VZCZCXRO4758
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHNC #0911/01 3231417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181417Z NOV 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9334
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1261

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000911 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT RESPONSE 
 
REF: SECSTATE 109254 
 
NICOSIA 00000911  001.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Embassy responses to the TIP interim assessment for 
Special Watch List countries are keyed Reftel order. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Law enforcement efforts to combat trafficking: 
During the interim period covered by this report (April 1 - 
November 15), the Republic of Cyprus opened 24 cases for 
investigation under the comprehensive 2007 anti-TIP law, an 
increase from 20 cases opened in the same date range in 2007. 
 Of the 24, 14 are pending trial, two resulted in acquittals, 
seven are still under police investigation, and one was 
dismissed pursuant to a decision by the Attorney General.  On 
April 1, 27 TIP cases were already pending before the court. 
One of these 27 resulted in a conviction during the rating 
period and a two-year prison sentence, eight resulted in 
acquittals, two were dismissed, and prosecution in one case 
was suspended pursuant to a decision by the Attorney General. 
 Fifteen of the 27 are still pending trial and four are under 
police investigation. 
 
¶3. (U) Abolition of "artiste" work permits:  The Council of 
Ministers on October 29 took a decision to abolish, as of 
November 1, the use of the "artiste category" work permit for 
women from non-EU countries working in the cabaret industry. 
According to this decision, these individuals wishing to work 
as "artistes" in Cyprus will need to apply for work permits 
as creative artists (writers, composers, etc.) or performing 
artists (dancers, singers, actors, etc.) and provide evidence 
of their qualifications, experience and international renown. 
 The procedures to follow and terms of employment will be the 
same as those in effect for all other alien workers. 
However, this new policy has not been implemented yet, as the 
competent ministries are still drafting accompanying 
regulations.  The government aims for full implementation by 
the end of November.  The October 29 decision also tasked the 
Ministry of Labor with preparing new employment contracts for 
this work category reflecting the changes adopted, as well as 
fast-tracking legislation to regulate the operation of 
private employment agencies and introduce stricter criteria 
for issuing licenses to employment agents.  Meanwhile, the 
number of "artiste category" work permits has declined 
significantly.  According to the Ministry of Interior, 1384 
work permits were issued from April 1 to November 11, as 
compared to 2279 that were issued in the March 1-November 
2007 period. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Public awareness:  The government allocated over 
43,000 euros to NGOs for TIP-related projects during the 
rating period, an increase from 25,000 euros allocated during 
the same date range last year; from this total, 17,000 euros 
went to the NGO STIGMA-run shelter for TIP victims and 7150 
euros to the Mediterranean Institute for Gender Studies 
(MIGS) to organize two TIP-related conferences. 
Additionally, the government directed 50,000 euros to the 
Ministry of Interior for the second phase of the demand 
reduction campaign that had begun in March 2007.  Phase II is 
expected to commence in December or January 2009, and will 
include placement of anti-TIP billboards, posters, TV spots 
and brochures.  On September 18, the RoC co-organized with 
the OSCE and the United Nations a high-profile, well-received 
conference on TIP and organized crime.  During the period, 
government officials and police officers gave interviews on 
TIP to local and foreign media and participated as speakers 
in all the TIP-related conferences organized locally.  In 
praising the new Ministers of Justice and Interior (they came 
into office as a result of the spring 2008 elections), NGO 
contacts report their unprecedented political will to combat 
TIP and cooperate with/empower the NGO community. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Standardized procedures for referral and protection 
of victims:  The 2007 anti-TIP law defines the procedures for 
identification and referral of victims of trafficking, and 
describes in detail the rights and protections that should be 
afforded to them by the state.  Any government officer should 
(and any NGO may also) refer potential victims to the 
Department of Social Welfare Services, which will then invite 
the police anti-TIP unit to conduct the identification 
process.  Once victims are identified, they are referred to 
the government-run or STIGMA-run shelters.  Victims who do 
not wish to stay at a shelter are entitled to a rent subsidy 
and public assistance to cover basic needs, as well as 
assistance in finding employment.  All victims are entitled 
to free medical care, legal assistance and psychological 
support.  They may stay at the government shelter up to four 
weeks, but this period may be extended if it is deemed in the 
victim's best interest.  NGO sources report, however, that 
delivery of these services is inconsistent.  They claim that 
subsidies are often delayed, only partially paid or not paid 
 
NICOSIA 00000911  002 OF 002 
 
 
at all, and that some of the government shelter personnel 
lack adequate training to effectively assist victims.  In the 
rating period, the government offered protection to 48 
victims, and 27 of them stayed at the government shelter. 
 
¶6. (SBU). Increasing resources to Police anti-TIP unit:  The 
Chief of Police in April appointed 20 officers to partner 
with the police anti-TIP unit.  These officers are not 
exclusively dedicated to TIP and are replaced often, however, 
which does not always allow them to gain sufficient 
experience in TIP-related police work.  On November 17, the 
anti-TIP unit added another permanent staff member, bringing 
the total to four.  The police identified 35 TIP victims 
during the rating period, compared to 15 in the same period 
last year.  The police conducted 70 raids and 21 undercover 
operations, and carried out checks on cabarets employing 
artistes at least once per week. 
Urbancic