Daily Archives: June 19, 2012

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Baghdatis impresses in Eastbourne opener

Marcos Baghdatis made a strong debut at the ATP World Tour 250 AEGON International on the sunshine coast, after dropping only two games against eighth-seeded Spaniard Pablo Andujar on the centre court at Devonshire Park on Monday afternoon.

The charismatic Cypriot, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2006, won 6-1 6-1 after converting five of his eight break points to seal victory in 49 minutes.

World number 42 Baghdatis was strong on his serve throughout the match. He won 60 per cent of his return points, while losing a total of 12 points in the process, three of which via double faults.

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Sigh of relief at election result

 

POLITICAL parties in Cyprus yesterday welcomed the result of the Greek elections, which has, for the time being at least, staved off the prospect of the neighbouring country leaving the euro, a development that would also cost Cyprus dearly.

The winner of Sunday’s election, Conservative New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras, called for broad support after beating leftists SYRIZA, who had said they would cancel the aid deal agreed in March to avert bankruptcy in defiance of the country’s lenders.

Cyprus still faces a European bank regulator deadline in just two weeks to find €1.8 billion – around a 10th of its GDP – to bail out its second largest lender.

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Our view: The EU must give Samaras a chance to last

THE PRO-BAILOUT parties may have secured a small majority in parliament in Sunday’s elections in Greece and New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras might be able to form a coalition government, but lasting political stability is unlikely to return to the country any time soon. 

For now, the worst-case scenario – Greece reneging on the bailout terms and being kicked out of the eurozone – with all its negative consequences, has been put back, but it remains on the horizon.

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AKEL's popular choice doesn't want to stand

AKEL’s political bureau will propose Health Minister Stavros Malas as the party’s presidential candidate for the upcoming elections in February next year, the party’s leader said yesterday.

“After detailed discussion, AKEL’s political bureau has unanimously decided to propose to the central committee the support of Stavros Malas’ candidacy,” AKEL head Andros Kyprianou said.

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Few signs of cutbacks at semi-govt. organisations

DESPITE calls for fiscal restraint in the public sector, a report by the auditor-general shows that the cost per worker at a number of semi-governmental organisations (SGOs) continues to rise while the state broadcaster is said to be hiring staff “through the back door”.

Released last Friday, the report for 2011 details the revenues and expenditures of SGOs, some of which had previously been deemed redundant and been slated for closure.

The average cost per worker (permanent staff) at the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) came to €80,470 (or €6,730 per month), compared to €6,584 a month for the previous year.

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Amnesty International: irregular migrants are treated like criminals

HUNDREDS of the men and women who flee each year to Cyprus in search of refuge and asylum from war, persecution and poverty are locked away by the authorities in breach of their international obligations, Amnesty International said in a new report released yesterday.

Punishment without a crime: detention of migrants and asylum-seekers in Cyprus examines the deficiencies in Cypriot law and practice that Amnesty said result in the violation of the rights of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers. It calls on the authorities to bring the country’s legislation in line with international standards.

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Arab League SG seeks EU Cypriot support on Syria

THE ARAB League wants to see a peacekeeping force in Syria to stop the “grave, egregious violations of human rights” there, said Dr Nabil el-Araby from Nicosia yesterday, where he marked the first ever official visit of an Arab League secretary general to Cyprus. 

Speaking after a meeting with Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, el-Araby said the two discussed EU-Arab League relations on the eve of Cyprus’ assumption of the rotating EU presidency.  

“The EU is a very important power in our modern world,” he said, noting that after the Cold War “the EU represents a certain balance, where everyone accepts its point of view and tries to work in the contour of what they have decided”. 

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Businesses seek exemption from EAC's Mari surcharge

A GROUP of companies have banded together to demand that the electricity authority forego the 7 per cent surcharge imposed on industrial consumers in the wake of the Mari disaster of last July.

Otherwise, they warn, many local businesses will be driven into the ground.

In an announcement in the press, the businesses said the electricity surcharge has increased the cost of products and services, rendering them uncompetitive compared to imported products and products coming in from the occupied areas in the north.

“The EAC will lead the Cypriot economy to bankruptcy,” the announcement says.

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A balanced budget law would restore Cyprus' credibility

LAWMAKERS yesterday expressed reservations over the practical implementation of legislation providing for balanced budgets, as the finance minister called for its prompt approval to restore Cyprus’ credibility.

Vassos Shiarly told MPs that approval of the bill would bolster the island’s position in the event it seeks an EU bailout – something which appears to be highly likely.

“We will be able to say we are consistent, we realise the problem and have taken all necessary measures,” Shiarly told the House Finance Committee.

The bill is part of the EU’s Fiscal Compact, an intergovernmental treaty signed by 25 of the EU’s 27 member-states – the UK and the Czech Republic didn’t sign.

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