The event was attended by the Armenian MP in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes Madessian and Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian.

Below is just a quick update on our position but we where so pleased when we arrived in Corfu it was like a milestone for us now and we feel at home as the lingo is what we here it in Cyprus, Cyprus here we come. We are currently on mainland Greece in Prevenza heading through the Leftos canal today and hoping to be going through the Corinth canal in 3-4days weather permitting. In the Agean seas it is still very windy at moment so we are hoping it has calmed down before we get there.

The top United Nations official in Cyprus today stressed the importance of the engagement of civil society and the public in moving the peace process forward through building trust between communities on the Mediterranean island to ensure any future unity agreement is sustainable.

42 Commando build links with Helmand community The town that honours the fallen WO2 (QMSI) Graham Martin Bean dies in Cyprus Royal Navy clears Libyan harbour mine Last British male WWI veteran dies

FuelFix (blog)

Ghana: America Hosts Global Oil And Gas Industry Players AllAfrica.com Houston, Texas — Thousands of Global players in the oil and gas industry have gathered in the United States of America (USA) to take part in an Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) being hosted by the State of Texas. According to organizers of the ... Cyprus' gas and oil prospects presented during OTCFinancial Mirror Workshop energizes students at OTCHouston Chronicle OTC 2011: Students get close-up look at drilling processFuelFix (blog) all 11 news articles »

A British soldier who died after falling ill while mountain biking in Cyprus has been named as Warrant Officer Graham Bean of the Royal Engineers.

A total of 2800 vessels, including Cyprus flagged, and other EU or non-EU flag vessels managed from Cyprus, are not allowed to trade in Turkey, Minister of Communications and Works Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis has said, calling for the lifting of the illegal embargo, which Turkey imposes on Cyprus.

A Territorial Army soldier who died while on UN peace keeping duties in Cyprus is named as Warrant Officer (Class Two) Graham Bean.

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Warrant Officer Class 2 Graham Bean from 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers), Royal Engineers, attached to the 3 Royal Anglian Group, in Cyprus, on Tuesday 3 May 2011.

I went to the Cyprus breakfast at the Offshore Technology Conference out of personal curiosity. I lived on the island for a while as a child, and I’ve been intrigued by the implications that Noble Energy’s offshore discovery in Israel might have for Cyprus. Just as the Isaraeli discoveries may transform that country from an [...]

Vote For Diversity, not Division The Online Citizen (blog) According to the 2010-11 Global Competitiveness Report, Singapore's local supplier quality is worse than Cyprus, Slovenia and Costa Rica. Ironically, the report ranked Singapore first for wages that reflect productivity. But productivity, as was widely ... and more »

Two cousins from Essex jailed in Cyprus for manslaughter following the death of a teenager are released after serving half their three-year sentence.

Brothers reunion in Helmand Bomber Command Memorial foundation stone laid Soldier from 73 Engineer Regiment dies in Cyprus Navy Search and Rescue man is finalist in Our Heroes awards UK and French troops train together

Territorial Army member pronounced dead in hospital in Nicosia after being taken ill while mountain biking

A British soldier has died after falling ill while mountain biking in Cyprus.

Assistance was called for the Territorial Army soldier, of 73 Engineer Regiment (V) but he later died in hospital in Nicosia, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The family of the soldier, who was attached to 3 Royal Anglian Group, have been informed, an MoD spokesman said.

He was serving as part of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

The MoD declined to give further details about the soldier's death.

Captain Matt Lindow, spokesman for the UK UNFICYP contingent, said: "The soldier was taking part in a mountain biking activity during which he was taken ill.

"Following evacuation to hospital in Nicosia he was later pronounced dead.

"His commitment and selfless dedication to the Territorial Army will not be forgotten, he will be dearly remembered by all whom have had the privilege to serve with him.

"We offer heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We will remember him."

The peacekeeping mission in Cyprus is one of the longest running United Nations missions. It was established in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island.

British troops patrol the buffer zone or "green line" separating the north and south of the island.

The Redhook waterfront isn’t very bayou-like. The closet you’ll see to a catfish is a rat that fell in the water, and Ikea doesn’t stock itself with Cyprus trees. But this weekend, The Jalopy Music Theatre is going to be alive with the man made sounds of the bayou. The Bayou-n-Brooklyn festival is a two [...] Related posts:

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A British soldier has died after falling ill while mountain biking in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence says.

A British soldier has died in Cyprus after being taken ill during a mountain biking activity, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Israel warned that Britain may support unilateral declaration of independence by Palestinians if it refuses to join peace talks

Britain tends to tread carefully when it comes to making declarations about the Middle East.

The Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which Britain pledged its support for a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, is still a matter of great sensitivity.

