G.O. Notes

The Republic of Cyprus is not exactly known as a winter-sports powerhouse, but the country regularly sends athletes to the Olympic winter games. It did so again this year, entering two athletes in the slalom competition in Vancouver. Cyprus was not expecting to win a medal, of course, but I think Cypriots can still claim a piece of Olympic glory. That’s because, as I was very excited to learn, the father of fellow Australian Lydia Lassila, winner of the gold in the women’s aerials (acrobatic skiing), is a Cypriot. With her medal, Lydia helped Australia deliver its best performance ever at a winter Olympics. By the way, Lassila is Lydia’s married name.

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The UN team in Cyprus held a memorial service for the friends and colleagues who perished in the earthquake in Haiti a month ago.  Alexander Downer and Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the head of UNFICYP, spoke to the staff — civilian, military and personnel — gathered for the occasion at the old Nicosia airport.  Below are Mr. Downer’s remarks:

Chief of Mission and Special Representative, Force Commander, ladies and gentlemen

It’s an honour for me as a new recruit to the United Nations to participate today in this solemn ceremony to commemorate those who lost their lives in the cause of humanity in Haiti.

The United Nations is built on great ideals, and while sometimes it may not succeed in living up to those ideals, so many people who come to work for the United Nations do so because they believe in those ideals.

The ideals of humanity, of caring for humanity, of assisting humanity of reaching out to people in need – that’s what those people working for the United Nations in Haiti were doing.

As a result of natural disaster caused not by humanity but by nature so many of them died. And I know from talking to so many of you over the last few weeks that you were very moved ,very struck and very affected by these events, by the deaths of so many people. People who you knew in some cases, people who were your friends and it’s very hard when that happens. But it’s important to remember that for those who died and those who were injured, they were there for the greatest of ideals and to care for the people of Haiti and to assist those people to build a better life.

Let us remember those people who died in the cause of helping others. They did not die in vain.

Let me just say that my heart goes out to so many of you who felt the pain of the loss, so many of you have felt the pain of the suffering, so many of you have had to comfort the families and the friends of those who have died. I know how hard it has been for you and I admire your sympathy and your support.

Thank you

The last day of the first week of intensive negotiations between the Cypriot leaders is coming to a close amid high expectations.  The leaders have so far discussed the question of governance and how the two communities — Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots – would share power in a future united Cyprus.  Other issues on the agenda for the stepped up talks include economic matters and European Union affairs.

Today’s meeting has been taking place under some clouds, both figurative and literal.  Rain has been intermittent throughout the day, making conditions for journalists and UNFICYP staff camped out in front of the talks venue a little trickier.  But there is also somewhat of a somber mood inside:  many Cypriots are still in shock over the murder of Antis Hadjicostis, the media mogul killed Monday in Nicosia (Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias took time out from the negotiations to attend the funeral today); and UN staff are anxiously awaiting news about their colleagues in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.  Good news out of the discussions would most definitely help lift the mood.

JL Diaz