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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-05-02Cyprus 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/>Thursday, 2 May 2002CONTENTS[01] Statement by the President of the RepublicThe President of the Republic Mr Glafcos Clerides stated on Tuesday that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash submitted during the course of the direct talks a 19-page document.Invited to comment on the future of the direct talks' procedure President Clerides said it was difficult to make an evaluation but noted that a lot would depend on the European Union's decision regarding the start of accession negotiations with Turkey. This decision could possibly influence Turkey's stance on the Cyprus problem, however it is an issue that concerns only Turkey and the European Union, he added. Regarding the issue of missing persons, President Clerides said that it is not part of the framework for progress in the solution of the Cyprus problem, since it is a clearly a humanitarian issue. Concluding, he said that there is an agreement between him and Mr Denktash on the issue of the missing which, if implemented, would contribute to the resolution of the issue. [02] Greek Cypriot side sends its reply to Denktash's documentA substantiated reply to the Turkish side, based on international law, was given by President Clerides in a multiple page document, in response to the document submitted by Mr Denktash during his last meeting with the President of the Republic.According to a statement made by Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou to the Cyprus News Agency, the 28-page document was sent yesterday to the Turkish Cypriot leader as well as to the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Mr Alvaro de Soto. Mr Papapetrou said that Mr Denktash's document would be discussed after the Easter holidays, at a meeting of the National Council. The Denktash document does not open any paths for the solution of the Cyprus problem, but it is a repetition of his well-known positions, he said. [03] Foreign Minister fully satisfied with NAM final communique on CyprusThe Foreign Ministers of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non Aligned Movement, concluding their two-day meeting in Durban, South Africa on 30 April, adopted a final communique on Cyprus, which reads as follows:"The Ministers reaffirmed all previous positions and declarations of the NAM on the question on Cyprus. The Movement considers the present status quo in Cyprus, established through the use of force and sustained by military strength, as unacceptable and is deeply concerned over the lack of progress in the search for a just and viable solution to this long-lasting question, primarily due to Turkish intransigence. Efforts towards finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the implementation of all United Nations resolutions and NAM's decisions on Cyprus, in accordance with the principles and positions of the United Nations Charter and the rule of international law, must be intensified. The Movement considers any attempt for a change of the basis of the inter- communal dialogue held under the mandate of the Secretary General, as unacceptable. In this regard the Movement takes note of the two recent rounds of direct talks held under UN auspices, following the invitation of the UN Secretary General as called for by the relevant Security Council resolutions. The Movement urged both sides to participate in the next round of talks in a positive and constructive spirit in order to pave the way for a solution to this long overdue problem." Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides expressed full satisfaction with the content of the final communique. The Non Aligned Movement, which comprises over 120 UN member states, considers the Turkish intransigence responsible for the lack of progress in the Cyprus issue and calls for a solution of the problem based on UN resolutions, the UN Charter and international law, he said. Mr Kasoulides noted that 95 percent of Non Aligned Movement members also participate in the Islamic Conference. Turkey should be well aware of that and should not try to politely introduce in the Islamic Conference, without any debate, certain papers, which demand the recognition of its illegal regime and which in any event will not pass, he added. [04] Cyprus ratifies protocol in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental FreedomsThe Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Christoforos Yiangou, submitted on Tuesday the Ratification Document of Protocol 12 in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in the presence of the Council of Europe's Secretary General.The Protocol provides for the general abolition of discrimination on the part of any public authority against any person for reasons of gender, race, colour, language, religion, political or other conviction, national or social origin, connection with ethnic minority, property, birth or other status, thus safeguarding the enjoyment of all rights defined by the Law, without any discrimination. 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 |