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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-11-24Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateMonday, 24/11/97CONTENTS[01] Cyprus protests Turkish arms build up in occupied areasCyprus has strongly protested to the UN Secretary-General over the recent illegal increase of the Turkish occupation forces on the island with military equipment and men.In a letter, dated November 20, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Sotos Zakheos, said the additional arms and men were brought under the pretext of Turkey's military exercise code-named "Toros 1997", illegally held last month in the occupied areas, and were not subsequently withdrawn. "These actions constitute a violation of repeated General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and are in complete disregard of international law and the UN Charter," he said. Mr Zakheos also protested the participation of a Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit at the events to mark the 14th anniversary of the illegal declaration of the pseudostate in the occupied areas. Mr Zakheos listed the military equipment brought to the island as eight firearms carriers, 28 armoured personnel carriers, 17 tanks and 200 auxiliary vehicles. Also brought in were some 3,000 Turkish soldiers, including commandos, together with a large amount of live ammunition. A number of warships also docked illegally at Famagusta port. "We believe that it is time the Security Council examines alternative ways and means to promote the implementation of its resolutions," Mr Zakheos said. [02] Life in Cyprus compares favourably to European countriesThe demographic report for 1996 issued by the Department of Statistics and Research shows that trends in marriage, divorce and life expectancy in Cyprus compare well with other European countries.It says that, despite the fact that the divorce rate in Cyprus has almost quadrupled in the past 16 years, from 4.2 per cent in 1980 to 14.4 per cent by 1996 the rate is still "extremely low" compared to other European countries, where one marriage in two ends in divorce. It says that there were 725 divorces in 1996, a slight drop compared to the 1995 total of 757. "Persistent prejudice" against marrying in a leap year, the report says, was the cause for a drop in the number of marriages in 1996 to a total of 11,522. It also notes a continuous rising trend in the age of first marriage. The average age of men marrying for the first time rose from 25.7 in the period 1974 to 1977 to 27.7 in the period 1993 to 1996 and for women from 22.9 to 25.1 respectively. The population of the government-controlled areas increased by 1 per cent last year and was estimated at 651,800. Almost 70 per cent of people lived in towns. The number of births in 1996 dropped slightly compared to the previous year to 9,638 from 9,869. While the birth rate in Cyprus remains high compared to other developed countries infant mortality is slightly higher at 8.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth stands at 75 for men and 80 for women. The main causes of death last year, according to the report, were diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems, tumours and accidents, and injuries and poisonings. On migration, the report states that the number of people arriving to live on the island last year exceeded the number emigrating by 1,800. [03] Cyprus re-elected to IMOCyprus has been re-elected a member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for another two years.The island was re-elected by the 16-member IMO council during Friday's session of the organisation's biennial general meeting in London. Addressing the IMO meeting, Communications and Works Minister Leontios Ierodiaconou underlined the importance Cyprus attached to its shipping industry. He underlined Cyprus' adherence to international regulations, particularly on security and prevention of pollution. [04] Experts' meeting on Law of the Sea opensA three-day meeting of experts on the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law from Cyprus and Greece, was held over the weekend in Nicosia.It will deal with Cyprus' harmonisation process with the Law of the Sea, Turkish restrictions on free passage through the Straits and the Cypriot shipping industry. Taking part in the Nicosia meeting are some 25 Greek consultants and Cypriot representatives from government and other departments. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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