Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-01-30

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

Wednesday, 30 January 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] The process of the talks on Cyprus to be speeded up
• [02] Italian Parliament President stresses the importance of Cyprus' EU accession
• [03] Cyprus strongly supports effective action for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination
• [04] Violations of Cyprus' airspace by Turkish military aircraft
• [05] UN Secretary-General and Austrian Foreign Minister discuss Cyprus problem

[01] The process of the talks on Cyprus to be speeded up

"Firstly I would like to say that in the framework of the effort of the two interlocutors to speed up the process of the talks, it has been decided that an additional meeting be held on Thursday at 4.00 pm. Therefore, apart from the meeting on Wednesday and Friday which will be held at 5.00 pm, we will also have the meeting of Thursday. The discussion is expected to proceed to other issues at a quicker pace.

Secondly, I would like to say that reports, according to which Thursday's meeting will be between the interlocutors, only, without their advisers, are inaccurate. The talks will continue as usual. Also, during yesterday's meeting, Mr Denktash gave the President of the Republic his views in writing on the issue of the missing persons. Mr Denktash's document will be examined and our side will reply in due course."

[02] Italian Parliament President stresses the importance of Cyprus' EU accession

Specifically, Mr Casini said that having Cyprus and Malta in its ranks, the European Union will assume, as it expands towards the East, an important dimension to the south. The Mediterranean region is important for the creation of conditions of peace and development in Europe and the world at large, he said. EU commitment to the Mediterranean is of vital importance for the effort to put an end to the Middle East conflict, which cannot be tolerated by the human and social conscience of the European people, and for the future of the whole region.

[03] Cyprus strongly supports effective action for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination

Speaking on 28 January before the UN's 56th General Assembly on the issue of "Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination" Mr Hadjiargyrou said that "Cyprus welcomes the conclusion of the deliberations in Geneva concerning the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance".

He pointed out that universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination should be made a top priority and that attention should be drawn to the model legislation drawn by the United Nations to fight racism and intolerance.

Referring to Cyprus' efforts at countering racism and intolerance, he said Cyprus is one of the first states to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and one of the few states to have made the declaration under Article 14 of the Convention.

In its efforts reach full conformity with the convention "Cyprus has reviewed and amended the legal framework on the protection of refuges and displaced persons regardless of ethnic origin as well as the procedure for acquiring Cypriot citizenship", he said. Furthermore, it has established various institutions to facilitate the implementation of the Convention and strengthened the channels of cooperation with non-governmental organisations, he added.

Referring to the field of education, Mr Hadjiargyrou said that Cyprus has "reinforced academic curricula and instituted programmes on human rights with a view to further developing the respect of all human beings and peoples, irrespective of their language, race, colour or religion and promoting the spirit of tolerance, acceptance and cooperation".

"Cyprus places special attention to the education programmes of the children belonging to minorities through a system of direct subsidies towards the school tuition for Latin, Maronite and Armenian students who attend private schools. In addition it fully covers the fees and expenses of Turkish Cypriot students who reside in the government - controlled area, " he said.

He also pointed out that Cyprus has established language programmes for children of immigrants, as well as, training programmes for civil servants on the provisions of the Convention and the launching of information campaigns, which improve public awareness on the Convention and publicise the existence of all legal and administrative remedies. Moreover, the Ministry of Education and Culture subsidizes cultural activities for all religious groups, which include book publishing, performances and libraries, he said.

Referring to the tragic effects of the 1974 Turkish invasion, which has "de facto separated" the Cyprus people, he noted that the Cyprus Goverment is prevented from enforcing the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, due to the policy of the occupation power.

Concluding, Mr Hadjiargyrou expressed the hope that "the direct talks, which began earlier this month between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, will lead to an early agreement, on the basis of the Security Council resolutions, that will allow all Cypriots to live in a reunited, democratic and prosperous Cyprus, member of the European Union, with their fundamental freedoms and human rights fully protected."

[04] Violations of Cyprus' airspace by Turkish military aircraft

In a letter dated 21 January, addressed to the UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan, the Charge d' Affaires of the Cyprus Permanent Mission to the United Nations Dr George Kasoulides underlined that such actions violate international law as well as UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and called for their cessation.

Dr Kasoulides noted that these violations are occurring at the moment of the beginning of direct talks in Cyprus at the invitation of UN Secretary General in the exercise of his mission of good offices and recalled that the Security Council in its statement of 14 December 2001 had given its full support to the Secretary-General's mission of good offices conducted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1250 (1999).

"Let us hope that the Government of Turkey will show restraint, and will cease the violation of the airspace of Cyprus and contribute to the efforts to find a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of United Nations resolutions", he concluded.

[05] UN Secretary-General and Austrian Foreign Minister discuss Cyprus problem

During the meeting the Middle East issue, discussions of Afghan reconstruction and security, tensions between India and Pakistan, Iraq, Central Asia, Cyprus and the Balkans were discussed.

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

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