Category: General

Nicosia considers that President Nikos Christodoulides’ visit and contacts at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, on Tuesday, have yielded positive results, especially as regards the support provided by the political groups to his proposal for a more active EU involvement to efforts to lift the deadlock in the Cyprus problem and for the resumption of negotiations for its settlement.

Information suggests that action is being taken aiming at the resumption of the negotiating process, in light of Christodoulides’ proposal, and in this framework three deadlines have been set out within 2023, with President Christodoulides aiming at substantive developments the soonest possible.

The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) has learnt that during the meetings he had on Tuesday afternoon with political groups, President Christodoulides further elaborated on his proposal with which he connects the EU-Turkish relations with the Cyprus problem. Christodoulides feels encouraged by the response of his interlocutors. His aim is to secure the MEPs support, since some of the incentives, especially to do with the economic sector, that could be given to Turkey by the EU must be approved by the European Parliament.

Christodoulides attended a working lunch with the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, which the latter hosted in the President’s honour and which was also attended by the Vice Presidents of the European Parliament and the Vice Presidents of EPP as well as Cypriot MEPs.

Moreover he had a meeting with the President of Renew Europe, Stéphane Séjourné, and afterwards with the Vice President of the Socialists and Democrats Pedro Marques. He also participated in a coordinating meeting with the EPP political group.

During his meetings, President Christodoulides underlined the need for the EU to acquire a central role in the Southern Neighbourhood – the Middle East and the Gulf region. He also informed his interlocutors about some visits he will pay to countries of the region and underlined that Cyprus is a country with a purely European orientation. The migration issue was also discussed during his meetings.

According to information, President Christodoulides will inform during the next days the UN about the results of his meetings in Strasbourg, during high level meetings and telephone conversations he will have, and in this framework there will be coordination for the next steps.

At the EU level concrete messages have been conveyed to Turkey as regards the Cyprus problem by the leaders which communicated with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after his re-election. These contacts took place by the leaders of France and Germany as well as by the heads of two EU institutions.

Nicosia expects to see how Christodoulides’ proposal can take a concrete form and to this end deliberations are taking place on a daily basis with Brussels, Paris and Berlin.

The NATO Summit that will take place in Lithuania on July 11 and 12 and will be attended by Erdogan is expected to be of decisive importance as regards developments in the Cyprus problem as bilateral meetings will take place there during which the Cyprus problem will be discussed.

Sources have said that it is positive that Christodoulides’ proposal for an EU active involvement in the Cyprus problem is viewed in a positive way and no one has a negative approach towards it, while there is awareness of the geopolitical dimension of the whole issue and that fact that when Turkey comes closer to the EU this means that it will become distant from Russia.

The sources noted that Christodoulides refrained from commenting, during his intervention at the EP plenary on Tuesday, the statements which Erdogan made during his illegal visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus on Monday, since he does not want to get engaged into a blame game, but what he is interested in is how to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations.

The President departed on Tuesday evening from Strasbourg for Vienna, where on Wednesday he will hold talks with the Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer.

Nicosia decided that Vienna will be Christodoulides next stop in the framework of his visits to European capitals, after his trips to Paris and Berlin, since Austria is reluctant to give incentives to Ankara in the framework of Euro-Turkish relations.

Meanwhile, Christodoulides received on Monday an invitation by Renew Europe to participate in its meeting one June 29 in Brussels.

According to information the President has not decided yet if he will attend the Renew Europe summit while he will attend the EPP Summit that will take place on the same day at the Belgian capital. The EPP is aware of this invitation by Renew Europe, that has expressed readiness to accept the Ministers of Christodoulides’ government in his meetings, after the Democratic Rally party has said that it does not wish for the Cypriot Ministers to participate in the EPP ministerial meetings.

The issue of the Ministers participation in the EPP was raised during Christodoulides’ discussions with the EPP in Strasbourg as well as during his meeting with President Metsola.

Christodoulides considers Renew Europe’s invitation as positive, given the fact that the President of France, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the President of the European Council participate, among others, in this political group.

The sources also noted that participation in one political group does not prohibit holding contacts with other political groups as well.

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

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Kostas Koumis, is visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi to explore tourism prospects from the UAE and the wider region of the Middle East, considered as a promising region for Cyprus’ tourism industry.

According to a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry, in his contacts Koumis will meet with senior executives of tourist organisation and airlines.

‘These contacts aim at exploring tourism prospects of the specific geographical region, to register any issues and challenges that concern the market in the current period as well as to strengthen the ties with tourist partners with the ultimate aim to increase tourist flows from the region,’ the Deputy Ministry said.

Furthermore, the Cypriot Deputy Minister will give interviews to foreign media, showcasing Cyprus’ rich tourist product and the positive developments concerning the country’s infrastructure and other fields.

‘The market of UAE as well as the wider region of the Middle East is a very important market for our country with strong growth prospects, something which is highlighted by the Deputy Minister in all of his meetings,’ the Deputy Ministry added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

MEPs expressed their support to efforts to solve the Cyprus problem during their interventions following the speech by President Nikos Christodoulides at the Plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, while also making references to issues such as golden passports and sanction circumvention, and furthermore commenting on particular issues relating to migration and the green transition.

In his response, which took place in the context of the ‘This is Europe’ series of speeches by leaders of EU states and governments, Christodoulides said he was encouraged by the responses of the MEPs, and thanked them ‘for supporting our initiative to have the EU more actively involved’ in efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem.

Christodoulides also said that he is glad to see challenges faced by Cyprus and other countries on migration being understood, adding that the EU ‘cannot afford the luxury of failing’ on this issue, and that problems will only be solved ‘if we also tackle the root causes underpinning migration’.

Responding to comments regarding the use of natural gas in the context of the green transition, Christodoulides said that his reference to oil and gas is related to the role that these energy sources can play as a ‘bridge’ towards the aims of the European Green Deal.

Referring to a comment by a Portugese Socialdemocrat MEP on the issue of missing persons, the President said that Cyprus appreciates the Parliament’s support, and added that ‘the families of missing persons, either Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots are entitled to recover the remains of their loved ones and know the circumstances under which they went missing’.

Concluding, President Christodoulides said that all those that deal with politics have a historic duty to work together in order for the legacy of the European project to be passed on to the new generations ‘greater, more mature and stronger.’

Christodoulides pointed out that his vision for a stronger Europe is based on a ‘reunified and strong Cyprus that will be an even more active member of the EU.’

The President sent a message to ‘our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, who are also citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, are also citizens of the EU’ noting that their future, as well as of all communities, ‘is based on the fact that we are a member state of the EU’. He stressed that his greater achievement and legacy as the President of all Cypriots ‘is to bequeath to our children a reunified country.’

Speaking on behalf of the EPP, Manfred Weber called on Erdogan to ‘stop his imperial games’, noting that the end of elections might create an opportunity. He also said it is good to see Cypriots stand next to Ukrainians, as they know what it is like to be attacked and live with an open wound.

On behalf of the S and D, Cypriot MEP Marios Mavrides said that the EU is facing multiple challenges that require European solutions and a holistic approach, adding the the unity that the EU displayed in multiple crises should also be applied when it comes to Cyprus.

The head of Renew, Stephane Sejourne, pointed out that it is wrong to see the Cyprus problem as something that only concerns Cyprus, and added that Renew supports the President’s proposal for the appointment of an EU envoy.

On behalf of the Greens, Philippe Lamberts expressed his group’s disagreements with the proposed migration deal, and added that Cyprus should show solidarity itself when it comes to fighting money laundering, and also in moving away from fossil fuels, adding that natural gas cannot have a role.

Speaking on behalf of the Left group, Cypriot MEP Giorgos Georgiou pointed out that Brussels does not seem too excited about increased involvement in the Cyprus problem. He added that relations with Turkey are evolving towards a special relationship which will remove the EU’s current leverage. He also referred to the spyware scandal, and expressed his group’s disagreement with the migration package.

In a separate intervention, Cypriot EPP MEP Loucas Fourlas said that the EU has approached Cyprus and Turkey with double standards, and that Europe should stand next to Cyprus and show solidarity in practice.

