Day: October 7, 2022

The European Union has to act in such a way that will send Turkey the message that actions placing obstacles to the EU’s efforts to end energy dependence on Russia cannot be accepted, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said in his intervention during the discussion on energy that took place in the informal European Council in Prague, according to Government Spokesperson Marios Pelekanos.

 

Pelekanos was referring in statements to the media, to what President Anastasiades said about the role that Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean can play towards ending the EU’s energy dependency in Russia, a presidency press release says.

 

President Anastasiades also pointed to acts with which Turkey undermines sanctions imposed by the EU, the Spokesperson added.

 

The intervention took place during a discussion on energy, which focused on security of supply, measures towards the reduction of demand, as well as proposals to limit the increase of energy prices, which include the various proposal discussed for price gaps on natural gas.

 

Pelekanos said that the leaders of the 27 member states discussed the need for continued economic, military and other support to Ukraine, as well as the issue of energy supply security for EU member states ahead of the upcoming winter, and how the issue of energy can be tackled in a way that reduces the challenges faced by households and businesses due to increased prices.

 

The Spokesperson added that the 27 also discussed possible solutions to the issue of high prices and inflationary pressures, as well as proposals to support the job market and protect vulnerable sections of the population.

 

In this context, President Anastasiades presented the proposals and positions put forward by Cyprus, and stressed the role that the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus can play in fulfilling the EU’s aim to end its dependence on Russian energy, the government spokesperson explained in his statement.

 

Anastasiades also made reference to “continued and increased Turkish provocations which are an obstacle also for the implementation of European goal for the end of dependence on Russian energy, and, of course, made reference to Turkey’s continued stance which undermines sanctions applied by the EU,” Pelekanos said.

 

President Anastasiades “stressed the need that the EU act in such a way that will send a clear message that this behaviour by Turkey cannot be accepted,” according to the Spokesperson.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cancer is a priority for the European Commission, Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said on Friday.

 

She was speaking during a visit at the German Oncology Centre (GOC) in Limassol.

 

According to a press release, Kyriakides received information about the innovative treatments and machines of the GOC from Medical Director, Dr. Zamboglou and a team of doctors.

 

“It is our great honour,” said Dr. Zamboglou, “to welcome the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety with whom we are linked by many struggles for the development of oncology in Cyprus.” He added that “in the context of her visit, she gave us instructions on the ways in which we can cooperate with the European Union in order to solve daily problems that will be of great benefit to the patients of Cyprus.”

 

Congratulating Dr. Zamboglou and the team of doctors for their work and vision, Kyriakides pointed out that cancer is a priority for the European Commission. ”It is a matter that we discussed with Dr. Zamboglou, who informed me that this is also the philosophy of the German Oncology Centre. In this context, we can work together, all the Centers and the Ministry of Health, so that we can improve the quality of care for Cypriot cancer patients,” she emphasised.

 

Furthermore, the European Commissioner was informed by Dr. Zamboglou and the doctors about the new specialties of the Centre, which is currently among the best medical centres in Europe.

 

As Dr. Zamboglou mentioned, all the services of the GOC have been integrated into the General Health System (GeSY) and are available to all its insured.

 

The Commissioner was also informed about the various research programmes in which the German Oncology Centre participates, having signed cooperation protocols with renowned educational institutions, research centres and biotechnological companies in Cyprus and abroad (Harvard Medical School, Charite Berlin, etc.).

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Deputy Communications Commissioner, European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP) Chairman, Petros Galides, presided over the 3rd ERGP Stakeholder Forum.

 

According to a PIO press release participants in the Forum, that was held recently in Brussels, exchanged views on the need to review the European Postal Directive and the roadmap that needs to be followed.

 

The Forum was attended by some 200 interested parties and stakeholders of the postal sector.

 

In an intervention, Kerstin Jorna, Direction – General of the European Commission DG GROW, underlined the Commission’s priorities for the future of the postal sector. She stressed that the modernisation of the postal services and the way the postal market has radically changed is being addressed are very important issues that need to be examined.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Olga Algayerova, the Executive Secretary of the UNECE praised all participants of the 9th Environment for Europe (EfE) Ministerial Conference in Nicosia for their insightful remarks and their strong contribution, and hoped that by next EfE in five years, our world will be greener, cleaner, more just, and more peaceful than it is now.

 

Algayerova delivered her closing remarks during the last session of the Conference which concluded Friday in Cyprus’ divided capital and gathered together 71 Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 65 countries and approximately 1,000 participants in what was described as the biggest event Cyprus ever hosted.

 

She said that in three days the Filoxenia Center has held not one but four high-level meetings and in these days a huge amount of content has been packed.

 

Algayerova hailed the ministers and delegations because they recognized, among others, the seriousness of the challenges facing our planet and our region and the need for a joint and coordinated response and the fact that greening the economy is of critical importance for the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals, and agreed on shared approaches to greening of infrastructure development and tourism sectors.

 

She also emphasized the fact that they reaffirmed the importance of further strengthening and scaling up education for sustainable development by adopting the Nicosia Ministerial Statement on Education for Sustainable Development, including the Framework for Implementation of the UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development from 2021 to 2030.

 

UNECE ES also said that Nicosia is a success, and underlined that our delegates now know by heart what “Filoxenia” means – both as a word and as an action.

 

Cyprus Agriculture and Environment Minister Costas Kadis said that we strongly support the reference made towards the unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine by Russian Federation and we urge countries to work together for the advancement of a sustainable recovery of the country.

 

Cyprus, he noted, is committed to capitalize on the results of this Conference and stresses out the important role of the Environment for Europe process bringing together all stakeholders for a sustainable future.

 

Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said that Nicosia Declaration can be seen as a moment of celebration and joy but also comes along with huge responsibilities.

 

He hoped the results of the Conference to be adopted and introduced in policies and strategies with the aim to fulfill the goals for sustainable development.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Mayor of Famagusta, Simos Ioannou, said on Friday that the announcements that the fact tat the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied Cyprus will proceed to the opening of public and municipal buildings in the fenced off area of Varosha, constitutes a continuation of Turkey’s provocative and illegal actions in Varosha, which violate the status quo and UN Security Council resolutions.

 

Following the new statements, the Municipality has requested meetings with the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

 

In statements to CNA, Ioannou said that on the occasion of the anniversary of the illegal declaration of the pseudo-state in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus and the two years since the opening of part of the fenced off area, it seems that the regime is preparing to make new announcements, speculating that they will renovate some public or municipal buildings, such as the municipal market, located on Evagorou Avenue, or other buildings and municipal schools, which are located at the beginning of the enclosed area.

 

Saying that the regime aims to continue what they started two years ago, he said that they definitely want to exploit the area, for now only for tourism and to bring financial benefit to the pseudo-state and then to colonize the area by building tourist units and similar facilities , in cooperation with companies in Turkey.

 

The Mayor added that regarding the 3.5% pilot area where legitimate owners could return, nothing has been done yet.

 

The Municipality of Famagusta, Ioannou said, has requested – following the new statements about Varosha-, meetings with the Ambassadors of the countries of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, and they have already received a positive response from the French Ambassador. They will also have a meeting with the Slovak Ambassador at his own request, he added.

 

On October 23, a delegation from the Municipality of Famagusta will travel to London where they will have contacts at the Foreign Office and the House of Commons, where the annual event will take place, organised by the association of the people of Famagusta in the United Kingdom. Ioannou said that more meetings are possible during their stay in London.

 

The Mayor said that a delegation of the Municipality will travel to Brussels, in consultation with the MEPs, for a visit that will be under the auspices of the President of the European Parliament. He said that they will also ask the state to take the necessary actions. In addition, he said that they have prepared and will send a letter to the Council of Europe following the decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council on the case of Greek Cypriot refugee Titina Loizidou and how this affects the cases concerning Varosha. “Because if there is a violation in this area as well, then it means that Turkey will be completely free to do whatever it wants.”

 

Invited to comment on the Turkish Cypriot leader’s announcement that tomorrow, on the two-year anniversary of the opening of the closed area of Varosha, they will give a gift to the person who passes at 12 noon exactly, the Mayor of Famagusta said “it is ridiculous in a politically civilized world. These things don’t happen. They are provocative,” adding that they want to give the impression that they are the ones dominating in the area and not the legal residents.

 

The people of Famagusta, he said, are disappointed but they are also determined to continue the struggle for justice for all Cypriots.

