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Cyprus bailout - more EU muscle flexing - a view from the inside

3/20/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
Whilst we residents of Cyprus contemplate the possibility of running out of  ready cash before banks re open (Hopefully)next Tuesday, what we don't hear so much of is the wealth of reserves this country actually has -  
 at only 2 - 3 years before the natural gas is piped so they say - (we saw the rigs passing our house last year!!!) Also we hear that  The Orthodox church Archbishop Chrysostomos said on Wednesday the Church which is a major shareholder in the third-largest domestic lender, the Hellenic Bank is willing to mortgage its assets to invest in government bonds, is willing to give support - Maybe like many other countries Cyprus' biggest downfall' was getting caught up in a single currency which could never work !!

One can only give respect to the new Prime Minister  Nicos Anastasiades who inherited this mess less than a month ago when elected to office, - for taking the time to give proper consideration to the matter and not being bullied into a corner by German and Dutch strong arm tactics.

The 13 exploratory energy blocks south of Cyprus could hold gas reserves of as much as 60 trillion cubic feet, the head of Kretyk, the country's state hydrocarbons company said. -( mmm - not good enough to lend against???)

That would be worth about 475bn euros at today's prices according to Bloomberg.

Noble Energy granted first contract to explore Block 12 in October 2008.
 Go Cyprus - !!!! 

My heart goes out though to the many businesses here who will be struggling with income and expenditure at this moment - and for whom all this could have dire consequences.- also for those who have life savings invested in Cyprus banks and stand to take a crippling hit - They say that at present there IS money in the cashpoints, but some stores are now refusing credit / debit cards, and reserves are running low at the cashpoints - so perhaps more struggling yet to come.

However the growing feeling here from those I have contact with is one of  'stand firm' - a collapse in Cyprus and withdrawl of russian and other deposits could start a chain reaction across europe. OK so Cyprus made a poor call when investing in Greek bonds - mmmm do I remember a similar situation with UK and Iceland not so many years back ????

So we all watch with great interest - there sre still people in the shops and cars on the road here - there are oranges and lemons on the trees,  and the sun shines on us.   There will be good wine in the viiage square and vodka in the cupboard - there is natural gas under the sea, and while we follow the deliberations of elected masters we know we have  a great deal to be thankful for here, in this wonderful place.



2 Comments
Dave Hope
3/20/2013 10:40:02 pm

I did hear in an earlier news broadcast that the EUBailout was under stringent conditions because the powers that ok the cash were didn't trust the Cypriots not to siphon the money into their personal wealth accounts and use it for money laundering ignoring the crisis. Another commentator though the bank levy was a "kite flying exercise" to present a worst case scenario before imposing a realistic levy. And it worked! Let's face it everyone who had an account was immediately aware of the problem and the potential solution. Oil and gas is a wonderful bonus for the island community but consider who will make the most profit from it ... Probably the politicos and those whose savings were not in line to be raided to facilitate the bail out.
Makes you think.
Oh yes ... Remember the orchard owner who was letting the fruit rot on the trees and on the ground becaue it was better for his bank account not to harvest and process.
But you still have the sun.
And I suspect a more wary population.

Reply
angela winstanley
3/22/2013 05:00:40 pm

Thanks for your comments Bro - indeed Cyprus, like many other countries is vulnerable to greed and the fight for ' personal gain' over 'common good ' - erm - ah yes - the MP expenses scandals in UK?
in fact , although we know that there are those who would rob the country blind, and that there is corruption, there is not a scenario yet which can not be equalled by events elsewhere - as per the farming quotas - and farmers being paid 'not' to produce milk - buter mountains etc etc., and whatever happened to the UK gold reserves - sold off for a pittance by dear Gordon Brown, to the disbelief of other nations who rubbed their hands with glee, and the North Sea gas / oil revenue - indeed many questions - not so many answers for the common man.!
You will se news reports of shops and petrol stations refusing cards here, and empty cashpoints - well I bought fuel on a card yesterday, withdrew cash from a cashpoint, and used my bank card in the well stocked supermarket. - However - we all know this can't last - and gradually people are guarding their cash - avoiding unnecessary expenditure 'just in case'.
If we don't have a solution soon things will start to bite - and the worst fear is a domino effect.

However - as you say - we do have the sun, a bulldog spirit of people actually pulling together, and plenty of car parking space outside the Limassol banks. !!! - Certainly there is increased wariness - as per the situation when the Icelandic banks failed - You only have to look at what happens to other countries who give up their currencies to the Euro - thank the lord UK stood firm!!!!!

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    I am passionate about Cyprus, and the village of Kouklia in particular. I'm lucky enough to live and work in the area

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