Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-04-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] ROYAL MARINES - CYPRUS - TRAINING

[02] INDIA - CYPRUS ISSUE

[03] EU MINISTERS - IMMIGRATION

[04] RESEARCH - EXPENDITURE

[01] ROYAL MARINES - CYPRUS - TRAINING

Commenting on a ``Times`` report that 600 Royal marines are to be deployed at the British Basis in Cyprus for amphibious exercises within two weeks, Stephanou said that the Cyprus government has been informed that the British soldiers will participate in routine exercises and will then move to the Indian Ocean region.

Britain retains two sovereign military bases in Cyprus since the island gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

[02] INDIA - CYPRUS ISSUE

Kyprianou, who visited India at the invitation of Krishna, briefed his Indian counterpart on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the difficulties faced in negotiations to reach a settlement, due to the intransigence of the Turkish side.

He also expressed gratitude for the steadfast support of India in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, noting that this support was especially significant due to India`s status of non permanent member of the UN Security Council as of January 2011.

Special reference was made to the important support and assistance India provides in the framework of the Commonwealth and the Non Aligned Movement.

[03] EU MINISTERS - IMMIGRATION

In a joint communique they issued at the end of a Meeting they held in Nicosia, they state that current emergency situation with regards the massive illegal immigration flows and movements of possible beneficiaries of international protection brings upon the Mediterranean member states additional social, economic, administrative and demographic burden to that already prevailing.

Present at the Meeting where Cypriot Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis, Greek Minister for the Citizen Protection Christos Papoutsis, Italian Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior Alfredo Mantovano, Minister of Justice and Home Affairs of Malta Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Spanish Director General for International Relations and Immigration Arturo Avello Diaz Del Corral, French Ambassador in Cyprus Jean Marc Rives, as well as other high ranking representatives from all the above states responsible for immigration issues.

In their joint communique they also emphasise that the possible prolongation of such influxes of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers to the Mediterranean member states, can not be managed without the concrete and substantial support and solidarity from the rest of the EUs member states.

[04] RESEARCH - EXPENDITURE

According to data, despite the increase from 0.42% in 2008 to 0.49% in 2009, the percentage continues to be low compared to the average for the member-states of the European Union (2.01%).

Cyprus compares with countries such as Latvia (0.46%), Romania (0.47%), Slovakia (0.48%), Bulgaria (0.53%) and Malta (0.54%), while the highest shares are recorded in Sweden (3.62%) and Finland (3.96%).

By sector of performance, the higher education institutions accounted for 38.3 million EUR or 46.0% of total R & D expenditure, the business enterprises for 17.2 million EUR or 20.6% the government for 16.9 million EUR or 20.3% and the private non-profit institutions for 10.9 million EUR or 13.1%.

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