Demographic structures of the Cypriot communities

Demographic structures of the Cypriot communities

Reply to Recommendation 1197 (1992) from the Committee of Ministers adopted on 22 October 1997 at the 606^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

Doc. 7954

30 October 1997

1. The Committee of Ministers has studied with close attention Recommendation 1197 (1992) of the Parliamentary Assembly on demographic structures of the Cypriot communities. The Assembly's interest in the question is shared by the Committee of Ministers.

2. The situation in Cyprus remains permanently on the agenda of the Ministers' Deputies, and there is common ground between the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly concerning the need to support the proposals aimed at solving the Cyprus problem put forward by successive Secretaries General of the United Nations, including those aimed at promoting confidence-building measures designed to create a new climate, more favourable to the negotiating process.

3. It is recalled that in the Vienna Declaration, following the first Council of Europe Summit in October 1993, the Heads of State and Government instructed the Council of Europe, among other things, "to draw up confidence-building measures aimed at increasing tolerance and understanding among peoples", a matter which was also reflected at the Second Summit (Strasbourg, 10-11 October 1997).

4. While recognising that the initiative in respect of the Cyprus question must continue to lie with the UN Secretary General, to whose untiring efforts, including bringing together the leaders of the two communities in summer 1997, it pays tribute, the Committee of Ministers will continue to follow the situation in that country, being a Council of Europe member State, with the closest interest.

5. In this connection, it is recalled that a study session bringing together young people from both Greek and Turkish Cypriot Communities took place in the European Youth Centre - Budapest from 8-13 June 1997. This activity followed a series of similar bi-communal workshops for university students organised by the Cyprus Fullbright Commission and which had already taken place on the island. The aim of the Budapest study session, also co-ordinated by the Fullbright Commission, was to allow young Cypriots from both Communities to meet, get to know each other and develop relations on a "neutral ground", with a perspective of future co-operation.

6. Promoting respect for human rights, tolerance and mutual understanding are the essential elements of the vocation of the youth sector of the Council of Europe. Moreover, the aims of this activity were clearly in conformity with the idea of a "practical contribution (...) to efforts to establish a climate of trust, for example in such fields as culture, education, youth and sport", as defined by the Ministers' Deputies in their reply (547^th meeting, October 1995) to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1259 on the situation in Cyprus (recent political developments).

7. The Governing Board of the EYF and EYC, considering that such an activity was also in line with the spirit of activities organised by the Youth Directorate as a follow-up to the European campaign against racism, xenophobia anti-semitism and intolerance, agreed to include this study session in the 1997 programme of the Budapest Youth Centre, with the assistance of the Directorate's staff.

8. The participants – 17 from each Community - to this study session were in majority university students under 26 years of age. In addition to participants, two "facilitators" from each Community and a representative of the Fullbright Commission also attended. The session was successful as it took place in an excellent friendly atmosphere and its aims were definitely achieved. Similar activities to foster understanding between young people of the two Communities of Cyprus could be envisaged in the future under confidence-building measures.

9. The Committee of Ministers is aware that an artificial change in the demographic structure of the island, with a political objective, could only delay the prospects for an equitable solution of the present deadlock.

10. The Committee of Ministers would be willing to examine the Assembly's proposal concerning the organisation of a population census covering the whole island, i.e. the provision of the necessary legal assistance to that effect, should there be a consensus in that respect among the parties concerned.

11. The Committee of Ministers also reiterates the view it expressed in its reply of October 1995 to Recommendation 1259 (1995) on the situation in Cyprus (recent political events), that a situation such as is still prevailing in this member State appears increasingly anachronistic in an era characterised by the breaking down of barriers and the search for greater unity in Europe.