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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-08-08
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 08 August 2003 Government strongly opposes any applications to
the so-called "courts" of the pseudostate
[02] UN Secretary General appoints Alvaro de Soto as his Sp. Rep for
Western Sahara
[03] Cyprus' labour force rates among the highest in the European
Union
[01] Government strongly opposes any applications to the so-called "courts"
of the pseudostate
The Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, commenting on Turkish
Cypriot leader Mr Denktash/s statement that Greek Cypriots have applied to
the so-called courts recently established in the occupied area for the
purpose of settling the issue of properties in the occupied areas through
compensation, said: "We have no reports for any applications being
submitted to Mr Denktash. I need to stress, however, that the issue of
properties is a central problem within the framework of efforts to solve
the Cyprus problem. The occupation has deprived the 200,000 displaced Greek
Cypriots of their homes and properties".
Mr Chrysostomides recalled that the decisions of the European Court of
Human Rights and international law in general envisage that occupation does
not affect the property right. "Deprivation of enjoyment of property due to
occupation violates the Convention of Human Rights and, as in the case of
Loizidou, led to the decision for awarding compensation", he said and added
that the issue of properties is also a collective problem and not only an
individual one. Therefore, Mr Denktash's machinations, which are illegal
and I believe they will be rejected by the European Court of Human Rights,
should not be supported, he said. "The Government strongly opposes any such
actions by individuals, and if there were any they would be considered
irresponsible acts that did not help efforts towards a solution to the
Cyprus problem or the efforts for the return of their properties. The
Government discourages such actions with particular emphasis and does not
believe that there will be Greek Cypriots who will take such action", he
stressed. The Spokesman reiterated that the Government clearly opposes
such applications or individual actions taken by Greek Cypriots.
[02] UN Secretary General appoints Alvaro de Soto as his Sp. Rep for
Western Sahara
The Spokesman of the UN Secretary General Mr Fred Eckhard stated during his
daily press briefing yesterday that the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan
was ready to exercise his good offices to help reach a settlement of the
Cyprus problem when both parties and both motherlands show a genuine
commitment to come to terms. Mr Eckhard also announced Mr Annan's intention
to appoint his Special Adviser on Cyprus Mr Alvaro de Soto as his Special
Representative for Western Sahara.
"The Secretary General on 5 August informed the Security Council of his
intention to appoint Alvaro de Soto of Peru as his Sp. Rep for Western
Sahara at the rank of USG. He replaces William Swing of the USA who has
going on to head the UN Mission in the DRC. Mr. De Soto has been the S-G's
Special Adviser on Cyprus since 1999. The Security Council's response is
expected by midday tomorrow. We have copies of Mr. De Soto's bio in my
office." Replying to a question as to whether Mr De Soto would have any
responsibility in Cyprus, or whether his appointment on Western Sahara was
a new job, Mr Eckhard stated the following:
"It's a new job and I am going to give you a carefully formulated response
to your question given the sensitivity on this issue. As the SG said once
again last week he is ready to exercise good offices to help the parties
achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem when both parties
and both motherlands show a genuine commitment to come to terms. This was
spelled out in the SG's report to the SC in April following the failure to
reach agreement at The Hague. As he has aptly demonstrated the SG
attributes a high priority to the settlement of the Cyprus problem and
believes that it is possible to achieve this if the political will is
there. He therefore awaits a firm commitment by all concerned to finalize
negotiations with UN assistance on the basis of the plan he put to the
parties on the 26th of February and to submit it shortly thereafter to
separate, simultaneous referenda. The SG will make arrangements as
appropriate regarding the handling of the Cyprus good offices when Mr. De
Soto takes on his new duties."
[03] Cyprus' labour force rates among the highest in the European
Union
Cyprus has one of the highest labour force rates in the European Union,
according to the "Labour Force Survey" for 2001 and 2002 of the Statistical
Service. The report, which is a household survey carried out annually
according to a regulation of the European Union, provides data on the
employed and unemployed population which are analysed by gender, age,
education, branch of economic activity and occupational group. Data are
also presented on second jobs and the weekly hours of work.
According to the findings of the survey the labour force (i.e. the employed
and unemployed persons) amounted to 326 thousand in 2002 consisting of 56%
men and 44% women. The employed persons during the period 2001-2002 reached
315,000 and the employment rate for persons aged 15 to 64 years was 68.5%.
The corresponding rate for males stood at 78.8%, while that for females was
much lower at 59.0%. Both rates, however, are among the highest in the
European Union. The report notes that the unemployment rate amounted to 3,
3% of the labour force which was lower for males 2,6% and higher for
females 4,2%. The highest rate of unemployment was observed among young
persons below 25 years of age where it accounted for 7,7% of the labour
force of the same age. The labour force of Cyprus has a relatively high
educational background since 32% of the workforce has completed tertiary
education and 38% upper secondary education.
Almost 23 thousand persons or 7,2% of the employed worked on a part-time
basis and two-thirds of these reported that they did not want full-time
employment and only 17% could not find a full-time job.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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