Many Israelis point out that Britain failed to live up to its commitment even after the Holocaust when Britain interned tens of thousands of Jews in Cyprus who attempted to travel to Palestine. There was natural Arab unease about the Balfour Declaration.

So it is a sign of Britain's impatience with Israel that Britain mentioned the D word tonight as David Cameron hosted Binyamin Netanyahu in Downing Street. In this case it is the prospect of a unilateral declaration of independence by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, at the UN general assembly in September.

Britain is making clear that it may endorse a declaration by Abbas if Israel declines to take part in substantive peace negotiations with the Palestinians to create a two state solution.

Britain understands that today marks a sensitive moment for Netanyahu as Hamas, which mourned the death of Osama bin Laden, signed a reconciliation agreement with Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Fatah faction. Cameron was planning to reassure Netanyahu by saying Britain accepts that much work will need to be done on the Hamas-Fatah deal. Britain has noted that it does not require Hamas to recognise Israel – one of the essential requirements of the "quartet" of the UN, EU, Russia and the US.

But the prime minister believes that Israel must join substantive talks with the Palestinians to agree on a two state solution. Britain, which hopes for a positive signal when Netanyahu addresses the US Congress in the next few weeks, admits that EU countries usually have little influence over Israel which tends to listen only to the US.

But Cameron believes that raising the prospect of support for a unilateral declaration of independence by the Palestinians provides Britain with a "lever" over Israel. This is what a diplomatic source said tonight:

Britain's clear and absolute preference is for a negotiation to take place between Israel and the Palestinians which leads to a two state solution which everyone endorses.

But at this point Britain is not ruling anything out. The more Israel engages seriously in a meaningful peace process the less likely it is that this question of unilateral declaration would arise.

The source expects Abbas to make a move at the UN general assembly in September if Netanyahu refuses to join substantive talks:

The US would obviously not support that [declaration]. That places Europe as a swing voter. Britain, France and Germany can play quite an influential role in determining the outcome of this.

The Palestinians would secure quite a bit of support at the UN. Europe would be asked a very difficult question and we don't know yet what the answer to that question will be. But the problem with no peace process is that it allows that question to be put.

Britain accepts that EU countries rarely have much influence over Israel. Cameron hopes that for once Israel may listen. He will have to wait until Netanyahu stands up before the US Congress to learn whether his Israeli counterpart is listening.

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce the death of a soldier from 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers), attached to the 3 Royal Anglian Group, in Cyprus, yesterday, Tuesday 3 May 2011.

    From the summer of 1876 to the spring of 1877, there was heated public debate in Russia over whether to engage in the conflict in the Balkans. Fyodor Dostoevsky was passionately in favor of military intervention, for humanitarian and patriotic reasons – Leo Tolstoy, although not yet a fully-fledged pacifist, could not see the point of Russia getting involved.

    A little background – in the summer of 1875, Orthodox Christians in Herzogovina revolted against their Ottoman overlords. In 1876, the Slav principalities of Serbia and Montenegro declared war on Turkey, and there was an uprising in Bulgaria. In Russia, there was fervent support for the Serbian cause. Russians voluntarily sent money and medical supplies to the Orthodox Slavs, and many Russian volunteers went to the Balkans to fight. Russian newspapers took up the Serb cause, as is reflected in this fictional discussion between Koznyshev and Prince Shcherbotsky from Tolstoy's novel Anna Karennina:

'All the most diverse sections of the educated public, hostile before, are merged in one.  Every division is at an end, all the public organs say the same thing over and over again, all feel the mighty torrent that has overtaken them and is carrying them in one direction.'

'Yes, all the newspapers do say the same thing,' said the prince. 'That's true.  But so it is the same thing that all the frogs croak before a storm. One can hear nothing for them.'

    Dostoevsky was in tune with the popular mood. His serialized publication A Writer’s Diary, which ran around this time, often reminds me of the U.S. “war blogs” of 2002-3. It’s fascinating how Dostoevsky’s various motivations for supporting the war merge and reinforce each other. His most laudable motive is his acute empathy with suffering, the sense of humanitarian urgency he has about putting an end to atrocities committed by the Turks. But he segues easily from reporting horrific massacres to fantasizing about a Russian conquest of Constantinople, the center of Orthodox Christianity. Dostoevsky admires Russian heroes and despises foreign diplomats, and condemns those who “rattle on about the damage that war can cause in an economic sense.” He is sublimely confident the Serbs will welcome Russian intervention, and that those who don’t are an unrepresentative class out of touch with their own people. He has no sense that atrocities are occurring on both sides.

    Dostoesvsky feels that a national malaise has been conquered in Russia, and that the extent of popular support for the Serbs is proof of the spiritual superiority of the people to the intelligentsia. He is angry with those Russians who feel sympathy for the Turks. He is completely certain of victory and of being on the side of history, and has suggestions about what to do once the Ottoman Empire is completely crushed. He is convinced of his own country's exceptionalism, that the pro-war movement “in its self-sacrificing nature and disinterestedness, in its pious religious thirst to suffer for a righteous cause, is almost without precedent among other nations.” and has a hard time crediting the good faith of anyone who sees things differently. Sometimes he talks in terms of a “crusade,” and indulges the apocalyptic dream of a final war between Christianity and Islam.

In England, the leader of the Opposition, William Gladstone, was appalled by Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria and thought England should help drive the Turks out of that country -- but the Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, in a spirit of realpolitik, maintained the official British policy of siding with Turkey against Russia. That Disraeli was a Jew provided Dostoevsky with some scope for conspiracy theorizing.

 

Meanwhile Tolstoy was finishing Anna Karennina. When Vronsky goes off to war after Anna's suicide -- equipping a squadron at his personal expense -- this is the war he’s headed for. Katkov's Russian Herald, which was serializing Tolstoy's enormously popular novel as it came out, declined to carry the eighth part, instead printing the following note --

“In the previous issue, the words 'to be continued' appeared at the end of the Anna Karennina installment. But with the death of the heroine the novel really comes to an end. The author had planned an epilogue of a few pages, in which we learn that Vronsky, distraught and grieving, left for Serbia as a volunteer in the army. The other characters are all well, but Levin, in his country retreat, remains hostile to the volunteers and the Slavophiles. Perhaps the author will add chapters to this effect in a special edition to this novel.”

   The Herald slyly implies that Levin – the character in Anna Karennina most directly based on Tolstoy – is not quite well. While killing off Anna at the end of the penultimate issue may have been bad timing suspense-wise, the real problem was probably that the Herald was campaigning for intervention in the Balkans, in the face of Czar Alexander II's continued hesitation.

    Levin in Part Eight is actually not so much “hostile” to the Slavophiles as baffled by them. In conversation with the likes of Koznyshev, Levin is not even confrontational enough to keep up the argument for very long. His attitude, basically Tolstoy's own, is of bewilderment that so many people are passionately committed to actions in a place they know little about – it's a feeling I sometimes have myself when listening to defenses of our current involvement in Libya. Levin suggests that, when people become passionately committed to a faraway cause, instead of devoting themselves to problems nearer at hand, the reason is probably to be found in their own psychological makeup.

    This seems like a perceptive diagnosis in Dostoevsky’s case. The sheer number of arguments Dostoevsky has for going to war raises the suspicion that none of them are the real reason – Slavoj Žižek has made a similar point about George W. Bush and the Iraq War. In A Writer’s Diary, Dostoevsky suggests that war is the only way to unify Russia's different classes, that Russia has a moral duty to seize this chance for an “unprecedented war for the sake of the weak and oppressed” and fulfill Russia's world-historical destiny. Where Dostoevsky insists that the right answers are best found in deep emotion, and faith that the world is ripe for transformation, Tolstoy favors a dispassionate, clearheaded solution. Of course, Tolstoy’s politics are equally a reflection of his own emotional state -- his sense of alienation with the pro-war hysteria raging around him may have deepened his sense of personal crisis and paved the way for his later pacifism.

Tolstoy brought out Part Eight of Anna Karennina in a separate edition at personal expense. When Dostoevsky read it, he was outraged. Dostoevsky's response in A Writer’s Diary is to juxtapose the terrible image of a girl forced to watch her father being flayed to death with the image of Levin remaining philosophically serene on his large estate. Pacifism requires one to maintain a certain emotional distance. Dostoevsky bypasses Tolstoy with a direct emotional appeal -- how can we just stand by and do nothing while such terrible things are being done? And Dostoevsky may have a point that Tolstoy's privileged lifestyle contributes to his sense of detachment.

    By this point in their argument, Russia had formally declared war on Turkey. The war lasted about a year, there were systematic attacks by Cossacks against Muslims and Jews, and by 1879, one-third of all the Muslims of Bosnia-Herzogovina had either emigrated or been killed. An intriguing piece of historical trivia is that this war gave birth to the word “jingoism,” coined from a British music hall song of the time --

“We don't want to fight but by Jingo if we do
We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too.
We've fought the Bear before, and while we're Britons true
The Russians shall not have Constantinople.”

    In the event, the British largely kept out of the war – although they did send a fleet to Constantinople when the Russian Army was getting near that city. A Russian-Turkish treaty was signed by which Russia won most of her demands – including Serbian independence, self-rule in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and eased restrictions for Christians under Turkish rule – but the united European powers demanded a revision of the treaty, and at the Congress of Berlin these Russian gains were reversed. The Congress of Berlin allowed Austria-Hungary to occupy Bosnia-Herzegovina and -- following a geopolitical logic that puzzled commentators even at the time -- Britain to take over Cyprus. Lasting peace did not ensue in any of these places.

    The longer-term consequences of the war are addressed by a later great Russian novelist, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, in his historical work The Russian Question. Solzhenitsyn notes that there were four eighteenth-century and four nineteenth-century Russo-Turkish wars. Solzhenitsyn writes, “Two wretched ideas relentlessly tormented and pulled all our rulers in succession: to help and to save the Transcaucasian Christians, and to help and to save the Orthodox in the Balkans. One can acknowledge the loftiness of these moral principles, but not to the extent of total disregard for the interests of the State...”

    Solzhenitsyn singles out the 1877 war for special censure -- “Such a ‘victorious’ war is worth no more than a lost one -- cheaper yet, to not start it at all. Russian military and financial strength was undermined, the public’s spirit fell; and it was then that the revolutionary era with its terrorism began to gain momentum...”

    The main long-term impact of the Russo-Turkish wars was to weaken both Empires to the point of collapse, with resulting humanitarian disasters exceeding those that Dostoevsky justly condemned. While the impulse towards humanitarian intervention is a worthy one, the results may be protracted civil war, escalating carnage, and the weakening of the intervening countries. Will future historians record that a spate of early twenty-first century wars in the Arab world were among the key factors that brought the American Century to a close?

From the WHO website: "The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends."



The WHO has ranked healthcare systems in order from best to worst.



1 FRANCE

2 Italy

3 San Marino

4 Andorra

5 Malta

6 Singapore

7 Spain

8 Oman

9 Austria

10 Japan

11 Norway

12 Portugal

13 Monaco

14 Greece

15 Iceland

16 Luxembourg

17 Netherlands

18 United Kingdom

19 Ireland

20 Switzerland

21 Belgium

22 Colombia

23 Sweden

24 Cyprus

25 Germany

26 Saudi Arabia

27 United Arab Emirates

28 Israel

29 Morocco

30 CANADA

31 Finland

32 Australia

33 Chile

34 Denmark

35 Dominica

36 Costa Rica

37 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(see the entire list: http://www. photius. com/rankings/healthra…



I've highlighted France and Canada because these two are the countries I most often hear being compared to the U. S., but notice how we've also been beaten by countries like Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and the often-criticized Sweden. We also barely beat out Socialist Cuba by two places. Comments?



Answer on Best Healthcare System in the World?



Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I guess.



But the US isn't under the direction of the WHO, we don't have their national health care system.

Online Forex Broker Tadawul FX Launches New Currency Pairs and Lowers Spreads PR Newswire (press release) Tadawul FX, also known as TDFX, is an online forex broker. TDFX is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (license number 103/09) and is also registered with the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) with registration ... and more »

London based Gulf Fuel PLC is pleased to announce that Island Oil Ltd, member of Island Oil (Holdings) Ltd are the Group's Representative in Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Ukraine, while Gulf Fuel will...

Hey Dubai Fan - Please read the full version of this exciting Dubai News article and also other News from UAE on our website Dubai Informer

London based Gulf Fuel PLC is pleased to announce that Island Oil Ltd, member of Island Oil(Holdings) Ltd are the Groups Representative in Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Ukraine, while Gulf Fuel will act as Island Oils representative in UK & U.A.E. Commenting on the appointment, Gulf Fuels Chief Executive Officer Shazad Chohan stated, It is with gr... http://www.eyeofdubai.com/en/images/gulf(7).jpg

Portland Police are investigating anti-Islam graffiti painted onto the Maine Muslim Community Center on Anderson Street.

The graffiti included: "Osama today, Islam tomorow (sic)," "Long live the West" and "Free Cyprus".

The letters were written in maroon paint on the mosque's gray cement block wall. The graffiti was written sometime between late Sunday night and about 7:15 a.m. today, when it was discovered by Portland Housing Authority workers on Anderson Street.

A crew from Graffiti Busters was called in this morning to remove the graffiti, and it had finished the task by 10:45 a.m.

Officials with the community center said they recently completed purchase of the building, where they've been since 2007, for $1 million. They said they're disappointed by the graffiti and concerned about the impact it will have on children.

