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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-07-28Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - STATEMENTThe people have elected me, and I am accountable to those who have elected me, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has stressed, invited by journalists to say whether he would resign. Earlier on the members of the Council of Ministers had submitted their resignations to the President, amid increasing speculation that a government reshuffle is on the cards.The Presidents statement came in the wake of public demand for his resignation, following a deadly blast at a naval base which killed 13 people and injured dozens for which, various circles including the main opposition party, demanded his resignation. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said after Thursday`s extraordinary Cabinet meeting that President Christofias informed his Ministers about his intention to proceed to a government reshuffle and asked them to hand in their resignations, which they did. President Christofias met after the Councils meeting with government coalition partner Democratic Party (DIKO) President Marios Garoyian. On Wednesday two Ministers, belonging to the DIKO, Ministers of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides and Health Christos Patsalides, handed in their resignations, following a party decision. In statements after todays meeting, Garoyian said this is a time for responsibility and a time for reflection, adding that the discussion will continue. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said he agreed with what Garoyian had said, that they had a discussion in a constructive climate and that discussions will continue. [02] SPOKESMAN - ECONOMYCyprus manages to cover its financing needs, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said, noting that ``it is not a given that Cyprus will be admitted to a Support Mechanism``. ``So far, we have managed to meet our financing needs until the end of the year and further efforts are being made. So do not take it as a given that Cyprus will be admitted to a Support Mechanism,`` he said.The Spokesmans statements were made in the light of an announcement by the Moody`s Investors Service which downgraded Cyprus` government bond ratings to Baa1 from A2 with a negative outlook. Stephanou recalled that the government and the political parties have been discussing different economic measures to satisfy fiscal needs and to solve structural problems. A package of measures has been approved and we expect more meetings to discuss about further measures, he noted. According to a Moodys announcement on Wednesday, the key drivers for its rating action were the ``ongoing concerns about Cyprus`s fiscal position, which are amplified by the fiscal and economic consequences of the destruction of the Vasilikos power plant on 11 July 2011`` and the ``increasingly fractious domestic political climate, which has increased implementation risks to the government`s new fiscal plans``. Moreover, one more key driver for its rating action was the ``material risk that at least some Cypriot banks will require state support over the medium term as a result of their exposure to Greece``. [03] CABINET - RESIGNATIONSThe members of the Council of Ministers have submitted their resignations to President of the Republic Demetris Christofias. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said after Thursday`s extraordinary Cabinet meeting that President Christofias informed his Ministers about his intention to proceed with a government reshuffle and asked them to hand in their resignations, which they did. Stephanou told reporters that the government reshuffle will be announced soon, without elaborating further.He noted that the President will first negotiate with the political parties forming the government, AKEL left wing party and Democratic Party (DIKO). On Wednesday, two Ministers, belonging to DIKO, Ministers of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides and Health Christos Patsalides, handed in their resignations, following a party decision. Last Friday DIKO President Marios Garoyian announced five steps to help the government make a new start, following the massive explosion at the ``Evaggelos Florakis`` Naval Base, which killed 13 persons. [04] GREEK FM - CYPRUS PROBLEMThe Cyprus issue is one of the most important issues for Greece, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Stavros Lambrinides has said in Athens addressing Greek Ambassadors at a seminar. Referring to the deadly blast at the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis on July 11th which claimed the lives of thirteen people and caused irreparable damage to Cyprus` main power plant, Lambrinides noted that our brothers in Cyprus took a tragic blow, adding that we stand by them with whatever means at our disposal. He also said the Cyprus issue is entering a critical phase and urged the Ambassadors to act in concert and in continuous cooperation with their Cypriot counterparts.Commenting on recent remarks by the Turkish Prime Minister, Lambrinides said he was not surprised, adding that all that Erdogan said had been, unfortunately evident, for some time at the negotiation table. Erdogan questioned the existence of the Republic of Cyprus, warned the EU that its accession negotiations with Ankara would come to a halt if Cyprus assumes the Unions rotating presidency in July 2012 without a political settlement and ruled out the return of the Turkish occupied areas of Morphou and Karpass to the Greek Cypriots in an overall solution. ``Now it is also evident who bears responsibility for the lack of progress in the Cyprus problem and Turkeys EU accession talks, Lambrinides said, adding that there is still time for a change of course, adding that we need to try and make it happen. He said Ankara knows that a prerequisite for the full normalization of relations between Greece and Turkey is the solution of the Cyprus problem, a change in behaviour and respecting the principle of being a good neighbor, adding that since 1999 when the process of rapprochement between the two countries started, there have been successes. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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