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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-09-14Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS - EU - TURKEY - ENERGY CHAPTERThe Republic of Cyprus will not consent to the opening of the chapter of Energy in the framework of Turkeys EU negotiations for as long as the Turkish government continues to maintain the same provocative stance, imposing obstacles on Cyprus actions in the field of energy, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said.Invited to comment on an article, published by Turkish News Agency, that there is a recommendation from the European Commission to the European Parliament and the member states for the opening of the Energy chapter, Stephanou said that the opening of the negotiation chapters falls in the European Councils jurisdiction. The Republic of Cyprus position is the same, he stressed. It is the same, he explained, with the decision to freeze in 2009 six of Turkeys negotiation chapters due to the countrys provocations. The Republic of Cyprus position is the same, that Turkey should officially commit towards the EU that it will stop provoking the Republic of Cyprus and imposing obstacles to the Cyprus efforts on the issue of energy, Stephanou concluded. Recently, senior Turkish government officials have warned that Ankara will not hesitate to deploy warships in the Mediterranean, if the Republic of Cyprus proceeds with the exploitation of its natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone. Houston-based company Noble Energy is expected to begin drilling in Cyprus EEZ late September. The company has a concession to look for hydrocarbons in an offshore field in Cyprus` EEZ, south of Cyprus, known as Block 12. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and has said it will not talk to Nicosia, when it assumes the rotating six monthly EU Presidency in the second half of 2012. [02] CABINET - BUDGET 2012Discussions at the Council of Ministers on the state budget for 2012 will be concluded next week with the approval of a proposed law that will be tabled at the House of Representatives, so that work can begin in the Committees.Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that the budget will be within the framework of restricting state expenditure, in order to meet Cyprus` commitment towards the European Commission. He added that President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has called an informal council of party leaders for September 16. Stephanou said Minister of Finance Kikis Kazamias briefed the Council of Ministers on the main parameters of the budget and discussions will continue on September 27. [03] AGRICULTURE - EU POLICYThe European Unions policy on the promotion of its agricultural products needs to become more effective, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Sofoclis Aletraris has stressed in his address at the informal meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers.During the meeting, held in Wroclaw, Poland, from 11 to 13 September, Aletraris conferred with EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos and the Polish Agriculture Minister, Marek Sawicki. He also met the majority of the Ministers participating in the meeting, as well as with the President of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture of the European Parliament, Paolo de Castro. All sides confirmed their readiness to contribute to a successful Cyprus EU Presidency. The purpose of the meeting was to provide guidance to the Commission over the revision of the policy the Union implements regarding the promotion of its agricultural products. The Cypriot Minister stressed the importance of making this policy more effective, in order to highlight both in the internal European market and the external markets the added value of agricultural production, and underlined how important this is in terms of the competitiveness of the agricultural products. [04] LARNACA - DANCE FESTIVALThe sixth Mediterranean Traditional Dance Festival opens on September 16 in Larnaca, with live musical shows, parades, plays and other activities, spanning cultures of the Mediterranean and broader Europe, which are expected to attract thousands of locals and visitors.The Festival, which will last till September 19, is organised by the Nicosia Cultural Folkloric Group and the Municipalities of Larnaca and Nicosia. Among the performers are groups from various countries with a total of 500 dancers and musicians. Furthermore, guest country Croatia will be presenting a fashion show with traditional costumes, and an exhibition will be held with traditional costumes from all countries participating in the Festival. The opening ceremony will be held on September 17 on the promenade. On September 20, the dance groups participating in the Festival will be in Nicosia for a performance. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |