Day: August 6, 2022

Cyprus Health Ministry announced that two more infections of monkeypox were diagnosed in Cyprus.

The infections concern two men aged 20 and 30 years-old who arrived recently in Cyprus, the Ministry added.

According to the Ministry, the relevant protocols concerning the transfer and management of confirmed cases were deployed immediately.

The infected persons are in good condition and are being treated in a specialized area of the Nicosia General Hospital, designated as reference hospital, for monitoring and further evaluation of their situation, the Ministry added, noting the Epidemiological Monitoring Unit began the tracing procedure and will brief their contacts.

The first case of monkeypox was diagnosed on August 2. Cyprus is expected to receive the first batch of monkeypox vaccines, involving 1,260 jabs, on Saturday.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Tourist arrivals to Cyprus to reach 75% of 2019 high, ACTE says

Tourist arrivals to Cyprus in 2022 will reach 70%-75% of levels recorded in 2019, the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (ACTE) estimates, while the hotels’ occupancy for July and August is seen around 70%-90%, with higher occupancy levels recorded in Paphos.

Chrisemily Psilogeni, General Manager of ACTE, answering CNA’s questions, said however that the situation is highly volatile therefore forecasts are risky. Based on the numbers of arrivals recorded so far, which reached 1.2 million in June, down by 25% from 2019 and Hermes Airports estimates, expecting a total passenger traffic of 8.7 million for 2022, which corresponds to 78% of 2019 passenger traffic, “a forecast of 70%-75% of 2019 arrivals may be indicative for this year,” she said.

She further said that for the months of July and August, the average occupancy of hotel units is estimated to range between 70%-90%. Occupancy differs by province and hotel category, she noted, with Paphos having higher occupancy levels, as it is traditionally a top choice for British tourists, as Britain is Cyprus’ biggest tourism market, she said.

The majority of quests staying in Cyprus hotels are tourists from the UK, Israel, Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, Greece, France and Austria, Psilogeni said, adding that also Cypriots in big numbers have chosen to spend their holidays in the island, due to the increase in air ticket prices and the problems with flight delays and cancellations occurring at international airports.

Regarding 2023, Psilogeni projects that it will be a difficult year, although it is still early to say. “We believe that 2023 will also be a particularly difficult year, mainly due to the prices of air tickets which may increase further, if the upcoming EU Fit for 55 Package is also taken into account, which will significantly affect us as an island destination, whose tourism is almost completely dependent on air connectivity”, ACTE’s GM noted. She also said “that is why we welcome the actions of the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Yannis Karoussos, to mitigate the impact on the country from the specific development”.

At the same time, the lack of staff is also a cause for concern, resulting in long delays and cancellations at many important airports for Cyprus, she said, adding that inflation will affect potential tourists, as well.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Anna Sokolova on Saturday won two medals in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Birmingham Commonwealth Games securing a silver medal in Hoop and a bronze in Ball.

Following’s Sokolova’s new medals, Cyprus medals tally in the Commonwealth Games rose to 10, of which two Gold, three Silver and five Bronze.

Malaysia’s Joe Ee Gn with 29,700 points clinched gold in Ball, followed by Canada’s Suzanna Shahbazian with 29,050 and Sokolova with 28,800.

Earlier Sokolova clinched the silver medal in Hoop with 28,300 points with Wales’ Gemma Natasha Frizlle clinching gold with 28,700 and Canada’s Carmel Kallemma securing bronze with 28,200.

Sokolova competed in the finals of Clubs and Ribbon securing 7th and 8th place respectively.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ athlete of Track and Field Alexandros Poursanides on Saturday won the Bronze medal in Men’s Hammer Throw in the 22nd Commonwealth Games “Birmingham 2022”.

The Cypriot athlete of the delegation of Cyprus Commonwealth Committee with a Throw at 73.97 secured the Bronze Medal in the Games.

The excellent Throw of Poursanides constitutes a personal season best.

Nick Miller from England the first place and the gold medal with a throw of 76.43, and Canadian Ethan Katzberg won the second place and the silver medal with a throw of 76.36 meters.

Following Poursanides’ Bronze medal, Cyprus medals tally in the Commonwealth Games rose to 11, of which two Gold, three Silver and six Bronze.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The first batch of vaccines against monkeypox arrived in Cyprus on Saturday.

Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Elena Panagiotopoulou told the Press that a total of 1.260 vaccines arrived, adding there was much willingness from other countries as well, such as Austria, Netherlands, Israel and Portugal, to provide Cyprus with the vaccine.

The vaccines arrived at the initiative of Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas and Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. The vaccines were given to Cyprus free of charge and administration will start from Sunday.

Asked if another lot is expected, Papagiotopoulou replied in the affirmative.

Cyprus is entitled to 1,400 doses however the number will change according to the cases in each country. Because there is a restricted number of vaccines available in Europe, the number of vaccines will be distributed according to the cases in each country, she added.

The vaccines will be administered according to the protocol prepared by the National Vaccination Committee, to health professionals who deal with the cases, as well as to relatives who came into contact with monkeypox patients.

Regarding the two new cases announced on Saturday by the Health Ministry, Panagiotopoulou said tracing has already been completed and the patients’ contacts can be vaccinated if they wish and after that the health professionals.

The vaccination centres will be announced next week, she added.

Panagiotopoulou said the two-stage vaccine has a 28-day interval, provided they were not vaccinated with a smallpox jab.

Under the name Imvanex, the smallpox vaccine protects adults from monkeypox disease.

