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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-11-13Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS TALAT - MEETINGPresident Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat discussed here Thursday matters relating to the judiciary and as the President said after his meeting with Talat generally speaking, yes, we have taken some steps forward.Today, Downer is justified in saying that more progress has been achieved than before, the President said, commenting on optimistic remarks by the UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser Alexander Downer, who sits at the talks. Responding to questions, Christofias said we have done well today, to a certain extent. He also noted that today he did not have a tete a tete meeting with Talat and added having such private meetings is not an objective in itself. When necessary, we have such meetings. The President, in response to press questions, explained that there are many issues he wants to discuss before talks move on to an exchange on a dispute resolution mechanism, and subsequently the property issue. He expressed hope that by the end of the year, he and Talat will be able to exchange our first positions and views on the property issue. Christofias and Talat have been engaged in talks since early September, with a view to finding a negotiated settlement that will reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. [02] MINISTER OF FINANCE INTEREST RATESMinister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis assured on Wednesday that the government has examined and will examine various alternatives to tackle the fluidity problem in the Cypriot banking market, in order to help reduce loan interest rates. He added that the aim of the government was not only to avert an increase on interest rates on 1 January 2009 but to reduce them in the same way those in Europe are dropping.Speaking after a broad meeting at the Ministry of Finance with senior officers of Cypriot banks and cooperatives, Stavrakis said he obtained the commitment that the interest rates would not be going up until 1 January 2009 but also that they would be very sensitive to households and businesses facing problems due to the financial crisis. Stavrakis said other countries have taken measures such as the issuing of bonds to draw capital from abroad with government guarantees, noting that this is ``a complex issue because the government guarantee also means an obligation in the unlikely event that problems arise`` and furthermore ``there is the question whether the Cypriot banks will be interested in and will choose to use this government assistance.`` [03] CHRISTOFIAS RUSSIA OFFICIAL VISITCyprus President Demetris Christofias will pay an official two day visit to Russia, November 19-20. An official press release, issued here Thursday, said that during the first day of his visit Christofias will have a meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and the Prime Minister Vladimir Poutin.Talks between the two sides will focus on furthering the already excellent bilateral relations and boosting trade and financial cooperation. The two leaders will discuss the Cyprus question and other issues of bilateral and international interest. After the end of the talks with President Medvedev, the two sides will sign a series of Agreements and Memoranda of Cooperation that will further consolidate relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. [04] FRANCE FM TURKEYS EU ACCESSION ROUTEThe Cyprus problem remains a very difficult issue and is an obstacle in Turkeys accession to the EU, said Bernard Kouchner, the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. Kouchner made the statement while answering questions at the Brookings Institution in Washington following an address on the new U.S. administration and the future of transatlantic cooperation.The French Minister expressed satisfaction that the two leaders in Cyprus are engaged in talks without necessarily the involvement of Athens and Ankara adding the last talks create hopes. Answering questions by the President of the institution, Strobe Talbott, the head of French diplomacy noted his countrys official position, as expressed by President Nicolas Sarkozy, that Turkey cannot become a full member of the EU. He noted that negotiations will continue on various chapters, adding that it is not merely France which objects to Turkeys accession but also Cyprus. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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