Barking up the wrong trees

Reuters Pictures

(Cyprus Weekly) - It’s all well and good for President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to plant olive trees in a symbolic, albeit tacky, ceremony at the UN headquarters yesterday.

The picture of the two leaders - and that of the UN envoy watering the two saplings to demonstrate that the world body wants to help the peace process along - will doubtless strike a chord as the international community looks for closure of the long-running dispute in Cyprus.

But no amount of tree planting will bring results on the ground. And it will take more than goodwill and cordial ties between the leaders of the two communities to reach a settlement that will be lasting, if it is both just and viable.

The Greek Cypriot side and this newspaper may sound like a stuck record. But, in the final analysis, it is Ankara that holds the key to peace. And it is Ankara that must be made to understand that it does not befit a country seeking a place in the European Union to occupy another country, a member of the very club it wants to join.

And this is where the European Commission has let us down. This is the body that proclaims its role to be the interests of the EU as a whole rather than the interests of individual member states.

Yet, when it came to assessing Turkey’s accession progress it opted to placate, rather than to tell an aspiring EU member that the least it could do is comply with what has been asked of it – such as recognising the Republic of Cyprus and opening its ports and airports to Cyprus traffic.

If the EU can look the other way when a country so blatantly ignores its rules, then why does it make such a big deal of its accession criteria?

No-one is naive enough to expect an all-out attack against Turkey. Many would argue that this would only be counter-productive, serving to alienate a country the EU and the US firmly believe best suits their interests to be inside the bloc, rather than harbouring grievances outside it.

But this policy will collapse unless Turkey is made to understand that it must earn its place in the EU. And this means adopting its principles – even to a country its does not recognise.

Congressmen call on Obama to seek Turkey's cooperation on Cyprus

(Financial Mirror) - Fifty five Congressmen have urged US President Barack Obama ''to impress upon Turkey that a solution to the Cyprus problem cannot be reached without its full and constructive cooperation, both in the process and in the outcome of the negotiations for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and without the withdrawal of its military forces from Cyprus.''

In a letter to Obama, dated 5 October, the 55 Congressmen welcome the commitment demonstrated by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat who have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008 with the aim of reunifying the island.

''Only a well-prepared and mutually agreed settlement based on the universal principles of international law and human rights, the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, and the principles on which the European Union is founded would guarantee a just, viable and lasting solution,'' they stress.

They also reiterate their support for the reunification of the island and its people in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, adding that ''such a solution for Cyprus would respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.''

They also note that a solution to the Cyprus problem must come from the Cypriots themselves and serve first and foremost their interests, which can be achieved if the Cypriots retain ownership of the process which should not be subjected to strict timeframes or arbitration.

''Ultimately however, the key to a successful outcome of the negotiating process and reunification of the island remains with Ankara. Turkey must give the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community the necessary freedom to negotiate a solution within the established framework and facilitate that solution with the removal of its troops from Cyprus,'' they conclude.

Wind farm first for Cyprus

(Cyprus Weekly) - By Lucie Robson

The ground breaking ceremony for Cyprus’s first wind farm took place in the Orites area of Paphos on Wednesday marking a significant milestone in the island’s development of its renewable energy capability.

“This occasion marks a historic day for the progress of our country towards ‘green development’,” said House President, Marios Garoyian at the ground-breaking.

The first such installation of its kind in Cyprus, the wind farm is expected to be operational by the end of 2010 and will produce 8% of the island’s total energy capacity.

The wind farm is located on the Orites Mountain on a site spread over 16 square kilometres.

The project has a capacity of 82MW in its first phase, with approved capacity for 140MW when complete.

Orites, the first private-sector power project on the island, is also the first to benefit from the new 20-year fixed rate tariff that has recently been approved by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission. Construction began last month, with operations scheduled to start at the end of 2010.

Managed by DK Wind Supply Ltd, financing for the project was secured by Platina Partners LLP, a private equity fund advisor specialising in renewable energy.

Financing for the project was secured by Platina Partners. Debt financing was arranged by Commerzbank, ING and Nord LB, with EIB providing 50% of the debt.

The ceremony was attended by Akis Ellinas, Chairman of DK Wind Supply, Thomas Rottner and Emma Collins of Platina Partners, House President, Marios Garoyian, Interior Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis, EIB Vice-President, Plutarchos Sakellaris and Deputy High Commissioner for Cyprus, Brian Olley.

The blessing was given by the Senior Diocesan Official Father Geronimo.

In an official statement, Ellinas spoke of the benefits of wind power: “At a time when climate change climbs to the top of the political agenda, wind energy continues to be the only advanced technology ready and able to deliver renewable power on a large scale,” he said.

“Our project is the biggest investment in renewable energy and the first wind energy investment in Cyprus. It represents an investment amounting to €170m.”

Orites is expected to save Cyprus from a hefty EU fine on CO2 emissions and will help the island meet its quota of 6% renewable energy production in 2010.

The project will contribute significantly to the Government’s target of producing 13% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It also represents 27% of the required installed wind energy capacity of 300MW by 2020. The implementation of the project was mindful of environmental aspects and is bringing together know-how from leading EU companies including Vestas and Siemens.

“Financing the first renewable energy project in Cyprus was an exciting challenge and we are delighted to have helped secure the first wind project on the island,” said Thomas Rottner of Platina Partners.

