progression of the spread of this virus. This is the European Health Union delivering for our citizens.” The Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) has purchased the third-generation vaccine for and on behalf of HERA. Based on the number of cases, deliveries continue for prioritized Member States, which have granted national exemptions for the vaccine.

Executive Vice-President Timmermans attends the Petersberg Climate Dialogue ahead of COP27

Today and tomorrow, 18 and 19 July, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans is participating in the 13th Petersberg Climate Dialogue, an annual high-level political forum on climate action attended by over 40 ministers from around the world, co-hosted by the German government and the Egyptian COP27 Presidency. During the High-Level Segment at noon today, Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will deliver keynote speeches. Those will be live-streamed here. This year’s Petersberg Dialogue will focus on the preparations for the forthcoming UN Climate Conference COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 7-18 November. This morning, Executive Vice-President Timmermans spoke about the Road to the next COP at the opening session. This afternoon, he will facilitate discussions on the funding arrangements linked to loss and damage. Next to mitigation, adaptation and climate finance, loss and damage will be one of the key issues at the COP, as was the case last month at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. In the margins of the forum, he will also participate in the High Ambition Coalition Ministerial meeting and meet bilaterally with Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, US Special Presidency Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and the Acting Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Ibrahim Thiaw. Mr Timmermans’ remarks at the opening session are available here

G20 in Bali : Commission and Indonesian G20 Presidency co-hosted event on financial dimension of climate mitigation policies

On 16 July, in the margins of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Bali, Indonesia, the Commission and the Indonesian G20 Presidency co-hosted a high-level policy breakfast on ‘’Climate Mitigation Policies: Where Do We Stand?”. Co-chaired by Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni and Indonesia’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, the meeting discussed policy experiences with tackling the urgent threat of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the IMF and the OECD steered the debate, providing participants with a brief overview of their ongoing work on climate mitigation. A panel composed of G20 emerging and advanced economies then discussed the wide range of policy measures undertaken or planned at the national level to address climate change. The high-level breakfast discussion allowed G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to share best practices and national experiences, including on domestic incentives for sustainable investment and measures in support of a just and affordable transition towards climate-resilient economies. This event provided the link between the G20 Leaders commitments from Rome and the forthcoming COP27, by firmly anchoring climate issues into the G20 finance track agenda, in the pursuit of a more coordinated approach on global climate mitigation.

Forest fires: EU mobilises assistance for Slovenia

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism continues to channel assistance to respond to the severe forest fires breaking out across Europe. Over the weekend, Slovenia activated the mechanism asking for support to battle a forest fire in Nova Gorica, close to the Italian border. Following this request, 1 plane from the rescEU reserve stationed in Croatia was deployed to strengthen the response in the most affected areas, where by now the fires were brought under control. Over the course of the weekend, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre also activated the Copernicus satellite service to support French authorities monitor the situation of forest fires in the southwestern region of the country. This comes on top of the 2 firefighting planes deployed last week from the rescEU fleet to help fight forest fires in France. Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, said: “Forest fires represent an unpredictable threat lingering on all of us and therefore requires immediate action. Our Civil Protection Mechanism has mobilised aid for Slovenia and is tirelessly monitoring the situation in France and all over Europe. I thank Croatia and all the Member States for their continued support. The EU’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre stands ready to coordinate further assistance.” The European Union’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in regular contact with the relevant national authorities to closely monitor the situation and channel the EU assistance. (Pour plus d’informations: Balazs Ujvari – Tél.: +32 229 54578; Jennifer Sanchez Da Silva – Tél.: +32 229 58316).

New Pact for Skills partnership to boost digital skills

Today, with the support of the Commission, EU associations, companies, organisations, trade unions, universities, training providers and national federations set up a new partnership for skills in the digital ecosystem. This new partnership will enable the upskilling and reskilling of workers and attract more people to the digital industry. The partnership will help people and businesses acquire necessary digital skills, which will contribute to the objectives of the digital and green transitions of Europe’s economy. It will focus first on improving the skills of the workforce of the partners of the digital sector. Partners will then develop common targets, for instance on the number of people to be reskilled and monitor future developments on upskilling and reskilling. Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said: “Digital skills are a cornerstone of the digital and green transition. They are also key to success for businesses of all sizes. The Digital Ecosystem’s Skills Partnership under the Pact for Skills will take a leading role in making the EU economy fit for the challenges of the future. It will also inspire others – whether in the Digital Ecosystem or any other industrial ecosystem – to turn digital opportunities into successful business models that benefit citizens and businesses alike.” Commissioner for Jobs and Social rights, Nicolas Schmit, said: “Digital skills are fundamental for all businesses of Europe’s economy. This partnership will strengthen the digital skills of European workers which enables them to navigate today’s ever-changing labour market. I am pleased to see that yet another partnership for skills under the Pact for Skills is concluded which will contribute to Europe’s competitiveness and social cohesion.” Following commitments in other industrial ecosystems, this new partnership is part of the Pact for Skills, one of the flagship initiatives under the European Skills Agenda. The new partnership will work closely with other existing partnerships in other sectors, where digital skills play a crucial role. It will seek synergies and collaboration with other existing initiatives (such as Digital Skills & Jobs Coalition or the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs) to use existing best practices and guidance as an inspiration for the partnership. The Pact for Skills contributes to one of the three EU social targets set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan of having at least 60% of all adults participate in training every year by 2030.

