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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-11-24
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 24 November 2003 Ceremony to mark commencement of the process
for the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines
[02] Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns Constantinople terrorist attacks
[03] Restored Bayraktar Mosque in Nicosia to reopen
[01] Ceremony to mark commencement of the process for the destruction of
stockpiled anti-personnel mines
The National Committee for the Implementation of the Ottawa Convention,
which was established following a decision of the Council of Ministers, is
announcing the holding of a ceremony, on December 2, 2003, to mark the
commencement of the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines. On the
following day, December 3, the Committee is organising a Seminar on the
Ottawa Convention and its implementation on a global scale and by the
Republic of Cyprus. It is important to note that the ceremony on December 2,
will also mark the official launching of the process leading to the
Convention's First Review Conference - the 2004 Nairobi Summit on a "Mine
Free World". The fact that Cyprus has been chosen for the global launch of
this important process is undoubtedly an honour for Cyprus. At 13.30 on
Tuesday, December 2, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Tassos
Papadopoulos, will launch the process for the destruction of 4,000
stockpiled anti-personnel mines. Remarks will also be made by the President-
Designate of the Convention's First Review Conference, Permanent Representative
of Austria to the UN Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch,
by Ms Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1997), of the "International
Campaign to Ban Landmines", by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Kyriakos
Mavronicolas and by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mr Sotos Zackheos. Officials representing intergovernmental and
non-governmental organisations dealing with the implementation of the
Ottawa Convention, as well Ambassadors accredited to Cyprus, state and
government officials, the military leadership, as well as representatives
of political parties and organizations will attend the ceremony.
The Seminar on the Ottawa Convention will be held at the Conference Room of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 09.00 to 11.30 am on December 3, 2003.
It will be attended by all foreign officials who will be present at the
ceremony for the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines and Cypriot
officials involved in the implementation of the Ottawa Convention. The
ceremony and the Seminar are being organised in cooperation with the
"Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining", which oversees the
implementation of the Ottawa Convention. The Ottawa Convention, on The
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-
personnel Mines and on their Destruction was ratified by the Republic of
Cyprus in January 2003 and put into effect on July 1st 2003.
[02] Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns Constantinople terrorist attacks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus strongly condemns
the double terrorist attacks in Istanbul, which resulted in the grave loss
of innocent lives and the wounding of hundreds of civilians. On behalf of
the Government and the people of Cyprus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, the
Government of Turkey, the Government of the United Kingdom, and all other
Governments whose nations have been affected. The Cyprus Government
reiterates its abhorrence and strong condemnation of terrorism, which
transcends national borders, religions and cultures. The Cyprus Government
reconfirms its position for concerted international efforts in the fight
against terrorism which runs counter to human values.
[03] Restored Bayraktar Mosque in Nicosia to reopen
A ceremony to mark the reopening of a Turkish mosque, named "Mosque of
Bayraktar", took place last Friday at the Constanza Bastion in Nicosia's
Venetian walls. The mosque was built in 1820 on the western edge of the
Constanza Bastion, and in 1990 restoration work was undertaken following a
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers. The restoration of the Bayraktar
Mosque to its present form has been made possible with grants by UNOPS and
the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking at the ceremony, Interior Minister Mr Andreas Christou said the
event was "a symbolic step towards reconstructing a united Cyprus" and
expressed the Government's gratitude to UNOPS for its contribution to the
restoration of the mosque. "Allow me to express the conviction that all
Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Latins, Maronites and Armenians
can and should live together, side-by-side, accepting and respecting each
other's religious and cultural background", Mr Christou noted, adding that
"the concepts of division and partition have no place and no meaning in a
united Europe". Present at the ceremony were, inter alia, the Turkish
Cypriot religious leader Seyh Nazum, the Mayor of Nicosia Mr Michalakis
Zambelas, a Christian Orthodox cleric representing the Cyprus Church,
members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Permanent Secretary of the Interior
Ministry Mr Kyriakos Triantafyllides, and Muslims who came from the Turkish-
occupied areas. Seyh Nazum, who spoke at the ceremony, praised the Interior
Ministry and the Interior Minister Mr Christou, in particular, for their
significant role in the restoration of the mosque, and thanked all those
who had contributed to the implementation of the project.
In remarks to the press after the ceremony, Mr Christou said the exact date
for reopening the Bayraktar Mosque, which "will be very soon", would be
decided collectively by the Nicosia Mayor and Seyh Nazum.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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