Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-01-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus talks resume on Wednesday

[02] Cyprus presides over EU defence and security policy

[03] Minister: All went according to plan at drilling rig

[04] President Christofias optimistic about 2012

[01] Cyprus talks resume on Wednesday

The meeting between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will take place at 1000 local time (0800 GMT).

During their last meeting on December 19, the community leaders discussed EU matters. UNSG Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim told the press that the leaders ``discussed EU matters and clarified their positions in a sincere manner``.

The two leaders are set to meet UNSG at GreenTree mansion in Long Island, New York the end of January. The last meeting at the same venue took place end of October.

The first meeting between the two leaders and the UNSG took place in November 2010, followed by two more meetings held in Geneva on January 26 and July 7, 2011.

The latest attempt of UN-backed talks for a solution of the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third, began in September 2008.

[02] Cyprus presides over EU defence and security policy

Cyprus along with Denmark and Poland form the trio Presidency of the European Council. Currently Denmark holds the 6-month Presidency while Cyprus will take over in the second half of 2012. Polands Presidency ended December 31st.

The European Defence Agency was established in 2004 ``to support the member states and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy.

All member states except Denmark participate in the EDA.

[03] Minister: All went according to plan at drilling rig

A team of technocrats visited Homer Ferrington drilling rig on Friday to examine whether everything has been carried out according to the agreed procedures. ``The technocrats have told me that all went smoothly. I expect a detailed report within the next days,`` Antoniadou said.

Antoniadou noted that Homer Ferrington is expected to leave block 12 at the end of the week as the exploratory drilling has been completed.

``The exploratory drilling has been completed. The well is being sealed and the rig will leave at the end of the week,`` Antoniadou said, adding that an appraisal well will be drilled by another rig. ``The appraisal well will be carried out at the appropriate time, depending on rig availability,`` she added.

[04] President Christofias optimistic about 2012

Addressing the people of Cyprus on the occasion of the advent of the New Year, President Christofias expresses the view that Cyprus will manage to address the problems and boost development in 2012.

The President describes the world financial crisis as a deep and a systemic one, with an adverse impact on Cyprus and its economy. He adds that under these conditions, Cyprus adopted new measures to restrain public expenditures, increase state revenues, bolster development, support the welfare state and resolve structural problems that have accumulated for decades.

The Governments effort was, and still is, according to the President, for the burden in addressing the crisis to be distributed in as balanced a way as possible. We are optimistic that with the measures that are being implemented we will manage to address the problems and to boost development thereby creating new jobs, President Christofias says, noting that already, the interest for investments from abroad sends encouraging messages for the new year.

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