Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-04-07

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Delay in homosexuality law before CoE

[02] Cyprus FM briefs Finnish parliamentarians

[03] House President sees German deputies

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Delay in homosexuality law before CoE

Despite repeated government appeals to the House to approve the bill on homosexuality, deputies have so far refused to amend the existing legislation.

This is not the first time the issue will be raised in Strasbourg but in the past Cyprus was given a period of grace to approve the bill, after the Court ruled in April 1993 in favour of a Cypriot homosexual whose case was heard before the Court.

Every six months, there is a periodic review of pending issues by the Committee and this particular matter was discussed in the past.

Normal practice is that the Committee issues a recommendation to the country concerned for compliance and at a later date there may be a resolution, if no action is taken.

Attorney General Alecos Markides told Cyprus radio today "the time limits are closing in on us and we can no longer argue for more time to study the proposed legislation."

He did not think however it would right to say that the Republic of Cyprus has refused to comply with the Court decision but acknowledged there is a delay.

Markides also indicated that failure to comply with the Court ruling may have repercussions on a case against Turkey, found guilty in December 1996 of continuing violation of human rights in Cyprus as a result of the control it exercised illegally in the island's northern areas it occupies militarily since 1974.

Titina Loizidou, the first Cypriot to take Turkey to the European Court, won her case against Turkey for the continuing violation of her right to enjoy her property in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

"Even if we manage to avoid the issue of a statement today, we will not avoid such a move next month," the Attorney General explained.

Markides said it is important to understand that the obligation to comply with a European Court decision is "a matter of public order for the whole of the Council of Europe."

Court decisions are binding, he explained, and therefore compliance by all member states concerns European public law and order.

"In principle, whether you talk about the right to property or the right to private life is the same thing," Markides pointed out.

Replying to questions, he said many countries in the past have used delaying tactics in complying with specific decisions but at the end of the day they did.

Current legislation on homosexuality is considered unconstitutional, Markides said, and has been inactive for years. The bill on homosexuality before the House is "rather conservative", he said.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1255:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus FM briefs Finnish parliamentarians

The three parliamentarians, who arrived Saturday for a five-day official visit, are members of the Finland-Cyprus Friendship Group.

Head of the delegation is the Finland-Cyprus Friendship Group Chairman, Jaakko Laakso, of the Left Wing alliance. He is accompanied by Sinikka Hurskainen of the Socialdemocratic Party and Raimo Tillikainen of the Swedish Party.

Kasoulides also briefed the Finnish delegation on Cyprus' course for European Union membership and discussed bilateral issues, an official statement said Tuesday.

The parliamentarians will later today visit the eastern Dherynia village, overlooking the nearby Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Sophie Phitides.

The Finnish parliamentarians leave Cyprus tomorrow morning.

CNA AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] House President sees German deputies

Eckart Kuhlwein, visiting Cyprus with another three German MPs, was speaking after a meeting with House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

He said Kyprianou briefed the delegation about the situation on the island and added "we explained to the House President how difficult it would be to have Cyprus join the EU without a prior settlement."

The German deputy expressed the conviction that in the next few years, by 2002, there would be a solution in Cyprus and membership would be achieved.

In his remarks, Kyprianou said "we too would like to see a settlement in Cyprus but we wish to have the problem properly solved."

Kyprianou said it was everybody's responsibility to accept Cyprus in Europe and use this as a catalyst for a solution and pressure on Turkey.

"Either we find a reasonable solution prior to accession or we join the EU and Europe uses our membership taking into account Turkey's interests with Europe and the US," the House President said.

CNA RM/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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