The enthronement of Archbishop George III, contacts with a TOTAL delegation and the presentation of the new rural development programme stand out in the agenda of President Nicos Anastasiades in the coming week, according to a written statement by Director of the President’s Press Office, Andreas Iosif.
In particular, Iosif says that President Anastasiades will attend the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus George III on Sunday January 8, with the ceremony having been scheduled for 16:00 local time (1400 GMT) at the Apostle Barnabas Cathedral in Nicosia, followed by a dinner hosted by His Beatitude at the Hilton Hotel in Nicosia at 19:00.
On Monday, at 10.30, at the Presidential Palace, the President of the Republic will receive a delegation from TOTAL, Iosif continues, while on Tuesday, January 10, the new rural development programme 2023 – 2027 under the New Agricultural Policy will be presented at the Presidential Palace.
Iosif notes that during the five-year period 2023 – 2027, 461.9 million euros will be allocated, of which 83.6 million euros will be a national contribution, with the new programme including nine objectives, among which targeted aid, such as increasing the amount of aid in mountainous areas, while efforts will continue to strengthen the role of producer groups/organisations in the agricultural production chain.
He adds that the Cyprus Tomorrow Plan, President Anastasiades’ legacy to future generations, includes projects and reforms linked to the green transition, with a budget of around half a billion euros, representing 41% of the total budget of the Plan.
He further points out that during the ten-year administration of President Anastasiades, for the first time the Republic of Cyprus has introduced a register of farmers so that subsidies are targeted at real farmers.
In addition, the Director of the President’s Press Office says that in order to safeguard agricultural production, the government has reformed the whole system, abolishing the OGA and introducing the institution of the agricultural revenue guarantee fund, while from 2013 to date, farmers who have suffered damage to their production due to natural disasters, adverse weather conditions or extreme weather events have been paid more than €100 million.
He adds that during the implementation of the previous Common Agricultural Policy, more than €750 million of European and national funds have been targeted to the agricultural community.
Moreover, at 18:30 on the same day, President Anastasiades will attend and address the presentation by the Office of the Commissioner for the Citizen of the National Strategy for Active Citizenship and Participatory Governance, which concludes the activities of the Free University of Citizens, with the event taking place at the Presidential Palace.
On Wednesday 11 January, at 10:00 a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers will be held, followed at 11:30 by the New Year’s cake cutting event organised by CyBC. At 13:00 the President and his spouse will host a lunch for the staff and the Presidential Guard at the Presidential Palace.
It is also stated that on Thursday 12 January, at 21:00, President Anastasiades will attend and address the 50th Best Athletes Awards Ceremony organised by the Cyprus Sports Writers Association at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre.
Finally, it is noted that on Saturday 14 January the President of the Republic will be in London where he will attend a Gala Dinner on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus, where he will be honoured by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group For Cyprus.
Source: Cyprus News Agency