Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-12-13

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

Thursday, 13 December 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Foreign Minister participates in 8th Intergovernmental Conference for Cyprus' EU accession
• [02] The Government is firmly committed to the principles of human rights and to the respect of the rights of refugees
• [03] UN Security Council welcomes the start of direct talks in Cyprus

[01] Foreign Minister participates in 8th Intergovernmental Conference for Cyprus' EU accession

The Belgian Foreign Minister, in his capacity of President of the European Council expressed satisfaction with the efforts and achievements of the Republic of Cyprus and with the adoption and implementation of the acquis communautaire. Announcing the closing of the Chapter on Justice - Home Affairs, he also confirmed the closing, at a Ministerial level, of the Chapter on Environment.

The Belgian Minister underlined that Cyprus is in the first line of candidate countries for accession to the European Union and expressed the wish that the accession negotiations with the candidate countries that are ready would be completed before the end of 2002.

Speaking at the meeting Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides assured of the Cyprus Government's determination to pursue and intensify its efforts in order to complete in good time, the harmonization process, and to strengthen further its administrative capacity for the effective implementation and enforcement of the acquis. He also expressed the confidence that Cyprus will be able to complete these negotiations before the end of 2002.

On behalf of the European Commission Mr Gunther Verheugen underlined the need for the implementation of the acquis by the candidate countries and confirmed the Commission's contribution in this direction.

[02] The Government is firmly committed to the principles of human rights and to the respect of the rights of refugees

Addressing the Ministerial Meeting of the States, Parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol, Mr Christodoulou noted that in 1968, Cyprus ratified the 1967 Protocol and in January 2000 it enacted a comprehensive law on refugees, within the context of the harmonization of its national legislation with the European Union Acquis. As from January 2002, this responsibility will be allocated to and exercised by the Cyprus Refugee Authority, a body that has been established in accordance to the provisions of the Refugee Law for assessing asylum applications, he said.

He pointed out that the cooperation and assistance extended by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is just a part of the multi faceted assistance offered to Cyprus, which dates since 1974, with the setting up of a UNHCR local office, after the Turkish invasion. He also noted that from 1974 - 1994, the UNHCR Local Office has channelled U.S. $ 230 million foreign humanitarian aid, which was allocated to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

"Foreign humanitarian aid has been proven of crucial importance to the people of Cyprus and it has been used for the financing of a variety of projects in housing, health, food, education and social welfare," he added.

Mr Christodoulou expressed the gratitude of the people and the Government of Cyprus to the High Commissioner and his staff, both in Geneva and in Cyprus, for their vital support during the years of destruction and misery following the Turkish invasion in 1974. At the same time, he thanked the High Commissioner and his staff for their support and guidance with respect to the setting up of Cyprus' national agencies and mechanisms for the handling of an ever - increasing number of asylum applications.

"The 50th anniversary of the Convention provides an opportunity for reflecting on its fundamental contribution in managing the issue of refugees for five decades, and especially nowadays, a period of quite rapid socio-political changes worldwide" he said, adding that "such a historic anniversary should encourage all states and the international organizations to reassess their priorities, objectives and policies for dealing with the phenomena of migration and refugees in a sustainable, more effective and long-term perspective".

"Cyprus will continue to participate in every international and regional effort towards this goal, such as the Global Consultations Process, and offers to cooperate in good faith with all its neighbouring states for addressing the reasons underlying the enforced movement of people from their native countries and territories," he concluded.

[03] UN Security Council welcomes the start of direct talks in Cyprus

A press statement issued yesterday by the President of the Security Council states the following

"Council members heard a briefing from Alvaro de Soto, the Secretary- General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, today. Mr. de Soto briefed Council members on the agreement reached by the two leaders on 4 December to begin direct talks in Cyprus, at the invitation of the Secretary-General in the exercise of his mission of good offices. They also had before them a letter from the Secretary-General dated 7 December, in which he informed them that the talks would begin on 16 January 2001.

Council members welcomed this and other positive developments, and hope that progress will be achieved at the negotiating table resulting in a comprehensive settlement.

Council members gave their full support to the Secretary-General's mission of good offices, conducted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1250, and encouraged the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser to continue to be of assistance to the parties as appropriate".

It must be noted that the United Nations Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan in a letter dated 10 December, addressed to the President of the UN Security Council, has informed the Council that President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash having met on December 4, have agreed to begin direct talks, at the Secretary General's invitation in the exercise of his mission of good offices, which would start on 16 January.

"This agreement is a positive development and I would like to hope that, as they have agreed, they will negotiate in good faith until they achieve a comprehensive settlement," Mr Annan has said.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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