Month: July 2022

Presidential Commissioner, Photis Photiou outlined a National Strategy for Cypriots of Diaspora which includes how to make more use of the role of overseas Cypriots, strengthen the new generation and promote the Cyprus problem in their home countries.

The Commissioner presented the strategy on the last day of deliberations of the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots by the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK), the International Coordinating Committee “Justice for Cyprus” (PSEKA) and the Youth of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (NEPOMAK).

Photiou said it is clear that it is important to highlight the reciprocal relationship between Cyprus and Cypriots of the diaspora.

For this reason, he added, the fundamental pillars that need to be highlighted are the role of the federations and organisations, strengthening the connection of young people with their roots, promoting traditions and culture, coordinating actions to promote our positions on the Cyprus problem as well as developing international cooperation with the exchange of know how and common actions as well as simplifying procedures for those wishing to repatriate.

He also said the Online Platform for Cypriots of the Diaspora, which will operate in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research is an innovative platform that reaches out to all overseas Cypriots.

The platform which will soon come into operation, will allow all Cypriots of the Diaspora to register and will include business people, professionals, academics, and others.

An educational segment was also presented entitled “Know your roots” which teaches the language and culture as well as the island’s history and can be used by all people, especially the younger generation.

Photiou called on federations to promote the platform.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented also a programme to young entrepreneurs under the age of 40. A documentary on the exhumation and identification work regarding the missing persons of Cyprus was also presented.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Today, the European Commission, via its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, signed a framework contract for the joint procurement of Adjupanrix, a pandemic influenza vaccine, with the pharmaceutical company GSK. 12 Member States and other joint procurement countries are participating in the agreement, under which they can purchase up to 85,000,000 vaccine doses if necessary, in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “Preparedness is key in a health emergency. COVID-19 has shown this beyond any doubt. Today we secure up to 85 million influenza pandemic vaccine doses through our Health Emergency and Preparedness Response Authority, to protect our citizens should such an emergency arise in the future. This is a true European Health Union in action.”

An influenza pandemic would be a global epidemic caused by a new influenza strain to which there is little to no pre-existing immunity in the human population. While it is difficult to predict an influenza pandemic, it is important to be prepared.

Background

The Commission is committed to build a stronger and active European Health Union that is prepared and able to respond to emerging health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance of coordination among European countries and the added-value of a common response in face of cross-border health threats.

The EU’s Joint Procurement Agreement offers the 36 participating countries to jointly procure medical counter-measures as an alternative or complement to procurement at national level.

The aim of the joint procurement mechanism is to secure a more equitable access to specific medical countermeasures and to improve the security of supply, together with more balanced prices for the participating EU countries.

In order to be adequately prepared for an outbreak of a serious cross-border threat to health, the institutions of the EU, together with countries that have joined the JPA, may engage in a joint procurement procedure with a view to purchase vaccines, antivirals, and medical countermeasures for serious cross-border threats to health. HERA continues to work closely with the participating countries to identify and implement priorities, such as vaccines or therapeutics, for joint procurement.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The UN Security Council unanimously voted on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for another six months, until January 31, 2023 and asking the General Secretary to submit a new report on January 3, 2023.

?ccording to Cypriot diplomatic sources, the final draft of the UN Secretary General’s resolution is satisfactory. Positive references according to the same sources include strong wording over Turkish actions in the fenced off city of Varosha and the fact that the Security Council encourages the Secretary General to appoint a special envoy on the Cyprus problem.

It should be noted that the resolution begins “Taking note of the report..” instead of “Welcoming the report..” because Russia did not want to welcome the report due to references within about the war in Ukraine.

The resolution recalls the status of Varosha as set out in relevant resolutions, including resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992), and its Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2021/13) which condemns the 20 July 2021 announcement by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders on the further reopening of a part of the fenced-off area of Varosha.

