Updates from Cyprus
The Cypriot Gymnast Ilias Georgiou secured the 6th place in Horizontal Bar, at the World Gymnastics Championships, in Liverpool.
Georgiou took 14,300 points which brought him to 6th place. The American Brody Malone with 14,800 points secured the first place and the Gold Medal, the Japanese Daiki Hashimoto with 14,700 points won the silver medal and the Brazilian Arthur Mariano with 14,466 points the bronze.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The Council of Ministers decided on Monday afternoon to declare a six-day public mourning, from November 7 to November 12, after Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II passed away earlier today.
The Council that had an extraordinary meeting under Acting President, President of the House, Annita Demetriou, also decided to postpone all official events during the public mourning. Moreover, it suspended the participation of government and state officials to public events. Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, will deliver the eulogy during the Archbishop’s funeral.
According to a Presidency press release, the Council of Ministers maintained a one-minute silence in the memory of the Archbishop and took a series of decisions suggested by the President of the Republic as regards the measures to be taken to honour the late Archbishop.
The Cabinet decided to declare a public mourning from Monday November 7 until Saturday November 12 when the Archbishop’s funeral will take place. During the public mourning the Republic of Cyprus flag will fly at half-mast in all schools and public services buildings.
All official events are postponed during the public mourning. Moreover, the participation of members of the government and state officials to public events is suspended.
The President of the Republic, the members of the Council of Ministers, the Government Spokesman, the Deputy Minister to the President, the Deputy Government Spokesman and the Director of the President’s Office will attend the funeral.
The President of the Republic, the members of the Council of Ministers, the Deputy Ministers, the Government Spokesman will sign the book of condolences for the Arcbhishop’s death.
President Anastasiades will deliver the eulogy during the funeral.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus, died on Monday, aged, 81 after a long battle with cancer.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The people of Cyprus mourns the loss of Archbishop Chrysostomos ??, President Anastasiades said on Monday.
The primate of the Cypriot church passed away earlier this morning.
In a post on Twitter, Anastasiades, who is in Sharm el Sheikh to attend the COP27 Summit, also praised the “huge reform work” of the late Archbishop.
“The people of Cyprus mourn the loss of Archbishop of Cyprus,” Anastasiades said, praising his “huge reform work both for Orthodox Christianity, the Church and his actions for the prosperity of our people.”
He also conveyed both the State’s and his own sincere condolences to the Church, the Cypriot people and his family.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The Cypriot initiative on climate change will be presented by the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, at the UN Climate Summit, COP27, which began on Sunday in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, amid growing calls for rich countries to compensate poorer ones. states most vulnerable to climate change. President Anastasiades and the Minister of Agriculture, Costas Kadis, are on site, representing Cyprus, where a total of 120 heads of state and government are expected to take part.
As announced by the Government Spokesperson, Marios Pelekanos, President Anastasiades will participate on Monday noon in the opening ceremony of the Summit, while in the evening he will attend a reception hosted by the President of Egypt in honor of the leaders of the states and governments participating in the Summit.
On Tuesday, November 8, at 10 am, the President of the Republic will attend and speak at the event for the Cyprus initiative, at the venue of COP27.
On the sidelines of the Summit, an event will be held on Cyprus’ initiative to tackle climate change, which will be presented by the President of the Republic, Pelekanos says.
It is noted that in recent years Cyprus has undertaken a relevant initiative to strengthen the coordination and regional cooperation of the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, with the aim of more effectively dealing with the adverse effects of the climate crisis. “Taking advantage of the excellent relations that Cyprus has developed with the countries of the region, the initiative concerns, among other things, the development of a Regional Action Plan with the contribution of distinguished scientists”, says the Spokesperson.
The Summit on the initiative of Cyprus will be chaired by President Anastasiades and the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, while heads of state or government and other foreign government officials are expected to attend, it is reported.
“At the Summit, the foundations will be laid for the implementation of the actions that have been decided and for the achievement of the goals that have been set”, it is added.
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, will also participate in the special event organized by the Republic of Cyprus in cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt.
He is also accompanied by the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry, Natasa Pilides, the Government Spokesperson, the Director of the Office of the President of the Republic, Pantelis Pantelidis, the Deputy Government Spokesperson, Niovi Parisinou and other officials.
The Advisor to the President of the Republic on Climate Change, Dr. Costas Papanikolas, will also attend and speak at the Summit on the Cyprus Initiative.
On the sidelines of the work of the Summit, President Anastasiades is expected to have contacts with leaders of states and governments, according to Pelekanos. Among other things, he will have a meeting with the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, during which the respective competent Ministers of the two countries will sign, in the presence of the two Presidents, a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of Environmental Protection.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus died on Monday morning at the age of 81, following a long battle with cancer.
According to a statement issued by his doctors Joseph Kashios, Demetris Papamichael, Petros Agathangelou and Michalis Protopapas, the Head of the Church of Cyprus died at 6.40 am local time (4.40 am GMT).
