Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 13-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Alexander Downer to visit Cyprus on March 11th

[02] Eurobarometer: Europeans increasingly interested in EU affairs

[03] Commission: Economic Sentiment Indicator continues recovery

[04] Foreign Ministry issues travel advice for Benghazi, Libya

[05] Members of new Council of Ministers announced

[01] Alexander Downer to visit Cyprus on March 11th

The Australian former Foreign Minister will be received by newly elected President Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to explore their intensions as regards the possibilities to resume Cyprus talks.

After the completion of his contacts in Nicosia, Downer is expected to travel to New York to consult with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and inform the Security Council.

[02] Eurobarometer: Europeans increasingly interested in EU affairs

The survey says that the economic crisis remains a key concern, as it has done since 2008, and a majority of Europeans also want to see the European Parliament play a bigger role in tackling it than at present.

Half of respondents (51%) said they were interested in European affairs, a clear increase (+ 7%) since 2006 (when the question was first asked) and this may be a consequence of the recent Europeanisation of national political debates, suggests the poll.

[03] Commission: Economic Sentiment Indicator continues recovery

The marked improvement by 1.6 points in the Euro area (to 91.1) and 1.2 points in the EU (to 92.0) was driven by increases in industry and services. Consumer confidence also improved marginally. Retail trade and construction, on the other hand, booked moderate decreases.

In Cyprus, the ESI was 79.8 points from 77.8 in January, industry -22.2 points from -24.2 in January, services -41.5 points from -33.9 in January, construction -62.1 points from -62.2 in January, retail trade -29.3 points from -30.6 in January, and consumer confidence -44.8 points from -53.8 in January. Furthermore, in employment, business expectations worsened to -12.7 points from -11.9 in January.

[04] Foreign Ministry issues travel advice for Benghazi, Libya

According to an official announcement, in view of the current tension, the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus are advised to avoid all travel to the city of Benghazi in Libya.

[05] Members of new Council of Ministers announced

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Ioannis Kasoulides

Minister of Finance: Michalis Sarris

Minister of Interior: Socrates Hasikos

Minister of Defence: Fotis Fotiou

Minister of Education and Culture: Kyriakos Kenevezos

Minister of Communications and Works: Tasos Mitsopoulos

Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism: Georgios Lakkotrypis

Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment: Nicos Kouyialis

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance: Harris Georgiades

Minister of Justice and Public Order: Ionas Nicolaou

Minister of Health: Petros Petrides

Government Spokesman: Christos Stylianides

Under Secretary to the President: Constantinos Petrides

Presidential Commissioner responsible of Cypriots abroad and religious groups: Katie Clerides

Environment Commissioner: Ioanna Panayiotou

Commissioner for the Reform of the Public Service: Emanouella Mousioutta Lambrianides

Director of the Office of the President: Panayiotis Antoniou

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