It expresses “deep regret regarding unilateral actions that run contrary to its previous resolutions and statements on Varosha and calls for the immediate reversal of this course of action and of all steps taken on Varosha since October 2020, deeply regrets that recent actions have not been in line with this call for immediate reversal, and reiterates once again that no actions should be carried out in relation to Varosha that are not in accordance with its resolutions and continues to stress the need to avoid any unilateral actions that could raise tensions on the island and undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement.”

It further reiterates “its support for the Secretary-General’s proposal for dialogue between the parties and the Special Representative to explore a possible agreement on surveillance technology and the removal of positions adjacent to the no-fly zone, and regrets the lack of progress since this view until today.”

?ccording to diplomatic sources a point that Cyprus wished to strengthen but in the end remained unchanged is the wording about the missing persons in Cyprus.

The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to submit by 3 January 2023 a report on his Good Offices, in particular on progress towards reaching a consensus starting point for meaningful results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Numerous rounds of talks under the UN aegis to reunite the island under a federal roof failed to yield results.

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. Resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.

Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, announced in July 2021 a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha.

On October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. Both the UN Secretary-General and the EU expressed concern, while the UN Security Council called for the reversal of this course of action.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The new GUESS Fall-Winter 2022 advertising campaign sees the brand off to explore the history-steeped streets of Granada, Spain.

GUESS Heads to Granada for the 2022 Fall/Winter Advertising Campaign (Photo: Business Wire)

The FW22 campaign is immortalized through the lens of fashion photographer Tatiana Gerusova, under the guidance of GUESS?, Inc.’s Chief Creative Officer, Paul Marciano. The new campaign features a sizzling lineup: German-born, Polish fashion model Kim Dammer, Serbian model Nina Kostic, Spanish model Lidia Santos, Italian model Mario Ermito, and French model Xavier Grey.

GUESS Women

The campaign showcases an enticing array of GUESS pieces, highlighting must-have accessories and elevated animal and botanical prints. The collection brings a fresh and youthful breeze of contemporary color and style to grey winter days.

Against the alluring continental backdrop of the Moorish Alhambra Palace and the ancient Arabic quarter of Albaicín, we see the GUESS woman enveloped in ravishing, cosmopolitan looks. The collection includes striking two-piece pant sets and flirty skirt suits, hour-glass sweater dresses, and shimmering, pleated gowns, all teamed with statement-making winter coats, cozy knits, waist-nipping belts, and sassy high-heel boots.

The FW22 GUESS Women’s collection and campaign work to showcase a modern yet timeless offering that embraces the female spirit of glamour and independence. Ranging from an assortment of warm-and-fuzzy color swatches including pretty pastels, bright blues, and autumnal reds, to time-honored neutrals, like beige, cream, brown, grey and khaki, the line offers a range of color for all season long.

GUESS Men

From boyishly causal to effortlessly smart, the GUESS man steps out in everything from ever-cool leather and denim to flashes of tie-dye, and boy-next-door checks. Rounding out the collection, the line incorporates camouflage pants, elegant sweaters, impeccably tailored coats, puffer jackets and rugged parkas. With the season’s eclectic range of footwear, accessories, and color tones, which range from classic blues, and earthy hues, to flashes of yellow, peach and pastel, the collection will appeal to both the elegant man-about-town and the eternal wanderer.

“I absolutely love this collection and location, it’s so spellbinding,” said Chief Creative Officer, Paul Marciano. “Granada’s mix of Baroque, Moorish, and Renaissance architecture creates a really striking contrast with the warm colors and contemporary look and feel of the Fall-Winter offering. It’s a place of unique and iconic beauty, where tradition, the past and present merge together, an element that really embodies the glamorous and timeless essence of GUESS.”

Look out for the 2022 GUESS Fall-Winter advertising campaign in leading international fashion and lifestyle magazines, GUESS stores and online.

About GUESS?, Inc.

