Day: November 7, 2022

Greek and Cyprus Foreign Ministers Nicos Dendias and Ioannis Kasoulides agreed that Turkey’s absurdity has become an everyday phenomenon and that its provocations continue.

The FMs met Monday in Athens and in statements to the press Dendias noted that Greece will continue to stand by Cyprus. He said that Turkey’s provocations do not discourage Greece, which continues to defend its rights and to highlight in international fora the irrationality and illegality of Turkish claims.

Dendias also stressed that any setback on the part of Turkey or attempt to create a fait accompli, either in Greece or Cyprus, should bring about a European reaction.

The Greek Minister said that he will have meetings in the next days and will explain to all his counterparts that the decisions of the European Council regarding Turkish behavior, remain in force.

He described as unacceptable and reprehensible the fact that the Turkish authorities banned entry to Smyrna to the governor of the region of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas, adding that this behavior was condemned by Turkish officials as well.

Regarding the Cyprus issue Dendias noted that Greece will continue its support for a fair and sustainable solution, based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council and compatible with the European acquis. He said that the solution to the Cyprus problem is Greece’s highest priority. The Minister went on to say that the UNSC resolutions on the status of Varosha are clear and not open to interpretation.

The two Ministers discussed also the developments in the wider region and the recent agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the demarcation of maritime zones.

Dendias said that this is an example of how to resolve disputes between states on the basis of International Law and the Law of the Sea. He also emphasized that it is particularly important in light of resumption of talks between Cyprus and Lebanon on the delimitation of the EEZ.

Dendias said that the new Turkish-Libyan “memorandum” is a negative development. He also said that he briefed his counterpart on his visit to Niger, the huge problems that exist in Sub-Saharan Africa, which have to do with the food crisis and with security and terrorism.

Climate crisis and the COP27 in Egypt were also on the agenda.

Dendias also expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the Greek government for the death of Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II.

The Cyprus FM Ioannis Kasoulides said that Turkey is in a state of absurdity, regarding its revisionist policy, adding that is throwing all its weight to promote the upgrading of the illegal entity in the occupied areas.

He referred to the Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, in which Ankara wants to promote the illegal entity as an observer. Kasoulides said that this would be a serious upgrade step and both Cyprus and Greece have moved on many levels, to prevent it.

He said that the attempt is to change the law to allow admission under observer status to entities, not just states and international organizations, adding that this is an attempt by Turkey to overcome the resistance of other Turkish-speaking states to accept the unrecognized state as an observer.

Kasoulides also referred to the illegal entity’s letter to UNFICYP as regards its operation in the occupied areas, saying that this is another effort for the illegal entity to be recognized.

The Cyprus FM also referred to the further opening of the fenced off area of Varosha and the presence of the floating drilling rig “Abdul Hamid Khan”, which is currently drilling in an area Turkish jurisdiction, “but we will see what the next stop will be”.

Kasoulides said that Greece and Cyprus take actions to prevent all these.

As regards the death of the Archbishop of Cyprus he expressed his deepest sorrow saying that he had goals and was fighting for them, including important reforms within the Church of Cyprus, but also promoting the unity of Orthodoxy under the inspired leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Numerous rounds of peace talks under the UN aegis to reunite the island failed to yield results. The latest negotiations took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Freestyle Partners Receives Two European Patents for Use of Filtered Far UV-C Light in Handheld Devices

DETROIT–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Freestyle Partners, LLC, announced today that it has received a Notice of Intent to Grant for two additional patents from the European Patent Office (EPO) covering portable, handheld uses of filtered Far UV-C germicidal light to inactivate pathogens on commonly touched surfaces in seconds.

Freestyle is the first to patent technology that identifies to a user when proper distance to a surface is being maintained, ensuring pathogens are being safely inactivated for disinfecting surfaces. The EPO has recognized this advancement and is prepared to award two additional patents to Freestyle’s growing global patent portfolio.

Filtered Far UV-C is a breakthrough, disruptive technology developed by a team of researchers led by David Brenner, PhD, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University. It has been extensively tested and endorsed by leading institutions across the world. Studies published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals have shown the technology has the same efficacy against pathogens as conventional UV-C. Studies have also demonstrated that filtered Far-UV-C is scientifically proven to be safe to use in occupied space when used within the current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) dose limits, because it does not penetrate into living skin or the eye.

While aerosolized pathogens have been a primary focus over the last several years due to COVID-19, surface pathogens are also of utmost concern, especially with the rate of hospital-acquired infections rapidly increasing and the need for more effective solutions for disinfecting commonly touched surfaces in hospitals, office buildings, schools, and during travel. “By patenting key needed functionality for portable, handheld filtered Far UV-C, Freestyle has positioned itself to be a market leader while also ensuring application of filtered Far UV-C using handheld devices will be done efficaciously and safely to disinfect commonly touched surfaces,” says Jennifer Rosen, co-founder of Freestyle Partners. “Testing continues to show filtered Far UV-C can be used in lieu of expensive, environmentally hazardous chemicals to safely inactivate any pathogen, including MRSA, E. coli, salmonella, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, on commonly touched surfaces in seconds, at close distance.”

Freestyle also established a development and commercialization agreement with Ushio America, Inc. This paved the way for Freestyle to develop working prototypes of their handheld, battery-operated, filtered Far UV-C device that successfully applied Ushio’s existing Care222® technology. Studies have shown that Care222 technology can inactivate pathogens such as coronaviruses, influenza, E. coli, salmonella and more from commonly touched surfaces in seconds.

Freestyle’s burgeoning filtered Far UV-C light patent portfolio now includes 14 granted utility and design patents that extend to over 26 countries, including the U.S, Japan, China, South Korea and Canada, as well as countries throughout Europe. Other key exclusive functionality granted within Freestyle’s portfolio includes illuminating the surface area for targeted pathogen inactivation, with visible light as well as with filtered Far UV-C light, which testing has shown to be safe for disinfecting* human skin when properly used.

About Freestyle Partners, LLC

Based in Detroit, Freestyle Partners, LLC is an IP accelerator focused on bringing leading-edge concepts to acquisition or commercialization. Founded in 2012 by marketing and branding experts Jennifer Rosen and Ben Feeney, Freestyle Partners has a focus of identifying and delivering new revenue opportunities and conceiving new ventures in both corporate and start-up environments that have driven profitable growth, created culture change, and impassioned people. For more information, visit www.freestylepartnersllc.com.

*All references to “disinfection” are referring generally to the reduction of pathogenic bioburden and are not intended to refer to any specific definition of the term as may be used for other purposes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Columbia University has received research funding from Freestyle Partners, LLC to continue studying the safety and efficacy of Far UV-C technology.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Building permits in Cyprus recorded a decrease, in number, area and value, in the period January-August 2022, according to data published by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

During the first eight months of 2022, a total of 5.031 building permits were issued, compared to 5.420 in the corresponding period of the previous year, recording a 4% decrease. The number of dwelling units recorded a decrease of 3.4%, dropping from 6,840 to 6,606.

The total value of these permits decreased by 2.3%, reaching €1.63 billion, compared to €1.67 billion in the same period of 2021. In total area, the decrease reached 7.7%, dropping from 1.542,426 sq. m. to 1.423,457 sq. m., while the number of dwelling units recorded a decrease of 3.4%

In August, the number of building permits authorized by the municipal authorities and the district administration offices stood at 510. The total value of these permits reached €166.4 million and the total area 146.000 sq. m. These building permits provide for the construction of 687 dwelling units.

Building permits constitute a leading indicator of future activity in the construction sector.

Source: Cyprus News Agency