Day: July 29, 2022

Bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue, Ukraine and Western Balkans will be on the agenda of a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Cyprus and Serbia on Monday.

According to a press release by the Cyprus Foreign Ministry, Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Selakovic will pay on Monday a working visit to Cyprus, during which he will hold a tête-à-tête meeting with Minister Ioannis Kasoulides followed by consultations with the participation of delegations from the two Ministries. Later on, they will make statements to the press and a working lunch will follow.

Discussions will focus on bilateral relations and how to further enhance them, regional and international issues, the EU – Serbia relations, the Cyprus issue, the invasion in Ukraine, Western Balkans and other issues of mutual interest.

During his stay in Cyprus, the Serbian Foreign Minister will be received by President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou who will award, on behalf of the President of the Republic, Ambassador of Serbia Marko Blagojevic, with a medal for his role in strengthening Cyprus-Serbia relations.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Total immigrants in the Cyprus labour market in 2021 amounted to 180,344 corresponding to 28.8% of Cyprus’ total labour force, the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat) has said.

In an infographic titled “Immigrants and Labour Market 2021,” Cystat said that the majority of immigrants (persons aged 15 – 74 who were born abroad) namely 42.2% came from non-EU states, followed by EU citizens with 35.1% and Cypriot residents with 22.7%.

According to Cystat, 37.7% of the almost 181,000 migrated to Cyprus for employment reasons, 27.7% for family reasons, 6% for Asylum and 9.8% for other reasons.

The share of immigrants to the Cypriot labour force amounted to 28.8% in 2021, 28.4% of the total employment, while migrants share of the total unemployment amounted to 33.3%.

Furthermore, the majority of immigrant employed persons or 78.1% worked in the Services sector, followed by 20.5% in Industry and 1.4% in Agriculture, Cystat said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Your Excellency, Ambassador of the United States of America to Cyprus,

Dear Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Dear President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Boards Authority,

Dear Harbor Master of Limassol and Pafos Ports,

Distinguished guests,

Dear Colleagues,

Good afternoon.

It is with great pleasure that I attend today’s official handover ceremony of the submarine camera, model video Pro 4, from the US Embassy to the Cyprus Police, specifically to the Port and Marine Unit, in the framework of the CYCLOPS project. A project, symbolic, I would say, in terms of the even closer ties that have been developed and the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the USA and the Republic of Cyprus, in matters of defense and security.

Allow me therefore, to begin with the expression of warmest gratitude to the Ambassador of the United States of America, Mrs Garber, and her associates in Nicosia and Washington, for the generous donation of this advanced technological achievement. This will surely upgrade the operational capabilities of the Port and Marine Unit and the Cyprus Police as a whole, especially in matters of safety at sea, at ports and the borders of Cyprus.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In recent years and to an even greater extent in the current days we are living, the Cyprus Police is called upon to manage the rapid changes and developments on a national and international level in the field of public order and security. These include increased and justified demands of citizens and tackling new forms of crime. Terrorism, international organized crime, cybercrime, illegal immigration, economic crime and trafficking in human beings are examples of the complexity of modern crime. We are fully aware of this great challenge. That is reason why we work methodically, upgrading our human resources, equipment and services, while strengthening our cooperation on an international and European level. In this context, we considered it absolutely necessary and proceeded to implement a strategic plan of changes and reforms aimed at modernizing and upgrading the structures, mechanisms and consequently the services we offer to society.

One of our highest priorities in this process is the introduction of new technologies and in general the utilization of technology and science, as important factors in the direction of an advanced and operationally efficient and upgraded policing. The videoray Pro 4 brand camera is expected, precisely, to improve the operational capabilities of the Port and Marine Unit, regarding the seabed searches. In particular, its contribution will be crucial for research conducted at sea, dams and lakes to locate objects and missing persons, but also at ports before the arrival of military ships, raising the issues of safety of the seas and ports of Cyprus at even higher levels.

It should be noted that this camera has search capabilities of a maximum depth of 300 meters, a claw for lifting objects, as well as front and rear cameras for recording data and taking photos. The camera is operated wirelessly from land, with two headlights for operation and use during the night.

