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Statements by the Government Spokesman after the meeting of the National Council The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias presided yesterday over a meeting of the National Council. After the meeting, the Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou made the following statement to the press: “At the National Council it was decided that the body will convene for two all-day sessions, on 15 and 17 February. The aim is to discuss all issues regarding the Cyprus problem. Today, the President of the Republic, again, as he does every time, briefed the National Council in detail and in depth regarding the meeting at Greentree and I would like to say – because there is much discussion on whether the President informs or not – that he informs , discusses and consults with the political forces. The political parties also have (in their hands) the convergences achieved in the course of the direct negotiations. The President of the Republic, at Greentree, set out clearly the positions of the Greek Cypriot side, as he does at every meeting, and also made it clear that the process of discussion on the Cyprus problem does not provide for, nor do we accept, arbitration or deadlines, and that the UN resolutions provide for specific terms and preconditions regarding the convening of an international conference for the resolution of the international aspects of the Cyprus problem, after an agreement is achieved on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem. The President of the Republic, acting in the framework of the announcement of the National Council, defended and made clear again these specific positions.” - 03.02.2012 more... The President of the Republic received Mr Alexander Downer The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias received today at the Presidential Palace the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Mr Alexander Downer. In statements to the press, after the meeting, Mr Downer said: “I’ve had an hour’s meeting with President Christofias, a very constructive meeting. We are looking at how to move the process forward from here. Yesterday I met with Mr. Eroglu and so we are reflecting on some of the things that we can do to take the process forward after the Greentree meeting.” Asked how he feels about the Greek Cypriot parties’ description of him as a persona non grata, Mr Downer replied: “I don't think it’s appropriate that I get involved in politics or political debate. I can see that they are particularly picking up on some comments it a press conference at Greentree. I made it clear to anybody who is interested that obviously the United Nations fully recognizes the Republic of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus will hold the Presidency of the European Union for the second six months of this year. There is no question of that. We obviously have to deal in the context of where the talks are taking place at Greentree, with the circumstances of the time, but there shouldn’t be any confusion about the United Nations position including my own position that we fully recognize the Republic of Cyprus, not just that, but as the incoming President of the EU. So there is no question of that. I mean I see there is some controversy about that. I wouldn’t want to comment beyond that but just to make that absolutely clear so there is no confusion about that”. - 01.02.1012 more... The President of the Republic received the Vice President of Noble Energy, Mr Terry Gerhart The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias received today at the Presidential Palace the Vice President of Noble Energy Mr Terry Gerhart. In statements to the press after the meeting, Mr Gerhart said: “We had a very good meeting with the President. We updated him on our progress with the well. As everyone is aware we drilled a successful well and made an announcement at the end of the year. Somewhere between 5 and 8 trillion cubic feet of gas were found and we look forward to progressing it and bringing it to reality for the Cypriot market. It is going to take quite a bit of time to analyze all of the data that we have. We are in the process of doing that now. We have brought with us our experts from Houston who updated the Presidential advisors and the Ministers on the progress we have made today”. Replying to a question on whether there is going to be a pipe to the island and if he is in favour of building a terminal on the island, Mr Gerhart said: “That is certainly one of the options and we are looking at that, a pipeline from the offshore facility and then to provide gas for the domestic market as well as a potential for an export project an LNG export project”. more... Statement by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr Praxoula Antoniadou A comprehensive presentation of the results of the exploratory drilling in block 12 of Cyprus’s EEZ was held yesterday by the Noble Energy team at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The purpose of the presentation was to brief the competent Ministerial Committee for hydrocarbons, the Expert Team advising the President and the Government on the long-term strategy regarding the hydrocarbon sector, well as the working group of technocrats, who are responsible for day to day work in this field, the Director of Energy, Mr Kassinis and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Mrs Zeta Emilianidou. It was a broad presentation of the results to technocrats and politicians, who should be informed, so that the decisions, any decisions that we will discuss and take further, can be based on the fullest possible information. 01.02.2012 US State Department Special Briefing – Cyprus issue The US State Department Spokesperson Ms Victoria Nuland, replying to questions from twitter during a special briefing on 27 January 2012 and asked by a Turkish journalist what would happen if the Cyprus negotiations turn into a deadlock and if the parties cannot decide to have an international conference, said: “ I’m pleased to report that the UN process, which we very much support, which is to provide the environment for a Cypriot-led negotiation process under UN good offices to reunify the island into a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation is very much alive. In fact, the parties just met last week under UN auspices, and we are very much encouraging both sides to stay at the table to make good use of what the UN has to offer and to get to that strong bi-zonal, bi-communal federation that’s going to provide for a healthy, stable, prosperous Cyprus for all the people of the island going forward in the future”. - 01.02.2012 New publication by the Office of the Law Commissioner The Office of the Law Commissioner has recently published the following edition: The Parents and Children Relations Laws 1990 to 2008 ΓΕΝ (Α) – L.109 The above publication is on sale from the Government Printing Office. - 01.02.2012 Consumer Price Index for the month of January 2012 The Consumer Price Index for January 2012 decreased by 1,90 units or 1,60% to 117,05 units compared to 118,95 in December 2011. This is mainly due to decreases in the prices of clothing, footwear and household furnishing items due to sale discounts. Increases have been recorded in the prices of electricity and petrol. The rate of increase of the Index, and therefore the rate of inflation, for January 2012 decreased to 3,1% compared to 3,9% in December 2011 and 2,8% in January 2011. - 02.02.2012 more... Foreign trade statistics, January – October 2011 The Statistical Service of Cyprus announces that it has published the new monthly electronic publication “Intra-Extra E.U Trade Statistics (by commodity and country)” for January - October 2011. It includes detailed quantity and value data on imports/arrivals and exports/dispatches of domestically produced goods and foreign goods classified by the 6th digit commodity code and by partner country. The monthly electronic publication “Intra-Extra E.U Trade Statistics (by commodity and country)” for January - October 2011 is available for download free of charge from the website of the Statistical Service, under the Section “Publications”. - 27.01.2012

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