Month: November 2022

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Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou will award the 13th Bi-Communal Entrepreneurship prizes

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands and founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation will once more award the Bi-Communal Entrepreneurship prizes at the Stelios Bi-communal Business Cooperation Awards 2023. This year’s prizes offer 10,000 euros to each of 20 entrepreneurs, each being a member of 10 bi-communal teams of two local business practicing bi-communal business cooperation. The total amount of the awards for 2023 will be 200,000 euros.

According to a press release the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards 2023 represent the 13th annual event in Cyprus. The first Bi-Communal Awards were held in 2009 (the 2020 and 2021 awards were cancelled due to the pandemic). Since then, the total value of the Awards granted by the Stelios Foundation now totals 4,190,000 euros (including this year’s 200,000 euros prize).

Sir Stelios, commenting on Bi-Communal Awards, said that “through all these years, I have noticed when Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots cooperate in business, our hope for lasting peace on the island strengthens. The Awards are not aimed at solving the political problem of Cyprus, but at consolidating lasting peace on the island and strengthening trust between the two communities by building on the foundations of business cooperation.”

Applications for the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards 2023, which this year focus entirely on entrepreneurship amongst Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, can be submitted from Tuesday, 29 November 2022 until Friday, 27 January 2023.

Interested groups can apply for the Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards by clicking on the relevant link on the website of Stelios Philanthropic Foundation https://steliosfoundation.com.cy/ and downloading the application form. The completed form should be emailed to marios.missirlis@stelios.com.

An online campaign is underway in many electronic media in Cyprus to encourage as many entrepreneurs as possible to submit their applications.

Eligible to participate are Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots whose business has a turnover of at least 10,000 euros per year and employs at least one staff member besides the owner. Please provide evidence of joint venture activity. Particularly this will show members of the senior management team being drawn from both communities.

Winners and candidates of previous Stelios awards from earlier years are welcome to apply again this year, provided they meet the financial criteria. Interviews with applicants will take place via Zoom, thus reducing the need for travel due to COVID-19. The awards ceremony will take place via zoom in March 2023, with Sir Stelios joining to congratulate the winners.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Yellow warning in place for isolated heavy thunderstorms

The Department of Meteorology issued a yellow warning for isolated heavy thunderstorms. The awareness is valid from 2am until 6pm on Tuesday (local time).

According to an announcement, issued by the Department, isolated heavy thunderstorms are expected to affect initially the coastal and offshore areas and later also other areas of the island.

It is noted that the rain rates are expected to range between 35 and 50 millimeters per hour, while hail is also likely.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Foreign Minister to participate in Ministerial Meeting of OSCE in Poland

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, departs on Wednesday for Poland, to participate in the Ministerial Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

According to a press release by the Ministry, the Ministerial Meeting will discuss the developments in Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country.

In addition, the Ministers will exchange views on the challenges facing the OSCE focusing on the new geopolitical environment and the security.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Cypriot Minister will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from the Organization’s member states.

He returns to Cyprus December 1st.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Food waste one of the biggest challenges we are faced with, Agriculture Minister says

Food waste is one of the most important challenges we are faced with today, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said on Tuesday, adding that it leads to serious economic, social and environmental repercussions on the entire planet.

Delivering a speech at an award ceremony for Green Public Contracts, Life Food Print awards and EMAS certificates, Kadis said that according to the latest research, the food that ends up as waste can meet the needs of all the undernourished people worldwide, at least four times over.

He added that at EU level annual food waste amounts to almost 179 kg per inhabitant, which corresponds to an economic waste of 140 billion euros per year.

Kadis said that the environmental cost of this waste is 15% of all supply chain-related greenhouse gas emissions.

He noted that transition to sustainable food systems is a necessity and added that this is the reason the EU adopted the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, which aims to achieve a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly system of food production, distribution and consumption.