Established in 1981, GUESS began as a jeans company and has since successfully grown into a global lifestyle brand. Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses a lifestyle collection of contemporary apparel, denim, handbags, watches, eyewear, footwear and other related consumer products. Guess? products are distributed through branded Guess? stores as well as better department and specialty stores around the world. As of April 30, 2022, the Company directly operated 1,073 retail stores in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Company’s partners and distributors operated 565 additional retail stores worldwide. As of April 30, 2022, the Company and its partners and distributors operated in approximately 100 countries worldwide. For more information about the Company,

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Expatriate organizations that participate in the World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora referred Thursday to the new difficulties they face in promoting aspects of the Cyprus issue, due to the new geopolitical developments.

They also stressed the need for further mobilisation of the Republic of Cyprus to raise awareness of the Cyprus issue abroad.

In his statements to journalists, the President of the International Coordination Committee “Justice for Cyprus”, (PSEKA), Philip Christopher, expressed the opinion that “we are in a difficult position, due to the upgraded position of Turkey after the war in Ukraine.”

However, he said that in the case of the F-16 fighter aircrafts, they managed to prove that there is a problem in US-Turkey relations and stressed that they will continue this fight. He added that there are economic, strategic, geopolitical interests that countries such as the US and the UK have with Turkey and that the country spends millions of dollars on propaganda in every country where there is diaspora.

He added that members of Cyprus diaspora, spend millions of their own money to promote the Cyprus problem and further relations with the government of the country they live.

At the same time Christopher expressed particular concern over Erdogan’s threats to annex the occupied areas of Cyprus, the situation in Varosha, and Turkey’s threats against Greece.

However, he also spoke about the opportunities that exist. “I think the United States want to hear a program that will benefit the country, as well as Cyprus and Greece by providing a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he said.

Invited to comments on how the governments of Cyprus and Greece could support and enhance the efforts of the diaspora, Christopher referred to the need for more awareness of the problem abroad.

“There is no doubt that after 48 years many MPs, political leaders, do not know the problem in Cyprus, they see it as an inter-communal problem”, he added.

During the conference, representatives from all countries where there are expatriate communities, referred to the challenges and opportunities that exist to promote Cyprus problem. New challenges such as the huge interests of the UK in Turkey after Brexit, or the islamization and the economic influence of Turkey in many African countries. Some opportunities were also pointed out, such the election of the new Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, a friend of Cyprus, or the election of Greek descent MPs in parliaments of some countries.

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

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday the submission of the first payment request to the European Commission for a disbursement of €85 million from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.

According to the Ministry’s press release, the first payment request submitted on 28 July relates to the achievement of 14 milestones by completing reforms and investments in the energy and circular economy sectors, the financial sector, digital transition, modernising the public administration, fighting corruption and strengthening the effectiveness of the monitoring and control system of the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan.

It is recalled that the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan was adopted by the EU Council on 28 July 2021 and subsequently the Financing and Loan Agreements between the European Commission and the Republic of Cyprus were signed, with the amounts to be disbursed amounting to €900 million in grants and €200 million in loans. This was followed in September 2021 by the disbursement of €157 million from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) as pre-financing and the implementation and promotion of the measures and interventions included in the Plan started immediately.

It is also noted that the disbursement of European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, in addition to the pre-financing, is made per semester, based on payment requests and after all the milestones and objectives of the Plan corresponding to each tranche have been achieved, as defined in the relevant agreements. The disbursement will be made in a total of 10 tranches (in addition to the pre-financing of €157 million).

It is added that the submission of the first payment request was also subject to the signature of an Operational Arrangements Agreement between the European Commission and the Republic of Cyprus to define the framework for monitoring and controlling the fulfilment of the 271 total milestones and targets of the Plan to be achieved by 2026.

After extensive consultations of the coordination authority (Directorate General for Growth, Ministry of Finance) with both the EU and all the implementing agencies of the plan measures, this agreement has been finalised and already signed with the European Commission.

The Plan includes 133 Measures (58 reforms and 75 investment projects/grant schemes), with 13 grant schemes for enterprises and individuals already announced and a number of other investment projects being implemented, in addition to reforms promoted and bills passed with the contribution and close cooperation of all stakeholders, as well as parliamentary parties.

Source: Cyprus News Agency