Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 13-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Hannes Swoboda to visit Cyprus

[02] Former President calls for measures to strengthen financial sector

[03] Cyprus EU Presidency`s cost down by 16 m., Mavroyiannis says

[04] Cyprus gearing up for presidential elections

[01] Hannes Swoboda to visit Cyprus

During his visit, Swoboda will meet with the President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou. The meeting will take place on Thursday afternoon.

Later, Swoboda will attend a working dinner with EDEK leadership. On Friday morning, he will leave for Athens, to attend a conference on "The crisis in the South: Time for a progressive response of the South", organized by Marilena Koppa, head of the delegation of the Greek Socialist Movement PASOK in the European Parliament.

[02] Former President calls for measures to strengthen financial sector

Speaking at a press conference, Vasiliou said that the fundamental outcome of the study is that Cyprus remains one of the most important centers for international companies, but it no longer has the leading role it used to have. In addition, Cyprus lately faces big competition from other EU member states, which provide simplified procedures and computerized services and can serve international companies faster and more effectively.

The study recommends a series of structural changes to provide quick and impeccable service to the international companies operating in Cyprus, efficient handling of issues related to taxation, increase state revenue and promote double taxation treaties with as many countries as possible worldwide. Moreover, one of the most important recommendations of the study concerns setting up "one stop shop" by the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA).

[03] Cyprus EU Presidency`s cost down by 16 m., Mavroyiannis says

Furthermore, he pointed out that "the successful Cyprus EU Presidency has enhanced our confidence and showed that we can respond successfully to difficult international or European missions despite the small size of our country". Referring to the parliamentary dimension of the Cyprus EU Presidency, Omirou said he was fully satisfied with the fact that the House of Representatives managed to successfully organize eight Inter-parliamentary Conferences.

In his statements, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs noted that the savings were made through "good management and attention to every euro spent". He explained that the budget approved by the House stood at 61.7 million, while the final cost reached 46 million, a saving of 16 million (12 million from the Secretariat and additional 4 million from other expenditure). Mavroyiannis expressed his gratitude to the House of Representatives for "its great contribution" to the successful outcome of the Cyprus EU Presidency.

[04] Cyprus gearing up for presidential elections

A total of 11 people will contest the elections, including the main three candidates, President of the main opposition right wing party Democratic Rally (DISY) Nikos Anastasiades, who is backed by centre right Democratic Party DIKO, Stavros Malas, who will run having secured the backing of the ruling left wing party AKEL, and the independent candidate, former foreign minister, Giorgos Lillikas, who is backed by the socialist party EDEK. Also running are former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou, Geogrios Charalambous, Lakis Ioannou , Makaria Andri Stylianou, Andreas Efstratiou, Solon Gregoriou, Loukas Stavrou and Costas Kyriakou-Outopos.

If no candidate secures 50% plus on February 17, there will be a run off election on 24th of February. According to the Chief Returning Officer, Andreas Assiotis, the final results will be known at around 20.30 local time (18.30 GMT). At around 19.00 it will be clear whether one of the candidates has secured more than 50% of the votes. The polls open at 7.00 and close at 18.00. In past elections, closing time was an hour earlier. There will be an hour break between 12 and 13.00. A total of 545.180 people are eligible to vote in February's elections, amongst them 604 Turkish Cypriots. 417 polling stations will operate in Nicosia district with the number of voters being 212.882, in Limassol 313 and 149.571 voters, in Larnaka 183 stations with 90.748 voters, in Paphos 132 with 47.782 voters and in Famagusta 54 stations with 29.770 voters.

Polling stations are going to be set up abroad as well, in 40 different locations. The majority of them are in Greece, where the voters will be able to cast their vote in Athens ( a total of 5 stations), in Volos (one), in Heraclion -Crete (one), in Thessaloniki (three) and in the cities of Ioannina, Komotini, Larissa, Patra, Rethymno-Crete and Rhodes (one station in each city). Cypriots who reside in the UK will also be able to vote at seven different polling stations to be set up at the Cyprus High Commission Premises and at the building of the Cyprus Community Center. Stations will also operate in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol as well as in Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, Brussels, Manama, New York, Doha, Paris, Prague, Riyadh and Sofia.

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