Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-11-15

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS UDI

[02] CYPRUS ISSUE SPOKESMAN

[03] FINANCE MINISTER ECONOMY

[04] CNA BTA CONFERENCE SOFIA

[01] CYPRUS UDI

On the occasion of the anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, in 1983, Government Spokesman, Stephanos Stephanou stressed that the illegal declaration of the so called state in the north is the culmination of separatist and partitionist actions of Ankara, and of its efforts to legitimize the occupation and implement its goal of creating two separate states on the island.

The international community not only refused to recognize the illegal formation, but with two resolutions of the UN Security Council, the 541 and 550, it condemned it, considered the action legally invalid and called all countries not to recognize the so-called Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus``.

The Spokesman underlined that no other country than Turkey recognized the so called state and added that Turkeys efforts for its recognition continue. ``Turkey continues to work and still tries to upgrade the illegal regime using as an alibi the lifting of Turkish Cypriots so-called isolation,`` he said. In addition, Ankara tries to promote and enforce the upgrading of the illegal regime even through the proposal on the property issue submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations, he added. This proposal aims to legitimize the so called state by presenting it as the legal owner of Turkish Cypriots properties which claims to have the right to exchange with Greek Cypriot properties, Stephanou said.

The fiestas for the illegal declaration of the puppet regime, headed by the negotiator of Turkish Cypriot community, and the illegal presence of Turkish officials in these fiestas, show that the Turkish side lacks good will and can not convinced that they want a solution, the Spokesman said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of its territory.

Peace talks began in September 2008, between President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Talks currently continue with Dervis Eroglu, who succeeded Talat.

[02] CYPRUS ISSUE SPOKESMAN

Turkish Cypriot side demonstrates a lack of good will for the solution of the Cyprus problem Stephanou stressed on Monday, adding that the recent statements of Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu do not convince that he wants a solution.

Speaking to the Media and invited to comment on Eroglu statements, Stephanou said that both the position the Turkish Cypriot leader repeatedly expresses and officials of Turkey repeat regarding the existence of two people and republics in Cyprus contradict the UN resolutions on Cyprus as well as the relevant decisions of other international organizations and the EU, which Turkey aspires to join.

These statements also oppose Turkeys declaration that it wishes a Cyprus solution the soonest, Stephanou said.

Invited to comment on press reports that the UN Secretary General will welcome the proposals of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on the property chapter, submitted in the framework of the direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities currently under way, Stephanou said that a lot has been said in public. He pointed out that the President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has already informed party leaders regarding the meeting with Ban Ki Moon and Eroglu to be held in the UN Headquarters on November 18. However, Stephnou refrained from any further comments on the issue.

[03] FINANCE MINISTER ECONOMY

Inflation, he added, was expected to be around 2.5% to 3% for 2010, and the GDP was expected to rise 3% to 4%.

``We are taking the conservative projection that it will rise by 3%, meaning that the 16,946 million EUR will become 17,540 million EUR,`` he said.

Referring to the year 2009, he said the latest data showed a deficit of 5.96%, noting that in the first nine months of 2010 there has been an improvement in public finances of 5%.

Stavrakis said that the forecast deficit of 5.4% for 2001 was based on deficits of 6% to 6.2% for 2010, noting that, if the 2010 deficit is below 6%, then prospects for 2011 automatically improve. ``This means very good news for public finances,`` he added.

``We are starting with a cushion of 70 million EUR. Even if we lose it, we will be at the same point as last year, at 5.96%, but there are indications that we are much better off than last year,`` he said, adding that ``our optimistic notion is that the last months of the year will continue to be satisfactory.``

[04] CNA BTA CONFERENCE SOFIA

The conference takes place in the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of the Ambassador of Cyprus in Sofia Stavros Amvrosiou and is attended by academics, business people and journalists from Cyprus and Bulgaria.

The first conference, entitled ``Cyprus - Bulgaria: Development of relations and the role of the Media was organized in June 10th in Nicosia with the participation of Cypriot and Bulgarian Ministers as well as business people and journalists from both countries.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, CNA Board Chairman Costakis Constantinou said that despite the fact that the relations between Cyprus and Bulgaria are excellent in many fields, there is still room for further development with a great mutual interest

The conference was opened by BTA Director General Maxim Minchev, who recalled that Cyprus had offered a lot of help to Bulgaria in its efforts to join the EU, saying that Cyprus was one of the first countries to support Bulgarias accession to the EU.

President of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation Michalis Pilikos said Cyprus is the fifth largest investor in Bulgaria, with investments reaching 1,9 billion EUR, while Bulgarian investments in Cyprus reached 123 million EUR, adding that there was much room to further develop business cooperation.

President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tsvetan Simeonov said there was no country other that Cyprus in the Union of Balkan Chambers with which ``we cooperate so well,`` adding that the Bulgarian Chamber`s presidency of the Union in 2011 would precede that of the Cyprus Chamber.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article