Month: October 2021

The University of Cyprus’ Economic Research Centre (ERC) has significantly upgraded its projection for Cyprus’ real GDP growth, citing the acceleration of the economic recovery and the improvement in the labour market.

In its economic outlook bulleting for October 2021, the ERC said real GDP growth in 2021 will reach 5.4% and 4.1% the following year, compared with its July projections over a real GDP growth of 3.7% and 3.8%.

The ERC also revised its projection for inflation which is estimated to reach 2.3% in 2021 and 1.8% in 2022 compared with 1.6% and 1.8% in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

“The upward revisions were mainly driven by the strengthening recovery during the second quarter of 2021, further improvements in leading indicators in the third quarter, as well as by upward revisions in National Accounts data,” the ERC said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Hungary always firmly supported efforts for a peaceful resolution to the Cyprus problem through dialogue, said the country’s ambassador to Cyprus, Erik Haupt, noting that Nicosia and Budapest are committed to securing the involvement of the EU with their eastern and southern partners on issues concerning security.

A press release said that the ambassador was speaking at a reception in Nicosia last week to mark the country’s independence and the 65th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution organised by the Attaché of the office of the Hungarian Embassy in Cyprus Dr. Krisztina Lakos and Hungary’s Honourary Consul Costakis Loizou.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, and US Ambassador in Nicosia, Judith Garber, discussed on Friday about the Cyprus problem, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region and bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and the US.

The Foreign Ministry said in a post on its Twitter account that FM Christodoulides met with Ambassador Garber, discussing issues relating to bilateral relations and cooperation between Cyprus and the US, the latest with regard to the Cyprus problem and developments in the broader region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of Interior Nicos Nouris and the new Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus, Ioannis Papameletiou, have expressed their countries’ intention to deepen existing synergies on migration and asylum, during a courtesy meeting they had on Friday in Nicosia.

An official press release said that Nouris and Papameletiou reaffirmed the excellent cooperation between Cyprus and Greece and their will to further strengthen it on matters falling within the competence of the Ministry of Interior, such as migration, local government and civil protection.

In particular, it was noted, “with regard to the issue of migration and asylum the intention to further deepen synergies, through the MED5, in order for Cyprus and Greece to address in a coordinated manner the common challenges they are facing as front-line Member States, bearing a heavier burden than other Member States, wa

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of cooperation with Cyprus in areas of mutual interest, during a private audience with Cyprus’ new Ambassador to Italy, Yiorgos Christofides, on 27 October.

A press release circulated by the Press and Information Office said that “on Wednesday, 27 October 2021, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Italian Republic, Mr Yiorgos Christofides, presented his credentials to the President of the Italian Republic, Mr Sergio Mattarella, at a special ceremony that took place at the Palazzo del Quirinale”.

It was added that “during the private audience that followed, Ambassador Christofides conveyed to President Mattarella the cordial greetings of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, along with the latter`s best wishes for

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Cyprus Deputy Ministry for Shipping issued a pre-tender document on Friday with a view to attract suggestions to be evaluated in view of an expected new tender launch in the end of November over a maritime connection with Greece.

The Ministry said the intention to launch a new European tender will provide time to interested economic operators to submit suggestions by November 12. The first tender that ended in January 2021 failed to meet any binding offers despite a state aid of €5 million annually.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades travels Sunday to Glasgow for COP26 Conference. Parties will debate ways for net zero emissions by 2030, ways to tackle deforestation and to promote use of electric vehicles and renewable sources of energy.

A press release by the Presidency says that participants will also discuss ways to protect ecosystems adding that the President will address the Conference and speak about Cyprus’ initiative for climate crisis in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Republic of Cyprus has issued two anti-NAVTEX on Friday as a response to two illegal NAVTEX by Turkey for military exercises in November off the Gulf of Famagusta and around Cape Apostolos Andreas in the north-eastern tip of Turkish-occupied Cyprus.

Cyprus’ Joint Rescue Coordination Center points out that Turkey`s NAVTEX are illegal as they violate Cyprus` territorial waters.

CNA/FZ/KCH/2021

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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Source: Cyprus News Agency

We are at a particularly critical juncture in the COVID-19 pandemic, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said on Friday, calling on citizens to get vaccinated.

Kyriakides said there was no evidence that the new coronavirus mutation is more contagious or that it diminishes the vaccines’ effectiveness.

Speaking to the press after a meeting with Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis, in Nicosia, Kyriakides said that “after two months of stabilization and decrease in the numbers, we now have a steady increase in almost all Member States” and “vaccines remain the only shield we have against the coronavirus”.

Source: Cyprus News Agency