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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-09-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - UN CHIEFCyprus President Demetris Christofias will meet on Tuesday 21st in September in New York UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon.Reliable sources have said that Christofias and Ban will review the course of direct negotiations aiming to solve the Cyprus problem and prospects for real progress and convergences in the property issue. Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General invited to comment reports that the Secretary General is going to bring new perspective for a solution on the island and that he is going to come up with a new formulation, he said that ``the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser Alexander Downer have been extremely involved and committed to finding a solution to this long-running question.`` ``This obviously requires the leaders and the people of both communities to work in a spirit of compromise, which they have indeed been doing,`` he added. Ban will also meet Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on September 25. The Secretary General will also meet Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to discuss the Cyprus question, differences between Greece and Skopje and the Middle East. [02] MINISTER - BUDGETMinister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis said on Thursday that possible measures to cover the 150 million EUR deficit in the state budget for 2011 were the increase of company tax, the taxation of banks, a revision of immovable property fees for large estate owners, 5% VAT on foodstuff and pharmaceuticals, taxes on tobacco and alcohol, and the restraint of civil servant salaries.Stavrakis noted that the state budget was a huge step towards the consolidation of public finances, adding that state expenditure was reduced to lower levels than those in 1975. This, he said, contributed to shrinking the deficit, adding however that there was still a gap of 150 million EUR that had to be covered with additional measures. The Minister noted that an intensive dialogue has started to draft a comprehensive package of measures to cover the deficit. [03] RUSSIA - TOURISMTourist arrivals in August marked an increase of 4.3%, reaching 304.264 compared to 291.583 in August 2009, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) has said in a statement.The Federation added that overall, tourist arrivals increased by 0.7% between January 1st and August 31st 2010, and income between January 1st and July 31st rose to 809.4 million Euro compared to 798.3 million Euro for the same period in 2009, thus increasing by 1,4%. The increase in arrivals in August is attributed to the Russian market, which now ranks second in arrivals instead of Germany, reaching 81.1%. Arrivals from the UK continued to exhibit a downward trend by 5%, while arrivals from Germany were up by 8.5% and from Greece, arrivals indicated a decrease of 13.9%. According to OEB, arrivals data reflect the development in the economies where the tourists come from. Both the economies of the UK and Greece are still facing problems as a result of the global economic crisis, while Germany is exhibiting a limited growth. Russias lead in arrivals is due to competitive factors. [04] CYPRUS - NEW FRUITCyprus` ``new fruit`` called Nashi, cultivated in Kyperounta village, was officially presented on Thursday in Nicosia by Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Demetris Eliades.Speaking at a press conference, Eliades said Nashi promoted the good functioning of the heart and the digestive system, and was considered one of the most nutritious in the world. Eliades said the fruit, native to Japan, was cultivated by Cypriot farmers, who a few years ago imported and planted the plants on the slopes of the mountainous area of Kyperounta, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture encourages such efforts and stands ready to support farmers who wish to follow new paths. The Minister said Nashi was the seventh in a series of 19 super foods, which are rich in antioxidants, phyto-phenols, aminoacids, vegetable fibres, trace elements and other elements necessary for long-term health. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |