Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-09-27

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

Thursday, 27 September 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Statement by the President of the UN Security Council
• [02] Britain disappointed at Turkish side's refusal to participate in the peace talks
• [03] Council of Europe Member states must comply with the European Court of Human Rights decisions
• [04] Government satisfied with security measures at airports

[01] Statement by the President of the UN Security Council

In a statement to the press following closed-door consultations on Cyprus, UN Security Council President Mr Jean-David Levitte said that the Council Members urged all concerned to cooperate with the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto and "to show confidence in their judgment as to the best way to move forward."

Council Members "commended the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser for their efforts and the initiatives they have taken since November 1999 to move the process forward, including an invitation to the leaders to resume the search for a comprehensive settlement in New York this month," he said.

They "expressed disappointment at the unjustified decision by the Turkish side to decline that invitation," Mr Levitte said, adding that "progress can only be made at the negotiating table".

Moreover, Security Council Members encouraged the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser" to continue their efforts, using the guidelines in Security Council resolution 1250, namely that there should be no preconditions; that all issues are on the table; that both sides should make a commitment in good faith to negotiate until a settlement is reached; and that there should be a full consideration of relevant United Nations resolutions and treaties."

[02] Britain disappointed at Turkish side's refusal to participate in the peace talks

Speaking to the press after the UN Security Council Meeting, Mr Greenstock said that it is quite clear that Mr. Denktash, on the Turkish-Cypriot side, is not inclined to follow the Secretary General's lead to try once and for all to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

"The Council has shown a very full support for the efforts of the Secretary General and the Special Adviser to take this issue forward and that will be expressed later this morning where the UK is very pleased to see that the Council has taken that position in pointing a finger at the side that has declined the Secretary General's invitation" he said.

Asked whether he believes that there is common ground to proceed with the talks on Cyprus because Mr. Denktash has said that the proximity talks so far have failed to find a common ground for the two sides to come to the table, Mr Greenstock replied:

"The Secretary General and his Special Adviser have made it clear and I think will continue to make it clear that the conditions set, the principles set by resolution 1250 which include the provision: there should be no preconditions to those talks, are essential and have not been met by the Turkish side and by Mr. Denktash, and that they wish for those talks to begin in order to clear away comprehensively all the difficulties between the two sides. If one side doesn't come to talk about clearing away the undergrowth as well as getting into the real solid part of the wood then that is a refusal to accept the invitation of the Secretary General's good offices to move the thing forward. There is no reason not to talk about everything but there must be no preconditions because if one side sets preconditions then the other side will. 1250 is the Council's text, is the Secretary General's text and in the view of the Council clearly Mr. Denktash has not lived up to it".

[03] Council of Europe Member states must comply with the European Court of Human Rights decisions

The above was stated by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in their reply to a question put forward by Eric Jurgens, Member of Parliament and his colleagues, in relation to the European Court of Human Rights' decisions against Turkey.

In his question Mr Jurgens had asked what short-term strategy the Committee envisages vis-a-vis Turkey, to ensure that it rapidly complies with all the judgments of the European Court and thus satisfies its basic obligation under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Statute of the Council of Europe.

Mr Jurgens underlined that since 1996, the European Court of Human Rights had delivered a great number of judgments against Turkey, finding serious breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights due to homicides, torture, destruction of property, deficient domestic remedies etc;

He pointed out that Turkey clearly had "refused to pay just satisfaction or to take any other measures to comply with the Loizidou judgment, regarding a continuing violation of the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions in northern Cyprus".

He noted that despite the time that had elapsed since all these judgments by the European Court, the repeated appeals to Turkey by the other European governments in the Committee of Ministers, and even a clear summons to comply with the Loizidou judgment remained without effect.

"Such a vast and persistent disregard by a member state for the European Court's judgments raises a major political problem which should be addressed thoroughly by all responsible bodies of the Council of Europe, in particular by the Committee of Ministers in accordance with its responsibilities under the Convention and the Statute of the Organisation, and indeed by the governments of the member states", he said.

In its reply the Committee also stressed that it will "continue to pursue its examination of all outstanding points, until full and proper execution of the Court's judgments has been secured, notably in the context of its regular Human Rights meetings. It will define its future strategy in the light of the information which it expects from the Turkish authorities in the near future".

[04] Government satisfied with security measures at airports

In his statement afterwards Mr Neophytou said that the committee decided to increase police presence at airports and purchase special equipment immediately to boost security. In addition incoming and outgoing passengers at airports will come under scrutiny.

Mr Neophytou expressed satisfaction with the security measures taken at Cyprus ports and airports.

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

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