Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias will visit his French counterpart Francois Hollande in Paris on Friday, the Cypriot government confirmed on Wednesday, ahead of eurozone decisions for a bailout agreement with Nicosia that has asked for urgent financial support.
Cyprus, who also holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, is expecting to have its demand discussed at the Euro Working Group of finance ministry officials, so as to promote its demand for a loan package. In this context, Christofias told state broadcaster CyBC on Thursday, he expects the troika of creditor representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to return as soon as possible to Nicosia for further negotiations.
He added that he has already had contact with top officials within the EU for them to exercise pressure on the troika to return to Nicosia. “We are ready, we have sent our proposals, and it is up to the troika now to come back,” Christofias stated. Besides his meeting with Hollande, Christofias will also launch a special exhibition at the Louvre with Cypriot antiquities, on the occasion of the Cypriot presidency of the EU. Source: Kathimerini