Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-02-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Unemployment will be tackled through development, President says

[02] House President to pay an official visit to Australia

[01] Unemployment will be tackled through development, President says

Speaking at the cornerstone laying ceremony of the new Library of the University of Cyprus, the President said that between 2009 and 2011 a total of 8.500 people found jobs through the various governmental programs which cost 53 million euro.

He went on to say that with the new set of measures to be presented soon, the government will give incentives to companies in order to hire young people longtime unemployed.

Christofias also said the prospects for the economy are positive, based on the fiscal consolidation, the discovery of natural gas in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone and the interest for investments.

In his address, the President said that he does not agree with the views for the extension of the retirement age in the public sector, noting that this is the time to support the younger generations.

The President of the Republic also noted that the government will continue to support the public academic institutions, adding that the Medical School in the University of Cyprus will start its operation in 2013.

He also said that the government is promoting the establishment of an accreditation organization for the evaluation of all the programs that are offered by the Higher Institutions in Cyprus.

On December 12 Houston based Noble Energy announced that the results from drilling in block 12, formation logs and initial evaluation work ``indicate an estimated gross resource range(1) of 5 to 8 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), with a gross mean of 7 Tcf.```

Cyprus is preparing to launch a second licensing round for the 12 remaining blocks of its Exclusive Economic Zone.

[02] House President to pay an official visit to Australia

The visit takes place after the invitation of the President of the Senate John Hogg and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper.

According to an official announcement, the delegation will visit Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and will have a series of contacts with political personalities at the federal and state level.

Among others, the members of the Cypriot delegation will meet with Shadow Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, the Governor of New South Wales Marie Bashir, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria Ken Smith and the President of the Legislative Council of Victoria Bruce Atkinson.

Moreover, the President and the House delegation will meet in Canberra with the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade of the Australian Parliament, and lunch with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales Shelley Hancock, the President of the Legislative Council Don Harwin and members of the Australia-Cyprus Friendship Group.

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