In his address, Central Bank of Cyprus Governor, Constantinos Herodotou, said that Cyprus and most of the EU countries have adopted national plans to promote green public contracts.

He added that green public procurement provides real incentives and opportunities for the production of new products and services, environmentally friendly and more energy efficient, which is particularly important today in the face of the global energy crisis as well as the intensifying climate crisis.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Commission sends letters of formal notice to Cyprus for not transposing directives on road safety into national law

The European Commission has sent letters of formal notice to Cyprus for having failed to notify national measures transposing two directives regarding road safety. Along with Cyprus, the Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to another 12 member states (regarding updated requirements for technical roadside inspections) and to another 9 member states (regarding updated requirements for periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles).

Member States included in the Commission’s package of “non-communication infringement” decisions now have two months to reply to the letters of formal notice and complete their transposition, or the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion. If a member state does not respond to a reasoned opinion within the deadline provided, the Commission may opt to take the case to the Court of the European Union.

The first letter of formal notice sent to Cyprus concerns Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1716 which updates the roadside inspections technicalities and broadens the scope of vehicle categories subject to roadside inspections, such as high-speed tractors.

This Directive aims to improve road safety, a key issue as an estimated 19,900 people were killed on EU roads in 2021.

The Commission is sending a letter of formal notice to 13 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Poland and Finland) because they have failed to notify national measures fully transposing the Directive by the deadline of 27 September 2022.

The second letter of formal notice sent to Cyprus concerns Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1717 which amends the practicalities of the periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers, notably by updating certain vehicle category designations (high-speed tractors, powered two- and three-wheelers and quadricycles).

This directive also adds eCall, a system sending automated messages to the emergency services following a road crash, to the list of items which should be subject to periodic roadworthiness tests. This is important to ensure the longevity and durability of eCall, helping save people’s lives in case of crashes.

The Commission is sending a letter of formal notice to 10 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Finland) because they have failed to notify national measures fully transposing the Directive by the deadline of 27 September 2022.

The infringement package also includes letters of formal notice sent to Belgium, Denmark, Croatia and Portugal for not having transposed a series of directives ending a broad range of existing exemptions for the use of mercury in lamps.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Defence Minister discusses bilateral relations, E. Med and Turkish provocations during official Serbia visit [VIDEO]

Cyprus’ Defence Minister, Charalambos Petrides was on an official visit to Serbia on Tuesday during which he discussed with his Serbian counterpart, Milos Vucevic, the relations of the two countries in the field of defence and security, the current developments in the eastern Mediterranean and the wider region of the Western Balkans, the ongoing war in Ukraine and increasing Turkish provocations in Cyprus.

According to a press release by the Defence Ministry, Petrides is in Serbia on the invitation of Vucevic.

The two Ministers, held discussions concerning the relations of the two countries in the field of defence and security, the current developments in the eastern Mediterranean and the wider region of the Western Balkans, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine, it said.

Petrides, it adds, expressed the support of the government of the Republic of Cyprus for Serbia’s accession to the European Union.

In addition to the meeting with his counterpart, Petrides held meetings with the President of the Serbian National Assembly, Vladimir Orlic, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic.

It adds, that, in all the meetings, Petrides informed his interlocutors about the security situation in Cyprus, with an emphasis on the increasing Turkish provocation which, is a source of instability, as it is noted.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Olympians honoured during event marking Cyprus’ 40 years of participation in the Olympic Games

?n the occasion of Cyprus’ 40 years of participation in the Olympic Games, the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO) in cooperation with the Cyprus Association of Olympic Games Participants (CAOGP) honoured the athletes who have competed in the world’s leading sporting event.

According to a CSO statement, along the athletes who have participated in the Olympic Games, those who have served as Presidents of the CSO and the CAOGP were also honoured, while special awards were given to the representative of the World Olympians Association, Sandrine Billiet, and the President of the Greek Olympians, Voula Kozoboli.

