Cyprus: As part of troika restructuring deal for Cyprus

UNWTO: International tourism – strongest half-year results since 2010

2017/09/09 Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the initial six months of 2017, some 36 million additional than in the same period of 2016. At 6%, increase was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half-year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong request for international travel in the initial half of 2017, according to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6% compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4% or higher increase since 2010. This represents the strongest half-year in seven years.

Cyprus convention targets trade in 'blood antiquities'

2017/09/03 Six nations on Friday signed a Council of Europe convention which criminalises the illegal trade in "blood antiquities" that can be used to finance terrorism, officials said. The initiative, which was launched at a CoE ministerial conference in Nicosia, comes next jihadists in war-torn Syria and Iraq have looted and sold ancient artifacts to fund their policy.Six countries sign Council of Europe convention in Nicosia criminalising trade in ancient artifacts looted, sold by jihadists in war-torn Iraq and Syria. "Today, the international community takes a crucial leap forward in the protection of our cultural heritage, particularly in the efforts to combat the trade in blood antiquities by trans-national organised crime and terrorist networks," said Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

US LNG exports make European market more competitive

2017/08/27 The European gas market is becoming additional and additional competitive and US exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are part of this landscape, Francis Perrin, energy expert, chairman of Energy Strategies and Policies (France) told Trend. “Energy is always a strategic business. Economic aspects are very significant of course, particularly the price of LNG, but nations as well take into account strategic issues. For some Central and Eastern European nations one of the key priorities of their energy policies is the diversification of their supplies, in particular gas imports, in order to reduce their dependence on Russia,” said the expert.

Greek Foreign Ministry criticizes Turkey over failure to reach agreement in latest round of talks on Cyprus

2017/07/10 Greece's Foreign Ministry has criticized Turkey over failure to reach an agreement to settle the Cyprus issue in the new round of talks in Switzerland. In a statement titled "Hard truths" and posted on Greek Foreign Ministry's website on Saturday evening, the ministry says "Turkey's conduct dashed any hopes anyone had that there would be a change in its stance. Just as Turkey abandoned the initial Conference, it torpedoed the second." "We reiterate that Greece will continue to work relentlessly, with all means at its disposal, for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, in close cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, the UN and the European Union. And it calls on all of the parties to the Conference to show responsibility, respect for international law, and self- restraint," the statement concluded.