Cypriot Niyazi Kizilyurek, also of the Left group, underlined that there is no other realistic solution than a federation. He added that both a two state solution and any refusal of Turkish Cypriot political equality are unacceptable.

EPP MEP Eleni Stavrou referred to the fact that she is the only woman Greek Cypriot MEP and called on the President to address the issue of gender equality and how he aims to fix inequalities.

Finally, Cypriot MEP Demetris Papadakis referred to the scandals that have plagued the public image of Cyprus and that voters elected Christodoulides expecting real change, adding that he expects actions regarding the Cyprus problem.

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

Sweden’s leadership understands security concerns raised by Trkiye as Stockholm seeks to join NATO, US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.

“I believe Sweden’s leaders understand and respect Turkey’s national security interests. And I know it is in NATO’s interests to welcome this modern, high-tech economy into the Alliance,” the Republican leader wrote on Twitter after meeting behind closed doors with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Capitol Hill.

“The Senate hopes and expects to see Sweden become a NATO ally by the Vilnius summit next month,” he added, referring to July’s meeting of alliance leaders.

Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership soon after Russia launched its war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Several nations, including the US, hope Trkiye will approve Sweden’s ascension to NATO ahead of an upcoming summit in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius from July 11 – 12.

Although Ankara approved Finland’s membership to NATO, it is waiting for Sweden to abide by a trilateral memorandum signed last June in Madrid to address Ankara’s security concerns.

Sweden passed an anti-terror law in November hoping Ankara would approve its bid to join NATO. The new law, effective June 1, allows authorities to prosecute individuals who support terror groups.

A fourth meeting of a permanent joint mechanism between Trkiye, Finland and Sweden will be held Wednesday in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Atmospheric dust levels hit a negative record this May, in relation to corresponding periods of the last five years, with researchers indicating that due to climate change, dust episodes in Cyprus are expected to become more frequent.

A Cyprus Institute press release indicates that recent measurements of the Center of Excellence for Climate and Atmospheric Research (CARE-C) show that the concentration levels of dust suspended particles recorded in Cyprus during this year’s spring are the highest for the month of May during the last five years.

As noted, more and more frequent and intense dust episodes have been observed in Cyprus, mainly due to the desertification of areas in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as reduced rainfall. The most important sources of dust in North Africa are the desert lands of Chad, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt. Depending on wind direction and weather systems affecting the Eastern Mediterranean region, Cyprus is subject to dust episodes which are more intense during spring months.

As the Cyprus Institute indicates, during the dust episodes there are large exceedances of the safety limits in the concentrations of suspended particles. In particular, during the recent phenomena in May 2023, the concentration of suspended particles with a diameter less than 10µm measured in Nicosia reached 260 mg/m3. “These values are almost six times the air quality limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO),” it says.

These particles are usually composed of silicon iron and manganese compounds, also fungi and bacteria are sometimes carried through these particles. In addition, dust episodes can also cause respiratory problems. When inhaled, the particles enter the lungs and this can cause respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and allergic nasal and eye reactions.

The Institute also stresses that when there is a warning for a dust episode, the public and particularly vulnerable groups should limit going out in open spaces and especially beaches, where they could be much more exposed to the dust. “People who play sports, are advised to remain in covered spaces. People with asthma and breathing problems may need inhalations of respiratory medicine more often. Also, wearing a mask can limit exposure to dust particles,” the Institute says.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Tuesday that his government will not be able to pay salaries to civil servants by the end of June.

‘The government will not be able to pay salaries if parliament does not approve additional appropriations for wages,’ Mikati said in a statement following a Cabinet meeting.

Forty-six members in the 128-seat House of Representatives oppose holding a session for the assembly amid failure to elect a new president since the end of Michel Aoun’s term last October.

Under the Constitution, the president is the only one who has the authority to demand holding a parliamentary session.

Lebanon has been unable to elect a successor to Aoun amid differences among political rivals.

In April, the government approved a decision to raise public sector salaries, in addition to hiking the transportation allowance for employees.

The currency has collapsed against the dollar from 1,506 liras at the end of 2019 to about 95,000 liras during the current year.

The annual inflation rate climbed in Lebanon to 269% in April, the world’s highest, according to the World Bank.

