Tourism Ministry

"Dear Minister,

It is a pity that you have had no time to reply to the concerns of many people, in Europe and elsewhere, about the regular, illegal and barbaric trapping and killing of migrant birds.

It will not have escaped your professional notice that an there is an increasing number of people seeking an alternative to a holiday on a packed beach; or who seek a still intact natural environment in our highly industralised and technologically advanced continent. The so-called 'eco' or 'soft' tourism.

The island Cyprus is well fitted to offer such opportunities; more so should the current talks on reunification be successful. The eco-tourists will however seek other destinations when they are made aware of the savage and illegal massacre of millions of migrating song birds every year.

We urge you to use the influence of your office to promote a hard line against this out-dated and criminal activity. This will bring benefits to Cyprus, and Europe as a whole, in the medium and long term. "

The reply is short, fails to address our points and attempts to squirm out of all responsibility. Our second letter has either not been read or is still in the pending tray at some level. The all-important economic breadwinner Tourism must be encouraged further to pull its weight!

Protection of birds

I am directed to refer to your e-mail of 14.12.2001and your letter of 13.12.2001 and to inform you that the above-mentioned subject comes within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior to which you e-mail is also addressed.

Yours faithfully,

Evangelis Tsinicola

for Permanent Secretary

A/A	Year	District	Total poaching cases	Cases involving illegal trapping, netting, liming or use of illegal devices
1	2000	Lefkosia (Nicosia)	52	16
2		Lemessos (Limassol)	50	7
3		Larnaca	62	25
4		Ammochostos (Famagusta)	18	15
5		Paphos	59	13
	Total		241	76

1	2001	Lefkosia (Nicosia)	52	9
2		Lemessos (Limassol)	57	10
3		Larnaca	97	53
4		Ammochostos (Famagusta)	50	46
5		Paphos	70	14
	Total		326	132