Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-12-11

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

News Update

Thursday, 11/12/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides: Respect for human rights must remain the foundation for harmonious relations among states
• [02] Luxembourg Summit expected to reiterate decision on Cyprus' EU accession talks
• [03] UN Secretary General's report on UNFICYP
• [04] Consumer price index for November 1997

[01] President Clerides: Respect for human rights must remain the foundation for harmonious relations among states

In his message to UN Secretary General on the occasion of the 49th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, President Clerides notes that this Declaration established the principle that the protection of human rights is a matter of legitimate international concern. It consolidated the effort of the international community in creating a comprehensive system for safeguarding freedom, justice and peace in the world, he said.

The President also emphasized that "Cyprus regards this anniversary with particular significance since the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of its people continue to be subjected to gross and ruthless violations resulting from the Turkish invasion and the continuing forcible division of our country in flagrant violation of United Nations principles and resolutions".

Moreover, the President added in his message that here in, Cyprus, we maintain our good faith in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the cornerstone upon which individual human rights and fundamental freedoms must be based if a just and viable solution to our national problem is to be achieved.

The President also reaffirmed Cyprus' staunch commitment in the efforts to secure the Declaration's objectives and reiterated that respect for human rights, regardless of race, religion, language or gender, must remain the foundation for harmonious relations among states.

[02] Luxembourg Summit expected to reiterate decision on Cyprus' EU accession talks

In an interview to the Cyprus News Agency, President Clerides, who is leaving for Luxembourg today to attend on Saturday a meeting of the European Council and the applicant countries, said that the Luxembourg European Council is expected to reiterate the March 6, 1995 decision that accession talks between the EU and Cyprus will begin six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference, meaning next April.

The President added, however, that pressure might be placed on the government because "our side wishes the reunification of Cyprus and therefore there will be many who would want to exploit our fervent desire".

"We shoulder the burden to absorb the pressure, remaining firmly in favour of our national interests which under no circumstances we would be willing to sacrifice against any expediency", Mr Clerides said.

Moreover, he noted that as accession negotiations coincide with the resumption of the Cyprus peace talks, this actually "creates a wider framework of pressure on the Turkish side".

He said this framework could not be achieved if the EU member-states acted on a bilateral basis towards Turkey. On the contrary, he noted that Turkish intransigence could be bowed if the EU member-states acted collectively.

Asked by CNA to comment on recent references by EU Commissioner Van den Broek on the island's legislation, President Clerides clarified that "the Cyprus Republic's legislation is based on harmonisation with the acquis communautaire and after the accession and the reunification of the island, it will be valid throughout Cyprus".

Moreover, he said that the EU Commissioner did not disagree with Cyprus' conditions for Turkish Cypriot participation in the Republic's negotiating delegation. He said the Turkish Cypriots should accept this principle.

"The Turkish side will be intransigent if after such invitation it refuses to participate in the accession negotiations through various pretexts, promoting its demand for recognition of the pseudostate", he added.

[03] UN Secretary General's report on UNFICYP

"The continued lack of progress towards an overall settlement, coupled with increasingly belligerent rhetoric, contributed to a growing sense of frustration in both communities", the UN chief notes.

In his report, Mr Annan also points out that repeated appeals of the Security Council for a reduction in defence spending and a reduction in the number of foreign military troops have not been heeded by either side. "The military forces and armaments in Cyprus continued to be expanded, upgraded and modernized at an increasing rate", he says.

Moreover, the UN Secretary General expresses disappointment that after more than one year of intensive discussions, the package of reciprocal measures proposed by UNFICYP to reduce tension along the ceasefire lines has still not been put in place.

"The simple practical measures proposed by UNFICYP, which take into account the concerns of both sides, would significantly improve, the atmosphere and reduce the potential for violations of the ceasefire", he says.

The UN chief notes the positive developments on the question of missing persons and says he has asked his deputy special representative Gustave Feissel to "pursue vigorously the proposal of a joint statement on security".

Annan also welcomes the participation of thousands of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in bicommunal activities sponsored by UNFICYP, which "demonstrate that there exists between the two communities a basis of mutual respect and goodwill".

The UN chief recommends that the Security Council extend the mandate of UNFICYP for a further period of six months.

"The presence of UNFICYP on the island remains indispensable in order to maintain the ceasefire between the two sides, which is a prerequisite for achieving the settlement of the Cyprus question sought by the international community", he says.

[04] Consumer price index for November 1997

The average rate of increase of the Index for the last twelve months (i.e. December 1996 - November 1997) compared to the preceding twelve months (i.e. December 1995 - November 1996) was 3,49%.

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