Lebanon has been facing a crippling economic crisis since 2019, that, according to the World Bank, is one of the worst the world has seen in modern times.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The CIA warned Ukraine against attacking the Nord Stream gas pipelines last summer after receiving intelligence on a Ukrainian plot to destroy the vital energy connection between Russia and Europe, according to a report Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal, citing officials familiar with the exchange, reported that the CIA relayed the message in June, based on a tip from the military intelligence service of the Netherlands.

Despite taking the warning seriously, the CIA had doubts about Ukraine’s capability to execute such an attack, involving the placement of explosive charges deep under the Baltic Sea, according to officials.

But on Sept. 26, the pipelines were targeted, although Ukraine has vehemently denied any involvement in the attack, said the report.

It said Dutch military intelligence officials informed the CIA about a Ukrainian sabotage team’s plan to rent a yacht on the Baltic coastline and employ divers to plant explosives along the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines’ four pipes.

The Washington Post reported last week that the CIA received information from a European intelligence service last June that a six-person team of Ukrainian special operations forces intended to sabotage the pipeline.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Trkiye’s benchmark stock index ended Tuesday at 5,429.05 points, falling 2.86% or 159.93 points from the previous close.

The lowest value of Borsa Istanbul’s BIST 100 index during the day was 5,392.80, while its daily high was 5,595.19.

The total market value of BIST 100 was around 4.5 trillion Turkish liras ($190.7 billion) by market close, with a daily trading volume of 84 billion Turkish liras ($3.54 billion).

The price of an ounce of gold was $1,959.05, while Brent crude oil sold for around $74.19 per barrel as of 7.25 p.m. local time (1625GMT).

The US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate was 23.6875, the euro/lira exchange rate was 25.5333, while the British pound traded at 29.8300 liras.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the rescission of a decision by the administration of former President Donald Trump to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua.

Additionally, DHS extended TPS for the four countries for 18 months.

“Through the extension of Temporary Protected Status, we are able to offer continued safety and protection to current beneficiaries who are nationals of El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua who are already present in the United States and cannot return because of the impacts of environmental disasters,” said Homeland Security Secretary of Alejandro Mayorkas.

“We will continue to offer support to them through this temporary form of humanitarian relief,” he said.

The Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for the four countries in May 2018, effective January 2020.

TPS is an immigration program that protects foreign nationals who are unable to safely return to their home countries due to catastrophic events such as war, famine, natural disasters or epidemics.

It is a temporary humanitarian measure designed to offer relief but does not confer permanent residency in the US.

More than 300,000 people are estimated to be benefiting from TPS.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The US is providing Ukraine with an additional $325 million in military assistance, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Tuesday as Kyiv’s forces push a long-anticipated counteroffensive.

The latest tranche of aid includes “critical air defense capabilities,” as well as additional ammunition for the long-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) already sent to Ukraine, artillery rounds, anti-tank weapons, armored vehicles “and other equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s forces on the battlefield,” Blinken said in a statement.

The equipment is being delivered under what is known as presidential drawdown authorities, which allows Washington to quickly send weaponry to allies from existing stocks.

“Russia started this unprovoked war against Ukraine. Russia could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities and people,” said Blinken.

“Until Russia does so, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes,” he added.

Earlier Tuesday, Blinken predicted a new “robust package” of political and military aid for Ukraine will be announced when NATO leaders convene in Vilnius, Lithuania next month. He was speaking ahead of a closed-door meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ukraine’s troops are “gaining ground” as they begin a long-anticipated counteroffensive that seeks to end Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territories, said Stoltenberg.

“Ukraine is making a difference on the battlefield as we speak, because the Ukrainians have launched the offensive. They are making advances. They are gaining ground,” he said.

Stoltenberg emphasized that the push is still in its “early days,” but the more territory Kyiv is able to wrest from Moscow’s control “the stronger their hand will be at the negotiating table, and the more likely it is that President Putin will understand that we will never win this battle, he will never win the war of aggression on the battlefield. “

Earlier Tuesday, Ukraine said its forces made advances on the front line with Russia in the regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia amid ‘counteroffensive actions’ announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the weekend.

Source: Anadolu Agency