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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-05-03Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] Omirou: MEPs to press Turkey to call off nuclear plant plansHouse President Yiannakis Omirou called on MEPs to exert pressure on Turkey to cancel its plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, in the southern shores of Turkey and close to the island of Cyprus.According to an official announcement, Omirou met Thursday in Nicosia with MEPs, members of the European Parliament Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, who are visiting Cyprus in view of the country's EU Presidency term, due next semester. The delegation of MEPs consists of Cristina Gutierrez-Cortines, Christa Klass, Anna Rosbach, Eleni Theocharous and Andrea Zanoni. During the meeting, the President of the House of Representatives noted that the legislative body is following EU rules while dealing with environmental or other related issues. He added however its inability to implement environmental policies in the area under Turkish occupation, amounting to 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Omirou called the MEPs to press Turkey, in order to cancel its plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant near Akkuyu, noting the rich seismic activity in the area and the hazards the plant would entail for the people in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. The President of the House further talked on prospects for a denuclearized Mediterranean, in view of many countries' revision of their nuclear policies in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The MEPs called from their part on Cyprus to utilize its EU Presidency term to the fullest, noting that the country may draw from the experience of other member states, the tools provided by structural funds and the opportunity to increase EU budget for environmental issues, through the negotiations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework of 2014-2020. [02] Áletraris briefs Latvian counterpart on EU presidencyIssues of bilateral interest, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP ) Reform and the priorities of the Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture during Cyprus' EU presidency to begin July 1st were on the agenda of talks Minister Sophocles Aletraris had Thursday with his Latvian counterpart Laimdota Straujuma.In statements to the press, Aletraris said that he briefed his counterpart on the upcoming Cyprus' presidency and the handling of the key issues of the agricultural Council and more specifically the CAP reforms. He added that during the meeting, they had "a useful exchange of views on our positions regarding the proposals of the European Commission for further developing the CAP". The Cypriot Minister said that Latvia and Cyprus reaffirmed their commitment to working together towards a successful conclusion of the current negotiations in the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on the further development of the Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2013. [03] FM to attend AJC Global Forum 2012 in USAForeign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis departed Thursday for Washington where she will attend the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum 2012, World Leaders Plenary, which will take place between May 3 and 4.According to an official announcement issued here today, Marcoullis will address the Forum as one of the main speakers, including the Foreign Ministers of Canada, John Baird, and of Germany, Guido Westerwelle, as well as the White House Chief of Staff, Jacob Lew. Moreover, at the Forum, special video messages by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Greek Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Avramopoulos, will be screened. On the sidelines of her visit, Marcoullis will host a breakfast for the leadership of the Greek community in the USA and give interviews to US Media, among of which are Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and CNN. [04] Inflation declines in AprilThe inflation in Cyprus recorded a slight decline, to 3.1%, on an annual basis, in April 2012, compared to the previous month, according to data released on Thursday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.For the period January-April 2012, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and therefore the rate of inflation, recorded an increase of 3.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2011. The Consumer Price Index for April 2012 increased by 1.05 units or 0.88% to 120.05 units compared to 119.00 in March 2012. This is mainly due to increases in the prices of certain clothing and footwear items, electricity and petroleum products. Decreases have been recorded in the prices of certain fresh vegetables and fresh lamb. In March 2012, the inflation increased to 3.4%, on an annual basis, while in April 2011 the inflation had increased to 3.3%. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |