Cyprus government signs €24 mln deal for EU Presidency venue

The government has signed a contract for the construction of the building facilities for the Cyprus EU Presidency that will take place in the second half of 2012.
The building facilities at the Conference Centre hill in Nicosia should be ready in January 2012, six months ahead of the initiation of the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union.
The contract for the project, construction and maintenance of the Conference Centre and Philoxenia Hotel, were signed on Tuesday at the presence of Communications and Works Minister Nicos Nicolaides, Andreas Moleskis, Head of the Cyprus EU Presidency Office 2012, and a delegation from the Foreign Ministry.
The contract of EUR 23.54 mln, signed on behalf of the government by Alekos Michaelides, Director of the Department of Public Works, and by Miltiades Neophytou, on behalf of Miltiades Neophytou Civil Engineering Contractors and Developers Ltd., includes the construction of conference rooms, a hall for the working lunches of the ministers, rooms for the delegations and a press room, areas for exhibitions, restaurants and coffee shops.
“The undertaking of the EU Presidency by Cyprus is a major issue, extremely important for Cyprus from a political point of view, and Cyprus wants to be perfect in fulfilling this duty”, Nicolaides said, assuring that the Cyprus EU Presidency will be perfect “because there is the political will to work towards this direction”.
The minsiter referred to the very good preparation of Cyprus for the Presidency.
“There is a top team headed by Andreas Moleskis which with the coordination and cooperation with Foreign Ministry, guarantees that it will move towards the right direction, despite the many procedures and preparations”, he said.