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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-10-09Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
says Minister associated impacts [01] Global economic crisis a major challenge for maritime sector, says MinisterThe major challenge for the maritime sector at present is to face and manage to come out of the global economic crisis with as less negative consequences as possible, Minister of Communications and Works, Efthymios Flourentzou has said, adding that the Community Guidelines on State Aid to Maritime Transport are means to support the shipping industry.Flourentzou was speaking at the conference "The Cyprus Shipping Forum" on "EU State Aid Guidelines: A mean to Support the Shipping Industry", which was organized in Limassol for the first time by IMH and the Gold Magazine in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU. The Minister said Cyprus ranks among the largest international ship registries in the world and it is also a major base for international shipping operations and for other activities related to shipping, adding that the government's maritime policy is founded on three pillars, namely quality, competitiveness and reliability. [02] Cyprus reports Turkey to CoE regarding property in occupied areasHead of the Republic of Cyprus` Permanent Representation in Strasbourg Theodora Constantinidou has submitted two memorandums to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, reporting Turkey`s stance towards the recognition of the rights of Greek Cypriots to property in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, and for its efforts to confiscate that property through the so-called property commission.The memorandums were submitted on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus in order to assist the Committee of Ministers in monitoring the proper execution of the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case Cyprus vs Turkey and for the governments of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe to understand that Turkey`s demand to close this case must not be accepted as it would be unfair and unjustified. The first memorandum contains the reasons for which the issue should not be closed and notes that Turkey, instead of committing itself to the rulings of the ECHR, which acknowledge that the enclaved persons and their heirs maintain their title deeds for their properties and homes, and pays the damages awarded or give back the properties, has developed a system of regulatory measures, which conceals the policy of the creeping confiscation of property. [03] Commission to announce Wednesday progress report on TurkeyThe European Commission is expected to announce its progress report and strategic paper on Turkey's pre- accession course on Wednesday in the framework of its enlargement package.In the draft document of the progress report, the Commission notes Ankara's refusal to fulfill its obligations towards Cyprus, its threats as regards Cyprus' right to exploit its hydrocarbon reserves, as well as its refusal to recognize Cyprus and the Cyprus EU Presidency. According to the draft document, which may slightly vary from the final report, the Commission notes that, as emphasized in the EU - Turkey negotiating framework and in Council declarations, Turkey is expected to actively support the negotiations aimed at a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded. [04] ECOFIN gives Portugal extra year to correct deficitECOFIN adopted Tuesday a recommendation and a decision giving Portugal an extra year, until 2014, to correct its excessive budget deficit.This was announced by Cypriot Minister of Finance Vassos Shiarly, who chaired the ECOFIN Council, that took place in Luxembourg. "The recommendation sets deficit targets of 5,0 % of GDP for 2012, 4,5 % of GDP for 2013 and 2,5 % of GDP for 2014", Shiarly said. [05] Minister stresses Mediterrranean sea vulnerability to maritime associated impactsThe Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to maritime associated impacts, such as oil spill pollution, due to the crossing by thousands of oil tankers transporting crude oil from the Middle East to many coastal installations in Europe and North America, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Sofoclis Aletraris said addressing the Maritime Safety Conference, in Larnaca.In his address read by the Head of the Naval Service of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research Marinos Ioannou, Aletraris noted that coastal and marine environments are the most threatened and most valuable, since they have vital importance for our well-being and the well-being of future generations. Marine ecosystems play a complex and critical role in supporting economic prosperity and social welfare, while they provide multiple ecosystem services that are essential for life. Nowadays, marine ecosystems are threatened by land-based sources of pollution, habitat degradation, overexploitation of fishery stocks, oil pollution, and climate change, he added. [06] Outcome of 2nd licensing round by the end of October, says governmentThe Cabinet will decide by the end of October which companies the government will negotiate with in the context of the 2nd licensing round for the rights of hydrocarbon exploration within Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Neoklis Sylikiotis has said.Sylikiotis, who was addressing the Economist conference in Nicosia, on Tuesday, said that he expects the report of the relevant consultative committee within a few days. He added that once he has the report, he will present it to the Cabinet which will decide on the matter. Referring to energy reserves in the Levantine basin which amount to 1.68 billion barrels of petrol and 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, he said the area can become an energy provider for the region and the global market. At the same time, he noted that the differentiation of energy sources by the EU in order to enhance energy security could be achieved by a South Eastern Mediterranean energy pipeline. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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