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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-18Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateTuesday, 18/02/97CONTENTS[01] Proposal on multinational force being discussedThe government yesterday confirmed that the possibility of deploying a multinational force in Cyprus is being discussed but added that no specific plan has been put forward.Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides was commenting on reports in the British Sunday Times that the hopes for an end to "years of conflict" on Cyprus are being pinned on a British proposal to send a 5.000-strong multinational peacekeeping force to the island. Mr Cassoulides said the government would be ready to accept Greek and Turkish participation in the force, which must have a UN Security Council mandate. "The possibility of deploying a multinational force has been discussed in depth twice with British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind and Britain's representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay," Cassoulides said. He said some aspects of this idea were also discussed at a meeting with British Shadow Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. "At this stage, we are not aware of a comprehensive plan concerning this idea," he added. [02] Britain's policy on the export of military equipment to CyprusThe British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr David Davis, in a written reply in the House of Commons on the British government's policy on the export of military equipment to Cyprus, said "export license applications will continue to be considered on a case by case basis".He said Britain will only grant such licences which they are satisfied do not fall within the categories as defined by the EU common embargo list. [03] House debate on Cyprus' 1997 budgets beginsA three-day debate on Cyprus' three annual budgets began yesterday in the House of Representatives.According to the Finance Ministry, the state budgets aim at modernising the island's economy, increasing its competitiveness and preparing it for its European Union accession. Predicted overall revenues for 1997 are 1.087 million Cyprus pounds whereas public expenditure is expected to reach 1.476,3 million pounds. The respective figures for 1996 were 1.007,8 million pounds and 1.349,5 million pounds. Overall budget deficit for this year is expected to be 388,8 million pounds, compared with the 341,7 million pounds predicted in 1996. Public debt, as defined by the Maastricht Treaty, is expected to represent 52,2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared with 54 per cent, which was the corresponding percentage for 1996. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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