The marketing authorisation holder is Bavarian Nordic A/S and it contains an attenuated (weakened) form of the vaccinia virus called ‘modified vaccinia virus Ankara’, which is related to the smallpox virus. It was also considered a potential vaccine for monkeypox because of the similarity between the monkeypox virus and the smallpox virus.

Panagiotopoulou said the smallpox virus and the monkey smallpox virus are related to each other and when someone receives this vaccine, it forces the body to produce antibodies, so that when it comes into contact with the virus there are already antibodies to fight the virus, and in this way, the person vaccinated has immunity against the virus.

Those who have received the smallpox vaccine in the past, can get one dose of the vaccine as a booster shot.

She also clarified that monkeypox cannot be compared to COVID-19 and vaccination is not for the general public.

Regarding the drug Tecovirimat, Panagiotopoulou said it is an anti-viral and approved by the EU. It may be considered for treatment in people infected with Monkeypox virus. Cyprus is participating in a common procedure to obtain the medication, she added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides said the government will never tire of working to create the conditions and mobility to resume negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Addressing the annual event for Famagusta, organised by the Turkish occupied town’s municipality on Saturday, Minister Kasoulides said the only way forward is dialogue, adding there is no alternative that would lead to remapping our national policy. The only choice is a solution of the Cyprus problem based on the UN parameters and urged the Turkish Cypriot leadership to respond to the expectations of its community.

Representing the President of the Republic at the event, Kasoulides said that this year marks 48 years of being uprooted and becoming refugees.

He described Famagusta as a town of light and water, beauty and joy that was abandoned at the mercy of relentless time to ravage.

In his speech, he said he was not present to make promises or exercise criticism or promote pre-election positions or make declarations. However, he said the government is making persistent efforts to save Famagusta and one thing is for sure, “we will never, ever tire of working methodically to create the mobility and preconditions for a resumption of negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem”.

There is no other way than dialogue, nor any alternative option that could lead to a remapping of our national policy, he added.

Our only option, he said, is a solution to the Cyprus problem according to the UN parameters. «It is the only way for the state to function in an orderly and structured manner, under an evolved institutional framework that will reunite and transform the Republic of Cyprus into a functional framework and will ensure conditions of security and prosperity for all its inhabitants”.

We remain, Kasoulides added, “committed to the efforts to find a viable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of an agreed framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as provided by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. A solution that will reunite the country and its people, end the occupation and its fait accompli”.

Referring to Turkey’s illegal actions in the fenced off area of Varosha, he said they are “part of a policy to create and consolidate new faits accompli on the ground. These are actions which are against the spirit and the letter of the UNSC resolutions 550 and 789 and all the presidential statements of the SC on Famagusta as raised during the Council’s closed sessions”.

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. UN Security Council 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.

The Turkish Cypriot leadership announced in July 2021 a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha. A few months earlier, on October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. The UN Security Council called for the reversal of this course of action, while the UN Secretary General, in his latest report on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, reiterated his concern over developments in the fenced-off area, noting that the position of the UN on Varosha remains unchanged. The EU also expressed grave concern.

The Cypriot FM said the government has welcomed the recent UNSC resolution renewing UNFICYP’s mandate because it repeats all Cyprus resolutions and urges the sides to find a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, according to the UN framework and condemns the non-reversal of Turkish actions in Varosha.

Noting that Turkey cannot be allowed to continue ignoring international law and implement a double standard policy, he said that in all his contacts in the last seven months he has received support from his interlocutors who have condemned Turkey’s illegal actions.

Kasoulides referred to the package of Confidence Building Measures which the government has promoted in the last few months, noting the measures are generous and bold while their implementation will mutually benefit both communities.

However, he said the package of measures were rejected by the Turkish Cypriot side which insists on a two-state policy, recognition of the sovereign equality status of the Turkish Cypriot community in order for negotiations to resume, “positions which are unacceptable and are contrary to the goal of reunification.

The Cypriot FM said the Turkish Cypriots made counter proposals in a letter to the President of the Republic, and “we will examine these proposals carefully to ascertain if there is mutual will for a dialogue between the two sides”.

Kasoulides further said that what worries the Greek Cypriot side is stability and an impasse. “This is what’s causing disappointment and concern”, he added.

We want our town back, he said, adding “condemnation and UN resolutions and decisions are not enough. We want Famagusta back, we want all our towns and villages back”, the minister said and called on the Turkish Cypriot leadership to respond to the Turkish Cypriots’ expectations, to listen to their voices and not try to alter the secularism and social orientation of the Turkish Cypriots.

We urge the Turkish Cypriot leadership to abandon its irrational and maximalist outbursts for a two-state solution and exhibit the required will to start a dialogue based on the CBMs, the minister concluded.

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.

President Anastasiades conveyed a proposal on Confidence Building Measures through a letter to the Turkish Cypriot leader and the UN, last May, including provisions for the operation of the airport, located in Turkish-occupied Tymbou, under the UN, and the return of legal residents to Varosha, the fenced off part of Famagusta.

The proposed package of measures also provides for European Commission involvement in trade through Famagusta port and the implementation by Ankara of the Additional Protocol, allowing Cypriot-flagged vessels to access ports in Turkey. An escrow account for revenues from hydrocarbon activities, to be accessed by the Turkish Cypriot community is also proposed, provided that Cyprus and Turkey delineate their exclusive economic zones. The Turkish Cypriot side dismissed the package, proposing instead a set of “cooperation proposals” between two “states” in areas such as electricity, renewable energy, water and hydrocarbons.

Source: Cyprus News Agency