He died peacefully after facing with courage and patience his ordeal, due to his illness, the statement reads.
Cyprus Chrysostomos II a “prominent and important figure of the Church of Cyprus” leaves behind him a visionary and bold work, aiming at highlighting and restoring the Church’s historical tradition, along with innovative changes, it is added.
The late Archbishop was born on April 10, 1941 in Tala, Paphos. According to the Church of Cyprus website, on February 26, 1978, he was ordained Paphos Bishop.
On November 5, 2006 he became Archbishop of Cyprus and was enthroned on November 12, 2006.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The updating of the agreement between Cyprus and Lebanon on the demarcation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was one of the issues raised during the meeting on Sunday afternoon between Cyprus’ President, Nicos Anastasiades, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, in Sharm El Sheikh, on the sidelines of the COP27 Summit.
Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, said in a written statement that, during the meeting, “which was held in an extremely friendly atmosphere, the excellent relations of the two countries were discussed”, which, both sides noted they can be upgraded, creating multiple benefits for both countries.
One “of the most important issues” raised during the meeting was updating the agreement between the two countries on the delimitation of the EEZ, it added. Also discussed was “the cooperation of the two countries regarding the exploitation of their natural resources and the possibilities that take shape in this field as a result of the relevant agreement, including natural gas and renewable energy sources”, it is added, as well as the possibility of electricity interconnection between the two countries.
The President of the Republic also assured Prime Minister Mikati that Cyprus “will take an initiative within the EU, for better financial support to Lebanon to deal with the increasing migration flows, a problem that Cyprus also faces, due to the instrumentalisation of the migration issue by Turkey,” the statement said.
Pelekanos also said that President Anastasiades briefed the Prime Minister of Lebanon about the current state of affairs as regards the Cyprus issue, while the situation in Lebanon was also discussed.
According to Pelekanos, the Prime Minister of Lebanon reiterated his country’s long-standing support for the Cyprus issue based on principles and values.
He also expressed his gratitude for the agreement reached between the two countries regarding the issue of mutual assistance in extinguishing fires, he added.
The meeting took place in the presence of Cyrus’ Energy Minister, Natasa Pilides, of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Egypt, Polly Ioannou and other officials.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The Cyprus Meteorological Service has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms.
In the warning it says that the warning is valid from 1200 noon on Monday until 2000.
Local heavy thunderstorms are expected to affect the area at times. Rain rates are expected to range between 35 and 50 millimeters per hour while hail is also likely.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Bishop of Paphos Georgios – the secretary of the Holy Synod of Cyprus, and following the death of Archbishop Chrysostomos II on Monday morning, custodian of the throne – is expected to convene an extraordinary Holy Synod, in Nicosia, that will decide about the funeral of the late Head of the Church of Cyprus. Along with fellow Bishops, the Holy Synod will also decide about the Archbishop’s lying in state.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus died on Monday morning at the age of 81, following a long battle with cancer.
In a statement to CNA, the Bishop of Paphos said that “the Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus showed unparalleled courage, he took whatever help science could provide, giving a message to all the patients and to all of us, that this is what we must do.”
He also pointed out that the priority is the funeral of the late Archbishop of Cyprus, and then the Holy Synod will be convened to decide on the next steps.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
This morning we lost a courageous leader, the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, RTCYPP, wrote for the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, expressing the condolences of all religious leaders of Cyprus.
The Office, which is under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden wrote on its twitter account that “All Religious leaders of Cyprus, faith communities and RTCYPP facilitation who have worked with HB the Archbishop Chrysostomos II join the Synod and Church of Cyprus in mourning and prayer for the loss of a trusted leader, friend and brother. May His Beatitude’s memory stay Eternal”.
It adds that “this morning we lost a courageous leader, Archbishop Chrysostomos II who turned a new page in the history of the island as the first head of the Church of Cyprus to enter into dialogue with Muslim and Christian leaders of the island to advance religious freedom and peace for all”.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
A meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Greece Nikos Dendias and Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides, on Monday, in Athens, is expected to focus on developments in the Cyprus problem and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, a press release by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.
In particular, the two Foreign Ministers will have a private meeting at 12:00, followed by extended talks.
Subsequently, Dendias and Kasoulides will make joint statements to the press at 13:15. A working lunch will follow.
As Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, the focus of the contacts will be the assessment of Turkish provocation, Turkey’s actions to upgrade the separatist entity in the occupied territories, the efforts to impose new measures through potential illegal drilling within the Cypriot EEZ and the opening of a new part of enclosed area of Varosha”. “In this context, ways to prevent and prevent the acts in question will be examined”, it is noted.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, the discussions between the two Ministers are part of the ongoing cooperation and coordination between the two countries.
The two Foreign Ministers are expected to focus on developments in the Cyprus problem and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean in the light of the latest developments.
In addition, they are expected to discuss issues related to multilateral cooperation schemes, the European Union, as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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. The last round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency