Econ briefing from top officials

THE FINANCE Minister and Central Bank (CB) governor have been invited to the House Finance Committee’s session next Monday to discuss Cyprus’ financial needs and the sturdiness of its banking system.

According to Committee Chairman, DIKO’s Nicolas Papadopoulos, yesterday, critical developments in the economic front led the committee members to seek a briefing.

Minister Charilaos Stavrakis and the CB’s Athanasios Orphanides will be asked to inform MPs on the course of the economy, as well as the government’s plans for economic recovery.

Papadopoulos said his committee would hold extra meetings, if needs be, to discuss the austerity bills that are expected to be tabled at parliament any day now.

“Parliament can’t close (for summer recess) without the state sending a clear message that it is ready to take specific measures for recovery, which will be effective and improve our credibility regarding the long-term viability of the Cypriot economy,” said Papadopoulos.

“The condition of the economy is worrying and everyone, through a climate of consent and responsibility, should send the correct messages to the international markets and international agencies, which are monitoring Cyprus’ economy.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.