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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-01-08
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 08 January 2004 Estonian President arrives in Cyprus on state
visit
[02] New Greek government has obligation to handle important developments
on Cyprus problem, says Greek Premier
[03] Council of Ministers approves additional financial assistance for
T/C
[01] Estonian President arrives in Cyprus on state visit
The President of Estonia, Mr Arnold Ruutel, arrived yesterday afternoon in
Cyprus for a four-day state visit. He was greeted at Larnaca Airport by the
Foreign Minister, Mr Georgios Iacovou. Speaking to the press upon arrival,
Mr Ruutel said Estonia was seeking to develop closer relations with
countries that were geographically far away from it, such as Cyprus and
other countries in the Mediterranean region, and expressed the hope that
his visit to the island would contribute towards that direction.
Referring to Cyprus' and Estonia's official accession to the European Union
on 1 May 2004, Mr Ruutel expressed the certainty that "the increase and
enhancement of our cooperation through the EU will be in the best interest
of the two countries and the EU as a whole". He added that through
bilateral cooperation the two countries would be better prepared for
decisions and resolutions to be adopted by the EU. The Estonian President,
accompanied by a multi-member delegation comprising Ministers and
businesspeople, was expected to hold official talks with President
Papadopoulos this morning.
[02] New Greek government has obligation to handle important developments
on Cyprus problem, says Greek Premier
The Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, has noted that the next four
years would be decisive in many respects, as during this time, inter alia,
the question of Cyprus and the issue of the continental shelf would be
judged. Announcing his decision to open the way for his succession ahead of
upcoming general elections, which he called for 7 March 2004, Mr Simitis
stressed that the new Greek government that would emerge after 7 March had
an obligation to handle the important developments on the Cyprus issue and
that was why it needed a fresh mandate from the people. "The new government
should be in a position to deal with moves that will take place, even in
the next few days , ahead of 1 May 2004 when the Republic of Cyprus will
officially accede to the European Union", Mr Simitis added.
[03] Council of Ministers approves additional financial assistance for
T/C
The Council of Ministers approved yesterday a proposal by the Finance
Ministry providing for additional financial assistance of up to 3.6 million
Cyprus pounds for Turkish Cypriots. Finance Minister Mr Markos Kyprianou
has noted that part of the funds would be allocated for educational
purposes, namely, to give out scholarships from the State Scholarship
Foundation, cover tuition fees at the University of Cyprus and fund the
learning of the Greek language for Turkish Cypriots. Financial assistance
would also be granted for medical reasons. Mr Kyprianou added that various
rapprochement activities promoting friendship between the two communities
would also be funded.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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