Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-02-09

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] EDEK GOVERNMENT WITHDRAWAL

[02] LEBANESE PRESIDENT CYPRUS VISIT

[03] PRESIDENT - OEB - AWARDS

[01] EDEK GOVERNMENT WITHDRAWAL

The decision was taken by EDEK Central Committee, with 115 votes in favor, eight against and three abstentions.

In his speech, EDEK President Yiannakis Omirou talked about his partys ``total disagreement`` with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias` strategy on the Cyprus problem.

Omirou said that EDEK supported Christofias in the second round of the presidential elections in February 2008 on the basis of specific written commitments for the solution we want to achieve, adding that EDEKs participation in the government was to serve the efforts to reach that pursued solution.

But today, he added, we can say with certainty, that those commitments have not been kept and ``despite EDEKs continuous appeals and efforts to change the course, there was no positive response``.

In his speech, Omirou told the party Central Committee that EDEK must withdraw from the coalition government, saying this is a duty and a responsibility the party must meet.

It is politically responsible and morally correct. Staying in government would be a political paradox as well as morally unacceptable and contrary to the history and the principles of EDEK, he added.

EDEK participated in the government with two Ministers, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Michalis Polynikis and Minister of Communication and Works Nikos Nikolaides, who will be tendering their resignations to President Christofias.

[02] LEBANESE PRESIDENT CYPRUS VISIT

On Friday the President of Lebanon will have separate meetings with President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian.

Suleiman will visit the cease-fire line in Nicosia, accompanied by the Mayor of Nicosia Eleni Mavrou. In the evening the President Christofias will host a dinner in honor of his Lebanese counterpart. The President of Lebanon will depart from Cyprus on Saturday morning.

[03] PRESIDENT - OEB - AWARDS

The Bank of Cyprus, a leading financial institution, was presented with the award for the best business in Cyprus. It was also presented with the award for best financial services.

Deloitte secured the award for best professional services, Apollonio Private Hospital for best medical services, the University of Nicosia for best educational services and the Four Seasons hotel for best tourist services.

In a speech during the ceremony, President Demetris Christofias stressed the importance of the social role businesses can play, adding that the survival of an enterprise relies on its capacity to evolve and adapt to an environment that is expanding globally. He also noted that excellence always leads to the right moves and constitutes a precondition for sustainable development in a state.

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