EU plans action over new hunting season

THE E.U. is planning measures against the Cypriot government for its decision last April to grant hunting licenses for crows, the Cyprus Green Party reported recently.
The announcement was made in a letter received by Greens leader George Perdikis from EU Environmental Commissioner, Stavros Dimas.

According to an announcement issued by the Greens yesterday, Dimas said that “the Commission has been informed about Cyprus’ decision to grant hunting licences for crows last spring, and based on evidence gathered it will put forward the case for violations”.
“The Commission is taking the appropriate measures to ensure that Cyprus is in full conformity with EU directives,” Dimas said.
The Greens said: “We hope that the granting of hunting licences for crows, which in essence are selected licences for turtledoves [and other migrating birds] will finally stop, following the EU’s reaction.”
Conservationists are opposed granting of such licenses. Executive Manager of Birdlife Cyprus, Martin Hellicar, said the Interior Minister decided to open a season for crows this spring. “But the actual reason was to allow hunters to shoot turtledoves, which is illegal and a violation of EU law,” he said.
Birdlife issued a complaint to the European Commission (EC) which is currently investigating the violation and is due to issue a warning.
“Authorities tried to open a hunting season for turtledoves in the spring of 2007, when again after a complaint the EC warned them not to do so. Now they are trying to do this through the back door, undercover,” Hellicar said.
EU Bird Directives prohibit hunting during spring season in order to protect wild birds during their migration, especially turtledoves which are a threatened species due to their declining numbers.

MOUNT PENTADAKTYLOS IS BEING DEMOLISHED

The Cyprus Green Party condemns Talat´s regime plans to grant more quarrying permits on the mount of Pentadaktylos, at the northern side of Cyprus.

Dozens of quarries are already uncontrollably destroying the mountain, without any consideration for the environmental impacts. It should be noted that in the occupied areas residents, as well as environmental organisations are protesting for the scandalous granting of permits.

The quarry products sustain the construction business in the occupied areas that is developing rapidly the last few years due to the construction of villas on Greek Cypriot lands.
The Cyprus Green Party believes that this issue needs to be added to the ongoing discussions for a solution to the Cyprus Problem.

THE CASE OF TRANSFERED WATER NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A request for an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Institutions, Merit and the Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) has been submitted by the MP of the Cyprus Green Party Mr. George Perdikes, in order to examine the reasons why 50.000 tons of clean and very high priced water that was imported from Greece was dumped in the underground water supplies of Limassol. The water of course will not be wasted but the republic of Cyprus did not pay an exorbitant price just to reinforce our underground water supplies but to channel it directly to the fresh water supply system.

The House of Representative also needs to examine the provisions of the contract which, at a first glance, seen to be contradicting and controversial. The Cyprus Green Party still demands full transparency on this issue and is restive about information it is receiving concerning the eligibility of the tankers to actually transport water in the first place. Unfortunately there is a lack of information on this subject since the responsible authorities have not made public the identity of the tankers that have undertaken the transport of water from Greece.

The Cyprus Green Party considers that, under the circumstances, the application of this extraordinary measure was necessary, but is needs to be protected through transparency and capable administration.

Archangelos Avenue: Do not harm the trees

The Cyprus Green Party condemns the Town Planning and Ministry of Communication plans for Archangelos Avenue, which include the cutting of 800 trees in order to widen it. The most disconcerting is the contemplation of the bodies in charge to cut 200 century-old cypresses.

We report that this project is taking place without a complete Environmental impact research concerning the environmental consequences it will cause and without the necessary public hearing.
We have long ago noted this issue to be discussed in the Parliamentary Environmental Committee, which unfortunately keeps delaying its debate. Also, there was a special meeting over this topic with the Minister of Transportation and Civil Works. Unfortunately, all of our attempts have been fruitless.
We consider it a governmental obligation to apply common principles of modern governance. A full research of the environmental consequences must be elaborated and public debate must be preceded. The rush shown by the bodies in charge is suspicious and condemnable. It expresses the usual authoritarianism of the bulldozer. It’s a shame. We expected a different approach from the government that promised a “fair society”.

Cyprus Greens going…up!

According to the most recent gallop done by GPO AE company, published in “Haravgi” newspaper on June 12th, 2008, Cyprus Green Party enjoys the preference of a 3,4% of the Cypriot voters. This is a considerably very high percentage, having in mind the actual size of the party which was officially measured in the elections of May 2006 at 2% and of course the “dry” period without campaigning, candidates, etc.

For the Cyprus Green Party, this 3,4% is an important step towards its future plans, with the European elections coming next year and of course the main target of the party to gain a second seat in the Cyprus Parliament during the next national elections in 2011.

On the same gallop, Secretary General of the Cyprus Green Party, George Perdikis is, once again among the most popular political party leaders of the island. Perdikis has been given positive popularity votes by the 57,5% of the voters.

Environmental problems concern Cypriots
A few years ago, environmental matters were not among the items that Cypriot voters considered being important for their living. This seems to change after all the environmental and ecological problems people are facing every day. During this gallop, environmental problem was rated number 4 among 14 different problems stated by the voters. The main problems appeared in the list are:

Increased prices (34,3%)
Water deficiency (27,1%)
Drugs (6,8%)
Environment (5,1%)
Education (4,2%)
Unemployment (3,7%)
Finance – Social Security (3,2%) , etc.

The gallop was done during the period of 5 to 9 June on a national basis, covering cities and country side. Sample consisted by 1600 voters on a telephone interview basis.

THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF KARPASIA PENINSULA HAS BEEN DESTROYED

The Cyprus Green Party denounces the destruction of the forest and archaeological space in Saint Andronikos village on the Northern Cyprus, in the peninsula of Karpasia, occupied by the Turkish army since 1974.

According to journalistic information the “department” of forests of arrangement granted illegal authorisation in 36 scales of forest use, with the condition that that land be used for cultures.

However the businessman raised the area and proceeded in excavations in result to cause damages in ancient graves.

The Cyprus Green Party denounces the drawings of the occupied arrangement for destruction of virgin nature and ecotopes of the peninsula of Karpasia and asks from the Cyprus Government to proceed to the appropriate actions.