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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-11-21

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

  • [01]Friday, 21 November 2003 US envoy begins talks in Nicosia with President and Foreign Minister
  • [02] President Papadopoulos to pay official visit to Greece on 25-27 November
  • [03] Finance Minister presents 2004 state budget to House plenary

    [01] US envoy begins talks in Nicosia with President and Foreign Minister

    The US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Mr Thomas Weston, who arrived yesterday in Cyprus, was received by the President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the Foreign Minister Mr Georgios Iacovou. Mr Iacovou, speaking after his meeting with the US envoy, said he and Mr Weston had discussed the new developments ensuing from the recent reports of the European Commission on Cyprus and Turkey as well as from statements on Cyprus by Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen at the Council and the European Parliament. "We also conveyed our impression that most Europeans view the non-solution of the Cyprus problem as an obstacle to Turkey's European aspirations. Mr Weston shared that view and said that the United States have told Turkey that it simply did not help its case by maintaining that stance for years", Mr Iacovou noted. The Foreign Minister further pointed out that Mr Weston did not appear sure about the outcome of the voting process in the occupied areas and seemed less optimistic about prospects for a settlement than he was the last time he had visited the island. "Mr Weston views January 2004 as a possible date for a new initiative and believes that Turkey would submit its own proposals, which would fall outside the UN process", Mr Iacovou said. He added that according to the US envoy, Turkey was trying to comply with the recommendations of the European Union on Cyprus, citing as an example the use of the term "Good Offices" of the UN Secretary-General by Turkish officials.

    [02] President Papadopoulos to pay official visit to Greece on 25-27 November

    The President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos will pay an official visit to Greece on 25-27 November, at the invitation of the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Costis Stephanopoulos. The Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday, at the daily press briefing, that President Papadopoulos would meet, while in Athens, with the Greek President and the Prime Minister Mr Costas Simitis. The final programme of the President's visit will be announced in time, Mr Chrysostomides further noted.

    [03] Finance Minister presents 2004 state budget to House plenary

    The Minister of Finance, Mr Marcos Kyprianou, presented yesterday to the plenary of the House of Representatives the state budget for 2004, which he described as "particularly important" because it was the first budget that the Cyprus Government would implement as an EU member state and it reflected the socio-economic philosophy and fiscal policy of the new Government. Speaking before the plenary, Mr Kyprianou stressed that the goal of the Government, the House and the social partners should be one and only, namely, "the dignified presence of Cyprus in the EU, especially in the economic field, fiscal consolidation and economic growth, the modernization of economic structures and the implementation of the necessary structural changes". Referring to the performance of the Cyprus economy for 2003, Mr Kyprianou said the rate of growth was expected to be around 2%, unemployment would reach 3,5% and the rate of inflation 4%-4,5%. The fiscal deficit for 2003 was expected to exceed the 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Finance Minister further noted, while the public debt would reach 63,5% of the GDP, thus moving beyond the 60% limit of the relevant Maastricht criterion. Mr Kyprianou expressed the view that fiscal indicators would comply with the relevant Maastricht criteria by the end of 2005, through the implementation of the Government's Fiscal Consolidation Programme which is based on three pillars, namely, the improvement of the efficiency of the taxation system, the combating of tax evasion, and the retention of public consumer expenditure. As regards economic forecasts for 2004, the Finance Minister predicted that the improvement of the international environment would allow for more favourable conditions. "The state economic services assess that with the anticipated improvement of the international environment, the rate of growth in 2004 would rise to 4%, thus resulting in an improvement of the state income", Mr Kyprianou said, adding that the rate of inflation for the same year was expected to drop to around 2%, while unemployment would note a slight decrease reaching 3,4%. He further said that the fiscal deficit for 2004 would be limited to 3,7% of the GDP and the public debt would also decrease to approximately 62,5% of the GDP. In general, the Finance Minister explained that the Government's macroeconomic policy was aimed at achieving, inter alia, an improvement of the living standards of the Cyprus people, high rates of economic growth, conditions of domestic and external macroeconomic stability, substantial improvement of public finances, compliance with the Maastricht criteria and participation in the Eurozone the soonest possible after Cyprus' accession to the EU, and social cohesion through enhanced cooperation with the social partners.

    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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