Day: May 31, 2023

Kurti made these remarks during a panel discussion titled “The Future of Kosovo,” which was part of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum broadcast live on digital platforms from Slovakia’s capital of Bratislava. “As long as there is this violent mob outside threatening to attack and graffiti showing admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, we must have special units at municipal buildings,” he said, praising the police for their professionalism. ‘They are trained by democratic Western countries. They are Western-oriented and know human rights very well. There are no violations from our side of the police,” he insisted. According to Kurti, two basic things are required to alleviate tension in the north of Kosovo. “The rule of law, ‘these gangs’ should either return to Serbia or go to prison in Kosovo,” he said, as well as the immediate implementation of the agreements without conditions. He claimed that only mayors have the legitimacy to be in municipal buildings and serve citizens. The EU, US, NATO, and China, as well as Germany and many other countries, have condemned the Kosovo security forces for their ‘violence’ against local Serbs. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded that Kosovo halt the violent measures. China on Tuesday put its weight behind Serbia amid the Balkan nation’s renewed conflict with neighboring Kosovo. Tensions have gripped Kosovo as ethnic Serbs protested the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four municipalities last month in the country’s northern municipalities. Serbs have been protesting outside these municipalities since Monday when the mayors took their oaths and began their official duties. On Monday, at least 30 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) were injured in clashes with Serbs who were protesting and attempting to prevent the newly-elected mayor of Zvecan municipality in northern Kosovo from entering town hall to take the oath of office and begin official responsibilities. Protesters attempted to breach the police cordon in front of the town hall, police said in a statement, adding that they used tear gas to disperse the crowd. KFOR units also used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters, who refused to leave and responded with stones and sticks. According to hospital sources, over 53 civilians were also injured by shock bombs and tear gas. Police in Kosovo also said that at least five people were detained following the clashes. Contentious mayoral elections Last month, Kosovo Serbs boycotted extraordinary local government elections for four municipalities. Only 3.47% of eligible voters cast ballots, according to the Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ). After the elections, the EU said in a statement that low turnout did not provide the municipalities with long-term political solutions. As tensions rose in the region, neighboring Serbia ordered its army to advance to the border with Kosovo – which Serbia claims to be its own territory – and urged NATO to ‘stop the violence against local Serbs in Kosovo.’ The EU requires Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement and resolve disputes to progress in their integration into the bloc.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “is thankful to Ms. Heyzer for her tireless efforts on behalf of peace and the people of Myanmar,” Dujarric told Anadolu in a statement. “Following the end of Ms. Heyzer’s tenure, the Secretary-General will appoint a new Special Envoy,” he added. Guterres appointed Heyzer as envoy to Myanmar on Oct. 25, 2021. Heyzer, who made her inaugural visit to Myanmar last year, conveyed the concerns of the UN to the military junta and advocated for tangible measures to alleviate hardships faced by the people of Myanmar. *Serife Cetin in United Nations contributed to the story. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Canada will become the first country to add new warning labels on individual cigarettes to deter smokers, encourage quitting and reduce smoking-related deaths, Health Canada said Wednesday. “The new Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations will be part of the Government of Canada’s continued efforts to help adults who smoke to quit, to protect youth and non-tobacco users from nicotine addiction, and to further reduce the appeal of tobacco,” Health Canada said in a statement. The announcement came on World No Tobacco Day and the new practice is believed to have a significant effect on reducing smoking. The tipping paper on individual cigarettes, cigars, tubes and other tobacco products will be labeled with messages including, “Cigarettes cause cancer”, “Cigarettes damage your organs”, “Tobacco smoke harms children” and “Poison in every puff,” making it virtually impossible to avoid the warnings. The regulations will support Canada’s Tobacco Strategy and its target of reaching less than 5% tobacco use by 2035, said Health Canada. By the end of April 2024, all retailers will carry tobacco product packages that feature the new messages. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes May 31 as World No Tobacco Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of the harm tobacco causes to health and the environment, as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A Turkish man made a model of the old vehicle of Azerbaijani Sarvar Bashirli, who became a symbol of solidarity with Turkish quake victims when the twin quake hit Trkiye on Feb.6, with a diorama technique. A photo of Azerbaijani Sarvar Bashirli driving through the streets of Azerbaijan’s capital Baku in his decrepit car, bowing under the weight of several thick blankets and other supplies he collected to help the survivors as a Turkish flag fluttered on its roof, went viral in Trkiye and other parts of the world soon after the quakes. Bashirli won millions of hearts when the photo went viral of him driving everything he could take in his old car to Turkish quake victims. Ferhat Karapinar from Turkish Karabuk province started to make various figures using waste materials with the diorama technique five years ago. Speaking to Anadolu, Karapinar,42, said he was impressed by the touching act from Basharli and decided to immortalize it. “We are two states with one nation with Azerbaijan. When I saw this picture, I immediately said, ‘I should make it.’ I could not find this model in Trkiye. I had it brought from Germany through a friend of mine. I worked to reflect the texture of Sarvar Bashirli’s car. It took me a week to make the car. I only paid for the model of the car, the rest is my own craftsmanship.” The Turkish man exhibits the model in his workplace and wants to present the last model and nearly 50 works he has made so far in the museum he plans to establish in the future. *Writing by Seda Sevencan