State Aid: Commission approves up to €5.4 billion of public support by fifteen Member States for an Important Project of Common European Interest in the hydrogen technology value chain

The Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an Important Project of Common European Interest (‘IPCEI’) to support research and innovation and first industrial deployment in the hydrogen technology value chain. The project, called ‘IPCEI Hy2Tech’ was jointly prepared and notified by fifteen Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain. The Member States will provide up to €5.4 billion in public funding, which is expected to unlock additional €8.8 billion in private investments. As part of this IPCEI, 35 companies with activities in one or more Member States, including 8 small and medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs’) and start-ups, will participate in 41 projects. The IPCEI will cover a wide part of the hydrogen technology value chain, including (i) the generation of hydrogen, (ii) fuel cells, (iii) storage, transportation and distribution of hydrogen, and (iv) end-users applications, in particular in the mobility sector. It is expected to contribute to the development of important technological breakthroughs, including new highly efficient electrode materials, more performant fuel cells, innovative transport technologies, among which first time roll out hydrogen mobility ones. The Commission assessed the proposed project under EU State aid rules, more specifically its Communication on Important Projects of Common European Interest. Where private initiatives supporting breakthrough innovation fail to materialise because of the significant risks such projects entail, IPCEI enable Member States to jointly fill the gap to overcome these market failures. At the same time, they ensure that the EU economy at large benefits from the investments and limit potential distortions to competition. The Commission has found that the IPCEI Hy2Tech fulfils the required conditions set out in its Communication. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the project is in line with EU State aid rules. A press release is available online.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The humanitarian issue of the undeclared prisoners and missing persons of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus should take the due political gravity and publicity, so that this aspect would not fade in time, Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives has said.

According to a press release issued by the Parliament, Demetriou received on Monday a delegation of the Panhellenic Committee of Parents and Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons of the Cyprus Tragedy.

The meeting discussed issues concerning the fate of undeclared prisoners and missing persons, as well the difficulties arising, as this year marks 48 years since the July 20 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

After being briefed by the delegation on specific problems, Demetriou assured that she will take the necessary actions in hope that the whole process will show progress.

Moreover, Demetriou highlighted the need the issue to receive the due political gravity and publicity “so that this aspect would not fade in time given that it constitutes one of the most tragic consequences of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus”, the press release added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Meteorological Office has issued a new yellow weather warning for “extremely high temperatures”.

The warning is valid from noon on Monday until 0600 Tuesday morning.

Maximum temperatures are expected to rise to 32 degrees Celsius over the highest mountainous areas, while overnight the minimum temperatures will fall to around 26 degrees Celsius over inland, the western and northern coasts.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus has expressed its readiness to contribute to the completion, as soon as possible, of the processing of proposals by the European Commission for a “maintenance and alignment” package regarding sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides said, during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Brussels on Monday.

The proposal, presented by the Commission last Friday, has been described by EU officials and media as a complementary package to the previous six sanctions packages. It includes a ban on gold imports from Russia, as well as ways to better implement the agreed measures.

According to an official statement, during his intervention Kasoulides made particular reference to the recent conference held in The Hague regarding accountability in relation to the invasion of Ukraine.

Kasoulides expressed Cyprus’ support to a proposal of the Greek Foreign Minister to declare the city centre of Odessa a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kasoulides reiterated that the EU acted with unity to put pressure on Russia, adding that many initiatives are being taken to provide financial, humanitarian and military assistance to the country, as well as practical support towards its recovery and reconstruction.

Cyprus also gave its support to the possibility of convening the EU-Israel Association Council in the near future.

Also on the agenda of the Foreign Ministers of the EU were relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka. The issue of digital diplomacy was addressed by the Foreign Ministers during a working lunch.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cypriots’ and Cypriot residents’ travelling abroad increased more than three-fold in June compared with June of last year according to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat).

A total number of 121,146 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad in June 2022, compared to 35,361 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 242.6%, Cystat said.

Greece continue continues to top all destinations with 34.9% of Cypriots, followed by the United Kingdom with 17.9%, Italy with 6.5%, Israel with 4.1% and Germany with 3.4%.

Source: Cyprus News Agency