Cyprus, united front over troika bank plans

Cyprus' government and political parties yesterday appeared to be united in their disagreement with proposals submitted by the island's international lenders regarding Cyprus' banking sector although differences still persist on fiscal and structural matters. Parties met in the morning with President Demetris Christofias in a bid to iron out the island's response to proposals tabled by the troika on July 25. Discussions later moved to the finance ministry where after four hours it was decided to break and continue today, as Cyprus Mail reports. Parties and the government seem to have formed a united front against the troika proposals on banks. They also disagree with scrapping the 13th salary and COLA, the six-monthly, automatic wage indexation.