Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Civil servants on strike on Thursday

[02] House approves package of measures

[03] Barroso urges leaders to conclude talks

[04] Israeli Public Security Minister in Cyprus

[01] Civil servants on strike on Thursday

The strike includes union members at hospitals and airports, with emergency staff on duty at the hospitals.

Furthermore, the air traffic controllers at the control towers of Larnaca and Paphos airports are on a 12-hour strike on Thursday, from 0900 till 2100 local time, protesting about the measures which do not include special clauses for the controllers.

The air traffic controllers` strike will affect all flights to and from the two airports, except the VIP, state, military, hospital, humanitarian, search and rescue, and emergency flights, and flights with technical problems

Civil servants have been called on not to work on December 18, when the local administration elections are set to be held.

[02] House approves package of measures

The parliamentarians approved a two-point hike in value added tax (VAT) from 15 to 17 per cent. The increase in VAT will be implemented as of March 1st 2012 instead of January 1st as the government has suggested which is expected to earn a total of 160 million euros by this new measure.

The plenary also voted a two year freeze of salaries in the public sector and the extraordinary contribution of private sector employees based on the scales and rates which apply to civil servants, also for two years. MPs voted the targeting of the child and student benefits, which will provide an additional 80 million euros as well as the evaluation of various allowances granted to the public servants.

Furthermore, they approved particular bills for the banks, aiming at their further support and consolidation.

[03] Barroso urges leaders to conclude talks

Barroso chaired a meeting of the Cyprus Steering Group in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The Group discussed developments related to the ongoing settlement talks following the recent meeting of the UN Secretary-General with the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus on 30 and 31 October in New York.

The Group also looked into the remaining issues in the EU negotiation chapter, which the parties still need to agree upon. It reiterated its full support for UNSG Ban Ki-moon`s efforts to work with the two sides to finalise the process and reach a comprehensive settlement.

The settlement negotiations are now at a decisive stage. The Commission encourages both leaders to conclude their talks successfully in the coming months. The January meeting of the two leaders with the UN Secretary-General should become a landmark on the way to a solution to the Cyprus issue. There is no time to lose after 37 years of de facto division. The EU would like to see soon a united Cyprus,`` he said.

[04] Israeli Public Security Minister in Cyprus

On Thursday, Aharonovitch will be meeting with Acting Director of the Prisons Department George Tryfonides and Acting Director of the Fire Service Markos Trangolas, and will be visiting the Larnaca Port and Marine Police.

On Friday, the Israeli Minister will be meeting with Assistant Attorney General Akis Papasavvas, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs Ionas Nicolaou and Minister of Justice and Public Order Loucas Louca. He will also be touring the old town of Nicosia.

Aharonovitch will be departing from Cyprus on Saturday.

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