Portland Press Herald, 2 May 2011

See also MPBN, 2 May 2011

Press Herald

Portland Mosque Vandalized in Wake of bin Laden Death MPBN News Portland police say someone spray-painted the phrases "Osama today Islam tomorow (sic)," "Long Live the West" and "Go Home" and "Free Cyprus," an apparent reference to the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus. Portland police officer Gavin Hillard ... Graffiti on Portland mosque under investigationPress Herald all 4 news articles »

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mathew 20:28)

This is how Dr. Arda Jebejian described Mrs. Nevart Kassouni-Panayiotides’ educational and ecclesiastical service in Cyprus. In fact, her service was the continuation of her father’s legacy, the late Mr. Manuel Kassouni whose educational and ecclesiastical ministry in Cyprus among the Armenian and Cypriot communities has left its tremendous impact over the years and across many generations.








Manuel Kassouni’s newly-published book, Historical Studies, Reminiscences and Memoires, edited by Dr. Yervant Kassouni and published in Beirut in 2010, was launched on Monday, April 11, 2011, at 8:00 pm, at the Utujian Hall, Nicosia, Cyprus. On the same night, Mrs. Nevart Kassouni-Panayiotides was acknowledged for her long years of service in Cyprus. The event was organized by the Armenian Evangelical Church in Cyprus and was held under the patronage of H.E. Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and the Armenian Representative in the Cyprus Parliament Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian.The program included a presentation of Manuel Kassouni‘s book by Mr. Hrayr Jebejian. The book is a collection of Manuel Kassouni’s historical researches on the formation of the Armenian nation, memoires,
sermons and various reflections from his childhood years in Aintab, his deportation during the Genocide, and his settling in Cyprus. Mr. Manuel Kassouni taught in the American Academy in Larnaca for 40 years and was a prominent intellectual, historian, publisher and lay preacher.
The Rev. Dr. Vartkes Kassouni, Manuel Kassouni’s son, who had flown from the US for this particular event, shared his thoughts about his father’s life and work. Mr. Philip Panayiotides, Nevart’s son, who came from Switzerland for the event, shared his appreciation of his mother’s life. H.E. Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, accompanied by Rev. Dr. Vartkes Kassouni and Fathers Momig Habeshian and Mashdots Ashkarian, dedicated the book through the traditional Kinetson ceremony.
Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian acknowledged Mrs. Nevart’s long years of service with the presentation of a plaque. Alik and Vahe Jebejian presented two musical pieces by Handel and Mendelssohn on the flute and the piano respectively. The event was concluded by the Bahbanitch offered by the Archbishop and the Orhnouyian Aghotk by Rev. Kassouni.

The Utujian Hall was packed by members of the Ar-menian community in Cyprus as well as guests from the American Academy. The event was quite an emotional one for all, remembering the old days and the hard labor of the Kassouni teachers for several generations. The event was also an occasion to reconfirm the community’s legacy and to highlight the imperative to move forward with the determination to do more.

Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias condemned Turkey’s actions as offending the international shipment agreements.

The Armenian Cultural Centre in Larnaca will be inaugurated by President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias on May 5, Larnaca Chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

Here is what is true about Norwegian Ninja. In 1984 Norwegian diplomat Arne Treholt was convicted of high treason and selling state secrets. He was convicted to a twenty year prison term and served eight of them before being pardoned in 1992. Treholt has been living in exile on the island of Cyprus ever since. He has always maintained his innocence regarding the charges he faced. What is also true is that around that time during the Cold War period NATO and the CIA secretly operated what are known as Stay-Behind Forces throughout Europe. The intention for these groups were that they were to be a built-in resistance should the Russians invade. What happened was either there was an itch that needed to be scratched or they were...

Cyprus MailGETTING information on Cyprus' antiquities used to be a chore discouraging potential hobbyists and frustrating specialists who were forced...

During the period from July 2004 through August 2007 the numismatic community, by way of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG), the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), submitted eighteen requests for information to the U.S. State Department (DOS). These were formal requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). By November of 2007, not one of these requests had produced responsive information. Repeated appeals to DOS for response were either ignored or denied. Related queries from U.S. Senators and Representatives on behalf of the numismatic community were stonewalled. While the requests covered a range of issues, one common thread was the request for information regarding reports produced by the Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) following their deliberation on requests for import restrictions that included ancient coins.

One major objective of these requests was to ascertain whether DOS had followed the advice of CPAC when they imposed restrictions on the importation of ancient coins from Cyprus. Even though a report to Congress is mandated when DOS deviates from CPAC guidance, neither the public nor Congress have been provided access to the CPAC reports. Another objective was to determine whether import restrictions imposed on ancient coins from China had actually been asked for by the Chinese. These are not questions affecting national security or the sensitivity of diplomatic relations. They are questions that any American citizen ought to be able to pose regarding the activities of their government. They are the very sorts of questions that the Freedom of Information Act was designed to sanction. When answers to these questions were not forthcoming, and it became clear that DOS would not address them, the ACCG with the cooperation of IAPN and PNG launched a FOIA law suit to seek judicial review of DOS actions.

