Day: December 14, 2022

The new Cyprus Museum is the largest project in the state budget, amounting to €144 million, which proves in practice government support to the area of culture, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Yiannis Karousos, said on Wednesday. He outlined the aspiration for the new museum to figure among the most important museums in the European area.

Addressing the signing ceremony of the construction contract for the new Cyprus Museum, held at the existing Cyprus Museum in Nicosia, the Minister stated that “today is a historic day for our country, a historic day for our culture, a historic day for our cultural heritage, as we sign the contract for the construction of the new Cyprus Museum in Nicosia.”

According to a relevant press release, Karousos referred extensively to projects implemented during the term of President Anastasiades and added that in terms of projects in the area of culture and Cyprus antiquities in particular, the Ministry completed the upgrading of the Paphos and Larnaca museums, the unification of the archaeological sites of Paphos, and the unification of the archaeological sites of Polis Chrysochous and Larnaca is progressing.

In addition, he mentioned that the Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Larnaca is progressing, while a significant number of ancient monuments such as ancient monasteries, churches, chapels, fountains, watermills, have been upgraded and restored in recent years.

Karousos noted that the way to achieve a comprehensive tourist experience is to create reference points such as the new Cyprus Museum in Nicosia, which will be the flagship of Cyprus’ reference points. “We aspire to make it the preeminent reference point of our country, but also one of the most important museums in the European area,” said the Minister.

At the same time, he added that the new Museum, with a total area of 30,000 sq.m. (including basements), will be built on a plot of land, on the site of the old General Hospital, with an area of 40,000 sq.m. opposite the House of Representatives. It will include permanent exhibition spaces of 5,500 sq.m. which will host around 6,500 antiquities, 1,000 sq.m periodical exhibition spaces, educational program areas, 2,000 sq.m maintenance workshops, underground parking spaces, 5,000 sq.m antiquities warehouses, restaurant, cafeteria, library, auditorium, offices, art shop and extensive landscaping of the exterior spaces.

Karousos stated that the project has been awarded to the consortium “Iacovou – Cyfield (M) Joint Venture” for a contract amount of €143,924,216 including VAT. Construction work on the project, he said, will begin in January 2023 and is expected to be completed within 42 months, and the contract provides for a two-year maintenance period and a provision for negotiation of 10-year maintenance.

It is noted that after the completion of the construction works, a period of 18 months is planned for the completion of the transportation and installation of the exhibits. Therefore, the Museum is expected to be delivered in 60 months.

Karousos stated that the detailed study of the project and the tender documents were prepared by the Architectural Office “Theoni Xanthi XZA Architects LLC” after an architectural competition, under the coordination of the Department of Public Works and the contract of the study includes a provision for supervision of the project. The project, the Minister continued, was subcontracted by the Department of Public Works, which will also undertake the coordination, supervision and management of the contract.

Finally, the Minister thanked and congratulated all the contributors to this successful process that led to the signing of the contracts for the construction of the new Cyprus Museum.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Airways on Wednesday unveiled its five-year strategic plan announcing the expansion of is flight schedule to five new routes, namely Milan, Zurich, Prague, Basel, and Cairo.

The new strategic plan was welcomed by the Minister of Transport Yiannis Karousos, Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios and Hermes Airport CEO Eleni Kalogirou.

Paul Sies unveiled the company’s new plans during a press conference, noting that the airline, one of Cyprus’ two local air carriers, aims to operate in 18 destinations next year and to expand to 30 destinations by 2026, while he did not rule out the possibility of launching a route in the Nordic countries, stating that the company is in talks with a big tour operator in the region.

Sies said that the company will grow gradually and will take it “step by step.”

“We don’t have to the biggest airline of Cyprus, we need to be the best airline of Cyprus, we need to be an airline that is profitable, we need to be an airline that is contributing to the economy,” he said.

Last year SJC Group became the shareholder of Cyprus Airways, a state-owned air carrier which bankrupted in 2013 and resume operations in 2016.

According to press release issued by the company, next year Cyprus Airways will operate with four Airbus A320ceo aircraft with a view to switch to the Airbus A320neo by 2025. The Company plans to increase its fleet to six aircraft in 2024, nine aircraft in 2025 and up to 11 aircraft by 2026. Part of this fleet will be used for ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) operations and charter services that will allow steady revenue flows and contributions to the airline.

Sies said that the company plans to increase is staff in Cyprus from 120 persons off-season and 180 during the summer season, to between 400 and 500 when the fleet plan is completed, while its indirect employment is envisaged to reach 1,000 persons in the next five years.

According to Cyprus Airways, next year the airline will be resuming twice weekly flights to Prague, Zurich and Cairo and will, for the first time, operate a twice weekly service to Basel. Milan Bergamo will also be serviced twice a week with a possibility to increase the operation to three times a week service. Current trending destinations such as Paris and Rome will remain in operation through summer alongside Santorini (twice per week), Skiathos (twice per week) and Preveza (twice per week). Crete and Rhodes will be serviced with three-time weekly flights, whilst Thessaloniki will be serviced daily. Beirut will reclaim its daily service while operations to Tel-Aviv will increase to up to 10 flights per week. Services to Yerevan, Armenia are set to increase to up to four weekly flights whilst Athens will be serviced with up to three daily flights.

Mikhail Alenkin, a shareholder of the air carrier, said Cyprus Airways maybe a private company now but he sees it as “a national carrier.”

“I really want to see Cyprus Airways as a big name like it was a long time ago, I want to see the airline a healthy airline be proud to say that I am part of it,” he said.

On his part, Karousos welcomed the company’s new plans, stating the company has a vision, the shareholders “and the means to achieve this vision which is very important for Cyprus and its connectivity.”

He said the government’s mission, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Hermes “is to create the best environment possible to improve connectivity and today we have an incentives scheme in place.”

Welcoming the plans, Perdios said the new routes are in line with the Deputy Ministry’s national plan for Tourism.

He also noted that Cyprus Airways’ new plans are well-placed at following the loss of the Russian market, Europe is envisaged to represent upwards of 50% of Cyprus tourism in the following years.

Recalling that 2022 tourism saw all-time records in arrivals from Poland, Italy, Denmark, Hungary and Austria while arrivals from Germany and Switzerland marked a 20-year record.

These are important figures and with the announcement today but as well as of the last weeks we are cautiously optimistic for next year, he added.

Eleni Kalogirou, Hermes Airports CEO, said the airport’s operator efforts in collaboration with the Cypriot authorities have borne fruit as passenger traffic will surpass 9 million passengers this year while air connectivity has been restored to a large extent.

“We are currently at 80% of our 2019 traffic and of course we hope to grow further in the coming year, hopefully with the help of Cyprus Airways so that we will be able to reach full recovery thereafter,” she added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

President Anastasiades will point out the effects that the Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus has on regional security of the Eastern Mediterranean in his intervention during the summit EU Summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said in a statement regarding the EU -ASEAN Summit taking place on Wednesday and ahead of the European Council Summit on Thursday.

Pelekanos also said that during the European Council the 27 leaders will also discuss recently adopted conclusions by the Council of the EU on enlargement. For the first time, he added, these conclusions call on Turkey to refrain from actions that violate UN Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550 (concerning the non-recognition of the illegal regime in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied northern part and the status of Varosha).

EU leaders are also expected to exchange views on the proposal for a gas price correction mechanism, after some progress was achieved on Tuesday during an extraordinary EU Energy Council. Consultations on the mechanism are currently continuing between the member states ahead of a new meeting of Energy Ministers on Monday.

Cyprus problem to be raised as a matter of regional stability

Discussions during the EU – ASEAN Summit will revolve around three major themes: the geopolitical situation as well as challenges in global and regional security and stability; the economy with a focus on connectivity, trade and supply chain sustainability; and finally, the process of sustainable green and digital transitions, food security and natural resource protection.

