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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-17
CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS FM - MEETINGS
[02] CYPRUS - ENERGY
[01] CYPRUS FM - MEETINGS
Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou has briefed his counterparts
from Poland, Portugal and Czech Republic and Sweden on the positions of
the Republic of Cyprus as regards the Turkeys evaluation by the
European Council on December. Kyprianou held separate meetings with
Luis Amado Foreign Minister of Portugal, Radoslaw Sikorski FM of Poland
and Jan Kohout FM of Czech Republic. He also held a meeting with
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, acting President of the Council.
Referring to the Cyprus position, Kyprianou stated that it is detailed
and it has been formed in close cooperation with the Greek government.
During the meeting of the Council, the Ministers discussed the
preparation of the December European Council, implementation of the
EU`s sustainable development strategy. The Council held a policy debate
on the preparation of a renewed EU strategy for growth and jobs for the
period post-2010, following the expiry of the current strategy,
launched by the European Council in Lisbon in 2000. They also discussed
the EU-Russia relations, and the developments in Afghanistan, Ukraine
and Somalia.
In the framework of the Council, the EU Foreign Minister held a joint
meeting with the Defence Ministers discussing inter alia, the future of
the ALTHEA operation in Bosnia Herzegovina.On Monday, the EU Foreign
Ministers and the Ministers of Defence held an informal meeting with
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
[02] CYPRUS - ENERGY
Cyprus has to rely almost exclusively on imported fuels to satisfy its
energy needs and last year, the cost of imported energy reached 19% of
the countrys total imports, said Minister of Commerce, Industry and
Tourism Antonis Paschalides. Addressing the event ``Energy saving in
the EU and in Cyprus``, at the Journalists House in Nicosia,
Paschalides said the Government of Cyprus has formulated and implements
a comprehensive energy strategy. Its main objective, he said, is the
reduction of the countrys dependence on imported energy through
rational use and the greatest possible exploitation of the renewable
energy sources.
``The fastest, the most efficient and economically feasible way to be
less dependant on imported energy and at the same time to reduce
emissions and improve air quality, is energy conservation. The building
sector consumes 37% of our energy demand. Studies carried out by the
Energy Service of the Ministry show that savings can vary from 25% to
50%, depending on the case``, he mentioned. For these reasons, he
continued, the Energy Service has already drafted and implements a Law
which regulates energy performance on buildings.
In addition, in order to promote the use of renewable energy sources
the Cyprus Government has adopted a new Action Plan, and a new Support
Scheme was set in motion that covers the period 2009-2013, Paschalides
concluded.
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