Source: Anadolu Agency

In 2022, the unemployment rate of people aged 15-74 in Cyprus was 6.8%, a little higher than the EU average (6.2%), according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU, with data recording a large variation across the EU’s NUTS 2 regions. The unemployment rate among the young was also above the EU average in Cyprus. Cyprus is considered a single region on the NUTS 2 level for statistics purposes, due to the size of the country’s population. The lowest unemployment rates on a regional level in the EU were recorded in Central Bohemia (1.2%), Prague (1.6%), South-East and South-West in Czechia as well as Central Transdanubia in Hungary (all 1.7%). At the opposite end of the scale, the highest unemployment rates were registered in the Spanish regions of Ceuta (28.4%), Melilla (21.6%) and Andalusia (19.0%), along with the outermost region Guadeloupe in France (18.6%). Compared with 2021, the highest increases in the unemployment rate were registered in the Spanish regions of Melilla and Ceuta (both +1.8 percentage points; pp), as well as in the outermost region of Guadeloupe in France (+1.5 pp). The highest decreases were recorded in the South Aegean region in Greece (-8.1 pp), the Canary Islands region in Spain (-5.6 pp) and Western Greece (-4.9 pp). The average unemployment rate for young people aged between 15 and 29 in Cyprus in 2022 was 14.1% (-0.1 pp compared with 2021), while standing at 11.3% at the EU level (-1.7 pp compared with 2021). Marked regional differences were also recorded in the unemployment rates for young people. The regions with the lowest rates were Central Bohemia (1.7%), South-West (3.1%) and Prague (3.2%) in Czechia, Upper Bavaria in Germany (3.3%), closely followed by West Transdanubia in Hungary (3.6%). In contrast, the highest rates were recorded in Ceuta in Spain (42.4%), the Greek region of Thessaly (39.8%), Central Greece (36.5%), and another region in Spain, Melilla (36.1%). Campania and Sicily in Italy (both 34.2%) and West Macedonia in Greece (34.3%) also had high rates of unemployment among young people.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment informed the Cabinet during its session, on Wednesday, about the disbursement of funding exceeding pound 70 million for the development of the primary sector, nearly doubling the allocation of the two previous announcements due to high interest. According to a press release circulated by PIO, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, in collaboration with the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization (CAPO), has re-announced two of the most significant investment measures of the Rural Development Program 2014-2020. These measures, says the press release, have a strong developmental character, with a particular emphasis on attracting young people to rural areas and the primary sector. The third call concerns Measure 4.1, “Investments in Agricultural and Livestock Farms,” with a declared amount of pound 31 million (announced from February 7, 2022, to September 5, 2022). Additionally, the second call is for Measure 6.1, “Support for the First Installation of New Farmers,” with a declared amount of pound 5 million (announced from February 7, 2022, to September 5, 2022). It is also noted that the examination of applications revealed a particularly high level of interest in participating in the two developmental measures. Specifically, for Measure 4.1, a total of 525 applications were submitted, corresponding to a combined amount of pound 60.7 million, while for Measure 6.1, 291 applications were submitted, totalling pound 10.2 million. “After examining all the relevant data, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment has decided to increase the funding allocations from the initial pound 36 million to pound 70 million. This decision aims to approve all eligible applications, meaning those applications that meet the requirements and participation criteria,” the statement reads.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided on the establishment of a National Security Council (NSC), Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced, noting that its mandate will be to produce thoughts, ideas, suggestions and proposals with practical value on matters of national security. In his statements, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers which was presided over by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, Letymbiotis, said that the establishment and operation of a National Security Council was decided, noting that it is an advisory body, which was also in the election campaign programme of the President of the Republic. According to Letymbiotis, this body will advise the President of the Republic and through him, the Council of Ministers on national security issues, including on defence, foreign policy and the Cyprus issue and will analyse and plan the national security strategy which will be subject to approval by the Council of Ministers. The National Security Council will also inform the National Council, through the President of the Republic, on matters concerning the Cyprus issue while the National Council will be able to ask the President of the Republic to assign to the NSC to carry out a specific investigation or study that falls under its competencies, he also said. According to Letymbiotis, the mandate of the NSC, will be to produce thoughts, ideas, suggestions and proposals of practical value on matters of national security. 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

Cyprus MP Irene Charalambides, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE participated Tuesday in a meeting of the Subcommittee on the Regulations of the Organization’s PA. The participants discussed amendments tabled by Charalambides, which aim to ensure equal gender representation in official positions appointed directly by the President and the Standing Committee of the Assembly. According to an announcement by the Parliament, the Subcommittee on the Rules of Procedure will submit a unanimous recommendation to the Standing Committee of the Assembly for the adoption of these amendments, within the framework of the Annual Session of the OSCE PA in Vancouver, next July.

Source: Cyprus News Agency