[03] Poos appointed European Parliament representative for Cyprus
Cyprus has ratified the sixth protocol of the European Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which refers to the
abolition of the death penalty.
This protocol, which will come into effect on 1 February 2000, is the first
legal document in international law which legally binds the parties to
abolish the death sentence.
Previously the death penalty had been reserved only for cases of high
treason but had never been applied.
Cyprus submitted yesterday the document for the ratification of the Council
of Europe agreement on illicit traffic by sea thus implementing Article 17
of the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and
Phychotropic Substances.
This agreement, which comes into effect for Cyprus on 1 March, provides for
international cooperation between European states to combat illegal drug
trafficking and sets out jurisdiction issues regarding the confiscating of
such substances, the search on ships and the arrest of persons.
Euro MP Jacques Poos of Luxembourg was appointed yesterday representative
of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament for Cyprus.
Poos, who served as Foreign Minister of Luxembourg for a number of years,
succeeds British Euro MP Pauline Green, who has resigned from her post at
the European Parliament a few weeks ago.
Poos will be monitoring and informing the Committee on Cyprus' accession
course.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/