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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-11-10Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] QATAR - PRIME MINISTER - VISITPrime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al Thani arrived in Cyprus on Monday for an official visit.On Tuesday, the official welcoming ceremony will be held at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, where Sheikh al Thani will meet with President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, followed by official talks, the signing of bilateral agreements and statements to the press. President Christofias will also host an official lunch in honour of Sheikh al Thani at the Presidential Palace. Later on Tuesday, before departing from the island, Sheikh al Thani will meet with Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus Chrysostomos II. [02] EU - SOMALIA - PIRACYThe European Union decided on Monday to send a naval force to the coast of Somalia to combat piracy, after a unanimous decision of the Ministers of Defence of the 27 member states.Cypriot Minister of Defence Costas Papacostas, who participated in the Ministers of Defence Meeting in Brussels, said Cyprus has one of the largest commercial fleets and, since it has been directly affected by piracy, intents to participate in the operation. The naval force, named EUNAVFOR Atalanta, will undertake to patrol the area as of December 2, replacing the NATO force. [03] MINISTER - PUBLIC FINANCESMinister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis assured on Monday that the government was not worried about public finances for the year 2009, noting that with the existing data, the public surplus would not be 0.7% of the GDP, as predicted in the state budget, but 0.5%.Speaking at a press conference, Stavrakis said the GDP would increase in 2009 to 18 billion euros, from 17 billion euros, adding that even with a deficit of 1%, the public debt index would improve by 1.5% to 46% or 47%, instead of 45%, as predicted in the budget. He added that ``even if things are much worse than the Ministry of Finances` calculations and we have 100 or 150 million euros less income or we need to spend huge sums to support the economy, we will still have a public finance image much better than that of the rest of Europe.`` Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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