The book “Cyprus at the Olympic Games” was also presented at the event, along with an photography exhibition of all the athletes who participated in the competitions from 1980 to 2022 (summer and winter Games).

CSO President Andreas Michaelides congratulated CAOGP for the historic, as he described it, publication of the book. ” The CSO, true to its role and its high mission, has stood by the side of the Cyprus Olympians from the very beginning. What we can promise is that with the same zeal we will continue to aid our athletes, so that the already impressive list of the Cyprus Olympians will continue to grow”, Michaelides said in his address.

The President of the Cyprus Olympians Costas Papakostas stressed that it is an honour for them that this event was put under the organizational responsibility of the CSO. “Athletes are the cornerstone of sports and participants in the Olympic Games are considered as the very best of a country’s athletes,” he said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cyprus ranks 10th in the EU as an innovative economy, says Deputy Minister of Research

Cyprus, as an innovative economy, based on European indicators, currently ranks 10th, compared with 22nd until five years ago, when it did not have the institution of the Chief Scientist, Deputy Minister Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Deputy, Kyriacos Kokkinos said on Tuesday. Addressing an event organised by the Cyprus Institute, Kokkinos also noted that, Cyprus is the only southern European country that is in the top 10, with the other nine countries being from Central and Northern Europe.

“We are among Europe’s Strong Innovators,” he stressed, adding that Cyprus is one of the most innovative economies in Europe today a fact that is “not well known”.

The Deputy Minister also said that the Cyprus Institute has an excellent research infrastructure and produces “enormous work” even in data management.

He added that the establishment of the Cyprus Institute, “was a bold plan that was implemented with great success”, adding that the organisation still operates as a start-up , due to “the excellent scientists, the scientific work and the excellent Board of Trustees who keep the Institute on its right path”.

The Cyprus Institute, Kokkinos, said, has brought results scientifically but not only, many of which “have been transformed into added value” within society and the economy through commercialisation, through application, and cooperation with organisations.

He also referred to the role of research institutes in general, referring to their ability, as he said, to turn knowledge into “true added value” and to better quality of life, not only for the citizens of Cyprus but also of the wider region. In Cyprus, there are around 2,450 researchers today, he said.

The new President of The Cyprus Institute’s Board, Dr. Stavros Malas, said, among other things, that, Cyprus over the last 30 years has developed higher education and research, which contributes 8.5% of the country’s GDP. In other words, he added, about 10% of the economy relies on such institutions.

“If we look at it quantitatively”, he continued, “this institution is a protagonist, because the state contributes a significant percentage but the return on this investment is many times that of other institutions”.

The outgoing President of the Institute’s Board, Dr. Costas N. Papanicolas, said that, the Board, and the staff of the institute were proud of everything that has been achieved over the past 15 years. The path was by no means easy, he stressed, adding that the achievements of the Institute are many and its recognition is international.

According to a presentation, the institute’s staff consists of 289 people from 30 different nationalities. The Institute is made up of five research centers (Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC), the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC), the Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center CaSToRC, the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) and the Science and Technology Enabled Development, Innovation and Policy Research Centre (STEDI-RC).

The Cyprus Institute offers doctoral and postgraduate programmes while 55% of its students are international, with 26% of them coming from third countries.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Culture Deputy Minister offers help to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage in EU Council in Brussels

The European Union’s support to Ukraine in the field of culture, the Council Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 and the progress of European Media Freedom Act were on the agenda of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council of the EU, in its Ministers of Culture formation, which was held in Brussels on Tuesday.

For the first time Cyprus was represented in the Culture Council of the EU by its Deputy Minister for Culture Yiannis Toumazis, who spoke of possible ways to support Ukraine’s cultural and creative sector by providing expertise on combating the looting and trafficking of cultural heritage, as well as assessing the state of the country’s monuments.

The Deputy Ministry of Culture was established earlier this year. Until recently, the country was represented in Culture Councils by the Minister of Education.

