Finance Minister, Marcos Kyprianou, has expressed the hope that tourist arrivals for 2003 will fluctuate at last year’s levels, noting that there are indications of recovery after the losses recorded in the first four months of 2003 due to the war in Iraq.

Mr. Kyprianou said that the reduced tourist arrivals of 2003 are not of great concern, as indications for the next few months are positive.

Speaking at the Larnaca Airport prior to his departure for Moscow, where he will meet his Russian counterpart to discuss economic cooperation issues, Mr. Kyprianou referred to the arrivals from Russia, stressing the Russian tourism in Cyprus is stable.

The Minister said that discussions will cover all sectors of relations between Cyprus and the Russian Federation, especially with regard to commerce and tourism as well as all issues of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Mr. Kyprianou will emphasize that the Cyprus’ accession in the European Union may be the starting point for a closer and more efficient relation between the two countries, as the Russian Federation will have access to the EU.