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Monthly Bulletin Issue No. 4 May 2010 Efforts for resumption of negotiations Eroglu succeeds The UN-sponsored negotiations on a at the negotiating table, it is a party to this settlement, which had been adjourned on 30 conflict; therefore, we would like to see the Talat as Turkish March, did not resume in April, as attention Turkish Government sending more positive centred on the “election” of Dervis Eroglu as messages and taking more positive and firm Cypriot leader the new Turkish Cypriot leader on 18 April, positions on the various issues”. The nationalist hardliner Dervis Eroglu defeating the more moderate Mehmet Ali Mr Kyprianou had delivered the same became the new Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, who had conducted the negotiations message to US Secretary of State Hillary in the Turkish-occupied area on 18 April, with President Demetris Christofias since Clinton in talks in Washington and had which was seen as a serious setback to the September 2008 (see adjoining report). received from her a reassurance of US support prospects of a Cyprus settlement. Mr Eroglu President Christofias declared his for the settlement talks in . He had also has opposed the agreed framework of the readiness to resume the talks from the raised with her the longstanding proposal intercommunal negotiations which the point at which they had been adjourned for the return of the city of Famagusta to its defeated Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali and received strong backing from the lawful inhabitants. Talat, had been conducting with President international community, notably from the lThe change in the Turkish Cypriot Demetris Christofias since September 2008 EU, the USA and UN Secretary General Ban leadership was among the developments on the basis of the UN-defined goal of a Ki-moon. Mr Eroglu had based his campaign considered by a formal session on 26-28 bizonal, bicommunal federation. Although on opposition to the agreed framework of April of the Cypriot National Council, the Mr Eroglu declared his willingness to the settlement negotiations, under which senior advisory body on the Cyprus problem, continue the negotiations, his advocacy of a the aim is a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which also heard an assessment of the ruling confederation of two independent states is and on his call for a confederation of two by the European Court of Human Rights in outside the agreed negotiation basis. US State Department As the candidate of the right-wing National Unity Party (UBP), Mr Eroglu won outright with 50.4 per cent of the vote, against 42.9 per cent for Mr Talat of the social democratic Republican Turkish Party (CTP). President Christofias telephoned Mr Eroglu after his “election”, declaring his readiness to continue the settlement negotiations from the point at which they had been adjourned on 30 March. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou commented that “we expect the international community to exert its influence and pressure on the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community to continue talks on the proper basis”. At a meeting with President Christofias in Nicosia on 21 April, the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN •Friendly Washington handshake... US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomes Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou to the State Department for talks on the Cyprus problem and other international issues. Security Council declared their support for his approach to Mr Eroglu proposing that independent states in Cyprus. March on Greek Cypriot property claims (see the talks should continue on the basis of The view of the Cyprus Government page 2). the intercommunal agreement reached with that the key to a Cyprus settlement lies lIt was announced in New York on 28 April Mr Talat in July 2008. Mr Stephanou said with Turkey had been stressed by Foreign that the UN Secretary General's Special afterwards that President Christofias had Minister Markos Kyprianou in what he Representative for Cyprus since April 2008, “reaffirmed his commitment and dedication described as “friendly and constructive” Taye-Brook Zerihoun, had been appointed to the basis of negotiations for a bizonal, talks with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon UN Assistant Secretary General for Political bicommunal federation solution, with at UN headquarters during his visit to the Affairs. Mr Zerihoun had also been head political equality, as described in relevant UN USA last month. Speaking afterwards, Mr of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus resolutions, for a single state with a single Kyprianou said that “we believe that even (UNFICYP). A new appointment to the Cyprus sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single though the Turkish Government is not sitting post is expected in the near future.q international identity”.q

Religious rights seminar • Reaction to ECHR ruling • Missing persons day • Anti-trafficking plan • Stability Programme submitted • Volcanic ash disrupts tourism • EU Presidency plans • Direct trade opposed Cyprus News Agency q

