Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-03-29

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

Thursday, 29 March 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Attalides: UN report's limited references to human rights issues conceal more than they reveal
• [02] Mr Vassiliou meets EU Commissioners
• [03] Cyprus is one of the most successful tourist destinations in the Mediterranean
• [04] US State Department Briefing on Cyprus-US Foreign Ministers' meeting

[01] Attalides: UN report's limited references to human rights issues conceal more than they reveal

Addressing the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva Mr Attallides said "the Report's limited references to human rights issues conceal more than they reveal."

Mr Attalides pointed out that the report fails to reveal that all progress in the implementation of the agreement on missing persons for the exhumation and identification of remains has been stopped by the Turkish Cypriot side's refusal to implement the 31st July 1997 agreement.

He stressed that no reference is made to the inhuman treatment and racial discrimination against Greek Cypriots and Maronites in the occupied areas nor to the fact that about one third of the Greek Cypriot population who were expelled form their homes are still forcibly prevented by the Turkish occupation forces from returning. Moreover there is no mention whatsoever to the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights which found Turkey guilty of continuous violation of the right of Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou to return to her home, he said.

Mr Attalides underlined that neither this year's, nor last year's Report refer to any of the findings of the European Commission of Human Rights, which found the Republic of Turkey responsible for mass violations of the European Convention of Human Rights in Cyprus.

"We must learn to avoid penalizing, through silence, peoples and governments who rely on the international Rule of Law and on the Human Rights System of the United Nations and other, regional bodies, and not on the use of force, for safeguarding the human rights of their people. Nor should the power, influence or strategic importance of a perpetrator of massive human rights violations lead to blindness in those responsible for detecting and castigating such violations," he said in conclusion.

The full text of the speech can be found at the "Special Issues" section of our website:

[02] Mr Vassiliou meets EU Commissioners

During his meetings with the two Commissioners Mr Vassiliou discussed EU related issues with special emphasis on the two chapters of the acquis communautaire that relate to the two Commissioners' competence. Discussions with Commissioner Diamantopoulou focused on the chapters of free movement of workers while with Commissioner Barnier the discussion evolved around Regional Policy.

Mr Vassiliou stressed the importance of increasing the community's financial assistance to Cyprus, since the island does not participate in the series of programmes that apply only to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

He also briefed the two officials on the progress made by Cyprus in the EU accession negotiations and on the efforts of the country for full implementation and of the acquis communautaire.

Moreover, he briefed the two Commissioners on the Cyprus Government's wish and efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem before the EU enlargement, within the framework of the United Nations resolutions and on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation, so that a united Cyprus can accede to the EU.

[03] Cyprus is one of the most successful tourist destinations in the Mediterranean

Addressing a press conference at the Moscow exhibition MITT 2001, Mr Rolandis said that the Cyprus tourism industry has developed with spectacular rates of growth over the last 20 years. "Tourism is undisputedly the backbone of the Cyprus economy" he said, "with a total accommodation capacity of over 100,000 beds, with international visitors in the order of approximately 2,7 million last year, with foreign exchange earnings estimated at about US $2".

The Ministry's twelve point plan for tourism is being implemented in a very satisfactory manner and new forms of tourism such as conference tourism, sports tourism, cultural tourism and agrotourism are being developed he said, adding that significant progress has been achieved regarding the creation of new golf courses and marinas.

Mr Rolandis said that the new Strategic Plan to the year 2010 underlines the importance of quality and aims at doubling receipts from tourism. The plan's target is to reposition Cyprus on the global tourist map as a destination, which offers not only sun-and-sea but also other opportunities.

Referring to the tourist traffic from Russia to Cyprus, Mr Rolandis said that approximately 146,000 Russian tourists visited Cyprus during 2000, compared to 134,000 in 1999.

[04] US State Department Briefing on Cyprus-US Foreign Ministers' meeting

Asked whether the Cyprus problem would be discussed during the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, Mr Boucher said: "Cyprus has already been a subject of discussion with the Greek Foreign Minister, the Turkish Foreign Minister and the Cypriot Foreign Minister".

"This is an ongoing subject of discussion where we support the efforts of the United Nations. And to the extend we can use our discussions with the parties to support those efforts, we always do," he added.

Concluding, Mr Boucher said that a reference to the Cyprus issue was also made during the meeting of the US Secretary of State with the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers.

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

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