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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-09-01Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Friday, 1 September 2000CONTENTS
[01] President Clerides leaves today for London and New YorkThe President of the Republic Mr. Glafcos Clerides leaves Cyprus this afternoon on his way to New York to participate in the fourth round of UN led proximity talks on Cyprus, aimed at paving the way for substantive negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.President Clerides will stop in London and will proceed to New York on Sunday where he will also attend the UN Millennium Summit. On the sidelines of the Millennium Summit, President Clerides is scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis for talks on the Cyprus problem in view of the upcoming proximity talks scheduled to begin on 12 September. [02] Cyprus Council of Ministers approve state Budget for 2001The Council of Ministers approved yesterday the 2001 state budget, which provides for 2,417 million Cyprus pounds in expenditure and 1,576 m. in revenue.Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Takis Klerides predicted encouraging prospects for 2001 with an estimated rate of growth at 4.5 per cent this year and unemployment falling to around 3.4 per cent. Mr Klerides said that the budget deficit is estimated at 841 m. pounds. The public deficit is expected to show a slight improvement and to be restricted to 190,8 m. in 2001 or 3.2 percent of the gross domestic product from 210,6 m, or 3.9 percent this year. Inflation is expected to rise to 4.2 percent compared with 1.7 per cent in 1999, due primarily to the increase in oil prices. The rate of growth is estimated at around 4.8 percent in real terms, which compares favourably with the rate of growth in the EU (3.2% in 2000) and the with the world economy (4.2%). Expenditure for development projects for 2001 are expected to reach 292 m. compared with 286,8 m. this year. Approximately 55 m. will go towards improvements in the road network, another 23 m. to water projects, 7 m. to infrastructure at the island's two airports and about 25 m. will go to education. Mr Klerides said the economy relied greatly on tourism and other services. He noted that tourist arrivals registered a rise of about 12.2 per cent in the first six months of the year. The budget will go before the House of Representatives for discussion and final approval. [03] Kaklamanis refers to Cyprus at Parliamentary Presidents UN SummitThe President of the Greek Parliament Mr Apostolos Kaklamanis referred to Cyprus yesterday, in his speech to the Parliamentary Presidents UN Summit currently taking place in New York.In his speech, Mr Kaklamanis referred to the Turkish invasion, pointing out that Cyprus has endured for 26 years "the continuous assault of its sovereignty and independence with the use of force, the occupation of part of its territory by another UN member and the violation of the most fundamental rights of the Cypriot citizens". He expressed the hope that the upcoming UN summit in New York will not confirm the position adopted so far by the Turkish Cypriot side, which "in essence does not negotiate but aims to impose its idea for a separate confederation, in blatant opposition to the plethora of resolutions by the UN, the non-aligned countries and the European Organizations". [04] Minister of Communications signs Mediterranean Peoples messageThe Minister of Communications and Works Mr. Averof Neophytou signed yesterday, on behalf of President Clerides, a message of support for the Mediterranean peoples' right to equality, conveyed by a number of Italian pilots who will visit 19 Mediterranean countries to gather support signatures from government representatives.Speaking after the ceremony at Larnaca airport, Mr Neophyte said that the agreement refers to the culture and rich traditions of the Mediterranean people and expresses the wish that not only the people of the Mediterranean but people throughout the world should have the right to live in conditions of peace, respecting the culture and traditions of all people. Cyprus could not be absent from such an effort, which aims at promoting equality among the peoples of the Mediterranean, even though Cyprus still has to deal with the continuous occupation of its territory by Turkey, a country that does not respect the island's right to peace and freedom, he added. [05] New Cyprus Ambassador to the NetherlandsCyprus Ambassador Evripides Evriviades presented his credentials last Wednesday to HM Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, as Cyprus' new ambassador to the Netherlands.From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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