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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-12-03
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 03 December 2003 Turkey pays 1.2 m euros compensation to
Titina Loizidou
[02] Cyprus begins process for destruction of anti-personnel landmines
[03] President Papadopoulos meets Italian Vice President
[04] Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns Iraq terrorist attacks
[01] Turkey pays 1.2 m euros compensation to Titina Loizidou
Turkey handed over a cheque for 1.2 million euros to Council of Europe
Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer yesterday, compensating Greek Cypriot
Titina Loizidou for the loss of use of her property in the Turkish-occupied
Kyrenia. Turkey has been refusing to comply with the judgment of the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for five years.
The Cyprus Government expressed its satisfaction over the payment of the
compensation but voted against two resolutions, approved during an
impromptu meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers yesterday,
to postpone the implementation of an earlier Court judgment in 1996, on the
restoration of Mrs Loizidou's rights to her property, until the end of
2005. Together with Cyprus, Greece and Russia voted against the resolutions.
Malta, Andorra, Slovenia, Slovakia, Ireland, Portugal and Armenia abstained
from the voting. Commenting yesterday on the development, Acting Government
Spokesman Mr Marios Garoyian noted, inter alia, the following:
"After five years of contempt of the institutions and principles of the
Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights, and the adoption
of four condemnatory interim resolutions, Turkey has been forced to pay the
sum for the just compensation to Mrs Loizidou for the loss of use of her
property, as provided for by the decision. In practice, Turkey, according
to the decision of the Court, accepts its responsibility for the continued
violation of the human rights of the people of Cyprus, which is the result
of the continued invasion and occupation of Cyprus. It also accepts that
the secessionist entity in the occupied areas is a local administration
subordinate to Turkey. The Cyprus Government expresses its satisfaction
over this development". At the same time, Mr Garoyian noted that the Cyprus
Government "expresses its disapproval because Turkey managed, through
various manoeuvres, to incorporate political elements into the resolution,
which concern an effort to postpone the implementation of the 1996 decision,
and in addition, to have its statement that it does not accept responsibility
be taken into consideration". Furthermore, a statement by the Dutch
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, issued
yesterday, announced the payment of the compensation by Turkey, noting that
"the conclusion of this case, which is the result of efforts by all member
states, demonstrates the effectiveness of the right of individual appeal
available to 800 million Europeans before the Strasbourg Court".
In another statement, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr
Schwimmer, expressed his satisfaction that the Committee of Ministers'
Deputies had completed their control of the execution of a judgment of the
ECHR of 28 July 1998. He also said he welcomed yesterday's "successful
outcome, which confirmed the supremacy of the judgments of the European
Court and the Committee of Ministers' determination to ensure, with all
means available to the Organisation, compliance with those judgments".
He added that yesterday represented a significant moment for the Council's
system of collective enforcement of human rights.
[02] Cyprus begins process for destruction of anti-personnel landmines
An official ceremony was held yesterday to mark the commencement of the
process for the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel landmines in
Cyprus. The process takes place in the framework of implementing the
Ottawa Convention, on "The Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production
and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and their Destruction", which was
ratified by the Republic of Cyprus in January 2003 and put into effect on 1
July 2003. Yesterday's inaugural ceremony on the destruction of anti-
personnel landmines also marked the official launching of the process
leading to the Ottawa Convention's First Review Conference, the 2004
Nairobi Summit on a "Mine Free World".
The Acting President of the Republic, Mr Demetris Christofias, read out a
statement at the ceremony, held at the testing range at Xintou area in
Vizakia, launching the process for the destruction of some 4,000 anti-
personnel mines. Statements were also made by the Defence Minister, Mr
Kyriakos Mavronicolas, the Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mr Sotos
Zackheos, the President-Designate of the Ottawa Convention's First Review
Conference and Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN in Geneva,
Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1997),
Ms Jody Williams, of the "International Campaign to Ban Landmines"
(ICBL). In his speech, Mr Christofias said "Cyprus follows a principled
policy with regard to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and has ratified all relevant international legal instruments,
not only in the field of conventional weapons but also on weapons of mass
destruction". "Our principled position on anti-personnel mines is another
strong signal to the international community and our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots of our determination to strive for a peaceful solution of the
Cyprus problem, based on U.N. Resolutions and international law", he
further noted, reiterating the Cyprus Government's "firm commitment to
continued negotiations on the basis of the U.N. Secretary-General's Plan,
for finding a functional and viable political settlement".
"We sincerely hope that such a solution will be found soon, so that a
united Cyprus would accede to the European Union on May 1st 2004, for the
benefit of all Cypriots, for the benefit of peace on the island, in the
region and beyond", Mr Christofias added. He also pointed out that the
commencement by the Republic of Cyprus of the destruction of stockpiled
anti-personnel mines was "the first significant step taken by our country
to fulfil our obligations under the Ottawa Convention" and noted that the
ceremony coincided with the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Mine
Ban Treaty in Ottawa in 1997 and the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the
"International Campaign to Ban Land Mines" and Ms Jody Williams in Oslo, as
well as with the International Day for Disabled People, which is marked
around the world today, 3 December 2003. Mr Christofias also took the
opportunity to express gratitude to the Government of Canada for its
generous contribution of $330.000 towards the demining of the buffer
zone. The Defence Minister, Mr Mavronicolas, noted in his speech that the
Republic of Cyprus had committed itself to the demining of the buffer zone,
in cooperation with the United Nations, "an action which unfortunately
until this day did not find the relevant reciprocity from the Turkish side
and Mr Denktash".
Noting the Republic's demining efforts since 1983, Mr Mavronicolas said
that all activities and initiatives were being undertaken despite the
difficulties ensuing from the Turkish occupation of more than 36% of the
Republic's territory. "We responsibly state that, besides our willingness,
we have the necessary trained personnel, the essential know-how as well as
the necessary equipment and means, to accomplish this task, according to
international standards, the recognised procedures and means, and within
the time limits set by the Convention", the Defence Minister said, noting
that "for this reason we have established a special Demining Centre which
we have manned with specialists so as to carry through and implement these
necessary procedures". Also speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent
Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr Zackheos, noted that "despite
the fact that part of its territory remains under Turkish military
occupation and still faces the potential threat of further aggression,
Cyprus has become party of the [Ottawa] Convention and is committed to
faithfully fulfil all its obligations within the prescribed time limits".
Mr Zackheos made special reference to the role of NGOs in the effort to
publicise and sensitise governments on the need to deal effectively with
the issue of demining, noting, in particular, the work accomplished by
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams and her institution "International
Campaign to Ban Landmines". On her part, Ms Williams praised the decision
by the Republic of Cyprus to ratify the Ottawa Convention, saying it was a
"very bold step". She also noted that Cyprus' decision to proceed with the
destruction of landmines was indicative of its compliance with international
law and norms. The President-Designate of the Ottawa Convention's First
Review Conference and Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN in
Geneva, Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, pointed out in his speech that by
signing the Ottawa Convention, Cyprus would give an example to other
countries to follow along the same path, thus contributing to the
elimination of anti-personnel mines.
[03] President Papadopoulos meets Italian Vice President
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, met yesterday in
Rome, during a working lunch, with the Italian Vice President Mr Gianfranco
Fini, who replaced the ailing Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi. During
the meeting, which is part of the Italian government's deliberations with
EU member states in view of the forthcoming European Council in Brussels on
12-13 December, President Papadopoulos elaborated on the Cyprus Government's
positions regarding various aspects of the draft European Constitution, on
which Cyprus had a special interest. They also discussed issues to be dealt
with at the next European Council, such as tackling illegal immigration,
and matters of bilateral interest. The Italian Vice President took the
opportunity to express gratitude to President Papadopoulos for Cyprus'
contribution in the efforts to tackle the problem of illegal immigration
and its constructive positions in the framework of the Intergovernmental
Conference. Mr Papadopoulos also had a telephone conversation with Mr
Berlusconi. The President left Rome yesterday afternoon to travel to
Nigeria, via London, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Summit.
[04] Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns Iraq terrorist attacks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus expresses its
sorrow and dismay over the latest attacks in Iraq, in which seven Spanish
intelligence agents, two Japanese diplomats, and two American soldiers lost
their lives. On behalf of the Government and the people of Cyprus, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers its condolences to the families of the
victims, and the Governments of Spain, Japan and the USA. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs unequivocally condemns the attacks, and takes this
opportunity to reaffirm its solidarity with the international community in
the fight against international terrorism.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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