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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-07-03Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] UN - UNFICYP BUDGETThe plenary of the UN General Assembly adopted on June 30 the budgets of 14 peacekeeping forces, including the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).According to an official press release, the General Assembly adopted the report of the Fifth Committee, approving the sum of 56,794,900 dollars for the period beginning on July 1, 2009, and ending on June 30, 2010, which is necessary to cover the functional and operational costs of UNFICYP. The decision on UNFICYP also refers to resolution 186(1964), which established the peacekeeping force in Cyprus, as well as the resolutions renewing the mandate, the last of which is resolution 1873(2009) of May 29, 2009. Furthermore, it expresses appreciation to the governments of Cyprus and Greece for their voluntary contributions of 18,074,373 dollars and 6.5 million dollars respectively. [02] LABOUR MINISTER - CRISIS IMPACTMinister of Labour and Social Insurance Soteroula Charalambous has said that ``the government intends to continue monitoring the impact of the financial crisis on social security and more importantly of the population ageing and if the need arises, it is determined to take targeted measures to cope with this challenge.``Addressing the Meeting of the EPC Working Group on Ageing Populations and Sustainability, hosted by the Ministry of Finance with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, on Thursday in Limassol, Charalambous said ``a holistic and an integrated approach is required to be taken by each country, aiming at not only achieving a long-term sustainability of the public pension system but also ensuring adequate social protection and guaranteeing social equity.`` Charalambous referred to the main pension challenges faced in Cyprus and the main measures the government has taken to confront them, adding that ``the main objective of the government social policy is to ensure the financial sustainability of public and private pensions schemes, bearing in mind pressures on public finances and the ageing of populations, in the context of the three-pronged strategy for tackling the budgetary implications of ageing.`` ``In Cyprus, the global financial crisis has not had any immediate and direct impact on the general social insurance scheme, which effectively operates on a pay-as-you-go basis and aims to provide adequate levels of pension. The only indirect and long-term impact that the financial crisis has on social insurance is that it could increasingly worsen the broader, long-term fiscal challenges of Cyprus,`` she said. [03] ACHILLEOS - GAMES - SILVERCypriot shooter George Achilleos secured the silver medal in Men`s Skeet in the XVI Mediterranean Games taking place in Pescara, Italy. Italy`s Ennio Falco won the gold with 148/150 and France`s Anthony Terras the bronze with 147/150.Achilleos, currently second in Men`s World Skeet rankings, made an impressive start reaching the finals with 124/125 discs, while Falco and Terras had 123/125. At the final, Achilleos missed two discs (23/25), while Falco scored a perfect 25/25 clinching the gold medal. Achilleos and Terras entered a shoot-off round, with the Cypriot shooter scoring seven discs as opposed Terras` six, clinching second place. Achilleos said he was happy with the result given the development of the final. ``With such competitors the level is very high and securing a medal is a big success,`` he said. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |