Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-05-23
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
Wednesday, 23 May 2001
CONTENTS
- [01] Greek Foreign Minister discusses Cyprus in Washington
- [02] Cyprus ratifies UNESCO convention on protection of cultural heritage
[01] Greek Foreign Minister discusses Cyprus in Washington
The Cyprus problem and the island's accession to the European Union were
part of discussions that the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou had
with US Vice President Richard Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell
in Washington on Monday.
In statements afterwards Mr Papandreou said the US Administration considers
the Helsinki EU decision which stipulates that a political solution in
Cyprus would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition, as
constituting the basis for Cyprus' accession.
He added that he asked for US assistance in efforts to bring Turkey in line
with EU values and see Ankara adopt European principles that would not only
help establish wider stability in the region in the Eastern Mediterranean
but also facilitate changes within Turkey itself.
[02] Cyprus ratifies UNESCO convention on protection of cultural heritage
Cyprus has submitted to UNESCO the instrument of ratification of the
Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of an Armed
Struggle.
This protocol is considered to be of special significance for Cyprus since
it includes provisions for the protection of cultural heritage in the
Turkish occupied north and imposes criminal responsibility on any country
which violates it.
The Protocol was adopted unanimously at a Diplomatic Conference in the
Hague on 26 March 1999 and forms part of the effort to complete and
strengthen the Hague Convention.
According to the protocol, a country which occupies the whole or part of
another country's territory has an obligation to prohibit and impede any
illegal export, transportation or transfer of the ownership of cultural
heritage, as well as any archaeological excavation, apart from cases where
it is necessary for the protection and registration of cultural heritage,
and any transformation or change of use of the cultural heritage which aims
at concealing or destroying cultural, historic or scientific evidence.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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