The members of the Port and Marine Unit possess the necessary expertise to operate the specific camera, as we will see in the demonstration that will follow. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Acting Commander, Deputy Commanders and all the members of the Port and Marine Unit, for the work they perform. For 63 years, the Port and Marine Unit has remained a vigilant guard in the protection of the coastline, of our ports and territorial waters, performing remarkable work in matters of security, but also in matters of humanitarian nature, undertaking search and rescue missions of persons at risk at sea.

Apart from the need to integrate advanced technological equipment in the field of policing, the development of synergies on an international level is also considered very important. The United States of America are a valuable partner to the Republic of Cyprus and have demonstrated in practice their willingness to provide assistance on a wide range of issues, as evidenced by the current CYCLOPS program. Therefore, I would like to thank, once again, the US Government and the Embassy, in particular the Ambassador herself, for this donation and at the same time to assure that the Cyprus Police is open to further strengthening our cooperation, but also at your disposal for anything you may need, within the framework of our responsibilities.

Thank you.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Actions for the operation in Cyprus of a regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO), “are on track,” with the office expected to be up and running within the year, Konstantinos Athanasiou, communications advisor to the Cyprus Health Minister, told CNA on Friday.

Athanasiou said the Health Minister, Michalis Hadjipantela, was scheduled to have a telephone conversation with Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Ghebreyesus, on Friday, during which they would also discuss this matter, among other things.

According to Athanasiou, the WHO Office will be located in Cyprus and will cover the countries of the Mediterranean basin and Southeastern Europe.

Responding to a question, he said that Cypriot experts, as well as an external expert from the Organization, will staff the WHO Office in Cyprus. According to Athanasiou, the WHO Office in Cyprus will mainly deal with infectious diseases.

He noted that Cyprus was chosen because of its geopolitical position, adding that this was something Cyprus also requested, through the Minister of Health.

The agreement, he said, is expected to be signed soon by the Minister of Health and the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Heads of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) and the International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Andreas Papaevripides and Phillip Christopher respectively, assured on Friday that overseas Cypriots will intensify their efforts about the Cyprus problem once they return to their countries of residence.

They were speaking to the press in the framework of the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots that wrapped up in Limassol. The Central Council of POMAK and PSEKA and the World Conference of NEPOMAK also adopted a resolution, calling upon Turkey to cease its illegal actions and the international community to assume its responsibilities.

Papaevripides said that they will continue with more intensive efforts for the Cyprus cause, noting that the Russian invasion against Ukraine is an opportunity to show the similarities with the case of Cyprus.

He noted that although the international community is more concerned about Ukraine, the parameters are the same and it is an opportunity, “so that something can be done for Cyprus as well.”

“We are returning having this willingness, and this is what we will do. We will not hand over Cyprus to the Turks,” he stressed.

In his statements, Christopher noted that the role of the Diaspora is even more important in these critical moments with Turkey’s stance becoming more aggressive and recalled the prevention of the sale of the F-16 to Turkey.

He noted that despite the fact that Ankara’s position has been upgraded because of the invasion in Ukraine, there is an opportunity for us to prove that the invasion against Cyprus in 1974 are the same thing.

“We are going back, ready to continue the struggle” he said, adding that on September 20 to 22 they will hold a Congress in Washington, in the presence of the Foreign Ministers of Cyprus and the US, and US Congresspersons.

Meanwhile, in a joint resolution, they express disappointment with the fact that the efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem have failed as a result of the negative and intransigent positions of the Turkish side and they call upon the UN to work for the resumption of the talks.

The resolution condemns Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot leader’s insistence for the recognition of the illegal secessionist entity in the occupied areas, the continued occupation of 37% of the island’s territory, the status quo, the presence of Turkish troops and Turkey’s actions in Varosha and the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone.

They express their full support for the efforts of the Cypriot government and the Greek Cypriot community to work towards a solution that will free Cyprus from the Turkish occupation and reunite the land and its people, in a just and viable settlement, secure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots as well as their common future in the EU.

They also call upon the international community to exert pressure on Turkey to implement the relevant resolutions on the Cyprus issue and the EU to protect the integrity and sovereign rights of its member states and to decisively denounce Turkey’s gunboat policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Source: Cyprus News Agency