Compact version |
|
Tuesday, 19 November 2024 | ||
|
Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-12-22Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT CONDEMNATION ATTACK - TURKISH BASKETBALL TEAMCyprus President Demetris Christofias condemned the attack by fans of local Greek Cypriot team APOEL against Turkish team Pinar Karsiyaka after an international mens basketball match in the Cypriot capital.Christofias said that the whole situation created problems for the Republic of Cyprus and fostered the Turkish propaganda. He also said that the government managed to prevent the Turkish team`s crossing to the occupied areas of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. The President said that the attack created huge problems for the Republic of Cyprus, stressing that ``we have to be very careful so that the Republic can gain ground in the international arena.`` Police Spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said APOEL fans threw coins and cigarette lighters at the Turkish team after the final whistle in Tuesday night`s EuroChallenge Group G game. No member of the Turkish team was injured. Katsounotos said Police prevented a group of APOEL fans from charging the Turkish team`s locker-room, while tear gas was used to disperse about 500 stone-throwing fans outside the stadium. Three 15-year-olds were arrested. Katsounotos said Police later safely escorted the Turkish team to its hotel. The team left the island Wednesday morning. [02] TURKISH OFFICIAL ATTACK NOT LINKED - DIFFERENCESTechnical leader of Turkish basketball team ``Pinar Karsiyaka`` Selim Cinar said that the incidents following the game between his team and local Greek Cypriot team APOEL, do not concern the differences between the two sides in Cyprus.The incidents took place right after the end of the game for the last round of Eurochallenge`s group stage , when APOEL fans attacked the players and tried to break entrance to the locker rooms. Police made use of tear gas to disperse about 500 fans outside the stadium. Speaking to Cyprus` State Radio and TV, after last night`s events, Cinar said that ``we should not connect the events with the differences between the two sides, this has to do with an athletic event and sometimes these things take place in sports events``. The team left the island Wednesday morning. [03] ECONOMY GDP FINANCE MINISTERCyprus achieved its two basic goals for growth rate and the reduction of the fiscal deficit below 6% of GDP for 2010, Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis has said.Speaking to a press conference concerning the public finances in the first eleven months of 2010 and the prospects for 2011, Stavrakis said that just a few days before the year`s end figures show a reduction of the budget deficit to 5.5% and public debt to 61% of GDP. ``We have emerged from recession in the clearest way defined by economic analysts internationally,`` Stavrakis said, adding that if growth rate for the fourth quarter remains at the same levels of Q3, growth rate for 2010 will reach 0.8%, as opposed to the 1.7% contraction of the economy at the backdrop of the global downturn in 2009. He added that 2010 will close with a fiscal deficit of 5.5% which will further decrease to 3.8% in 2011, to 2.8% in 2012 and to 2.5% by 2013, whereas public debt will reach 61% of GDP in 2010, 61.6% in 2012 and 61.1% in 2012 and will decrease below 60% by 2013. According to the EU`s excessive deficit procedure, Cyprus must reduce its deficit to 4.5% of GDP in 2011 and below 3.0 percent in 2012. The government`s duty is to convey the improved image of Cyprus` public finances to the EU, foreign investors, foreign banks and the international rating agencies, the Finance Minister added. [04] FM AGREEMENTS CYPRUS ISSUEInternational Agreements signed by the Republic of Cyprus and the activities to promote its financial interests have nothing to do with the ongoing efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Cyprus` Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.Responding to a press release issued by the Turkish FM concerning the signing of a bilateral agreement with the state of Israel for the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between the two countries, the Cypriot FM notes that ``the recent agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ was concluded in the framework of the exercise of its sovereign rights.`` ``Issues concerning the Republic of Cyprus and the exercise of its sovereign rights do not concern any other third state,`` the Cypriot FM notes in a press release issued today. The Cypriot FM also indicated the recent EU General and External Relations Council conclusions, endorsed by the EU Summit where the rights of all member-states to exercise their sovereign rights are reaffirmed. ``The EU stresses again all the sovereign rights of the member-states which, inter alia, includes the entering into bilateral agreements in accordance with the EU aguis and the international law, including UN Convention on the law of the sea,`` the EU Council conclusions read. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |