Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-04-23

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Wednesday, 23/04/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Madeleine Albright and Hans van den Broek discussed the Cyprus question and Greek-Turkish issues
• [02] Give peace a chance" Joint Declaration by Greek and Turkish Cypriot Women

[01] Madeleine Albright and Hans van den Broek discussed the Cyprus question and Greek-Turkish issues

State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said on 22.4.97: "They discussed the current status of the many issues in the Aegean. They agreed on the need to keep Turkey facing westward. They agreed on the need to make sure that Turkey feels that it is a part of the West; that it is invited to participate as a member of the West in various fora. They agreed that all of the regional actors -- Greece and Turkey, Cyprus - have a self-interest and responsibility to try to make progress on these issues this year".

The Spokesman added: "The Secretary is very interested in this part of the world, in Turkey, in Cyprus, in Greece, in all of these countries. She mentions it frequently in her private conversations. She pays a great deal of attention to this and she, of course, raises this issue with a lot of her European interlocutors.

Nicholas Burns responded positively to a question that Commissioner van den Broek gave a report to Secretary Albright outlining "an ongoing initiative by the European Union on the Greek-Turkish disputes". He said the US and EU "respective diplomatic efforts to try to make progress in Cyprus and on issues between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean" were discussed and added:

"We support all the initiatives. We support the effort by all countries in Europe and in North America to make progress, but the responsibility rests with Greece, Turkey and Cyprus and the others who are involved in this dispute, in these various disputes".

[02] "Give peace a chance" Joint Declaration by Cypriot Women Declaration

Following the successful operation of the "Jerusalem" link between Israeli and Palestinian women, arrangements to establish a "Cyprus Link will begin in mid-May.

DECLARATION

"We, fifty Cypriot women from both Greek and Turkish communities of the island and four delegates - Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot from the UK.

Having held a bi-communal conference in Brussels from 17 to 19 April 1997, at the invitation of the Non Governmental Organisation "Actions in the Mediterranean - give peace a chance", under the motto.

"Women speak out in Cyprus";

Having decided to participate in this conference according to invitations channelled through a preparatory committee composed equally by Greek and Turkish Cypriot women, without any interference of the European Commission as well as of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which have provided us the necessary material support, for which we are very grateful;

Having participated equally in the conference as members of both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities;

Taking inspiration from the existing "Jerusalem Link" between Israeli and Palestinian women whose assistance proved invaluable in the preparation and in the workings of our bi-communal conference;

Declare the following:

1. A lasting peace in Cyprus can only be found if the following fundamental principles are fully accepted and implemented: - Security for both communities - Respect for humans rights and democracy - Respect for the cultural heritage, characteristics and national identity of each - Affirmative action against any kind of discrimination - Freedom from any form of oppression.

2. In a joint effort to bring about a just and lasting peace and empowering women in Cyprus, a preparatory working committee will work towards the establishment of the "Cyprus link".

We are fully conscious that such a "Cyprus link" should primarily be a process conducive to a peace-oriented attitude inside each community and, in parallel, between both communities.

We, as women, wives, mothers, sisters, are in the front-line whenever antagonisms unfortunately thrive amongst people -- be it in Cyprus or elsewhere -- and therefore we solemnly claim our right to have a say and to develop our own initiatives concerning the promotion of peace between the two parts of our beloved island beside and even beyond the activities of our political leadership.

At the end of the day, "every other man is a woman" in Cyprus and elsewhere. Therefore, we, Cypriot women, have decided to speak out.

In the spirit of numerous United Nations resolutions and reports recommending these kinds of actions, we expect the international organisations (UN, EU, among others), foundations, etc... to support and to contribute to our joint activities.

3. In the spirit of the above, and in order to engage in practical activities promoting understanding and solidarity between both communities of the island, we suggest to study and to implement -- whenever possible and according to ad hoc modalities -- projects elaborated by the following five workshops:

A. The role of education - education for tolerance B. The role of women in peace making and decision making C. Women's co-operation for health, social services and environment D. Media - their contribution to peace E. Working together to promote women's rights empowering women.

end

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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