Cyprus Strengthens Ties With Luxembourg And Hong Kong

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

27 July 2001

The Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Mrs Lydie Polfer, conducted a successful official visit to Cyprus on Monday and Tuesday this week. During her short stay she stated that small states have a place and a role to play within the European Union.

During a joint press conference with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, on Tuesday, Mrs Polfer reiterated her government's firm commitment to the UN resolutions on Cyprus and the UN peace effort. She asserted that she saw 'a great consensus' in Cyprus concerning the will to join the EU and felt optimistic that the outcome of the UN talks would be positive. 'I really would like and wish to see all Cypriots join the EU as soon as possible,' she said.

Mr Kasoulides publicly thanked Mrs Polfer for the support Cyprus has enjoyed from Luxembourg on many occasions during its accession course, including the allocation of seats to the European Parliament and the weighted vote when Cyprus joins, as this was decided at the EU summit in Nice.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister stated: 'We have a natural affinity with Luxembourg, which gives us the example as to how tomorrow we can operate as members of the EU, equivalent to the bigger countries of the EU, playing our little role and small contribution to the efforts for European integration.'

It has been a busy week when it comes to entertaining and strengthening ties for the Cypriot government as Mrs Polfer's visit coincided with that of the Director General of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Mr Andrew Leung. Mr Leung also conducted a two-day visit to the island this week but his visit was to discuss issues relating to his country's request for granting visa free access to Hong Kong passport holders and to the bilateral economic and trade ties between Cyprus and Hong Kong.

Cypriot Finance Minister, Mr Takis Clerides, has confimed that Mr Leung will share Hong Kong's experience with Cyprus in the Stock Market arena and the Director General had explored the opportunities for promoting co-operation between the two countries during his visit.

In addition, Mr Leung invited a Cyprus delegation comprising senior officials and businessmen, members of the Stock Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce, to visit Hong Kong to 'raise the profile of such an interesting market as the market of Cyprus'.

For his part, Mr Clerides said he was confident that entrepreneurs from Cyprus and Hong Kong will seize the opportunity to further enhance the two countries' trade and economic relations.

Recommended