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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-05-27Cyprus 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/>Monday, 27 May 2002CONTENTS[01] 27th Cyprus International Fair openedThe President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Glafcos Clerides said that the Government was intensifying its effort to inform foreign investors with a view to attracting foreign capital into technologically advanced and innovative fields, adding that we are promoting in various ways those economic areas in which our country has a comparative advantage, such as tourism, international business activities, banking and consulting services. Our aim is for Cyprus to establish the role of a respectable business center, he said.Opening the 27th Cyprus International Fair, President Clerides stressed the need for radical changes in the structure of Cyprus' economy. This need derives from the technological revolution taking place internationally, the increasing competition in our traditional export markets, and our EU accession course, he added. Our effort to boost our exports and to introduce our agricultural and industrial products into international markets will be greatly facilitated by our accession into the European Union. It is necessary that we prepare in time and adequately so that we may take full advantage of the opportunities that will arise as a result of our accession. At the same time, however, not only do we not intend to abandon our multidimensional trade policy but we aim to enhance it even further through the improvement and continuous development of our trade relations with other countries outside the European Union, President Clerides pointed out. In his address the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr nicos Rolandis, said that, according to international statistics, Cyprus has a much higher rate of development than the average in the European Union and internationally. Mr Rolandis said that in the past four years there had been an increase in tourist arrivals by 29.2%, but the most important thing was that we had an increase in the income arising from tourism by 51,5%. More specifically - and in spite of the 11th September tragic events - our revenue from tourism increased from £843 millions in 1997 to £1277 millions in 2001, an increase of £434 millions annually in our tourism revenues, an amount which surpasses the 50% of the total of the past decades, he pointed out. Referring to the developments in the trade sector, he said that during the last four years there had been a continuous upward trend in our commercial exchanges which increased from £2,54 billion in 1997 to £3,16 billion in 2001, that is an increase of 24,3%. In conclusion he referred to the Ministry's efforts in the sphere of high technology, adding that these efforts began in 1998. We have followed the models of other countries for the creation of High Technology Incubators and to this end we are in close contact with foreign governments, Technology and Research Centres, Universities and Academies and Techno parks around the world, he said. According to Cyprus News Agency, a total of 332 exhibitors participate in this year's International Fair, which hosts the official state participations of Egypt, France, Greece, the US, Japan, Iran, Italy, Korea, South Africa, Russia, Syria, and the Czech Republic. Another 20 foreign countries are represented in the Fair through their Cypriot agents and representatives, while the Greek Ministry of Culture will present projects related to the 2004 Olympic Games. The domestically produced products and overall business activity are an important sector of the Fair, as the Cyprus industry is dynamically presented with a rich variety of exhibits. [02] US supports a settlement of Cyprus issue prior to EU accessionThe US supports the accession of Cyprus to the EU and believes that the accession process in fact can be an incentive to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, US State Department's Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker told during his daily briefing on 24 May, 2002, adding that his country also supports very much the UN Secretary General's efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement, and the conclusions of the 1999 European Council of Helsinki toward that end. Our focus is very much on achieving a settlement prior to the EU 's decision on Cypriot accession, he said.[03] Direct talks on Cyprus continuedThe direct talks on the Cyprus problem continued on Friday morning with another meeting between the President of the Republic Mr Glafcos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash, in the presence of the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Mr Alvaro de Soto. Present at the talks were the members of each side's delegation.The regular meetings between the President and Mr Denktash are taking place under the aegis of the United Nations in the framework of direct talks for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. [04] Cyprus High Commissioner to New Zealand presents credentialsThe High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, Mr Sotos Liasides, presented, on 23 May 2002, his credentials to New Zealand's General Governor Mrs Silvia Cartwright as Cyprus' High Commissioner to the country, based in Camberra.Speaking during the presentation of credentials, Mr Liasides commended the friendly bilateral relations and thanked the General Governor for her country's support to Cyprus' efforts to find a just solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions and the two High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979. Accepting the credentials of Mr Liasides, Mrs Cartwright welcomed the ongoing direct talks on the Cyprus problem and expressed her country's support for finding soon a just and viable solution, acceptable by both communities. During his stay in New Zealand, Cyprus' High Commissioner had meetings with the country's Foreign Minister as well as with high ranking officials of the Ministry. 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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