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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-15Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] 2009 GSSE GAMES - LOGOThe mascot and the logo of the XIII Games of Small States of Europe (GSSE), which Cyprus will host next year, have been unveiled. The logo is a depiction of an ancient ship, found off Cyprus` northern coast in the mid 1960s, and the mascot is a white pigeon. Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) President and International Olympic Committee Member Kikis Lazarides presented them on Wednesday, nearly a year ahead of the games, to be hosted between June 1-6, 2009.Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Lazarides said preparations are on track and expressed the belief that the 2009 Games will be even better that the 1989 GSSE, which Cyprus also organised. I hope these games will serve as a point of reference for the Olympic movement,`` he added. ``Our first and primary concern is to organize the games as best as we can and mobilise Cypriots and especially young people,`` he said, adding that the COC will soon launch a campaign to attract volunteers to help with organising the 2009 GSSE. Lazarides presented the GSSE`s logo, a modern-day depiction of an ancient ship found in Kyrenia, on the northern coast, and the Games` mascot is a white pigeon named Tefkros, after King Tefkros a Greek king who founded the ancient city of Salamis just north of Famagusta, wearing sports clothes and carrying a torch. Both the logo and the mascot were designed by a Cypriot, Periclis Christofides. Lazarides also presented the Games` website available on www.cyprus2009.org.cy and www.gsse2009.org.cy. According to the COC President, the 2009 GSSE will feature a novelty, a Youth Camp which will welcome athletes from 16 to 18 years from every participating country. During the Games, Olympic Education programmers will help promote the Olympic ideals and values. Lazarides was reluctant to disclose anything about the opening and the closing ceremonies, saying this will a ``surprise.`` Regarding the sports venues, Lazarides said that most sport will be hosted in existing installations in Cyprus` capital, Nicosia, while three disciplines, namely Sailing, Beach Volley and Gymnastics, will be hosted in Cyprus southern coastal town of Limassol, and Cycling will take place in ``Mantra tou Kampiou`` mountain bike track in Machairas Mountain. As regards the Cypriot athletes preparation, Lazarides said that Cyprus wants to repeat at home its victory in medals, as it did in the past three editions of the GSSE. ``Our basic target is to win as many medals as possible and be victorious and we shall do our best to achieve this goal,`` he concluded. The countries participating in the GSSE are Andorra, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Iceland, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Cyprus. [02] BOC - AGM - NEW CHAIRMANThe Bank of Cyprus Shareholders Annual General Meeting (AGM) has elected Theodoros Aristodemou as its new Chairman. Andreas Artemis was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Banks AGM was held yesterday in Nicosia to elect the new Board of Directors and to discuss the Financial Statements of the Bank of Cyprus Group for the year ended 31 December 2007.With its new leadership elected, the Bank of Cyprus moves to the fulfillment of its goals for the period 2008-2010. The Banks CEO Andreas Eliades, addressing the shareholders AGM, stressed that despite the difficulties the global economy faces in 2008 because of the global credit crunch, sparked by the US subprime mortgage crisis, BOCY is based on strong foundations, which protect the Bank. As a result of the prudent strategy followed by the Bank, BOCY is not exposed to risks related to the subprime mortgage crisis, while it may have the robust liquidity in Cypriot and Greek banking sectors since customers` deposits are its main source of finance, Eliades said. BOCY after tax profits have increased sevenfold in 2007 and reached 485 million euro compared with profits of 64 mln euro in 2004, Eliades added. The Bank aims to return 50% of net profits to its shareholders as dividend. Return of equity (ROE) reached in 2007 27.6%, while the cost to income ratio improved by almost 20% reaching 43.6 in 2007 compared to 62.3% in 2004, reflecting the important expansion of revenue and the success of the cost constraint programme. Furthermore, Eliades underlined that in three years both deposits and advances increased by 10 billion euro. Deposits reached today 25 billion euro and loans 20 billion euro, the Banks CEO added. [03] CYPRUS - GREECE - SPOKESMANDevelopments in the Cyprus problem and issues of mutual interest were examined during a meeting on Thursday, in Athens, between Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou with his Greek counterpart Thodoros Rousopoulos. Stephanou told CNA that the meeting was constructive and concentrated on issues of mutual interest but mainly dealt with the Cyprus issue.They talked about digital television technology and Greece offered to share its know-how with Cyprus. The Cypriot Spokesman extended an invitation to Rousopoulos to visit Cyprus in the near future. The invitation was accepted and the date will be set through diplomatic channels. Stephanou will meet Foreign Ministry Spokesman George Koumoutsakos and deputy Government Spokesman Evangelos Antonaros. [04] CYPRUS - LEBANONLebanese ship Blue Dawn docked at Larnaca port early this morning, transferring 9 Lebanese and 41 European citizens, fleeing Beirut due to the unstable situation there. Police and Civil Defence officers as well as port officials were at the port to provide assistance to the passengers.Port Manager Pampis Vassilou said that the ship arrived in the morning transferring 50 people from Lebanon, 90% of whom are Europeans. Some will leave for other destinations and others will stay at hotels in Larnaca until the situation in Lebanon is back to normal. ``We have not been notified about the arrival of other ships from Lebanon. But this ship may return to Lebanon to take foreigners from Cyprus back to Beirut,`` he said. Cyprus helped thousands of people, from various countries, fleeing Lebanon in the summer of 2006, providing food and shelter for them. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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