Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-08-03

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN - CABINET - RESHUFFLING

[02] DIKO - GOVERNMENT

[03] AKEL - DIKO - GOVERNMENT

[04] TOURISM - REVENUE

[01] SPOKESMAN - CABINET - RESHUFFLING

In statements to reporters after the leader of the Democratic Party Marios Garoyian announced Wednesday his party would pull out of the coalition government, citing serious differences on the Cyprus issue, Stephanou expressed the governments regret.

He said in the next few days, the cabinet will reshuffle.

Stephanou also acknowledged that there was an issue with the Cyprus issue.

In his remarks, Stephanou said that unfortunately, it was not possible to secure an agreement on all issues examined therefore cooperation on a government level cannot continue.

He conveyed the Presidents regret, noting that at the same time, the President continues to extend a hand of friendship and common effort to DEKO to handle the challenges and problems that the country is facing, for the good of the country, even without DEKO participating in the government.

Stephanou said unity, prudence and consensus from all political forces is required at these moments, and the President will continue to work towards this.

The Spokesman also announced that in the next days, the President of the Republic will announce the cabinets new composition.

Asked if the aim is the new cabinet to comprise people of broader acceptance from other political forces, Stephanou said that the aim will be the new government to be able to handle more dynamically and effectively the challenges that arise. The composition of the new cabinet is the Presidents choice and will be announced very soon, and everyone will be able to judge the result.

Stephanou said that the President is already in communication with the ruling left-wing AKEL party since it participates in the government.

He said it is necessary, the requirements are pressing and there is also the issue of the economy where a package of measures is being promoted, while more measures will have to be examined to handle the consequences created after the July 11 fatal naval base blast.

For this reason, the President will meet Thursday afternoon with the union leaderships.

Asked where there was a disagreement, Stephanou cited the Cyprus problem, noting that the withdrawal of the Presidents proposals depended on the course of the negotiations, adding that currently, we are in an intensified stage of the talks which is dealing with core issues.

To a remark whether President Christofias, is concerned that he began his term in office with the support of the Social Democrats Movement EDEK and the Democratic Party and the tolerance of the main opposition party Democratic Rally, and is now left with only AKELs support, the Spokesman said each partys decision is respected.

It is not the first time a government is supported by a single party. What is primarily important at the moment is not to look into why this has happened. He repeated the Presidents position that he will continue efforts for unity, prudence and consensus from all political parties on the fundamental issues to be handled in the best possible way.

Asked if the President feels isolated either on the Cyprus problem or on governance issues, the Spokesman replied in the negative, adding the least amount of unity is necessary on the internal front on fundamental issues. For this reason, there is the National Council to examine the Cyprus problem, and the meetings on the economy, to achieve consensus on important issues.

President of the Democratic Party Marios Garoyian, speaking to reporters after his third meeting in the last few days with President of the Republic Demetris Christopfias said they did not manage to achieve the desired understanding, as there are serious different approaches on the Cyprus issue.

[02] DIKO - GOVERNMENT

President of the Democratic Party Marios Garoyian, speaking to reporters after his third meeting in the last few days with President of the Republic Demetris Christofias said they did not manage to achieve the desired understanding, as there are serious different approaches on the Cyprus issue. Therefore, he added, the dialogue ends and DIKO will cease its cooperation with the President.

Garoyian said that today he continued his discussion with the President on the proposal, which his party submitted about the role and the goals of the government.

Unfortunately it was not possible to achieve an overall agreement on a strategy to overcome the crisis and there was no coincidence of views and therefore serious different estimations, positions and approaches as regards the handling of the Cyprus problem still remain, he added.

[03] AKEL - DIKO - GOVERNMENT

Kyprianou was speaking after a meeting between himself, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, AKEL Parliamentary Spokesman Nicos Katsourides and President of DIKO Marios Garoyian.

He said the country was going through a crucial period with the talks for a solution of the Cyprus problem, the economy and the measures necessary to overcome the problems, the EU presidency Cyprus is scheduled to assume in the second half 2012, and the consequences from the deadly explosion of munitions, the shockwave of which destroyed the island`s main power plant.

Kyprianou said it was necessary to work collectively to overcome the problems and assured that AKEL would support measures for the economy.

[04] TOURISM - REVENUE

According to data released by the Statistical Service, for the period from January to June 2011 revenue from tourism is estimated at 676.9 million EUR, compared to 578 million EUR during the respective period of 2010, recording an increase of 17.1%.

The average length of stay of tourists in Cyprus in June 2011 dropped to 9.4 days, compared to 9.6 days in June 2010, while per capita expenditure increased to 731.2 EUR, compared to 709.5 EUR during June 2010.

Furthermore, the average stay of tourists from Germany was 10.4 days, followed by tourists from the United Kingdom with 10.2 days, Austrians and Swiss with 9.8 days, and Russians with 9.5 days. The highest per capita expenditure was recorded by tourists from Belgium with 997.9 EUR, followed by Austrians with 941 EUR, Russians with 925.9 EUR and Swiss with 906 EUR.

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