Cyprus a state under attack from itself
The Republic of Cyprus since its entry into the European Union in October 2005 has faced an unprecedented increase in crime, domestic unrest, a massive hike in immigrant arrivals and in general a fundamental demographic change on the Mediterranean island.
An analysis of the last 6 months headlines and news from the Cypriot media has shown stories ranging from attacks on the islands Police force Cyprus Mail 16/10/07 "Lucky escape for policeman as bomb fails to go off", to stories of farmers striking, a rise of fraud "Crime gang conning store owners with fake cheques" to a general upward trend in crime and disorder.
Statistics from the Justice Ministry in Cyprus shows that a new rise in the number of serious crimes committed in Cyprus, from 7,250 in 2005, to 7,955 last year, an increase of almost 10 per cent.The Cyprus Mail said "even more concern is the longer-term trend, which shows an increase in serious crime of 67 per cent since 2002. In 2002, there were just two murders, compared to 14 last year, 131 rapes compared to 30 last year, 1,228 break-ins to 3,082 in 2006, 948 thefts to 1,618… The list goes on."
"Police are struggling to cope ...the police’s efforts also need to be understood in the perspective of the means at their disposal. Crime has almost doubled in the past four years, yet their resources and manpower has not kept pace."
The Cyprus Mail Immigration figures released by the Cypriot Government have shown around 150,000 new entrants to the island, with a population of 800,000 this is a massive increase for the island and its resources.
Cyprus also has the unenviable record of being the only member state of the European Union which is illegal occupied by a foreign nation, Turkey.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Turkish Cypriot leader urges UN to end Cyprus division
Turkish Cypriot President Mehmed Ali Talat called on the United Nations Tuesday to help end the division of Cyprus, warning that unless an solution is found soon, the current state would become irreparable.
Talat met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at UN headquarters to press his demand, saying that he proposed confidence-building measures, including a military solution and cross-border visits, to facilitate negotiations with the Greek Cypriot community. He would not give details of the measures.
'We reiterate and emphasize our position that Turkish Cypriots are ready for a comprehensive and urgent solution,' Talat told reporters after the meeting with Ban.
'An urgent solution is a fact and reality because time is running out and the division is becoming more and more permanent,' he said. 'So we asked for the secretary general's involvement and asked him to take an initiative for starting full-fledged negotiations aiming at a solution before the end of 2008.'
Talat reiterated support for a series of discussions over the past two years, mostly led by then UN political adviser Ibrahim Gambari, to prepare for a fresh attempt at final negotiations to end the division. Gambari is now leading UN efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar.
The Turkish Cypriot community in northern Cyprus is not recognized by the United Nations and is supported solely by Turkey, which has stationed military troops there since 1974.
A 2004 plan to reunite the island, proposed by then-Secretary General Kofi Annan, was defeated by Greek Cypriots in a referendum. Turkish Cypriots in the north approved the plan.
The Greek Cypriot part in the south, known as the Republic of Cyprus is a member of the UN and European Union. Its president, Tassos Papadopoulos, told the UN General Assembly in September that he supports a federation to end the division, but insisted on Turkey withdrawing its military contingents from northern Cyprus.
A UN peacekeeping operation has been manning a so-called ceasefire line separating the two communities. But in recent years, the borders between the two sides opened to allow tens of thousands of people to visit the other side even though there are no formal diplomatic relationship between them.
Cyprus on its own over Syria ferry dispute
WITH THE government scrambling to put a stop to the ferry service between Syria and the breakaway Turkish Cypriot regime, reports yesterday suggested Nicosia was on its own and could not expect any help from the EU.
Politis quoted sources at the office of EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn as saying the use of occupied Famagusta port was not illegal under international law and that the issue was a bilateral one between Cyprus and Syria.In addition, they said the designation of Famagusta port as illegal was a unilateral decision by the Cyprus government after 1974 and could not affect Syria as far as international law was concerned.
The EU would not intervene, they said, because neither the EU nor the UN had ever imposed an embargo on ports in the north.Only direct flights to the north can be considered illegal since the issue is governed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation under the Chicago Convention. The same rules do not apply under maritime law.
Only the issue of trade is applicable as far as the EU is concerned, and that relates to tariffs, not to the actual trading out of the ports in the north. The reason most foreign ships do not dock in the north is due to the ban imposed by the Cyprus Republic, which would arrest and charge the captain of any vessel who visited the north and went on to dock in Limassol or any other legal port.
Since Limassol is a major port in the region, most foreign ships comply.In an attempt to persuade Syria to put a stop to the twice-weekly ferry services, the honorary president of socialist EDEK Vassos Lyssarides will fly to Damascus on Saturday as an envoy of the government.
“If everything goes well, I will be in Damascus on October 20,” Lyssarides said.“These issues need careful handling and the common aim is to lift any negative consequences and to establish the traditionally friendly relations that existed and we believe still exist between Syria and Cyprus,” Lyssarides said.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Cyprus humiliate Toshack
The long and unrewarding road travelled by Wales since they failed to qualify for Euro 2004 reached a depressing sojourn on the holiday island. Cyprus leapfrogged Wales in the table with a thoroughly deserved win in which they displayed all the energy, purpose and spirit that Wales sorely lacked.
The only surprise was that Wales led through a James Collins goal scored midway through the first half and held the advantage until the 59th minute when Okkas’s superbly-timed run to reach a free kick by Efstathios Aloneftis exploited the kind of woeful Welsh defending which undermined them throughout.
Captain Craig Bellamy, who played 10 days after undergoing a groin operation, and his strike partner, Freddy Eastwood, received virtually no service and the midfield of Simon Davies, Carl Robinson and Joe Ledley were bereft of drive and ideas. The result was painfully inadequate.
“I will have to have a long, hard look at myself and what I am doing here,” said Toshack.
Last month’s 5-2 win in Slovakia had encouraged Wales. But they showed too little respect and not enough will to battle, dropping off their opponents and surrendering territory and possession, which put pressure on defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins. Stretched repeatedly, they offered up huge holes to Aloneftis and Okkas. If they had been more clinical earlier, the winning margin would have been more emphatic.
Bale provided the only productive outlet for Wales and one of his rampaging runs down the left flank yielded a free kick from which Collins scored. The Tottenham defender swung the free kick across the box to the back post for the unmarked Collins.
Welsh relief was instantly apparent, for chances were few and far between as Wales lacked continuity and were never in control of the ball.
Wales were almost undone by a long ball played into Konstantinos Makridis, who just failed to get a touch before Coyne, coming off his line, gathered. He saved another header by Alexis Garpozis from a free kick by Aloneftis as Cyprus finished the half strongly.
Within 15 minutes of the restart, Cyprus were level. Aloneftis played another quality delivery into the box and Okkas timed his run perfectly to head past Coyne. Wales fell apart when Nicolau crossed from the right for Aloneftis at the back post and Okkas scored from close range to fire the Cypriots ahead.
Referee: C Bertolini (Switzerland)
Influential cricketers tour Cyprus with MCC
The MCC embarks on its fifth and final tour of 2007 this week and the chosen destination for the team is ICC Affiliate Member Cyprus.
The MCC team will include some influential cricketing figures including ICC European Development Manager Richard Holdsworth, Warwickshire CCC Academy Director Richard Cox, and the former England Captain Mike Gatting who has just taken up a new role with the ECB as Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships.
This is the first time that MCC have toured to Cyprus and the team will play three 50 over matches at two different grounds against three different Cypriot teams.
The MCC’s first challenge is to face the Cyprus National Team on Saturday 13th October at Dhekelia Garrison.
The following day, Sunday 14th, the side will take on a “Best of Cyprus” XI at Happy Valley, Episkopi.
The third and final match is against a British Forces Combined Services Team at the Happy Valley ground on Wednesday 17th October.
On Monday afternoon 15th October young cricketers are invited to a free Coaching Session with the MCC Players at Happy Valley. The MCC players will be there to offer expert advice and at the same time anyone who is interested in umpiring or learning how to score will be able to seek help and advice from the MCC official umpire and scorer.
Cricket in Cyprus has been developing steadily in recent years.
The Cyprus Cricket Committee has been working hard to establish Cyprus on the World Cricketing Map and the MCC tour will surely help to further develop the game there.
Earlier this year the Cyprus National Team competed in the ICC European Division 3 in Belgium in August beating Belgium and Finland, and the Cyprus Under 15 squad gained experience playing in a European Tournament in Spain.
Other destinations that MCC has toured in 2007 include Papua New Guinea & New Zealand, Brazil & Chile, Belgium and Tanzania & Malawi.
Cyprus hopeful of better performance in Beijing Olympic Games
Cyprus and its athletes are well-prepared and hopeful this time on the road to Beijing for the 2008Olympic Games, said the head of the Cyprus Olympic Committee on Friday.