Pelekanos said that the president will, in an intervention during the discussion on the geopolitical situation, “refer to problems that the Turkish occupation and the non-resolution of the Cyprus problem create for regional security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean” and “will inform his counterparts of the efforts made by our side towards achieving a political settlement, on the basis of the UN Charter and in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Cyprus for the benefit of all legal residents of the country, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots“.

EU leaders to exchange views on natural gas cap

The government spokesperson also referred to the agenda of the summit of the European Council, which will include developments in Ukraine, issues related to energy and the economic situation, defence and security issues, the EU’s relations with its Southern Neighbourhood partners and transatlantic relations.

Pelekanos added that the leaders will also discuss conclusions on enlargement which were adopted by the General Affairs Council of the EU on Tuesday, and which also deal with relations with Turkey.

“It is worth noting that, it is the first time in this context that Turkey is called, among other things, to refrain from actions that violate UN Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550,” he noted.

In relation to Ukraine, Pelekanos explained that the discussion will focus on ways to support the country so it can cope with the winter with humanitarian aid and other means, providing assistance to displaced persons and macroeconomic assistance. “The need to bring all third countries, in particular candidate countries, including Turkey, into line with the sanctions imposed by the EU will also be discussed,” he added.

On energy and the economy, he added, the leaders will exchange views on the proposal for a temporary mechanism for the correction of gas prices, as well as on measures taken to limit the increase of energy prices, which will contribute to the objective of curbing inflationary pressures, while also keeping in mind that to be effective these measures need to be practical and applicable.

The leaders will also exchange views on the importance of protecting vulnerable households and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, Pelekanos noted.

On defence and security, Pelekanos continued, the 27 will discuss the need to strengthen the industrial and technological base of the EU’s defence sector, as well as to strengthen the EU’s ability to act autonomously where and when needed.

“The exchange of views on the EU’s relations with its Southern Neighbourhood partners – namely its neighbours from the Middle East and North Africa – is seen as particularly timely, as the Southern Neighbourhood region is of strategic importance for ensuring stability and security in Europe, especially in the light of developments in Ukraine and the wider consequences of the war,” the spokesperson also said.

These developments, he continued, “make it necessary to strengthen political and economic cooperation between the two sides in order to better address the impact of the energy crisis, food security and other interrelated challenges, such as irregular migration.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The “One China-One Cyprus” principle is a shared conviction, as both Cyprus and China are committed to the respect of states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and the non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, House President, Annita Demetriou said on Wednesday. Demetriou was speaking during an event organized at Embassy of China, in Nicosia, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 1st anniversary of the Cyprus-China Strategic Partnership and the 51st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Demetriou who attended the event on behalf of the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, said that Cyprus and China adhere to values and principles of the United Nations and International Law, both aspiring to safeguarding world peace, democracy, security and prosperity. She stressed that in today’s world struck by intersecting crises, such as conflicts, pandemics, climate change, energy crisis, poverty and world economic recession, unity and solidarity are more necessary than ever and the only way forward.

The House President expressed deep gratitude for the principled stance and unwavering support of the People’s Republic of China, as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, in efforts to reach a viable, functional and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.

She also reaffirmed that Cyprus remains a strong supporter of the advancement of EU-China relations. “In our capacity as a European Union member state, but also as per our important geographic location at the crossroads of the European, African and Asian continents, we will continue to be supportive in every possible way to the further enhancement of these relations in the years to come, in our common efforts to achieve international peace and stability,” Demetriou noted.

Demetriou expressed confidence that the friendly relations between the two countries will continue to grow not only in the existing areas but also towards new fields of cooperation.

During the event she handed over the awards to the winners of the “Collection of China-Cyprus Friendship Stories” competition.

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 latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Source: Cyprus News Agency