Day: November 26, 2022

The inauguration of the new Limassol stadium is an historic day for Cyprus football, said President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, in a speech at the opening ceremony on Friday evening.

?he President added that “today is an historic day for Cyprus football and generally sports” as the new stadium is the culmination of efforts that started back in 2014 when the three football teams forged efforts and decided to “give the state the responsibility to construct this really wonderful stadium.”

President Anastasiades said the course was not without obstacles but after eight years the opening of the stadium became a reality.

He also expressed the hope that everyone will contribute to avoid new problems.

“The beginning of the stadium’s construction unfortunately coincided with the pandemic,” President Anastasiades said, noting that “nevertheless it was possible, even with a minimal delay, to be here today to celebrate this day.”

The President said he hoped all will enjoy the stadium away from violence and wished football clubs every progress.

On his part, President of the Cyprus Sports Organisation Andreas Michaelides, said the stadium includes four auxiliary courts for training, locker rooms for footballers and referees, a complete lighting system and stands that can accommodate 10,800 fans.

The modern five-storey building is connected with sports facilities which include a doctor’s office, administration areas and conference rooms, three restaurants, shops and open-air parking for 1,050 cars, press facilities and areas for security personnel.

He also said that shortly, construction around the stadium will be completed to ensure easy and safe access of fans to and from the stadium.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Home Affairs Ministers discussed the current situation along all migratory routes, taking stock of the urgent challenges and joint way forward during their extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Friday and welcomed the Commission´s action plan on the Central Mediterranean as well as its readiness to develop similar action plans for other routes.

Cyprus welcomed the Action Plan, an Interior Ministry press release said, pointing out that it can be a basis for a discussion to take concrete action towards third countries to contain migratory flows, indicating however that it should not replace efforts for a common European migration and asylum pact.

At the same time, Cyprus expressed concern about the new methods that traffickers use by transporting irregular migrants on commercial vessels, something which the action plan should effectively address, the press release underlined.

Within the Council’s framework, Cyprus called for the immediate preparation on the part of the European Commission, of a relevant targeted Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean and especially Cyprus and Greece, including specific measures to stem the flow from Turkey which in the case of Cyprus, continues methodically and systematically to channel irregular migrants via the Green Line.

The Commission’s Vice President, Margaritis Schinas underlined that the Commission has already made a number of representations to Turkey, calling for its compliance with the EU-Turkey statement of 2016 and to ease the pressure on Cyprus.

The discussion on the Action Plan will continue at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, 8-9 December.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus supports international efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, within the “One Health” scheme introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO), as agreed with the Muscat declaration, following the 3rd High-level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Muscat, Oman on 24 and 25 November.

Health Minister, Michalis Hadjipantela, who participated in the Conference and was accompanied by infectious disease specialist, Dr Linos Hadjihannas, said during his intervention that national and international systems should focus on monitoring the use of antibiotics, alongside with the development of new antibiotics and diagnostic methods.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Health, Hadjipantela also stated that “without a drastic change in current medical practices for the reduction of infections and the containment of the use of antibiotics, alongside with investing in a change of attitude, microbial resistance will increase.”

Cyprus, he said, sees antimicrobial resistance as a major public health issue.

On the sidelines of the Conference, as announced by the Ministry of Health, Hadjipantela met with the Health Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Hilal Al Sabti, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, and the Health Minister of The Netherlands, Ernst Kuiper.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of Defense, Charalambos Petrides, referred on Saturday to six pillars outlining the strategic pursuits vis-a-vis efforts to strengthen the country’s defense and security. During a speech at a conference of the Cyprus Reserve Officers’ Association, in Nicosia, Petrides stated that, for as long as the northern part of Cyprus is under Turkish occupation, the National Guard must continue to reinforce its deterrent capability .

Outlining the six pillars, he said that the first one pertains to the reinforcement of the National Guard’s operational capability, while the second pillar is about reinforcing defense cooperation with other countries, through bilateral, trilateral and quadripartite agreements with more than 15 states. Among others, he underlined the importance of having an upgraded cooperation with the USA, as well as other countries.

The third pillar, he continued, includes actions, plans and implementation of innovative reforms, within the framework of 17 programs of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and the European Defense Fund (EDF). Improvements on the legislation tackling draft evasion, which has been contained at 1.8%, are according to the Minister included in the fourth pillar.

The fifth pillar aims to an enhance the performance of financial resources and the Ministry’s budget, Petrides went on, while the sixth pillar is associated with the Environmental and Energy Policies of the Ministry, aiming to contain the operational expenses of the National Guard, through the use of Renewable Energy Sources.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades will travel to Athens on Friday to take part in the European People’s Party (EPP) summit to be held from 2-3 December.

In a press release, Director of the President’s press office, Andreas Iosif said that during the summit’s framework, the President will meet with foreign leaders and will inform them on the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.

He will underline the Greek Cypriot side’s positions for a fair, functional and viable solution to the Cyprus problem”, Iosif said.

The goal, he added, is the resumption of a substantive dialogue that will lead to a solution to the Cyprus problem, provided that Turkey shows good will by abandoning its so called position about ‘two states’ in Cyprus.

After the summit, President Anastasiades will attend the annual dinner by the Democratic Rally (Greek section) and will honour Cypriots who have excelled overseas.

On Monday, 28 November, President Anastasiades will receive the annual report of the Office of Electronic Communications & Postal Regulations (OCECPR) and in the evening he will address a gathering on the occasion of the International Volunteers Day which coincides with the 50 years of the Pancyprian Coordinating Council of Volunteers.

On Tuesday, he will address the Union of Municipalities General Assembly at Lefkara.

In his speech, President Anastasiades will refer to the progress of the implementation of the Local Government Reform which will be fully implemented in May 2024. The Local Government reform, promoted by the Government ensures the autonomy of municipalities and their financial viability by offering quality services for all citizens”, Iosif remarked.

On the same day, the President will address the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts first meeting and will present the award of Excellence of the Republic of Cyprus to the distinguished law professor Simeon Simeonides.

On Wednesday, after the Cabinet meeting, the President will receive the credentials of the new ambassadors of Sweden, Switzerland, Kuwait, Spain and Oman.

On Thursday, he will attend the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights. The conference is co-organized with the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen on the occasion of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Administration in Cyprus. President Anastasiades will also attend in Limassol the Business Leader Awards organized by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry CCCI.

Before leaving for Athens on Friday, in the morning he will address the 1st annual event for the ‘Cyprus Tomorrow’ plan, also known as the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). It will be held at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre in the presence of the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides.

Source: Cyprus News Agency