Day: September 17, 2021

President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades praised the shipping sector’s resilience, despite the adverse conditions caused by the pandemic, while addressing on Thursday evening a dinner hosted by the Cyprus Union of Shipowners (CUS), in Athens.

President Anastasiades underlined the contribution of the shipping sector to the Cypriot economy, in the order of 7% of the country’s GDP, while noting that the commercial fleet surpassed recently a gross tonnage of 25 mln.

He also referred to an increasing trend in setting up shipping companies in Cyprus, which, he said, is a “vote of confidence” for government policies to upgrade the services offered to shipowners and ship managers choosing Cyprus as the base of their entrepreneurial activities.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The arrivals of tourists in Cyprus reached 321,858 in August 2021, recording an increase of 208.7% compared to August 2020 (during which 104,261 arrivals were recorded), and a decrease of 41.9% compared to August 2019 (with 553,845 arrivals).

Figures released on Friday by CyStat show that for the period of January – August 2021, arrivals of tourists totalled 960,150 compared to 424,850 in the corresponding period of 2020, recording an increase of 126.0%, and a decrease of 64.9% compared to the period of January – August 2019 (2,735,839 arrivals).

Arrivals from Russia were the main source of tourism for August 2021, with a share of 27.2% (87,427) of total arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom with 22.9% (73,683), Poland with 7.1% (22,893), Ukraine with 4.6% (14,863), Greece with 3.9% (12,546) and Germany with 3.2% (10,284).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades is set to brief his counterparts at the EUMED Summit, on Friday, in Athens, on recent developments in the Cyprus issue and his initiative on tackling the consequences of climate change.

In the afternoon, President Anastasiades “will brief heads of state or government of EUME on developments in the Cyprus issue, while the Summit agenda includes, among other issues, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the efforts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the migration crisis, the transition towards a green economy, as well as environmental protection and tackling the consequences of climate change,” a presidency press release says.

It is added that during the first part of the Summit which focuses on the Environment and Climate Change, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Costas Kadis and his counterp

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The euro area annual inflation rate rose to 3.0% in August 2021, while annual inflation in the EU rose to 3.2%, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Compared with July, annual inflation remained stable in one Member State (Finland) and rose in twenty-six, according to the same figures. The annual inflation rate in Cyprus rose to 3.3% in August 2021, slightly above the euro area and EU averages.

The inflation rate in Cyprus rose both compared to July 2021, when it was at 2.7%, and compared to August 2020, when it was at -2.9%.

In the euro area, the annual inflation rate rose compared to 2.2% last month. A year ago the rate was -0.2%.

The annual inflation rate also rose in the European Union, up from 2.5% in July. A year earlier, the rate was 0.4%.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Natasa Pilides, has announced a 10% discount on electricity bills for the months November-December 2021 and January-February 2022, as well as renewable energy schemes aimed at long term savings for businesses and households, as compensatory measures to the increase in electricity price.

Speaking during a press onference, Pilides said that the series of compensatory measures were decided after consultations amongthe Ministries of Energy and Finance, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (RAEK) and the Cyprus Electricity Authority (EAC) and after a meeting with the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiadis, who gave the guidelines for the drafting of the measures.

Pilides analyzed the seven measures decided, starting with the absorption by the EAC part of the cost of the increase in electricity caused by

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The United Nations confirmed on Friday that the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will have an informal meeting with President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar this month.

Stephane Dujarric, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, was asked during the press briefing to comment on President Anastasiades’ statement about an informal trilateral meeting with Guterres and Tatar, to search for ways to resume negotiations for a Cyprus settlement.

Dujarric said that what he could confirm is that the Secretary-General and the Cypriot leaders will have an informal lunch this month and that details will follow soon.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The EUMED 9 have issued a declaration reiterating their strong commitment to a bicommunal, bizonal federation solution in Cyprus, stressing that proposals for a two-state solution are unacceptable and call on Turkey to reverse illegal actions in the fenced-off area of Turkish occupied Famagusta, known as Varosha.

In a joint declaration, in the context of the 8th Summit of the Southern European countries, in Athens, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain reiterate their “strong commitment to a viable comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UNSC Resolutions, which are binding on all, and in line with the EU acquis, values and principles.”

Therefore, they stress, “proposals for a two-state solution are unacceptable.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Turkey`s actions and demands vis-a-vis Cyprus are contrary to the international law and undoubtedly heighten tensions in the broader region, undermining stability, peace and security, Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday, in his statement after the EUMED summit that took place in Athens.

President Anastasiades stressed that these illegal actions of Turkey against the Republic of Cyprus on the ground and at sea have been denounced internationally, noting also Turkey`s demands for changing the basis for a Cyprus settlement. He stressed that “we are strictly committed to the international law, the UN resolutions and the UNSG`s mandate.

Source: Cyprus News Agency