The Council focused on support and solidarity with Ukraine in the field of culture, including cultural heritage. The meeting was physically attended by Ukrainian Minister of Culture, Oleksandr Tkachenko.

In his intervention, the Deputy Minister of Culture expressed Cyprus’ full support to Ukraine, stressing that Cyprus is experiencing the effects of war on culture and cultural heritage due to the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation.

He also referred to possible ways to support Ukraine’s cultural and creative sector by providing expertise on combating the looting and trafficking of cultural heritage, as well as assessing the state of the country’s monuments. He added that Cyprus is alert and ready to take immediate action in case stolen antiquities or cultural property from Ukraine are identified, noting that the country can also provide support through the Cypriot expert who participates in a relevant UNESCO Commission.

Toumazis stressed that the EU’s assistance to Ukraine for the conservation and preservation of affected monuments and cultural property should be provided with a view to achieving substantial, long-term and sustainable results.

Toumazis also said that the Deputy Ministry is coordinating with the Crisis Management Centre of the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs Management Unit and is exploring ways to support the Ukrainian people and their urgent needs, including in the cultural sector. He concluded by calling on EU Member States to ratify the “Nicosia Convention”, which provides for the criminalisation of offences of destruction, trafficking and trafficking in cultural property.

The Ministers for Culture also adopted a resolution on the Council Work Plan for Culture for the period 2023-2026, which includes priorities for cooperation in the field of culture, including cultural heritage, as well as a significant number of actions expected to be implemented by 2026.

The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU also presented a progress report on European Media Freedom Act, reflecting the reception of the Commission’s proposal by the Member States and their position with regard to its key points.

Toumazis pointed out that the European Media Freedom Act will contribute to the strengthening of democracy in Europe, and noted that Cyprus intends to contribute constructively to the discussions that will follow.

After the Council was concluded, Toumazis travelled to the Netherlands for meetings with cultural institutions and organisations. The Deputy Minister of Culture will also visit the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, of which he is a graduate, where, he will also meet and talk to Cypriot and other students.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Kyrgyz President wishes to enhance political dialogue with Cyprus

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has expressed his wish to enhance political dialogue between his country and Cyprus, at a ceremony during which the Republic of Cyprus’ new ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Kypros Giorgallis presented him with his credentials on Tuesday.

A press release by the Foreign Ministry said that on the sidelines of the accreditation, the Ambassador, in his exchanges also with the Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed “grave concern and disappointment as regards the recent decision to grant the secessionist entity in the occupied part of Cyprus an “observer” status to the Organisation of Turkic States”.

At the ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace in Bishkek, the Ambassador relayed the Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades’ “warm regards” and expressed his readiness and commitment to further strengthen and deepen the relations between the two countries and their cooperation, bilaterally as well as within the context of European Union – Kyrgyz Republic relations, it is noted.

On his part, the press release said, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, conveyed his personal wishes and cordial greetings to President Anastasiades. “Furthermore, he attached emphasis on enhancing the political dialogue between the two countries at bilateral level, as well as within the context of European Union – Kyrgyz Republic relations”, it adds. He also expressed his readiness to support the Ambassador’s mission aiming at enhancing the relations between the two countries.

It is noted that, on the sidelines of the accreditation, the Ambassador had a number of exchanges including with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the First Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, to whom he expressed among other things, “grave concern and disappointment as regards the recent decision to grant the secessionist entity in the occupied part of Cyprus an “observer” status to the Organisation of Turkic States”.

A decision, it adds, that runs contrary to international law, including UN Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984). “Moreover, he stressed that the Republic of Cyprus remains supportive of the further enhancement of EU – Kyrgyz Republic relations, provided that these are anchored on the respect of UN Charter, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states”, the press release said.

It further notes that the interlocutors agreed on the need to enhance both bilateral and EU – Kyrgyz Republic relations and reassured on their commitment towards international law and the relevant United Nations Resolutions.

Source: Cyprus News Agency