Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-04-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN TCs MEASURES

[02] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT TC 8 JULY AGREEMENT

[03] CYPRUS GREECE HEALTH MINISTRIES

[04] CYPRUS CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

[01] SPOKESMAN TCs MEASURES

Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said that the new measures, as well as the existing ones and any other proposed in the future to promote the economic integration through the economic upgrading of the Turkish Cypriots.

The aim of the Turkish side is the political upgrading of the illegal regime. The talk on the so called isolation of Turkish Cypriots is merely a long-drawn Turkish song and its audience is gradually decreasing.

The Spokesman said there is a possibility that new measures will be submitted for Turkish Cypriots in the future.

In anticipation of reaction and any other remarks by the EU presidency and the Commission, we believe it is not advisable to make public the measures which we have proposed, Pashiardis said, adding that the Turkish Cypriots will be informed on the measures after they are made known to the EU.

The Spokesman further said that it is possible that some of these measures will be implemented unilaterally by the government, adding that from there on, it is up to the Turkish Cypriot side to accept them.

The government of Cyprus submitted last week to the German EU presidency and the European Commission its new proposals for the financial support of the Turkish Cypriot community, with the ultimate goal to contribute to the reunification of Cyprus.

The new proposals were submitted on Saturday by Foreign Minister George Lillikas on the sidelines of the Informal EU Foreign Ministers Meeting that took place in Bremen, Germany.

The Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in May 2004.

The island has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT TC 8 JULY AGREEMENT

He said the Greek Cypriot side`s position was that ``the July 8 agreement, as well as the relevant Gambari letter, are clear enough not to need a reevaluation of their content, which have anyway been accepted by the two sides.``

``The only thing needed is the mutual good will to promote in practice the implementation of what was agreed on, without clauses and preconditions,`` Pashiardis pointed out.

The Spokesman noted that, according to statements by the Turkish Cypriot side, a document was to be sent on Monday to the UN with observations on the July 8 agreement.

``We know neither the quantity nor the quality of these observations,`` Pashiardis said.

[03] CYPRUS GREECE HEALTH MINISTRIES

Cypriot Minister of Health Haris Charalambous and Greek Minister of Health and Social Solidarity Demetris Avraamopoulos signed a protocol which includes provisions for a unified strategy on issues concerning health, twinning of hospitals, joint conferences, special cooperation on thalassaemia and bird flu and common action for vulnerable groups of the society.

The two also pledged to implement the soonest, the Protocol of cooperation which they signed this morning.

Avraamopoulos said that the protocol signals the prospect for closer cooperation between the two countries in the field of health and will significantly help them in handling problems faced in the implementation of their National Health System.

On his part, Charalambous said that the protocol is the start of a new course for further cooperation, noting that this way, we will offer everything possible to our citizens.

[04] CYPRUS CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The Convention was signed on March 30 at the UN by the Republic`s Acting Permanent Representative Andreas Hadjichrysanthou.

The new Convention, which would protect the rights of the worlds 650 million persons with disabilities, was adopted by the General Assembly in December after three years of negotiations. The treaty marks a sea-change in the perception of persons with disabilities, with an emphasis on empowering people to play a greater role in decisions that affect them. Organizations representing persons with disabilities were instrumental in shaping the new Convention.

At its core, the Convention ensures that persons with disabilities enjoy the same human rights as everyone else and are able to lead their lives as fully fledged citizens who can make valuable contributions to society if given the same opportunities. It covers rights such as equality, non-discrimination and equal recognition before the law, liberty and security of the person, accessibility, personal mobility and independent living, right to health, work and education, and participation in political and cultural life.

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