Cyprus-Norway relations
Encyclopedia
Cyprus-Norway relations are foreign relations between Cyprus
and Norway
. Diplomatic relations were established on March 22, 1963. The government in Cyprus considers that the "bilateral relations between Cyprus and Norway are excellent in all fields". Neither country has resident ambassadors.
and the second in Kristiansand
. Norway is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens, Greece and an honorary consulate in Nicosia
. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
. Diplomatic relations were established on 22 March 1963. On April 7, 1998 Svein Ole Sæther
became the non-resident Norwegian Ambassador to Cyprus stationed in Tel Aviv
. He said "[bilateral relations] have been enhanced over the last years, not at least due to tourism." Norway used the opportunity to reaffirmed its support to a peaceful solution to the Cyprus dispute
and said it would support Cyprus' entry into the European Union
.
in Nicosia
. On March 5, 1963 there was an Agreement on Commercial Scheduled Air Transport signed in London
.
. The NGO Fund in Cyprus is co-financed by the European Economic Area
(EEA) Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. It was established in 2004. In 2006, Norway increased its commitment to offer a total contribution of 4.66 million euro
s. In 2007 a delegation from the EEA and Norway Grants
went to Cyprus to "monitor the spending of Norwegian funds given to Cyprus as part of the European Economic Area
." In 2008 Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
traveled to Cyprus to meet President Demetris Christofias. They met to discuss Norway's assistance to the Cypriot village of Salamiou
, in Paphos
. The Norwegians plan to rebuild an old elementary school in the village. It will then become a Regional Centre for Environmental Education at the cost of € 735,000.
, who was the richest man in Norway.
In 1996 tax rules in Norway were changed to keep shipping companies competitive and under the Norwegian flag as ships changed their registry to Cyprus. By 2008 changes to the tonnage tax regime to harmonize them with the European Union
forced some companies to register in Cyprus. Norwegian Service rig company Prosafe
moved their headquarters to Cyprus.
Several Norwegian retirees also moved to Cyprus; this too is largely to benefit from the lower tax rate on Cyprus and the minimal crime. The Norwegian colony on Cyprus is in Paphos
.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Diplomatic relations were established on March 22, 1963. The government in Cyprus considers that the "bilateral relations between Cyprus and Norway are excellent in all fields". Neither country has resident ambassadors.
Diplomatic relations
Cyprus is represented in Norway through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden and 2 honorary consulates, one in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and the second in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
. Norway is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens, Greece and an honorary consulate in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. Diplomatic relations were established on 22 March 1963. On April 7, 1998 Svein Ole Sæther
Svein Ole Sæther
Svein Ole Sæther is a Norwegian diplomat.He was born in Oslo, and is a cand.polit. by education. He started working for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1975. He was the Norwegian ambassador to Turkey from 1992 to 1997, and to Israel from 1997 to 2001...
became the non-resident Norwegian Ambassador to Cyprus stationed in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. He said "[bilateral relations] have been enhanced over the last years, not at least due to tourism." Norway used the opportunity to reaffirmed its support to a peaceful solution to the Cyprus dispute
Cyprus dispute
The Cyprus dispute is the result of the ongoing conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, over the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus....
and said it would support Cyprus' entry into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Agreements
On August 21, 1951 there was a Consular Convention and an Exchange of Letters relating to establishing diplomatic relations. On May 2, 1951 there was a Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. On May 17, 1962 there was an Exchange of Letters constituting an Agreement on the Abolition of Visa RequirementVisa requirements for Northern Cypriot citizens
Holders of an ordinary Northern Cypriot passport can visit one country without the need to obtain an entry visa. The passport is accepted as a travel document by a limited number of countries because this entity has limited international recognition. Normally, no visa is placed in the document...
in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
. On March 5, 1963 there was an Agreement on Commercial Scheduled Air Transport signed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Norwegian assistance
Norway provides direct funding to the Cypriot Government and also to local authorities, NGOs and educational institutions through EEA and Norway GrantsEEA and Norway Grants
The EEA Grants and Norway Grants are the financial contributions of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein towards the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to strengthen bilateral relations with 15 EU and EEA Member States in Central and Southern Europe.-...
. The NGO Fund in Cyprus is co-financed by the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(EEA) Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. It was established in 2004. In 2006, Norway increased its commitment to offer a total contribution of 4.66 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s. In 2007 a delegation from the EEA and Norway Grants
EEA and Norway Grants
The EEA Grants and Norway Grants are the financial contributions of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein towards the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to strengthen bilateral relations with 15 EU and EEA Member States in Central and Southern Europe.-...
went to Cyprus to "monitor the spending of Norwegian funds given to Cyprus as part of the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
." In 2008 Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
Jonas Gahr Støre
Jonas Gahr Støre is the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, having been appointed to Jens Stoltenberg's second cabinet on 17 October 2005. He represents the Norwegian Labour Party.-Personal life:...
traveled to Cyprus to meet President Demetris Christofias. They met to discuss Norway's assistance to the Cypriot village of Salamiou
Salamiou
Salamiou is a village in the Paphos District of Cyprus, located 6 km northeast of Kelokedara....
, in Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
. The Norwegians plan to rebuild an old elementary school in the village. It will then become a Regional Centre for Environmental Education at the cost of € 735,000.
Cyprus as tax haven
The taxation levels in Cyprus are considerably lower than in Norway, and Cyprus has actively courted Norwegians to move to Cyprus. Among the Norwegians who moved to Cyprus is the shipping billionaire John FredriksenJohn Fredriksen
John Fredriksen, is a Norwegian-born Cypriot oil tanker and shipping tycoon, owner of the world's largest oil tanker fleet, and was Norway's richest man until he chose to abandon his Norwegian citizenship and take up a Cypriot passport. Norwegian magazine Kapital listed Fredriksen in 2010 with a...
, who was the richest man in Norway.
In 1996 tax rules in Norway were changed to keep shipping companies competitive and under the Norwegian flag as ships changed their registry to Cyprus. By 2008 changes to the tonnage tax regime to harmonize them with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
forced some companies to register in Cyprus. Norwegian Service rig company Prosafe
Prosafe
Prosafe SE is an owner/operator of semi-submersible accommodation and service rigs. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and posted revenues of USD 442 million in 2010.-Operations:...
moved their headquarters to Cyprus.
Several Norwegian retirees also moved to Cyprus; this too is largely to benefit from the lower tax rate on Cyprus and the minimal crime. The Norwegian colony on Cyprus is in Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
.
See also
- Foreign relations of CyprusForeign relations of CyprusCyprus is a member of the United Nations along with most of its agencies as well as the Commonwealth of Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Council of Europe...
- Foreign relations of NorwayForeign relations of NorwayThe foreign relations of Norway are based on the country's membership in NATO and within the workings of the United Nations . Additionally, Norway takes part in the integration of the European Union through its membership in the European Economic Area...
- Greece–Norway relationsGreece–Norway relationsGreece–Norway relations are foreign relations between Greece and Norway. The Greek Embassy in Oslo opened in 1980 and the Norwegian Embassy in Athens opened in 1974....