“As well as being an important milestone in the continuing expansion of Platina’s European renewable energy portfolio, the success in financing Orites in tight debt markets demonstrates that credit is still available for the best projects.”


Future of renewable energy finance

EIB Vice-President, Plutarchos Sakellaris, spoke of the future of the bank’s financing of renewable energy projects.

“Orites is the largest and most advanced wind farm in Cyprus. It paves the way for further developments in the sector, and brings the Cypriot Government closer to its target and EU’s objective for renewable energy production,” he said.

“The EU objective for renewable energy will be a major challenge, as the required investment could be in the order of €600-700b up to 2020. We at the EIB are ready to play a strong and active role in supporting the Member States’ efforts with adequate funding and adapted finance products.”

Cypriot and British business cooperation was highlighted by British Deputy High Commissioner, Brian Olley.

“I welcome the collaboration between Cypriot and UK companies - the sharing of expertise and know how - which has helped make this possible,” he said.


Green initiatives stressed

The launch comes just days after an EU conference on renewable energy took place in Paphos which was attended by key stakeholders from Cyprus and Greece.

Speaking at the conference, the Swedish EU Presidency stressed the need for business to embrace ‘green’ initiatives.

“It is impossible to develop our economies without firm action on climate and the environment,” it said. “A low carbon economy is the only way towards growth.”

CYPRUS PRESIDENT - INDEPENDENCE DAY - MESSAGE

(CNA) - President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday that the evaluation of Turkey`s EU accession course in December provides Turkey with the opportunity to prove that it really wishes a solution to the Cyprus problem, and warned that if Turkey continues to provoke the EU, by refusing to meet its obligations, it will not be able to continue its accession course unobstructed.

He added that Cyprus` support to Turkey`s EU course was a strategic decision, in order to create the dynamics for a solution, noting that a solution should be based on principles and be the product of negotiations and agreement between the two communities.

In a message to the people for the October 1 anniversary of the independence of Cyprus, President Christofias referred to the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, which is ``a common success of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,`` and added that ``we owe honour and gratitude to those who fought and fell to liberate our homeland, to defend the independence, democracy and territorial integrity of our homeland all these years.``

President Christofias referred to the ``Cyanean Rocks, adventures and tragedies`` of the newly established Republic of Cyprus, the high levels of growth and progress achieved by the people of Cyprus, and the events of 1974.

He also referred to the efforts that led to the resumption of the dialogue for a Cyprus settlement, noting that the agreed basis is ``a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in relevant UN resolutions, for a single state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international identity.``

``We are pursuing a solution that will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the whole of our people. It is our view that Cyprus, an EU member state, does not need guarantees and guardians with intervention rights,`` he added.

President Christofias said that the first round of negotiations ``was concluded with some relative progress, which however is not enough.``

``Nevertheless, we continue the negotiations with the same determination. We knew from the beginning that the path of the negotiations would be neither easy nor strewn with rose petals. The path of the negotiations is difficult and uphill but we who are seeking a solution and reunification, permanent peace and security, the restoration and safeguarding of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, it is a one-way street,`` he pointed out.

He said that ``our effort is to achieve a solution the soonest possible, because the passing of time creates more problems,`` adding that ``we will not accept a solution that is not based on principles, and we will not accept a solution that is not the product of negotiations and agreement between the two communities.``

President Christofias said that, ``with the policy we are implementing, we managed to convince the international community that the process for a settlement belongs to the Cypriots, that there will be neither arbitration nor deadlines.``

``Despite the problems in the negotiations, I continue to state that I am reservedly optimistic. With the continuation of the comprehensive strategy we are following, with calmness and insistence on the fundamental principles of the solution, which we have collectively discussed at the National Council, we can reached the long-awaited solution,`` he said.

He pointed out that, ``in order for this to happen, it is a necessary prerequisite that Turkey changes its stance,`` adding that Turkey ``holds the key to the solution and must use it.``

``The time has come for Turkey to prove that it really wishes a solution. The evaluation of its EU accession course in December provides Turkey with this opportunity. By meeting the obligations it has undertaken towards the EU and its member states, and by constructively contributing to efforts for a solution, Turkey will above all help itself. We warn Turkey that if it continues to provoke the EU, by refusing to meet its obligations, it will not be able to continue its accession course unobstructed,`` he said.

President Christofias noted that Cyprus` support to Turkey`s EU course was a strategic decision, in order to create the dynamics for a solution. ``Our support is not a blank checque. It is up to Turkey to cash it,`` he added.

He also referred to the need for unity on the home front in order for the struggle of the people of Cyprus to be successful, and assured that ``establishing unity is a standing aim of our government.``

President Christofias noted that the recent meeting of the National Council, top advisory body to the President of the Republic on the handling of the Cyprus problem, and the issuing of a joint statement with the contribution of all members of the body, was ``an important step to create unity on the home front.``

Regarding other challenges faced by Cyprus, President Christofias said the vision of his government was to build a more just society, which will be able to meet the reasonable needs of the citizens.

He also referred to the global financial crisis, which ``unavoidably adversely affects the economy of Cyprus as well,`` and expressed optimism that the problems would be overcome.

``I assure the citizens that the commitments contained in the programme of my government will be implemented. The financial crisis may delay the implementation of some of them, which is a natural development under the circumstances, but all promises will be kept,`` he said.

President Christofias also sent a message of confidence and optimism to all, as well as a special message of friendship and cooperation to the Turkish Cypriots.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island.