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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-01-10
CONTENTS
[01] DOWNER - CYPRUS TALKS
[02] FINANCE MINISTER - ECONOMIC GROWTH
[01] DOWNER - CYPRUS TALKS
UN Secretary Generals Special Advisor for Cyprus, Alexander Downer, has
said that there is momentum on the Cyprus peace talks and called on the
people to urge their leaders to continue to negotiate and come up with
a good solution. Downer, who is back on the island for the direct
negotiations, which began last September in order to reach a solution
of the Cyprus problem, said one does not want to be setting artificial
deadlines which will create a crisis in their own. He also stressed
that a Cypriot solution should be put to the people and not one that is
drawn by foreigners, adding that he is cautiously optimistic.
Speaking after a meeting with President of the Republic Demetris
Christofias on Friday at the Presidential Palace, Downer said that he
had the opportunity to talk to the President for an hour after being
away on holiday. Asked about the talks, Downer replied that from the UN
point of view, our approach to this whole process is that we should be
as hopeful as we possibly can but I have always said that it is my
ambition and it is the UNs ambition that this process ultimately will
be a Cypriot process and owned by all the people of Cyprus:
Downer emphasized that this is not a process that will be owned by the
UN or the international community, adding that it is very important
that Cypriots feel that they own the negotiation and ultimately if
there is to be an agreement that they own that agreement themselves.
The UN diplomat said that he is trying to be helpful, noting he had a
meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and also met with
officials as well and next week, apart from hosting the leaders meeting
on Monday he will be having many meetings during the course of next
week with leading figures in Cyprus.
[02] FINANCE MINISTER - ECONOMIC GROWTH
The Finance Ministry has cut its economic forecasts in the wake of the
global financial crisis. Charilaos Stavrakis has said that the Ministry
projects economic growth of 2.1% as its central scenario, and 2.6% as
an optimistic scenario instead of 3.0% provided for in the 2009 budget.
Despite the downward revision, Stavrakis said that both the Finance
Ministry and the Government have set a target that Cyprus will present,
in 2009, the highest growth rate in the Euroarea which is expected,
according to EU Commission figures, to present negative growth of
0.9%.
``The international financial crisis indeed is getting worse and this
inevitably affects an open economy as that of Cyprus. However, we
continue to believe that we will have very satisfactory growth rates,``
Stavrakis told a press conference. According to the Finance Ministry
figures, Cyprus in 2009 will present inflation of 2% (down 0.5%
compared to the initial forecast), 4.5% instead of 4.2% unemployment
and fiscal deficit between 0.6% and 0.8%
In revising its forecast, the Finance Ministry took into account the
slowdown in the Euroarea in general as well as the slowdown in Cyprus
main economic partners, namely the United Kingdom, Cyprus main tourist
partner, Russia that is equally important to Cyprus regarding tourism,
real estate and investments, as well as the ``dramatic deterioration``
of the UK sterling - euro rate, which affects the competitiveness of
the Cypriot tourist product. The Finance Minister also referred to the
decline of consumer`s confidence noting that this took place due to
``the literature and scaremongering developed around the problems of
the economy.``
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