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Tuesday, 19 November 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-06-10Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] UN - CYPRUS TALKSCypriot President Demetris Christofias would accept a UN invitation for a meeting with UN Under-Secretary General Lynn Pascoe and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said.The Spokesman was replying to questions, following press reports that Pascoe is due in Cyprus next week and is planning to invite the two community leaders to dinner to review development in the recent efforts to resume negotiations, leading to the reunification of Cyprus. Let us wait until the final decisions about Pascoes visit are announced and once the necessary arrangements are in place, we shall make our announcements, he said. Responding to questions, he said no date has been fixed for the next meeting between President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mehmet Ali Talat, expected to take place in late June to review the progress at the level of bicommunal teams of experts (seven Technical Committees and six Working Groups.) On the anticipated announcement of confidence building measures, the Spokesman explained that the issue is part of discussions at the technical committees, which deal with day to day concerns that affect the lives of Cypriots. We shall wait to see the overall picture that will emerge from discussions at the technical committees, he explained, adding that top aides to the two community leaders will meet to finalise proposals on confidence building measures. It would be preferable to have the final picture of development before any announcement takes place, he added. Responding to other questions, he said that military matters continue to be discussed as in the past. On the prospect of opening new crossing points to and from the islands northern Turkish occupied areas, the Spokesman said the government focuses its attention on what has been agreed by the two leaders, namely to try to open a crossing point at Limnitis, on the northwest, independently of any other issue. Since Christofias was elected to the presidency in February this year, a fresh effort is underway to resume direct negotiations with a view to find a political settlement that will reunite Cyprus, which has been divided for more than three decades, following the 1974 Turkish invasion. [02] MINISTER OF FINANCE - CYPRUS ECONOMYThe Cyprus economy will face increased difficulties in 2009, Minister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis estimates. The Minister, who was briefing the House Finance Committee, said that 2009 would be a difficult year for the local economy. However, he stressed that Cyprus is in a better position in relation to most financial indicators by comparison to other eurozone member states. He also pointed out that Cyprus growth rate hovers around 3.5% - 3.7%, twice the rate of other eurozone member states.Referring to the negative record inflation has reached, climbing up to 4.9% in May 2008, Stavrakis attributed the increase to the dependence of Cyprus on oil. He underlined the constant efforts the government is making to improve the situation, noting though that there are no magic solutions. Another serious problem which adds a heavy burden on public finances is the planned transportation of water from Greece at an estimated cost of 40 million euro, in an effort to alleviate the after effects of the prolonged drought and the subsequent water shortage Cyprus is facing. [03] GS CYPRUS SHIPPING CHAMBER - INTERVIEWThe shipping industry can be described as a successful example of foreign investment in Cyprus and a tool which attracts foreign investment and funds to the country, since the sector has proved its longstanding success, Cyprus Shipping Chamber GS Thomas Kazakos has told CNA in an interview. Currently, 80% of Cyprus shipping industry belongs to non-Cypriot companies, Kazakos said, pointing out that shipping is recognised worldwide and operates without any state grant or assistance.Kazakos said that during the past four to five years, Cyprus shipping has been following a steady course and the Cypriot fleet has retained its place in the world ranking, 10th worldwide, and third place in European ranking, after Greece and Malta. However, he admitted that compared to previous years, the Cypriot ship registry has lost ground in relation to the number of ships, noting that quality is more important than quantity. He pointed out that the drop in the number of ships registered was accompanied by an increase in safety standards and in sea environmental protection. [04] RUSSIAN-CYPRUS FMs - CYPRUS PROBLEMRussia welcomes the resumption of a dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities, saying it will support actively efforts for its successful conclusion, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed after talks here with his Cypriot counterpart Markos Kyprianou.Lavrov said that we are not trying to grasp the role of others and no-one else can grasp our role, Lavrov said, underlining that the central role in the Cyprus problem belongs to the UN Security Council, its five permanent members, who can work exclusively on the basis of unanimity. In view of this, he added in his remarks, I dont see any chance for the Security Council to support any decision that will not be an outcome of an agreement of the involved sides in Cyprus. These sides must make intense efforts to agree on the parameters of the arrangement to be reached between them on a voluntary basis and of course on the basis of the principles adopted by the UN, the Russian Foreign Minister said during a joint press conference with Kyprianou. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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