Dear Members,

I had the honor of being appointed as the new President of your Association, effective 1st January 2009.  I have been involved in the International Business Community ever since its first appearance on the island and I have always maintained excellent contacts with CIBA and many of its past and present presidents and executive committee members.

During the past two years CIBA was actively involved and in close contact with the Ministry of Interior, the Civil Registry and Migration Department and the Parliamentary Committee on Migration Matters regarding the drafting of (1) the Aliens and Migration (Amending) Law of 2007 which lays down the Right of Family Reunification and the Status of Third Country Nationals who are long term residents, and (2) the 2007 Law on the right of Union Citizens and their Family Members to move and reside freely in the territory of the Republic.

CIBA also heavily opposed the (wrong) practice of the Migration Department not to issue the relevant MEU2 Residence Cards to Third Country National spouses of EU citizens if their marriage took place here in Cyprus.  This issue has now been resolved.
             
CIBA insists on an acceptable solution for the situation of children of Third Country National residents of Cyprus, who have reached the age of 18 and who are studying abroad.  Since the Cyprus Migration Authorities refuse to issue them a resident permit, most of these children need to apply for a tourist visa in the country where they study to come home to their parents during their holidays.

CIBA also attracted the attention of the Authorities upon the insurmountable difficulties created in applying the Law on Family Reunification to all newly arriving staff of international business companies.  According to the adopted practice these people would have to wait close to three years before being able to bring their wives and children here. An amendment of the law is in process.

And the above are but a few of the issues that CIBA is or was dealing with, for the executives and the foreign personnel of International Companies in Cyprus.

I truly believe that the efforts, the diligence and the achievements of CIBA have often been underrated and for sure it makes sense for all International Business Companies to become members of CIBA because all your problems become our problems and we are here to help you solving them.

Yours truly,

Frixos Savvides