 

The fenced off area, he said, makes up only 16% of the entire municipal boundaries of Famagusta and there are areas there today, which have the same fate as Kyrenia, Lapithos, Karavas, there are settlers and there is development.

 

“Saving the fenced off area, which is supported by relevant UNSC resolutions, there is a possibility to save the rest of Famagusta as well.”

 

If the territory issue is lost, everything will be lost, he concluded.

 

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’.

 

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.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

In order to effectively address the current environmental crisis, the active participation, involvement and support of civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations is required, President of the House of Representatives, Annita Dimitriou, said Friday.

 

Demetriou, who chaired a session on the sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the ‘Environment for Europe’ in Nicosia, said that the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental issues in the EU is of particular importance, as it is one of the most comprehensive tools to ensure the access of citizens and organised groups to decision-making centers regarding the environment.

 

According to an official press release, Demetriou underlined the essential contribution that the Parliaments must have in the ratification and implementation of the Convention. She pointed out that the role of the Parliaments is not simply limited to the formation of the legislative framework, but also extends to the control of the implementation of the provisions of the Convention, in order to ensure transparency in the decision-making process and the active participation of citizens.

 

She recalled that Cyprus joined the Aarhus Convention in 2003 and since then has put environmental issues among its priorities.

 

Concluding she noted the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus to undertake a coordinating role in addressing climate change in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Minister of Interior, Nicos Nouris, and First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the Czech Republic, Vit Rakušan, signed on Friday an agreement, that provides for financial assistance towards Nicosia, of €1 mln, to aid Cyprus with voluntary migrant returns.

 

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the MED 5 Ministerial Summit in Pafos District.

 

The Czech Republic’s contribution comes as a response to the call of the Republic of Cyprus for assistance from EU members states, in order to tackle the challenge of the increasing migratory flows in the country.

 

After the signing of the agreement, Nouris said that the Czech Republic’s actual financial support towards the Republic of Cyprus, demonstrates “the solidarity that has been gradually consolidated among member states as regards the management of the migration issue, in particular towards the member states at the forefront which carry the heaviest burden.”

 

He added that the amount of €1 mln coming from Czech Republic in 2022, will be used to finance the voluntary returns of those migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.

 

Concluding his statement, Nouris thanked Rakušan and expressed his gratitude. He also appeared confident that the agreement “will be the spark for further enhancement of the relations between our two countries in various areas.”

 

Taking the floor, Rakušan said that Europe is faced with a series of crises, adding that migration is a common problem, not just for Cyprus, but also for Central Europe. There are more than 400 thousand refugees from Ukraine in the Czech Republic, which corresponds to 0.8% of the population, he noted.

 

The number of illegal migration through the Czech Republic is higher than before, the Deputy Prime Minister added noting that “we can understand your situation very well.”

 

In order to face this series of crises in Europe we have to know what solidarity is, he went on.

 

He referred to the financial assistance from the Czech Republic to Cyprus, noting that “it is a sign of solidarity” and proof that the situation other countries are facing is well known in the EU.

 

According to Rakušan, this contribution may help Cyprus with its policy of migrant returns, which he called “important for your country, for your future

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The measures taken by the EU Shipping Industry to achieve the goal of zero emissions from ships by 2050 through a comprehensive climate strategy being prepared by European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), was among the agenda items of the ESCA’s Board of Directors Meeting which was held in Limassol ahead of the of international “Maritime Cyprus 2022” which kicks off on Monday.

 

According to a press release issued by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) the board meeting of the ESCA, which represents national shipowners’ associations of EU Member States was held under the Presidency of the Cypriot Past President of the Shipping Chamber, Philippos Philis following an invitation by the CSC. This was the third time the ESCA held its board meeting in Cyprus.

 

The Cyprus delegation, which represented the Cyprus Shipping Industry, included the Cyprus Shipping Chamber’s President, Themis Papadopoulos and its Director General, Thomas A. Kazakos, as President of the ECSA State Aid Committee and Nicolaos Hadjioannou, from the Cyprus Union of Shipowners.

 

Apart from the EU measures aiming at zero emissions in EU shipping, the agenda also included the Organisation’s overall Strategy was completed aiming to further strengthen its competitiveness and the representation of European shipowners’ interests toward EU policy makers, the CSC added.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency