Με αφορμή την ένταξη της Ρωσίας στον Παγκόσμιο Οργανισμό Εμπορίου (WTO) ο δικηγόρος και διευθύνων συνεταίρος της «Ανδρέας Νεοκλέους & Σία ΔΕΠΕ», Ανδρέας Νεοκλέους μίλησε για τις άριστες σχέσεις μεταξύ Κύπρου και Ρωσίας αλλά και για τις δυνατότητες της Κύπρου ως κέντρο προσέλκυσης διεθνών επενδύσεων στην έγκριτη ρωσική εφημερίδα "Rossiiskaya Gazeta".
Σε σχετική συνέντευξη ο κ. Νεοκλέους είχε την ευκαιρία να «διαφημίσει» για άλλη μια φορά το υψηλό επίπεδο υπηρεσιών που προσφέρετε στην Κύπρο, στην προσπάθειά του να διαφυλάξει το καλό όνομα της χώρας αλλά και τις ξένες επενδύσεις σε μια εξαιρετικά δύσκολη περίοδο για την οικονομία μας.
Διαβάστε πιο κάτω ολοκληρωμένο το άρθρο στα αγγλικά.
Trusted "Offshore"
Cyprus develops business relations with Russia
By Semyon Nikitin
Russia's entry to the World Trade Organisation will open the domestic market to international legal firms. Many foreign lawyers believe this will not only help our country to improve the climate for business, but also improve protection of their business interests abroad.
As Mr Andreas Neocleous, the head of a Cyprus law firm with a worldwide reputation, recently told Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Cyprus has continued to consolidate its position as a gateway for investment to and from Russia. Cyprus's entry into the EU in 2004 has played a positive role in this.
"In the eight years since Cyprus joined the EU Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC has helped numerous Russian businesses to establish a base in western markets, Andreas Neocleous says."The lawyers of our firm have also provided legal support for investments into Russia amounting to many billions of dollars. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our main mission is to work for the good of Russian economy".
It is no secret that when we think of Cyprus we think not only of its resorts and warm seas, but also of offshore business. The word "offshore" often carries negative connotations, and is frequently associated in people's minds with activities such as tax evasion, non-transparent transitions, and corruption.
Andreas Neocleous considers that nothing could be further from the truth so far as his country is concerned. "Cyprus is a member of the EU and fully complies with EU and other international standards regarding tax, he says."From the very beginning it has been on the OECD's 'white list' of countries meeting the highest standards of information exchange in the field of taxation."
Cyprus has high standards of corporate governance, transparency and integrity. Banks and lawyers in Cyprus are subject to strict regulation. In order to combat crime and misuse of their services for money laundering purposes they are required to carry out stringent checks on prospective clients. First they must satisfy themselves that there is a legitimate source for their funds. Consequently there has been no scope for corrupt persons to conceal assets in Cyprus. This is particularly relevant as the State Duma is considering a series of measures prohibiting state officials to own property and assets abroad. Cyprus lawyers are not unduly concerned by these laws, since the proposed changes will not affect them.
As Mr Neocleous points out, "Russia and Cyprus have concluded several bilateral agreements, including agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and on cooperation in the fight against crime". This would make it impossible for corrupt officials to hide their ill-gotten gains in Cyprus.
Moreover Russia and Cyprus have signed and have already ratified a protocol to the double taxation treaty between two countries. This document relates to the rules of taxation and widening of data exchange between the Russian Federation and Cyprus. In particular this protocol provides for the exchange of information between the tax authorities of these two states. It underlines Cyprus's commitment to the highest standards of financial probity.
"Russia's official entry to the World Trade Organization after nineteen years of negotiation is a signal that Russia is irreversibly committed to financial and economic integration with the rest of the world, says Mr Neocleous."In the 90s of the previous century when the legal system of Russia was under reconstruction following the break-up of the Soviet Union, the Cyprus system provided huge support for Russian business. Today the Russian legal system's commitment to reliability and civility is assured and the institutional framework for Russia's wider integration into the world economic society is under creation. I am sure that trust and confidence of investors from developed countries will be only increased. Now that the development of a legal regime in Russia has also become an irreversible process, international cooperation needs to go to the next level, including the cooperation of Russian and Cypriot companies in the joint development of international markets on all continents".
According to Andreas Neocleous investors are very often unfamiliar with the legal system and institutions of the country where they are going to invest their funds. Therefore they invest through an intermediary: country whose legal system is able to provide legal protection of investments.
"This happens globally – most western investment into China is routed through Hong Kong, just as most investment into south-east Asia is routed through Singapore, Mr Neocleous says. "Western investors are very conservative and they want absolute confidence in the legal protection of their investment. This is the reason for the emergence of trusted jurisdictions helping to perform international economic contacts."
According to the all the largest independent agencies ranking legal firms, Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC is the top law firm in Cyprus. In this regard the expert opinion of the head of one of the most respected law firms in the island is indicative, as the company works with the world's biggest brands, including Russian ones, and has in its geography several overseas offices, including those in Moscow.
"We are very proud that we were the first to build a business relationship with Russia and Western Europe during the years of perestroika, says Andreas Neocleous. "The cordial relations existing between Cyprus and Russia today go back many centuries. Similarities between Russia and Cyprus have deep cultural roots, and these will be only strengthened by friendly policies and development of business relations".
