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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 13-12-03
CONTENTS
[01] 24th Energy Charter Conference to take place in Cyprus
[02] Defence spending down in 2014 due to crisis
[01] 24th Energy Charter Conference to take place in Cyprus
Cyprus will host, December 5-6, at the Filoxenia Conference Center,
the 24th Energy Charter Conference "15 years (1998-2013) of energy
investment promotion and protection under the Energy Charter Treaty",
which is being co-organised by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry
and Tourism and the Energy Charter Secretariat.
The aim of the meeting is to assess the last fifteen years of practice
and theory in energy investment promotion and protection under the Energy
Charter Treaty.
According to an official press release, approximately 140 people will
participate in the Conference, representing 89 members and observers
of the Energy Charter, including, inter alia, the European Union, the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
[02] Defence spending down in 2014 due to crisis
Defence spending will be reduced in the 2014 budget, due to the impact
of the economic crisis. At the same time, the execution rate of the 2013
defence budget remains very low.
The House Committee on Defence Affairs discussed the defence budget. The
House Committee is solely responsible for the budget's approval, without
referring it to the House plenary.
Speaking after the session, the President of the House Committee Giorgos
Varnava said that the economic crisis had its impact on defence spending
and called on the government to re-examine it. Varnava added that
the Minster of Defence, who was present at the session, assured that
a supplementary budget will be laid before the House, if necessary,
in the course of 2014. In such an event, the Minister said that the
Cabinet will respond positively, Varnava added.
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