CYPRUS: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000692

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT (ARYAN),IO (RHAGEN AND JTUMINARO),AND
EUR/SE

DEPT PASS OFFICE OF THE COUNSELOR (MPLOWDEN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY

REF: STATE 107298

(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Per Reftel, we met with two officials at the MFA: Ms.
Francis Lanitou-Williams, Head of the Division of Development
Cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance, and International Economic
Organizations, and Mr. Nicolas Karaitidis, Counsellor, Department of
Bilateral Relations with Member States of the EU and Neighboring
Countries. In response to our talking points Williams, who has
served in her current position for only three weeks, pledged to
inform the MFA's leadership about our offer. She welcomed closer
dialogue between Cyprus and the US on global food issues and noted
that Foreign Minister Kyprianou is keenly interested in aid issues
in general. Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the
Environment, Michalis Polyniki Charalambides, will represent Cyprus
at the upcoming Food Summit in Rome.


2. (SBU) We also noted that the November 3 EU-US meeting in
Washington DC on official development assistance would be another
opportunity for closer cooperation on aid matters and urged our
interlocutors to encourage participating GOC officials to seek
direct contact with USG officials. Williams responded by asking for
more information about the USG's Millennium Challenge policy, to
which we responded by referring her to the appropriate website.


3. (SBU) Regarding GOC aid policy, Williams noted that, after a
brief "grace period", new EU member states were expected to
gradually increase their aid programs and become more adept at
administering them. At the same time, she added, the GOC was keenly
interested in ensuring that whatever money it contributes for
foreign aid is put to good use. Towards this end, the GOC is eager
to partner with other countries within the EU but also with other
non-EU countries (e.g. the U.S.) For example, Cyprus is now
co-financing education projects in Afghanistan with Denmark. Cyprus
provided only USD 100,000 to Afghanistan last year but Williams said
they will try to augment this in the year ahead.


4. (SBU) Williams also noted that Cyprus aid focuses on Education,
Health and Infrastructure. She provided a glossy new booklet
entitled "CyprusAid -- the Development Cooperation Service of the
Republic of Cyprus." This publication describes the various types
and sectors of Cyprus' Official Development Assistance and the
program's long-term vision. A copy of the publication can be
downloaded from:

http://www.planning.gov.cy/planning/Planning. nsf/Attach

mentArchive/1D6633BC4757FC74C2257599003BAF12/ $file/Cypr

usAid%20Brochure%20Eng.pdf?openelement

URBANCIC