(31 Dec 2007)
Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus
1. Nicosia city centre, Christmas tree in foreground
2. Exterior Ministry of Finance with huge euro symbol outside
3. Interior Ministry of Finance lobby, tilt up on display tower showing euro notes
4. Close up 20 Cyprus Pound note in reporter's hands, then he shows the 10 Cyprus Pound note, cut to wide of Michalis Sarris, Cyprus Minister of Finance, being interviewed, UPSOUND: (English) reporter (off camera) says "I presume that's Aphrodite on the front, and I'm not sure who this is - is this Apollo on the 10 Pound note? ... Apollo, OK, and now you're going to give all this up for a picture of a bridge in Portugal or something. Are you going to miss this money, do you think? Do people get sentimental about this kind of thing?"
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Michalis Sarris, Cyprus Minister of Finance
"I think yes, for two reasons. First, the Cyprus pound as I said earlier... We're going from a good currency, to a better currency, unlike the drachma, the lire, the liretta, that had also known, for a variety of reasons, some adventures prior to converting to the euro, so people will miss it, and incidentally many will keep that as souvenirs, and we expect anything between 10 to 20 percent of the currency in coins in circulation not to be returned to the Central Bank, and people will keep it for their kids, they will keep a set, they will keep it for themselves. I think emotionally we will miss it, but I think economically, financially, commercially, from a business point of view, it is the correct decision that by far outweighs the emotional attachment that we have had to this faithful and attractive servant."
6. Taxi driver getting into cab
7. Sticker in back window of cab showing cab fare rates in euros and Cyprus pounds, UPSOUND: (English) reporter (off camera) says "Are you going to miss the old money do you think?"
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Polis Poliviou, Greek-Cypriot taxi driver
"Yes, we are losing our personality as well. Everybody's got the same coin everywhere, everybody's got the same money. It's like you lose your flag, your personality, your image. You have the same as everybody in Europe."
Nicosia, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC)
9. Busy roundabout
10. People sitting at outdoor cafe
11. Set up shot businessman Ali Erel, in his living room
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ali Erel, chairman of the Cyprus EU Association
(Reporter says off camera: "Do you expect to see taxi drivers, shopkeepers, businesses here working in euro very soon?")
"Well our market is very used to using several kind of currencies together in parallel, so the Cyprus pound was one of them only. We are already using euro in our market, together with dollars and sterling, so it's a mixed market, so our official currency, although it is Turkish lire, most of the prices in the north are in terms of other currencies."
(Reporter says off camera: "Doesn't that confuse people?")
"I think they are more used to using more than one currency in parallel than any other European community, I can say."
13. Wall display in bureau de change, showing euro notes and coins, tilt down to rear shot reporter at desk, UPSOUND: (English) reporter says "Can I change some Cyprus pounds for euro?"
14. Close up cashier behind desk, UPSOUND: (English) reporter (off camera) says: "If I give you 100 Cyprus pound?"
15. Close up Cyprus pound notes on counter, UPSOUND: (English) reporter (off camera) says: "No! Euro." Male cashier: "No euro." Reporter repeats: "No euro."
17. Exterior bureau de change, sign
STORYLINE:
A local taxi driver agreed with the minister.
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