Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-01-13

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Tuesday, 13/01/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Portugal is in favour of Cyprus' European orientation
• [02] State budgets approved by Parliament

[01] Portugal is in favour of Cyprus' European orientation

Following a meeting in Lisbon yesterday with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides, the Portuguese Foreign Minister also stressed that EU policy in relation to Cyprus is based on UN resolutions and reflects a historic truth: that Cyprus constitutes an integral part of Europe; it is a country with considerable economic development and is included in the group of Central and Eastern European countries which will be first to enter the EU.

On his part, Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said after the meeting with Dr Jaime da Gama that they both agreed that Cyprus' EU accession efforts will finally become the catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem, in so far as Turkey will realise that it is better to have a federal government in Cyprus before the next EU enlargement.

[02] State budgets approved by Parliament

Expenditure in the three 1998 budgets is 1,63 billion Cyprus pounds, while revenues reach 1,08 billion (one Cyprus pound is equal to about 2 US dollars).

Three parties, ruling right-wing Democratic Rally (DISY) party, the Democratic Party (DIKO) and the United Democrats (EDI) voted the budgets through.

Left-wing AKEL party voted in favour of most of the budgets and against the allocations with which it disagreed.

Socialist EDEK party deputies voted against the budgets, except for the sum for the defence provisions.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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