CYPRUS NEWS BRUSSELS EDITION Monthly Bulletin June 2011 Issue No. 16 Covering the period 1-31 May Common space Next EU “Trio” programme nalised for co-operation Agency News Cyprus inaugurated The importance of rapprochement between the two Cypriot communities was stressed by President Demetris Christoas at the inauguration of a “Home for Co-operation” (H4C) on 6 May in the UN buer zone in Nicosia. An initiative of the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research, the Home was described by Association president Chara Makriyianni as “a common meeting space bridging the island’s two communities, where teachers, academics, researchers and NGO activists can come together to discuss history and learn from each other”. President Christoas said that rapprochement is a necessary precondition Ŗ9CTUCYOGGVKPI2TGUKFGPV%JTKUVQſCUYKVJ2QNKUJ2TGOKGT6WUM EGPVTG CPF&CPKUJ2TGOKGT4CUOWUUGP for a settlement and will safeguard its viability, because “our common home is our An agreement, in principle, was reached in Commission’s working programmes. These island”. He also expressed the hope that a May on the text of the programme of the priorities are expected to include the reunited Cyprus will be a bridge between forthcoming Trio of EU Presidencies as a discussion and possible agreement for the the Middle East, North Africa and Europe result of productive meetings in Warsaw next Multiannual Financial Framework, and will contribute to political stability and and Nicosia. At the Warsaw meeting on the EU2020 Strategy, issues of economic economic progress in the region. 9 May, President Demetris Christoas, governance, as well as the EU’s policies A prompt manifestation of the purpose together with the Polish and Danish towards its Neighbourhood and on of the Home for Co-operation was the Prime Ministers, respectively Donald Tusk enlargement. holding of a bicommunal junior basketball and Lars Rasmussen, discussed in depth The Trio programme will have to be tournament on 7 May, with the participation the underlying principles of the joint approved through the respective national of over 150 Greek Cypriot and Turkish programme and established the next steps procedures of the three countries and be Cypriot boys and girls. of co-operation and co-ordination between endorsed by the EU member states at the zFurther UN-sponsored negotiations on their countries, which will be in charge of General Aairs Council on 21 June 2011. a Cyprus settlement took place between the EU agenda over an 18-month period zCyprus’ forthcoming EU Presidency also President Christoas and Turkish Cypriot starting with Poland on 1 July 2011. featured in discussions which EU Internal leader Dervis Eroglu in Nicosia on 5 and 12 Agreement on the Trio programme Market and Services Commissioner Michel May. It was agreed that further tripartite was reached at a high-level meeting of Barnier had with President Christoas and talks would be held between the two leaders delegations from Poland, Denmark and other Cypriot ocials during a visit to and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Cyprus held in Nicosia on 27 May. The Nicosia on 11-12 May as part of a tour of Geneva on 7 July. An added strain was put Head of the Secretariat of the Cyprus EU European capitals to discuss future reform on relations on 14 May when Mr Eroglu was Presidency, Andreas Moleskis, described the of the single European market. M. Barnier reported to have told a newspaper that “war programme as “very ambitious” but at the told a press conference on 12 May that will break out” if the Cyprus Government same time “attainable”. The three head co- European Commission proposals in this continues with exploration for oil and gas ordinators made a commitment to do their sphere were expected to reach “legislative in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone utmost to deal with the many challenges maturity” during the period of Cyprus’ (EEZ). Cyprus Government Spokesman and issues that the EU will face during the EU Presidency, which would therefore be Stephanos Stephanou responded rmly that three rotating Presidencies in a transparent, “extremely important” for the future course any such statements by Mr Eroglu “are truly inclusive and ecient manner and to the of the EU. M. Barnier also said that Cyprus’ unacceptable and dangerous”, stressing that benet of the EU as a whole. EU Presidency will be important for Europe’s “the Republic of Cyprus has a sovereign right The Trio will also have inherited priorities relations with its southern neighbours across to manage its EEZ”. as a result of the Council’s and European the Mediterranean. Call to EU on migration Parliamentary elections in Cyprus €1.3m court award Christofias in Australia Positive economic forecasts Illegal Turkish shipping ban censured Visitor from Slovakia Cyprus Trade Fair inaugurated Call for EU action on migration ow Strong relations The call for joint action, commitment and solidarity fund for unforeseen humanitarian with Australia solidarity from all EU member states on the crises, with full mobilisation of EU assets. Agency News Cyprus challenges of migration, made by Ministers The Cyprus Minister called for an of six Mediterranean