Day: May 26, 2023

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PACE Committee chair thanks Parliament for organizing meeting in Larnaka

Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Damien Cottier, thanked the House of Representatives and the head of the Cyprus delegation at PACE for organizing a meeting of the Committee in Cyprus.

The Committee convened in Larnaka on the 22 and 23 of May, following an initiative by MP Nicos Tornaritis, head of the Cyprus delegation at PACE.

According to a press release, Cottier praised the importance of the opportunity that the Committee members have had to gain their own understanding of the situation in Cyprus, especially with their visit to the government controlled area of Famagusta, as well as to understand in depth other critical issues for Cyprus, which are related to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Furthermore, it is noted that such issues concern mostly the implementation of the decisions of the Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for Cyprus and the progress in the implementation of the necessary reforms for compliance, as well as broader issues arising from the 4th Interstate Appeal of Cyprus against Turkey (Loizidou case) and the recently taken decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to end the monitoring of the case, without the fulfillment by Turkey of its obligations towards Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cypriot MP travels to Sparta as member of IAO delegation

Cypriot MP Elias Myrianthous will travel to Sparta, Greece, to participate in a delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy (IAO) in the framework of an international campaign to raise awareness against the conversion of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque.

A press release issued by the Parliament said that Myrianthous will travel to Sparta following an invitation by Maximos Harakopoulos, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy (IAO).

It noted that on Sunday, May 28, there will be a presentation of the dedicated volume of the Assembly on Hagia Sophia.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Chinese Ambassador highlights prospects for further cooperation with Cyprus

Continuous excellent bilateral relations and Cyprus' significant geographical position are an important factor for further cooperation between Cyprus and China, Chinese Ambassador, Yantao Liu, said on Friday, during a meeting with Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos.

As announced by the Ministry, the Minister and the Ambassador exchanged views on financial and commercial relations between China and Cyprus. The Chinese Ambassador underlined the importance of financial relations with all EU member states, including Cyprus. He also expressed the belief that bilateral relations should extend to green and digital transition, tourism, and innovation.

Keravnos briefed the Ambassador on the current state of the economy in Cyprus and on the government's goals. He also underlined the importance of enhancing economic ties between the two countries and particularly referred opportunities that appear in trade, tourism, and services.

Both sides agreed that they will remain in close contact.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Church of Cyprus succeeds in repatriating two stolen icons

The Church of Cyprus has succeeded in repatriating two stolen religious relics from churches in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

According to a press release by the Church of Cyprus, two icons, depicting the Crucifixion and the Baptism of Christ, were to be sold at an auction in Dsseldorf - Germany in April.

The Church of Cyprus claimed the two relics during the auction in mid-April and succeeded in reacquiring them. They were repatriated on May 18.

According to the press release, the icon of the Baptism of Christ, is a work of students of the iconographer Kornaros Kritos and was painted in 1852. The icon of the Crucifixion was done in the workshop of the Monastery of Saint Herakleidios in 1731.

The Church expresses its gratidute to all those who contributed to the successful repatriation of these two religious relics.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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CoE official congratulates House on vote against conversion therapies

President of the European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe (CoE), Aoife Nolan, has congratulated the House of Representatives on its vote for the complete ban on all forms of conversion therapy.

According to a press release by the House of Representatives, MP Nikos Tornaritis, head of the Cypriot delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) addressed a question to Aoife Nolan, President of the European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe, after a speech she gave at the session of the Standing Committee of the Assembly in Riga.

Tornaritis, firstly referred to the House of Representatives vote to completely ban any type of conversion therapy, as an important step in the promotion and protection of the human rights of the LGBTI community.

He then asked Aoife Nolan, as chair of the Committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the CoE's Human Rights Charter, about the progress made by the PACE member states on the issue.

Nolan congratulated the House of Representatives for this important amendment to the legislation.

Furthermore, she underlined the importance of criminalizing, at the international level, those practices that violate the human right to physical and sexual self-determination, the press release concludes.

Source: Cyprus News Agency