Letter No. 003B.13/BM/sa

Dear Friends,

Following the practice of keeping you informed of the Latin Catholic Community I would like to advise you that:

Parliamentary Work:

• During the visit to Cyprus of our Patriarch H.E. Fouad Twal , I had arranged a meeting with the Presidential Commissioner Mrs. Kety Clerides and the then Vicar General. At the meeting our Patriarch was informed of the policy of the Government to create the Religious Group.
• On 26^th of July I had visited the Mayor Nicosia with our Vicar General and the Presidential Commissioner and we had discussed the Municipality’s plans for the reconstruction of the square in front of the Holy Cross Church in Nicosia.
• On 16^th August, I had submitted to the Ministry of Interior the position of our Community for the Government’s preparation of the Fourth Report of Cyprus to the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities with the Council of Europe.
• On the 16^th September I had a meeting with the Minister of Interior Mr. Socrates Hassicos concerning various matters of our Community. We had also discussed the residence permits of priests/nuns and the Minster gave instructions the Agreement to be enforced for the permits be valid for 3 years. Also we have discussed the Bill of Law soon to be brought up in Parliament concerning the creation of new cemeteries. At the meeting the Presidential Commissioner Mrs. Kety Clerides was present.

Community Affairs:

• I welcome to Cyprus the new Vicar General of our Church Rev. Father George Kraj.
• On the occasion of the 60^th Anniversary of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, there was a special broadcast by our Community and the importance of the weekly Latin program on the radio.
• I have arranged a visit to the Latin Catholic old cemetery in the buffer zone for our new Vicar General and Father Zacheusz.
• I have participated at the meeting of the 16^th Inter-religious Dialogue on the 17^th and 18^th of October organized by the EPP Group Intercultural Service of the European Parliament.
• Like every year on the 2^nd November the Latins have visited the cemeteries and prayed for the souls of their departed loved ones. I had arranged with U.N for our visit also to our cemetery in the buffer zone.

Announcement:

• The booklet “The Latins of Cyprus” is available at the Public Information Office (PIO). However, you may call my office in Parliament at tel. 22407238 or 99587529 to request us to mail to you. The booklet is in Greek, English and Italian language.
• It is also available online at www.latincatholicsofcyprus.com. Recently the Latin Youth created an account on facebook.

I wish to extend to all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Yours Sincerely