countries meeting expansion of the operations of the European in Nicosia in April, was presented to an Agency for the Management of Operational extraordinary EU Justice and Home Aairs Co-operation at the External Borders of the Council meeting in Brussels on 12 May by EU (Frontex) with a view to stepping up Cyprus Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis. its presence in the eastern Mediterranean Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta and area. He also stressed the need for the Spain were represented at the April meeting, conclusion of readmission agreements with all facing additional problems of illegal the countries of origin of illegal immigrants immigration and mass population ows as a and the development of voluntary return result of developments in North Africa. programmes. Mr Sylikiotis said that massive cross- zThe need for EU solidarity on immigration Mediterranean population movement was stressed on 6 May by the president of was creating for EU member states in the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and the region additional social, economic, Democrats in the European Parliament, ŖVisiting Australia... President Christoas is welcomed by administrative and demographic burdens. Martin Schultz, during a visit to Cyprus. Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The prolongation of such inuxes, he said, Following a meeting with Mr Sylikiotis, Mr cannot be managed without operational Schultz echoed the Cypriot call for more The strong relations between Cyprus and as well as nancial support from other EU eective border controls to cope with Australia were highlighted by an ocial member states and the creation of a special increasing immigration ows. visit by President Demetris Christoas on 25-30 May. As well as having talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other Australian leaders, the President also met New House of Representatives elected representatives of the 80,000 Australians of House of Representatives Cypriot stock, who form the second largest Democratic Party (DIKO) lost votes. Cypriot diaspora after the one in the UK. A total of 412 candidates were in the Addressing a state banquet given in his running for the 56 Greek Cypriot seats, honour in Canberra by Governor General plus nine for three representatives of the Quentin Boyce, President Christoas said Maronite, Latin and Armenian communities, that Cyprus is highly appreciative of the who do not vote in the House. The total support given by Australia to its eorts to electorate numbered 531,463, including reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem. 326 Greek Cypriots enclaved in the Turkish- A joint communiqué recorded that Australia occupies area and 544 Turkish Cypriots recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the residing in the Government-controlled only legitimate authority on the island and area. commends the President’s eorts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem. Both sides Results of elections, 22 May 2011 stressed their support for a just and lasting ŖForum of the people... The House of Representatives has settlement in accordance with relevant UN been elected for the tenth time since independence. % Seats Security Council resolutions. Cyprus’ tenth parliamentary elections 2006 2011 2006 2011 since independence in 1960, held on 22 May, resulted in six parties again DISY 30.52 34.28 18 20 winning representation in the House of AKEL 31.31 32.67 18 19 ECHR awards €1.3m Representatives. They were headed by DIKO 17.98 15.76 11 9 the centre-right Democratic Rally (DISY), EDEK 8.96 8.93 5 5 to property owner EVROKO 5.79 3.88 3 2 which secured 20 seats, followed by the Greek Cypriot plainti Kostas Kalisperas was left-wing Progressive Party of the Working Greens 1.96 2.21 1 1 Others 3.48 2.25 0 0 on 24 May awarded pecuniary and non- People (AKEL) with 19 seats. Both parties pecuniary damages of €1.3 million by the gained ground compared with the previous Total 100.00 100.00 56 56 European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in elections in 2006, whereas the centrist Strasbourg, on the strength of a ruling by the ECHR in September 2009 that his property rights had been breached as a result of the Well-informed internet websites on Cyprus Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus since 1974. Turkey was ordered to The six websites of the Press and Information Main ocial website (in Greek and English): pay the damages as the eective power in Oce (PIO) in Cyprus were presented at a www.moi.gov.cy/pio the occupied area. press conference on 17 May by Government Cyprus on lm (in Greek, English and French): The Court had ruled that Mr Kalisperas Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou. He www.cypruslm.com and 27 other plaintis had been deprived of said that the PIO, having introduced its Information about Cyprus (in Greek): their right to respect for private and family www.peri-kyprou.com life and the home, under Article 8 of the rst website in 1996, is leading eorts to Aspects of Cyprus (in English): promote the use of the internet by those www.aspectsofcyprus.com European Convention on Human Rights, as interested in Cyprus.