q Speaking after the National Council had The The House of Representatives on 29 April The The UK Supreme Court on 31 March President Christofias (left) welcomes Mr Papandreou. (left)welcomes Christofias Mr President Papandreou visit Papandreou Further reactionFurther ruling ECHR to expressed expressed the full support of Greece for the current effortsto reach a negotiatedCyprus settlement. On 12 attended a meeting April of the Cypriot National Mr Council, Papandreou the senior advisory consisting of problem, parliamentaryCyprus body on the party leaders and ministers. l enable to budget supplementary a approved Cyprus to participate in euro-zone financial support for Greece. The initial contribution is €60.6 million. Cyprus expected from ECHR ruling Mr Apostolides to for “IPC” the redress, but should the UK Supreme apply Court decided that the ECHR ruling had no bearing on his case. • Greek Prime Minister George paid Papandreou a short 11-12 working April, visit his to second in Cyprus since October on his election 2009. Demetris In Christofias talks and with party leaders President he The The Cyprus of Government’s recourse by the non-approval to areas Turkish-occupied the in property Greek Cypriot owners “immoveable of property commission” (“IPC”) of the occupation on regime was 28 reiterated Stephanou. This stance April followed a ruling by by the CourtEuropean of Human Rights (ECHR) Spokesman Stephanos in provided an March “IPC” effective that the domestic remedy for propertyCypriot owners. dispossessed Greek Attorney by ruling ECHR the on briefed been General Petros Clerides, Mr Stephanou said that it was inappropriate for ECHR the that added He “IPC”. the to apply to ruling “does not influence the political and legal arguments which the Government has placed on the negotiating table regarding the property issue”. l rejected an appeal by UK couple Linda and against Orams an Appeal Court David ruling, backed by the European Court in of favour Justice, of property dispossessed owner Greek Meletis Orams’ Cypriot lawyers Apostolides. had argued The that under the q q q Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis also “All “All Cypriots should be able to recover Speaking on the theme “How does A progress report by the tripartite military occupation. He “significant taken steps” by Cyprus to tackle noted that the problem of people traffickinghave been the acknowledged internationally. during an awareness-raising the Presidential meeting Palace. President Demetris at Christofias notedthat has become people the third largest trafficking international criminal activity Government and will continue its phenomenon pledged the until effortsintensity” unrelenting “with that his is eradicated. stressed the determination Government’s to tackle people trafficking, pointing that out Cyprus is particularly of vulnerable its geographical because position in the Mediterranean and Eastern because of the division of the island as a result of the Turkish with attempts to ascertain to with attempts their fate. l Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) on 7 April on its programme for the exhumation, identification and returnof those killed in of Cyprus gave the exhumed remains the number since mid-2006 as 649. Of these, 217 had so and Cypriots of 166 Greek consisting testing, far been identified 51 Turkish Cypriots. A total by of 1,619 persons DNA had originally been listed as missing on the Greek Cypriot side, whilst about 500 Turkish on the list. also were Cypriots stressed stressed the need for full determination of their fate. It called in particular compliance for with Turkish the landmark fourth inter- state judgment of the Human European Rights in Court 2001 in of which Turkey was Greek of rights the guilty breaching of found co-operatingnot by persons missing Cypriot and also as a member of the community of faithful, worshipping in harmony with with scriptures, time space, history, and with the future.” a peaceful a vision to Ambassador Mavroyiannis gave an overview gave Ambassador Mavroyiannis of the resulted cultural from depredations Turkish call to military efforts diplomatic and legal the of and that occupation have is “Turkey that stressed He account. to Turkey remedythe this only one can that effectively situation...by allowing the two communities that have for eons lived peacefully together He concluded: be reunited”. on the island to their rights and the invisible thread to their roots, to their shrines and to the footprints of their ancestors, to their of monuments, way the their civilisation, their of signs tangible decoding infinity and thevertical dimension that links man with God, as an individual, from from Cyprus and to help restore respect for part. occupied in the freedoms religious the Cyprus religious Government freedoms in the try occupied parts?”, to protect

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Archbishop Archbishop Chrysostomos said that The The House once again expressed The The date was chosen on the proposal

Seminar on religious rights in Cyprus in rights religious on Seminar Programme Programme to combat people trafficking withdrawal withdrawal of occupying troops and settlers the Turkish-occupied areas. He called upon the EU to strongly support the demand for in the past 36 years religious freedoms have neither been respected nor implemented in that Cyprus that had Cyprus traditionally been a place of that said he tolerance, and pluralism religious sacred sacred Christian sites in the occupied areas Recalling destroyed. being systematically are since since Turkish forces invaded Cyprus in 1974 took place under the patronage of former EP former of patronage the under place took Hans-Gertpresident Poettering. religious religious representatives. Cypriot MEP Eleni Theocharous hosted the seminar, which Andreas Andreas Mavroyiannis, Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the EU, and by three and human rights in the occupied Cyprus”. Keynote part of speeches were given by of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, called on the EU to promote “respect for religious freedom European European Parliament (EP) in Brussels on 14 April, featuring an address by Archbishop A seminar on “Religious Freedom and Holy Sites in the Republic of Cyprus” held at the Opponents of people trafficking demonstrate in of people traffickingOpponents Nicosia. demonstrate • A two-year action programme people to trafficking combat was agreed on 24 April its sympathy, support regards the relatives of missing persons and and solidarity as for Missing Persons on 19-25 April. Missing Persons for remained a feature of the Cyprus problem, as problem, Cyprus the of feature a remained by the demonstrated 26th Marathon of Love free free by Since Turks. the then the uncertainty surrounding those listed as missing has commemorate commemorate the day in 1974 last when prisoners the from the invasion were set of House President Marios Garoyian to the fate of persons listed as missing in Cyprus Cyprus in missing as listed persons of fate the invasion. Turkish the 1974 since co-operate in implementing UN and decisions resolutions demanding verification of Day” Day” and called community to upon demand that Turkey the should international The The Cyprus House of declared Representatives 29 has October as “Missing Persons Special day declared for missing persons

Brussels receives Direct trade with occupied area ruled out Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou on he said, is the Government’s response to latest Stability 15 April condemned a draft European complaints about the so-called “isolation” of Commission (EC) regulation providing for the Turkish Cypriots, on the understanding Progamme direct trade between the Turkish-occupied that it would not result in any upgrading of area of Cyprus and the EU as politically the illegal status of the occupation regime. The Cyprus Government’s latest Stability unacceptable and legally wrong in that In a further intervention on 22 April, Mr Programme, submitted to the European it was not in conformity with the Council Kyprianou said that the Government is ready Commission (EC) on 1 April, provides that a conclusions in April 2004. The regulation to seek a ruling from the European Court budget deficit of 6.1 per cent of GDP in 2010 has been on the table since the Republic of Justice outlawing implementation of the will be reduced to 2.5 per cent by 2013, well of Cyprus joined the EU but has not moved direct trade regulation. below the 3 per cent ceiling specified in forward due to insurmountable legal and The Cyprus House of Representatives on euro zone rules. Finance Minister Charilaos political difficulties. 15 April urged the EC to withdraw the draft Stavrakis welcomed the fact that Cyprus Mr Kyprianou said that the timing of the regulation from the EP. The House resolution, has been granted several years to reduce EC’s action in submitting the regulation to the as well as expressing disappointment that its deficit to under 3 per cent, saying that a European Parliament (EP) was unfortunate the regulation had been submitted to the speedier timeframe would be damaging. because it undermines the ongoing direct EP, called on the EU and all of its institutions, The four main aims of the programme negotiations between the two community as well as all international actors, to work are to reduce the operational costs of the leaders in Cyprus. He explained that the for a just solution of the Cyprus problem, civil service, to combat tax evasion, to boost regulation has an incorrect legal basis, and based on UN resolutions, the High-Level development and to consolidate the social referred to the Government’s proposal since Agreements of 1977 and 1979 and EU state. It envisages that GDP growth will 2004 on the return of the Turkish-occupied principles and values, and to refrain from resume at a “positive but slow” rate of 0.5 town of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants actions that encourage and consolidate the per cent in 2010, after contraction of 1.7 per and the use of the city’s port. This proposal, division of Cyprus and its people.q cent in 2009, but will accelerate to around 3 per cent in 2013. Also projected was a public debt level of 61 per cent of GDP by 2013. Under fiscal consolidation measures Preparations for EU Presidency in 2012 in the programme, the number of public sector posts will be reduced by 1,000 a year Detailed preparation for Cyprus’ first six- lThe 18-month plan was discussed by the and the rate of growth of the overall public month term in the EU’s rotating Presidency Health Ministers of the Trio at a meeting payroll will be curbed. The Government will in the second half of 2012 continued in in Paphos on 11-12 April. Agreement was also seek trade union agreement to salary April