The numismatic community's lawsuit (which by the way is not over quite yet) challenges a veil of secrecy that permeates DOS and allows extralegal activities within its bureaus to flourish. It is a multi-faceted complaint, but the primary objective of the litigation is to illuminate the process by which Memorandums of Agreement with foreign nations are generated, approved and implemented. These MOUs have deeply and immediately affected ancient coin collectors. The initial complaint was filed in U.S. District Court at Washington, DC on November 15, 2007. As might be expected, the Department of Justice (DOJ) defended DOS with the standard tools of their trade. One delay after another pushed the issue aside. During this period, the State Department did begin to release documents (70 in their entirety, so they claim). Having read every document produced, I can say unequivocally that the exercise was a sham and an insult to FOIA. The majority of documents that were released in their "entirety" were pages of general information from web sites, transcripts of public meetings or copies of material that the plaintiffs themselves had submitted. Those documents that related directly to the question at hand were heavily redacted, sometimes to the point that the only text on a page was the page number itself. One can only imagine the glee with which those responsible must have reveled in their audacity as they submitted these "responses". The releases were not in good faith, they were a subterfuge that DOS and DOJ would later use in their arguments to claim responsiveness. The number of documents provided sounds impressive on paper, but is far less impressive in the hand. The facts are quite clear on this point, DOS was totally unresponsive over a three year period and then disingenuously responded with primarily useless information only when forced by litigation. They boldly circumvented the spirit and intent of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA) and of FOIA.

Quite by accident, I'm sure, DOS failed to redact some information that gave ACCG clues about activity of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in the MOU and CPAC processes. One series of documents suggested that DOS had communications with the archaeological community about ancient coins prior to any actual request for the addition of coins by the government of Cyprus. When an 11th hour request for this addition materialized, it seemed to validate the suspicion of ACCG that the request was being orchestrated from the U.S. contingent, not from the Cypriot. On November 20, 2009, more than two years after the initial filing, Judge Richard J. Leon issued a ruling of Summary Judgment in favor of the defendant (DOS). On December 22, 2009 ACCG filed an appeal to this decision in the United States Court of Appeals, Washington DC. Predictably, DOJ moved for Summary Affirmation. Naturally, that involved additional argument and filings. The three-judge panel denied the DOJ motion for Summary Affirmance on June 9, 2010 thereby agreeing to hear the case and at the same time allowing the introduction of an amici curiae (friend of the court) brief by certain former members of CPAC.

The introduction of testimony by former members of CPAC lent a new dimension to this case, clearly elevating it to a matter of public concern as opposed to the concern of what might have been argued to be a special interest. The "amici" were not a group of "experts" for rent, they were people of impeccable credentials appointed by the President of the United States to serve on the committee that was under criticism in the suit. What they had to say about DOS secrecy should have raised more than one eyebrow, even in Washington. The Amici included Jay Kislak, Kate Fitzgibbon, Arthur Houghton and Gerald Stiebel — quite a distinguished group. The Amici spoke to "a Congressional intent that federal agencies disclose records to the fullest extent possible while withholding records only to a limited extent." They expressed a concern with "the undesirable public policy consequences, and with the frustration of the CPIA’s statutory aims, that would come from federal courts’ too-readily upholding boilerplate FOIA exemption claims made by the State Department." Amici also expressed their view that "If this Court were to accept the State Department's position, the Court would in effect allow the State Department to withhold everything submitted by the private sector simply because some people request confidentiality."

In other venues, former members of CPAC expressed their concerns more pointedly. At a public event held by the International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR) at the National Academy in New York on April 17, 2008, former members of CPAC gave their candid assessment of the committee and its management. Former member Kate Fitz Gibbon said "The secrecy under which the Committee operates harms it, as does the lack of transparency...". Jay Kislak related that "This is the only advisory committee that I have been able to find that conducts everything in secret and will not disclose anything." He went on to say "I want to make it clear that I am not necessarily against any actions that were taken or any of the MOUs which were recommended by the Committee and put into action. I am, however, opposed to the way it was done because I think it is absolutely, completely, un-American, and I don't mind saying that." At a Cultural Policy Research Institute (CPRI) symposium held in Washington, DC on March 21, 2011 Ms. Fitz Gibbon said "CPAC's committee review and recommendation process fails to meet the law. And, when CPAC's administration is called on these failures, it will not let that sunshine in. It cloaks its processes in quite extraordinary secrecy. It has refused multiple times Freedom of Information Act requests." At the same CPRI event, Mr. Kislak amplified on DOS secrecy at CPAC, "We'd get a memo this big each meeting, probably 75, 100 pages, maybe more, with mostly reprints of articles of newspapers and magazines, et cetera, all marked 'confidential information, do not disclose.' And I'd ask why it was done that way, 'Well, it's just we do it every page.' There was no rhyme or reason. The secrecy is inexcusable."

