Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-27

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Monday, 27/01/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus and Greece sign Protocol of Co-operation in Public Administration
• [02] IMF Review of Cyprus economy for 1996
• [03] Environmentalists protest against British exercises

[01] Cyprus and Greece sign Protocol of Co-operation in Public Administration

The provisions of the Protocol include:

(a) measures for the modernisation and upgrading of Public Administration,

(b) Co-operation in personnel training programmes for the public, semi-government and private sectors of both countries and of neighbouring countries.

c) Joint research programmes between Greece and Cyprus and other countries in the region.

d) Exchange of knowledge and experts in particular fields of Public Administration.

The two Ministers stressed that in all kinds of co-operation under the Protocol, emphasis will be given to participation in European Union programmes.

A standing joint Committee will be appointed to ensure the progress and implementation of the Protocol.

[02] IMF Review of Cyprus economy for 1996

The IMF delegation, which visited Cyprus in December 1996, reaffirms in its Preliminary conclusions the continuing positive performance of the Cyprus economy and the stable microeconomic environment.

But in an analysis of the situation it points out a series of structural changes that have to be implemented now and during the pre-accession period so that the economy can take full advantage of European Union benefits.

The structural changes signled out by the IMF concern the lifting of a fixed bank interest rate, changes in the labour market, the containment of increases in salaries in the public sector and the abandoning of the policy of automatic price indexing to salaries.

The IMF Report notes that interest rates are unlikely to increase as a result of liberalisation and urges the government to lift the restrictions immediately.

The 1996 Review of the Cyprus economy also praises the careful economic and fiscal policies of the government which give it a high degree of credibility and have led to a low inflation, low unemployment climate with good prospects for growth in 1997.

[03] Environmentalists protest against British military exercises

About a hundred people are facing British military in a shooting range in the Akamas, insisting that the British Bases troops give up their exercises which cause physical damage every year to the environmentally unique flora of the area. Under the Treaty of Establishment of the 1960 Constitution, the Cyprus government is obliged to give its consent to such exercises and the

British Bases offer some financial compensation for the destruction caused. In recent years, following Cyprus government requests, the British military have limited the duration of their exercise.

Cyprus police have made several arrests in their attempt to remove the protesters from the area.

On Friday (24.1.97) the House of Representatives unanimously endorsed a statement by the House Environment Committee, calling for an immediate end to the exercises:

"The continuing British exercises on the Akamas peninsula, an area of rare beauty and of the utmost ecological importance, constitute a continuing provocation against the environmental conscience of all Cypriots.", the statement said.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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