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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-12-17Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] FM to meet US Secretary of State in WashingtonForeign Minister Erato Kozakou - Markoullis will pay a three day working visit to the US, during which she will meet her US counterpart Hillary Clinton on Tuesday.Later on the same day, Markoullis will address the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars think tank on«Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean:Strategic location, strategic opportunities.» On Wednesday, Markoullis will address the European Institute to talk about «Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean: A Cypriot Perspective». In the afternoon, she will brief journalists, at the National Press Club, on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, Cyprus` presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2012, as well as on prospects as regards exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves in the Republics Exclusive Economic Zone. In the framework of her visit to the US, Markoullis will meet a delegation of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), representatives of the Ámerican Jewish Committee as well as the leadership of Greek Americans. More meetings are planned with US high ranking officials of the US State Department and the US National Security Council. The Cypriot Minister concludes her visit to the US on Wednesday. She returns to Cyprus on Thursday evening. Cyprus, which has been divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974, will assume the six monthly rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2012. Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf. Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based Noble Energy, off Cyprus south-eastern coast. The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling. Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it. [02] House approves state budget for 2012The House of Representatives has approved, by majority vote, the state budget for 2012.The plenary began Friday early evening. The 56- members of Parliament held their final discussion on the state budget and voting followed. The budget was approved by majority vote. Thirty MPs voted in favor and 20 against. The MPs submitted amendments according to which all state functional expenses are reduced by 8%, while funds reaching 100 million euro were blocked. The state budget was approved by the MPs of ruling left-wing AKEL party, centre Democratic Party (DIKO) and the MPs of the Social Democrats` Movement (EDEK). Parliamentarians from the opposition right - wing party (DISY) voted against the state budget together with President of the European Party (EVROKO) Demetris Syllouris, MP of the Ecologists` and Environmentalists` Movement Giorgos Perdikis and independent MP Zacharias Koulias. [03] FINMIN: Government takes measures for fiscal consolidationThe government has taken all necessary and decisive measures for the fiscal consolidation of the economy and at the moment there is no reason for concern, the Ministry of Finance has said.In a statement issued Friday following Fitch Ratings report placing Cyprus`s BBB sovereign credit grade on negative outlook along with five other countries, namely Belgium, Spain, Slovenia, Italy and Ireland, the Ministry notes that on 14 December 2011, the House of Representatives passed all fiscal consolidation measures submitted by the Government. These decisive measures, it adds, are expected to help reduce sharply the budget deficit as a percentage of the GDP, overshooting the original objectives. The statement also announces that the House passed yesterday the 2012 state budget. ``Although the budget as submitted by the Government is the most tight budget over the past 35 years, the House adopted amendments to further cut costs, reducing the budget deficit for 2012 even more, it points out. Therefore, it continues, financing needs for 2012 will be limited. [04] Police ïn alert for Sundays electionsThe Police are on high alert for Sundays elections for local authorities and a Crisis Management Centre has been set up at Police Headquarters, monitored by the Chief of Police.Police Spokesman Michalis Katsounotos has told CNA that a total of 2.175 Police officers will be on duty on Sunday. Municipal elections take place every five years in December. Sundays election starts at 0700 local time (05 GMT) and ends at 1800 with one hour break between 1200 and 1300. A total of 546.111 persons are entitled to vote in Sundays election, among them 12.333 who are citizens of other EU member states. The majority of EU citizens are from Greece and Britain. One thousand four hundred and one polling stations are going to be set up throughout the government controlled areas of the Republic. One polling station will be set up in the Central Prison. Voters will vote for mayors as well as members of the town councils. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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