Unwarranted and unjustified secrecy has been the hallmark of State Department policy for a very long time. National reporters, elected officials, advocacy groups, and even State Department insiders have complained about it. Even though some points of the Circuit Court ruling were reversed, the Appellate Court decision of April 15, 2011 was in large measure a stamp of approval on the secrecy that permeates DOS. Ironically, the first of the ACCG objectives mentioned above was achieved when members of CPAC confirmed publicly that DOS did not follow CPAC's advice and expanded restrictions to ancient coins over CPAC's vote to exempt them. Some information obtained from the cryptic redactions of DOS will certainly be useful in the Baltimore suit filed by ACCG against DOS and CBP. Other information pertinent to that case may still be forthcoming under the Appellate Court reversal of the lower court's Summary Judgment. More importantly, the State Department wall of secrecy is a stain on government by the people and this challenge was long overdue. The result, unfortunately, is less than encouraging for those who would like to believe that America is still a land of freedom and justice. The U.S. Appellate Court had a chance to right a grievous wrong and failed to step up when the opportunity was presented.

Love is in the air for a certain couple this month, so together with monarch.co.uk we want to give you the chance of winning a fabulous all-inclusive holiday for two to the beautiful island of Cyprus.

Rare Earth Elements: A Bubble Or A Long-Term Growth Story? FINalternatives Prior to portfolio management, Markusen was an exploration Geologist for Cyprus Amax. He received a BS in Geology from Colorado State University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Denver. Markusen is a member of the American Association of ... and more »

NICOSIA President Christofias said here on Wednesday that President of the Republic of Greece Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou have expressed their full support to the handlings of the Cyprus government on the Cyprus problem and confirmed that Greece and Cyprus share the same views.

Women with frizzy curly hair who are considering using a Brazilian Blowout--listen up. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an alert, posted April 11, 2011 on their website, that they are investigating reports of severe health hazards as a result of formaldehyde exposure coming from the hair straightening treatment.

Formaldehyde has long been known to be a dangerous chemical and was “labeled a human carcinogen” most recently by a National Academy of Sciences panel.
“Formaldehyde-based hair straighteners present a particular danger to salon workers who apply blow driers and 450-degree flatirons to chemical-coated hair,” an Environmental Working Group (EWG) investigation said. Because of these health dangers, hair straightening products using formaldehyde have been banned in Australia, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany and Cyprus.

Over the past two years, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has received 47 complaints of adverse reactions reported by salon workers and clients who received Brazilian Blowout treatments. The EWG, a voluntary organization dedicated to bringing out information to protect the public’s health, reviewed the complaints and has stepped up to take action.

The EWG reported on their website that women experienced symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, allergic reactions, blisters developing on the scalp, hair loss and ulcers in the mouth. Despite these complaints, the FDA still has not put out firm warnings to limit the product’s use and continues to take a “wait and see” approach. The EWG also believes that the actual incidence of side effects is far greater since reporting to the FDA is voluntary.

Some salon owners claimed they have not used formaldehyde-based solutions, but in reality, they were just passing along erroneous information told to them by the manufacturer. The EWG found that 15 out of 16 manufacturers who claimed their products had little to no formaldehyde actually had substantial amounts of formaldehyde, up to 11.8 percent. See www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/hair-straighteners-that-hide-f... to learn about which brands tested positive.

Salon owners are bound by OSHA regulations to protect their workers from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. If solutions of over one percent formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasing chemicals are used or if salon workers complain of symptoms, then salon owners are required to provide health protection actions as specified by OSHA.

To limit the danger to their workers, OSHA.gov recommends that salon owners avoid using products that contain “formalde- hyde, formalin, methylene glycol, or any of the other names for formaldehyde listed on the label or in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).” If formaldehyde solutions are used, ventilation systems must be installed, workers should be given respirators if needed and temperatures should be lowered in hair dryers and flat irons.

There are a few alternatives to the Brazilian Blowout, which runs $250 to $600 per session, and similar formaldehyde salon hair straightening treatments. Flat irons are an old standby method and are the only method without a chemical risk. Brazilian blowout ZERO is possibly safer as it uses glycolic acid and solutions that break hair bonds using sulfites and bisulfites that may be less hazardous.

There are no specific laws that protect the public from this exposure, which is one reason why the EWG feels so strongly that the dangers of formaldehyde be known. “EWG has filed a citizen petition that asks FDA to draft regulations regarding formaldehyde in hair straighteners, to protect the health of salon workers and clients,” ewg.org said.

Sources:

www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/hazard_alert.html

www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=811

www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners

Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles

Cyprus. An endlessly fascinating case study in the contagion risk from Greece defaulting.And now with an offshore tax twist.Standard & Poor’s cut Cyprus to A- on...

Peter Andre was spotted working out while on holiday in Cyprus with his kids. “Peter Andre Works Out in Cyprus” is categorized as “entertainment”. This video was licensed from Grab Networks. For additional video content, click the “video” tab at the top of this page. If you are a new American Consumer News reader, we [...]

Defence Secrertary Dr Liam Fox and Chief of Joint Operations Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach visited British troops from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who are based in Cyprus. Dr Fox attended their Trooping of the Colour...

Soldier from 11 EOD Regiment killed in Afghanistan Defence Secretary in Cyprus as 2 LANCS receives Afghanistan medals Bastion chefs keep forces fed in Helmand UK military liaison advisory team to be sent to Libya Afghan Army Chief returns to...

Cyprus is a large island located near Turkey and has an intriguing but turbulent past. Birthplace of Greek goddess Aphrodite, Cyprus has sandy beaches, ancient archeological sites, wineries and gorgeous mountain scenery. There is, however, still evidence of the conflict between the Greek-Cypriots and the Turkish people. Highly coveted because of its location, the island [...]

Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox has visited the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS) as they receive their Afghanistan medals in Cyprus.

Singer trailed by his camera crew for workout in Cyprus

The EU has called on Turkey to implement the Ankara protocol and normalize its relations with the Republic of Cyprus, with a view to give an impetus to its EU accession negotiations.

Google released Map Maker, a new Web application that allows users to add and update maps worldwide, in the U.S. on Tuesday. Previously, Map Maker has been open to 183 other countries and regions around the world, including Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cuba, Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait, Mexico, Nicaragua, Syria, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yemen. Canada hasn't been added to Map Maker as of yet.

India and Cyprus today reaffirmed their common desire to enhance bilateral relations in all mutually beneficial areas.

At a meeting between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Cyprus Foriegn Minister Markos Kyprianou here today, the two sides recalled the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The two Ministers discssed various bilateral matters and regional and international issues of mutual interest during their delegation-level talks.

India and Cyprus have enjoyed a traditionally close and time-tested friendship bound by a common commitment to democracy, pluralism and the rule of law. The bilateral relations have been nurtured by regular high-level exchanges, the most recent being the visit of the President of India to Cyprus in October, 2009.

The two countries have consistently extended support to each other in multilateral fora including at the United Nations.

Mr Kyprianou briefed Mr Krishna on the committed efforts of his Government for finding a resolution of the Cyprus issue. He expressed his deep appreciation for India’s longstanding and principled support towards finding a just and lasting settlement that would lead to the peaceful re-unification of Cyprus.

Mr Krishna reiterated that India stood for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus and expressed the hope for a comprehensive settlement based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation as set out in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

Mr Kyprianou reiterated the Government of Cyprus’ support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.

Yesterday, Mr Kyprianou had called on Vice President M Hamid Ansari and met with the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj.

NNN

Last Saturday marked one of the saddest days of my professional life. The evening concert that took place at the Bedford Corn Exchange was the swan song for one of Britain's finest and oldest youth orchestras. So we have this in perspective, this is not only an orchestra that could boast alumni in every professional orchestra, or one that could proudly talk of tours to Russia, the Czech Republic, Budapest, Cyprus, Italy. It was also an orchestra that gave performances of Mahler symphonies that would please many seasoned orchestras, and one that was broadcast on Radio 3.

Bedford Youth Orchestra was no ordinary youth orchestra; this was a gem. Its long-term conductor and architect, Michael Rose, conducted the last concert and gave a moving speech before the final piece was performed. What does this say for our country, and our Conservative-led government? That they could allow such a resource to be lost, and lost for ever, is far more than a dereliction of duty – even a banana republic would blush at the callousness of letting something so good and worthwhile go in the name of short-term cuts (Fiona Millar, Education, 12 April).

Yours in disbelief,

James Dickenson

Woking, Surrey

I was driving a few weeks ago en route to an entirely unplugged weekend -- my first since 1987 -- when my cell phone rang. It was a woman from the fraud department at my bank. She wanted to know whether I was really in Larnaca, Cyprus, racking up $462 in charges for virtual goods on a social network/dating site called Badoo. No, I said, I was not in Larnaca, and I'd never heard of Badoo. Please terminate that card with extreme prejudice.