under the direction of the Head of the reached on health policy priorities, which freezes for public sector workers and actual Cyprus EU Presidency Secretariat, Andreas were itemised by Cyprus’ Health Minister cuts for senior officials. Moleskis. On 26 April the European Affairs Christos Patsalides as the longstanding Mr Stavrakis warned on 7 April that Committee of the House of Representatives challenges related to population ageing, timely action must be taken to reduce public was informed that the cost of holding the cross-border health quality and safety, and expenditure. He said that without measures, Presidency will be around €62 million. challenges posed by medical products. Cyprus’ budget deficit would balloon to 10 According to Mr Moleskis’ Secretariat, lSenior officials of the Trio met in Ayia Napa per cent of GDP and public debt to 80 per carrying out the duties of the Presidency on 15-16 April, holding a workshop on the cent. “A responsible Government”, he added, will entail the employment of over 3,000 18-month programme for the EU Presidency. “must take the appropriate decisions despite additional persons. An estimated €27 million The meeting set the methodology and the political costs”.q will be spent on events, meetings, security, timeframe for finalising the programme transport and “preparation of infrastructure”, before Poland assumes the Presidency. whilst human resources will cost €25 million, lCyprus Communications and Works public relations €5.6 million and technical Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoulli on 28 Ash harms tourism equipment €4 million. April reached agreement with the director Just when a recovery in tourism to Cyprus The House Committee heard details of general of the Louvre Museum in Paris, seemed to be underway, an ash cloud from the strategic plan for Cyprus’ EU Presidency Henri Loyrette, that an exhibition of Cypriot an erupting Icelandic volcano closed the being drawn up with Poland and Denmark, antiquities will be staged at the museum airports of most European countries sending which will hold the Presidency in July- during Cyprus’ EU presidency. A joint holiday-makers to the island. Although December 2011 and January-June 2012 committee was set up to decide the content q the cloud did not reach Cyprus, dozens of respectively. of the exhibition. flights to and from Larnaca and Paphos international airports had to be cancelled. However, according to the Cyprus Tourism Agreements with Qatar during Emir’s visit Cyprus News Agency Organisation, a large percentage of the A major property development deal 20,000 tourists who had been unable to involving initial investment of over US$150 reach Cyprus had agreed with tour operators million was signed on 21 April during an to come to Cyprus at a later date.q official visit to Cyprus by the Emir of Qatar, EPA Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. His talks with President Demetris Christofias resulted in the signature of a number of other bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding. The property joint venture provides for the construction of a five-star hotel on a site in central Nicosia that will also have residential apartments, offices and a commercial centre. Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis described Qatar’s decision to invest in Cyprus as “a vote of confidence in the Cypriot •Force of nature... The volcano in Iceland spews ash. economy”.q •The Emir of Qatar is welcomed by President Christofias. N otes andand NN ewsews lIt was officially announced in Nicosia and lPraise for the Cyprus University of 13 per cent of its energy from renewable Rome on 10 April that Pope Benedict XVI Technology (CUT) was expressed on 23 April sources by 2020. will pay an official visit to Cyprus on 4-6 July, by President Christofias at the inauguration lA new website called Cyprus Talent Online, the first ever to the island by the Supreme of a European programme of the SmartEN on which aspiring Cypriot entertainers can Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. An Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) upload video clips showcasing their talents, invitation for the visit had been extended to in the southern coastal town of Limassol. has been launched by British expatriate the Pope by President Demetris Christofias He said that the European Commission's Daren Casey. He got the idea from watching during his audience in the Vatican in March approval of the programme, focusing on an amateur video on Youtube and describes 2009. The prospective visit was welcomed by "smart management" for a sustainable human the website (www.cyprustalentonline.com) the Catholic Church in Cyprus (Maronites and environment, "constitutes a landmark in as "an online portal specifically designed to Latins) and by the Greek Orthodox Church. progress of CUT and the tertiary education of uncover undiscovered talents". lA new €17 million sports centre at the our country in general". The CUT programme lThe Government’s latest official map of University of Cyprus was inaugurated by will receive funding of €3.7 million and will the Akamas Peninsula at the north-western President Christofias on 14 April. The centre employ 19 young scientists as "early stage tip of Cyprus has been submitted to the has a range of facilities meeting international researchers". European Commission, said Agriculture, standards, including a full-size football pitch, lThe Cyprus Government's active Natural Resources and Environment Minister tennis, basketball, squash and volleyball involvement in the use of space-related Demetris Eliades on 10 April. The ecologically courts, an aerobics gymnasium, fencing and technologies and applications, notably important peninsula, an area of outstanding weightlifting halls and a martial arts arena, all through its co-operation agreement with the natural beauty, is part of the “Natura 2000” run by professional sports instructors. There European Space Agency (ESA), was stressed network. Mr Eliades said that Cyprus is making are also facilities for the disabled. on 15 April by Communications and Works a big effort to protect the peninsula and “to lOver 18 million crossings of the Green Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoulli, who was ensure that its communities, the residents Line of division in Cyprus have taken place addressing an international conference in and the people of the area, will remain in the since it was opened in April 2003, 11.3 Nicosia on the theme "Space Applications region and that development will take place million of them from the Turkish-occupied for Cyprus and the Mediterranean Region". with respect for the environment”.q areas into the Government-controlled areas She said that Cyprus is seeking to define Cyprus Tourism Organisation and 6.7 million in the other direction. The space activities of relevance to its economic largest wave of Greek Cypriot crossings was interests and goals, noting that three licences recorded in the weeks after the Green Line have already been issued to communications was opened, as many persons displaced by satellite operators. Areas covered by Cyprus' the Turkish invasion in 1974 made one-off co-operation agreement with the ESA trips to discover the fate of their homes. include research and rescue, monitoring The six existing Green Line crossing-points the environment, satellite navigation and are in Ledra Street in the Old City of Nicosia, telecommunications. opened in April 2008, and at the Ledra Palace lThe foundation stone of Cyprus' second Hotel, also in Nicosia, both for pedestrians, Aeolian Park (wind turbine farm) in Larnaca together with Zhodia, Ayios district was laid on 27 April by Commerce, Dometios, Strovilia and Pergamos, which are Industry and Tourism Minister Antonis for motorists. A new crossing-point linking Paschalides, who said that it would have a Kato Pyrgos and Limnitis in north-western power capacity of 31.5 megawatts (MW) Cyprus is expected to be opened later in when completed in 2011. A first Aeolian 2010. Park (wind farm project), in Paphos district, lFinal plans for the construction of a €200 initiated in July 2009 with a potential capacity million marina at Ayia Napa have been of 82MW, is expected to be completed soon, •Outstanding beauty... The Akamas Peninsula is submitted. Commerce, Industry and Tourism contributing to Cyprus' target of producing recognised as an area of ecological importance. Minister Antonis Paschalides described the marina, which will be able to accommodate 600 yachts, as “a crucial infrastructure project which will upgrade and enrich the free Football, volleyball and yachting highlights Famagusta area, boosting marine tourism in our island”. He added that it “will bring life Football. The Ayia Napa Youth Soccer Laser Masters Yachting Championship in and character to the area and create new Festival, which ended on 1 April, attracted the southern coastal town of Limassol on jobs”. over 2,000 footballers aged between eight 24-30 April, receiving over 60 yachtspersons

Cyprus Tourism Organisation and 16, in teams from all over Cyprus and from 21 countries, who participated in including two from Greece and one from standard laser, radial laser and laser events. England, as well as referees from several Cyprus maintained its strong international other European countries. The winners in the reputation in yachting, with Kyriakos Karatzis various categories of the tournament were taking first place in the nine-race standard Anorthosis Famagusta, Idaliou Academy, laser competition, in which the leading Efthymiades Academy, Nikki FA, Campus woman was Cypriot Elena Papazoglou. Sportivo, Olympiacos Piraeus, PAEEK and Other Cypriots achieved high placings in the Doxa Katokopias. championship. Volleyball. The Cypriot women's team on 12 April won the silver medal in the small CYPRUS NEWS - BRUSSELS EDITION is produced monthly by the Permanent Representation of Cyprus countries division of the junior European to the EU. Editor: Maria Phanti. To receive a regular volleyball championships in Luxembourg. copy, by post or email, please contact: The Press The Cypriot women defeated Liechtenstein, Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Cyprus Malta and Ireland but lost the gold medal to to the EU, 61 Avenue Cortenbergh, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: 02 7395188, Fax: 02 7366573, hosts Luxembourg. Manolina Constantinou email: [email protected] of Cyprus won the award for the best scorer in the championships. Links Cyprus Government: www.cyprus.gov.cy Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.mfa.gov.cy •Ayia Napa will be transformed by a new marina. Yachting. Cyprus hosted the European