Day: March 15, 2023

The President of the Cyprus Parliament Annita Demetriou sent a letter, on Monday, to the President of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain, Ahmed Bin Salman AlMusalam, following an incident with the hanging of the flag of the illegal entity in the island’s occupied areas, during the deliberations of the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The Cyprus parliamentary delegation which attended the meeting, protested immediately and in addition to this, Demetriou addressed a letter on Monday to Ahmed Bin Salman AlMusalam, who replied by saying that it was an “unintentional error.” A statement from the Parliament says that the President of the House underlined that the hoisting of the flag of an illegal and separatist entity, subordinate to Turkey, which is the result of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, is against international law and resolutions 541 and 550 of the UN Security Council. Such actions that seek to upgrade the pseudo-state cannot be accepted and have been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the international community, Demetriou noted. She pointed out that the member parliaments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union cannot violate UN resolutions and the principles and objectives of the Organization, which they are committed to promote and protect. Demetriou asked for Bahrain’s commitment that such unfortunate incidents, which are contrary to the essence of international legitimacy, will not be repeated in the future. In today’s reply letter, the President of the Bahraini Council of Representatives expresses regret for the incident, assuring Demetriou that it was an “unintentional mistake.” Ahmed Bin Salman AlMusalam emphasizes that the Kingdom of Bahrain opposes any violation of UN resolutions and underlines that under no circumstances could this mistake disrupt the close relations at all levels between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Numerous rounds of talks under the UN aegis failed so far to yield results. An illegal breakaway state declared independence unilaterally, on November 15, 1983, in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus under Turkish occupation, an action condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void. The illegal declaration followed the partition of the island after the Turkish military invaded Cyprus in 1974, occupying one third of its territory ever since.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Agriculture and Environment Minister Petros Xenophontos is travelling to Brussels on Wednesday, to attend the EU Environment and Agriculture and Fisheries Councils to take place 16 and 20 March, in the context of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. An announcement says that at the Environment Council on March 16, the Ministers will discuss the proposal to revise the European Industrial Emissions Directive. The Directive proposes further efforts to reduce pollution in line with the European Green Deal’s goal of achieving a competitive, climate-friendly zero pollution neutral economy by 2050. EU Ministers will also exchange views on a proposal to establish an EU certification framework for carbon absorptions and the proposed revision of EU legislation on packaging waste. They will also discuss the proposal to revise the European Directive on the treatment of urban waste water, which aims to reduce pollution from waste water in rivers, lakes, groundwater and seas. On 20 March, the Minister will represent Cyprus at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, where the Commission’s new package of measures, which aims to increase the sustainability and resilience of the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector, will be on the agenda. Ministers will discuss the current market situation, in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the state of international agricultural markets.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, expressed on Wednesday to the UN Under-Secretary-General, Rosemary DiCarlo, his readiness to travel to New York, if the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, considers this necessary in the framework of efforts made for the resumption of the negotiations aiming to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem, Government Spokesman, Konstantinos Letymbiotis said after a meeting between Christodoulides and DiCarlo, at the Presidential Palace, which lasted for one hour. Letymbiotis noted that the President told DiCarlo that number one priority for the Greek Cypriot side is to lift the deadlock and to immediately resume negotiations for a bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus, within the UN agreed framework. Moreover he added, Christodoulides reiterated his readiness whenever DiCarlo wishes and considers this as useful to have a common meeting with DiCarlo and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, even today. Asked about DiCarlo’s reaction to Christodoulides’ proposal for a more active involvement of the EU to efforts for a Cyprus settlement, Letymbiotis noted that the UN recognizes that the EU will have a supporting role at the negotiations. As regards the appointment of a UN special envoy on Cyprus, the Spokesman said that the President referred to this issue during his meeting with DiCarlo, so that she conveys it to the UNSG. In his statements, Letymbiotis said that DiCarlo’s arrival to Cyprus sends a message by the UNSG about his commitment to the immediate resumption of the negotiations. He added that President Christodoulides elaborated on his proposal for a more active involvement of the EU and about the benefits and the motives that this can bring, contributing in achieving a win-win situation for everyone. Christodoulides told DiCarlo that the EU is the common home of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cyprus and that Turkish Cypriots already enjoy some EU benefits and we should not see this proposal as negative but as a proposal which contributes in a very positive way to the climate that needs to be created, the Spokesman noted. Furthermore, he noted that Christodoulides briefed DiCarlo on the meetings that he will have on the sidelines of the European Council next week and about the conversation he has had with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and expressed once again his readiness for a common meeting with DiCarlo and Tatar whenever DiCarlo wishes and considers this as useful, even today. He also expressed his will and his readiness to travel to New York if the UNSG considers that this is necessary, the Spokesman added. Asked about Di Carlo’s reaction to Christodoulides’ proposal for a more active involvement of the EU, Letymbiotis said that the UN recognizes that the EU will have a supporting role at the negotiations. ‘They will not substitute the UN. Cyprus is an EU member state. The UN cooperates with the EU and the President made it clear that negotiations will always take place within the UN framework,’ he noted. According to Letymbiotis DiCarlo said that the EU and the UN have an excellent cooperation. She views in a positive way the fact that our side’s actions aim to create a conducive climate, he added. Invited to say if DiCarlo was invited to convey another message to Tatar except from the readiness for a common meeting, the Spokesman said that she was invited to convey the sincere will of the Greek Cypriot side for the immediate resumption of the negotiations, and that ‘we are already at the negotiating table and we expect from Mr. Tatar to proceed to the negotiating table with a sincere will, with a view to achieve a settlement providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation within the UN framework.’ Asked if President Christodoulides will meet with the UNSG in Brussels next week, the Spokesman said that Guterres’ schedule in the Belgian capital will be very busy, however they will surely have an opportunity for an encounter on the sidelines of the European Council. Invited to say if only a meeting between Christodoulides and Michel has been arranged so far, Letymbiotis said that this meeting has been arranged, adding that the President will have meetings with the Presidents of the EU institutions and with the heads of other states which will shortly be announced. Replying to another question, the Spokesman said that President Christodoulides will do his utmost to create a conducive climate for the immediate resumption of the negotiations within the agreed UN framework. ‘Today’s meeting is very important. DiCarlo refers directly to the UNSG and we hope that the President will have on the sidelines of the European Council the opportunity to talk to the UNSG. What the President has repeatedly said and his public statements prove so is that our side contributes in a positive and substantive way to efforts for an immediate resumption’ of the talks, he noted. Asked whether any developments should be expected until the elections in Turkey, Letymbiotis recalled that the President has said that we must be ready until the elections in Turkey and in Greece and in this framework he will have bilateral meetings next week during the European Council. Moreover he said that the President will brief the National Council after the European Council’s meeting that will take place on March 23 and 24. ‘The President’s first priority is to be ready at any time to proceed again to the negotiating table with a sincere will for a Cyprus settlement,’ the Spokesman stressed. Asked about the issue of Famagusta, Letymbiotis noted that President Christodoulides told DiCarlo that what is needed right now is for all the sides to create a positive climate. ‘The President’s public statements contribute to this positive climate. The President himself has repeatedly said that he will not enter into a blame game, in order to create this climate and we want the other side to respect this, and not to have any unilateral provocative actions,’ he noted. 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