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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-11-03
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 03 November 2003 Cyprus' UN Permanent Representative calls for
enhanced international cooperation against illicit art trafficking
[02] Cyprus Central Bank and Bank of Tanzania sign Memorandum of Understanding
[01] Cyprus' UN Permanent Representative calls for enhanced international
cooperation against illicit art trafficking
"Cyprus' painful experience of the systematic destruction of its cultural
heritage and its continuing struggle to save its stolen heritage from the
international black market brings to the forefront the need for enhanced
international cooperation against illicit art trafficking and for
strengthening national cultural property legislation", Cyprus' Permanent
Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Andreas D. Mavroyiannis,
has noted during his address last Friday before the UN General Assembly on
the 'Return or Restitution of Cultural Property to the Countries of
Origin'. He further said that Cyprus was counting on international efforts
"to protect ecumenical civilisation to contribute in saving the archaeological
and ecclesiastical monuments and landmarks manifesting the rich cultural
historical background of Cyprus", and expressed hope that "the considerable
efforts of the International Community in the direction of returning
cultural objects illegally removed from their rightful owners will be
extended towards the salvation of these unique structures of human
civilisation". During his speech, Mr Mavroyiannis said Cyprus welcomed the
report of the Secretary-General on the Return or Restitution of Cultural
Property to the Countries of Origin, and noted that UNESCO and its Director-
General deserved to be commended for the significant progress achieved
regarding the implementation of the provisions and goals set by the
relevant General Assembly resolutions. "We also commend UNESCO's efforts to
promote bilateral negotiations for the return or restitution of cultural
property as a matter of principle and for providing all the legal and moral
arguments favoring such restitution. It is to be congratulated also for
increasing public awareness for this issue and for assisting in specific
cases", he added. Mr Mavroyiannis said that the Cyprus Government welcomed
also the results of the Twelfth Special Session of the Intergovernmental
Committee, held in Paris on 25-28 March 2003 and was encouraged by the
efforts of the Committee to resolve issues of highly symbolic importance
such as that of the return of the Parthenon Marbles.
Furthermore, Cyprus' UN Representative pointed out that "the recent
examples of the looting of the cultural heritage in Iraq and Afghanistan
and several other examples have demonstrated that looting and destruction
are not merely things of the past and illustrate the need to remain
vigilant and the need for more permanent measures required in the battle
against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage items". "To this end",
Mr Mavroyiannis added, "we stress once more the imminent need for the
promotion of the Object-ID standard in order to promptly identify objects
which have been stolen, and the usefulness of measures such as international
expertise and cooperation in drafting and circulating national cultural
property legislation."
[02] Cyprus Central Bank and Bank of Tanzania sign Memorandum of Understanding
The Central Bank of Cyprus and the Bank of Tanzania have signed today a
"Memorandum of Understanding" on mutual co-operation and exchange of
information in the field of banking supervision. The Bank of Tanzania is
the competent authority for the regulation and supervision of the banking
sector in Tanzania. The Central Bank of Cyprus, in addition to being the
country's monetary authority, is also the banking supervisory/ regulatory
authority as well as the licensing and regulatory authority for International
Collective Investment Schemes their Managers and their Trustees under the
International Collective Investment Schemes Law of 1999. The "Memorandum of
Understanding" has been signed on behalf of the Central Bank of Cyprus by
its Governor Mr Christodoulos Christodoulou and on behalf of the Bank of
Tanzania by its Governor Mr. Daudi T.S. Ballali who is visiting Cyprus.
The "Memorandum of Understanding" establishes a general framework of mutual
co-operation and exchange of information between the two authorities with a
view of facilitating co-operation for effective consolidated supervision of
cross-border establishments and performance of their respective duties for
the safe and sound functioning of credit organisations in their respective
countries, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations. The
signing of the "Memorandum of Understanding" with the Bank of Tanzania
became necessary because of the presence in Cyprus, in the form of a branch,
of a bank incorporated in Tanzania. The Central Bank of Cyprus pursues an
active policy of signing "Memoranda of Understanding" for co-operation and
exchange of information, in the fields of its competence, with respective
overseas authorities. In the field of banking supervision "Memoranda of
Understanding" have been signed with the Central Banks of countries whose
banks already have or may have, in the immediate future, a presence in
Cyprus. "Memoranda of Understanding" in this field have already been signed
with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Bulgarian National
Bank, the National Bank of Ukraine, the National Bank of the Republic of
Belarus, the National Bank of Yugoslavia, the National Bank of Romania, the
Financial and Capital Market Commission of the Republic of Latvia and the
National Bank of Slovakia. Moreover, negotiations are currently being
carried out with another twelve overseas banking supervisory authorities
for the signing of similar documents.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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