At a press conference titled "The Road to Beijing," Kikis Lazarides, President of the Cyprus Olympic Committee, estimated that 16 to 20 of its athletes would be able to compete in Beijing, representing the small eastern Mediterranean island.
"We want to believe that the 2008 Olympic Games will be truly special for Cyprus sport," said Lazarides.
"We are optimistic that in the Chinese capital we can make it."
No Cypriot athlete has managed to stand on the Olympic podium since the island state's first participation in the Games of Moscow in 1980. In recent years, some Olympic hopefuls have appeared on the island.
George Achilleos, a skeet shooter, is currently the first in the world ranking. High jumper Kyriakos Ioannou, secured a bronze medal in the World Championship in Osaka, Japan. Markos Baghdatis, a famous Cypriot tennis player, won the China Open in 2006.
"It is the first time we are being so optimistic. This is based neither on exaggeration nor on arrogance, but on a realistic consideration of the current situation," explained Lazarides.
Spanos Alekos, head of the Cyprus Olympic Delegation, told Xinhua that so far 16 Cypriot athletes had secured tickets to the Beijing Olympics, mainly in shooting, track and field and tennis.
Cypriots hope they can obtain at least five more quotas in the months to come. Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Zhao Yali told the press conference that the Beijing Olympic Games are not only an event of great significance to China itself, but also a grand celebration of peace and friendship for all over the world.
"China and Cyprus maintain extensive and thorough cooperation in the field of sports," he added.
"It is our sincere hope that Beijing can be a blessing for Cypriot athletes to make a breakthrough in the forthcoming Olympic Games of Beijing, particularly in shooting, tennis and high jumping."
Cyprus Presidential polls next February
Cyprus will hold presidential elections on February 17, 2008, Interior Minister, Christos Patsalides, announced here on Thursday.
If no candidate secures 50 percent plus one vote in the first round, a second round will be held on February 24, said Patsalides.
There are three main candidates - incumbent President, Tassos Papadopoulos, Parliament Speaker, Dimitris Christofias, and former Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides.
Latest polls have shown that the elections between the three remain tightly contested, with Papadopoulos in the lead with a little more than 30 percent support. The other two follow with a margin of about two percentage points.
A second round seems inevitable if there is no significant change in the four months to come.
According to official statistics, there have been 499,526 registered voters by July 2007, 318 of which are Turkish Cypriots living in the government-controlled areas.
There are about 27,000 eligible voters aged between 18 and 30 yet to be registered.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek junta officers who pushed for union with Greece.
Cyprus unhappy over controversial Syria ferry link to north
"We express our regret that a route has begun at a time when we find ourselves in a dialogue with the Syrian government," government spokesman Vasilis Palmas told reporters.
"This certainly doesn't help create a desirable climate we are striving for in this dialogue," he added.
Cyprus has tried to soften the tone of its language towards Syria in the hope it will not further rock a shaky relationship.
A first planned regular sailing from Latakia to Famagusta began on Thursday, as Nicosia was still seeking an official explanation from Syria over the issue.
There had been contacts at foreign minister level but Syria has yet to give a clear response as to whether it recognises the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), currently recognised only by Ankara.
Cyprus will send an envoy to Syria on October 20 in a move to try and patch up differences after relations between the two traditionally friendly neighbours have soured.
Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis is also expected to visit Damascus before the end of the year.
"The link by ferry between the two port cities of Famagusta and Latakia is now assured every Monday and Thursday," a Syrian official said Thursday.
After a promotional trip by a ferry from Famagusta last month, Cyprus called on Syria to explain whether it had struck a deal with the Turkish Cypriots to run a service to and from the breakaway Turkish-held north of the island.
It summoned charge d'affaires Nader Nader to the foreign ministry and said the move could be viewed as an "unfriendly act."
Turkish Cypriot officials said 50 passengers -- paying up to a 100 dollars each -- boarded the ferry back to Latakia when it arrived at Famagusta.
There has been speculation in the local press that Syria did a deal with the TRNC after receiving assurances from Turkey that it would not let Israeli jets fly over Turkish territory to attack Syria.
The Cypriot government says opening such a ferry operation is illegal as the harbour of Famagusta in the north is a declared "closed access point" to and from the republic. It says this is backed by UN resolutions.
A similar link started in 1978 -- four years after the Turkish invasion and seizure of the north of the Mediterranean island -- but lasted only about a year.