Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-05-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] President: The vulnerable few will not shoulder the problems created

by banks

[02] FM: Ankara is going to create tension during Cyprus' EU Presidency

[03] General Affairs Council discusses multiannual financial framework

[01] President: The vulnerable few will not shoulder the problems created by banks

Addressing a charity gala of the Pancyprian Association for the Famine Relief, in Nicosia, the President said that the financial crisis and rising unemployment rates have hit low incomes, increasing the risk of vulnerable groups to come face to face with poverty and social exclusion.

He added that the government will not cease to protect such vulnerable groups, striving with all its efforts and through concrete policy measures to defend the social state and the display of solidarity.

The President of the Republic praised the contribution of social groups and volunteers to this aim. He added that the Association has provided throughout its 30 years of existence, aid worth 6.5 bln US dollars to African and Asian countries.

He said moreover that the effort to combat global famine is a responsibility that needs to be undertaken collectively by all world governments. The President also spoke about the need to form a political framework and create a development model that will put an end to the widening of social and financial inequalities.

Famine is spreading in African countries, President Christofias went on, adding that poverty, malnutrition and hunger are not just statistics, but refer to real people.

He said moreover that similar phenomena are becoming more and more apparent in European countries as well, with rising unemployment rates, shrinking incomes and the spread of poverty attesting that social contrasts are leading towards a deadlock.

General Affairs Council discusses multiannual financial framework

[02] FM: Ankara is going to create tension during Cyprus' EU Presidency

Speaking at a lunch for the members of the press, Markoullis expressed the view that Ankara will follow a provocation tactic against the Cyprus government in order to create problems.

However she added that diplomatic circles have expressed the opinion that Ankara will not try to provoke the whole of the EU in order to avoid negative reactions, thus her actions will be controlled.

The Cypriot FM reiterated that the government will be closely monitoring the Turkish movements and will be reacting accordingly.

[03] General Affairs Council discusses multiannual financial framework

Today's negotiations on the EU`s multiannual budget addressed for the first time the first full text draft, including the revenue side. Negotiations focus on how to use the budget most effectively to promote growth and employment in Europe. Progress is good, even though negotiations also showed that there is still a long way to go before a final deal can be settled.

Mavroyiannis congratulated the Danish Presidency for the presentation of the comprehensive negotiating package, underlining that it constitutes a good basis on which progress can be achieved at the negotiations.

He stressed that the package much address Cyprus and its particularities as a small island member state with a fairer and more equal way. He expressed the view that there are more flexible ways to handle the case of Cyprus without any particular impacts on the overall budget.

Referring to the agriculture development, Mavroyiannis said that Cyprus is the only country from the new member states, which received lower funding during the current programme period compared to the previous period.

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