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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-05-05Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] Gas deposits in E. Mediterranean important, says MinisterThe discovery of natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean is very important, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis has told the EU-China high level meeting on energy, in Brussels.Speaking at a press conference, the Minister said that major efforts should be made to modernize and expand Europe's energy infrastructure to ensure that none of the EU member states will be excluded from gas and electricity networks. "At the meeting I stressed the importance of completing a functional and fully interconnected internal market in the field of electricity and natural gas, with fair and competitive prices" he added. The EU-China high level meeting concluded with the signature of two joint declarations on energy cooperation. At Saturday's press conference, Sylikiotis announced a Cabinet decision to establish a national hydrocarbon company responsible for Cyprus' activities related to exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon resources. The company will represent the Republic of Cyprus in its partnerships with the companies that will sign contracts with the state for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone, after the conclusion of the second licensing round, launched last February. Sylikiotis said the company will be headed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Cabinet. In December 2011, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias announced that the results of the exploratory drilling in Cyprus` block 12 were positive, describing the discovery of hydrocarbons as historic for the island. US company Noble Energy, which carried out the drilling, discovered 310 feet of net natural gas pay. The drilling reached a depth of 19,225 feet in water depth of about 5,540 feet. The initial data that emerged from the exploratory drilling and the evaluation checks carried out indicate the existence of a natural gas reservoir ranging from 5 to 8 trillion cubic feet (tcf) with a gross mean of 7 tcf. Cyprus has also launched a second licensing round for the 12 remaining blocks of its Exclusive Economic Zone. The Commerce Minister also referred to the Cabinet decision to approve new projects to fund installation of renewable energy sources, giving an impetus to the production of energy with renewable energy resources in Cyprus. In particular the new projects advance the participation of photovoltaic and biomass in the production of energy in Cyprus through renewable energy sources, the Minister said, adding that this will bring the country closer to the set target of 13% in the production of the island`s energy needs through renewable energy sources by 2020. The government`s new projects will fund the installation of small photovoltaic parks used for households and commercial purposes as well as of big photovoltaic parks. [02] Health system aims at disease preventionThe population in Cyprus enjoys a very good standard of health and long life expectancy, however, diseases of the circulatory system are the leading cause of death along with malignancies, President Demetris Christofias has said. He also said that the government health system actively pursues health promotion and disease prevention, while it invests in new technologies and innovative tools, which are expected to improve the system`s quality and efficiency.Addressing the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Mediterranean Conference, a meeting that focuses on the latest advances in therapies and clinical research in interventional cardiovascular medicine, President Christofias said that during the past few years the increase in the demand for medical care has been very strong. "Health care systems are under continuous pressures due to ageing populations, along with the growing incidents of chronic diseases and rising public and political expectations of what the health systems should deliver" President Christofias added. Noting that the current global economic crisis has an additional impact on national health budgets and influences the sustainability of healthcare systems, President Christofias pointed out that "indisputably, there is a need to re-evaluate instruments that can improve the provision of health care services and deliver health outcomes in an equitable and sustainable manner". [03] Defence Minister in Helsinki for talksDefence matters relating to Cyprus' forthcoming presidency of the EU Council and bilateral issues were the focus of discussions between Finland and Cyprus, in Helsinki. Defence Minister Demetris Eliades, paying a working visit to the Finnish capital, has discussed with his counterpart Stefan Wallin and the House Defence Committee president Jussi Niinisto bilateral ties, which both sides have acknowledged are excellent.The two Ministers talked about security and defence matters as well as coordination between the two countries to promote stability and peace. Cyprus, Eliades has said, is ready and willing to cooperate in a spirit of consensus with its EU partners as well as with candidate countries, including Turkey, which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and whose troops occupy its northern part since they invaded in 1974. The Minister pointed out that Ankara's stance and its refusal to respond to Cyprus is not a problem for the Republic but a problem between Turkey and European institutions. "Our position on the matter, according to our EU partners, is a responsible stance by an EU member state which respects EU norms and acts in line with European rules and regulations," Eliades added. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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