By George Michael
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, has welcomed the fact that Cyprus has ratified all standards set by the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, showing in this way its willingness to find solutions for the remaining problems.
In an interview with CNA on the results of his recent three-day visit to Cyprus, Hammarberg said while on this eastern Mediterranean island, he had the opportunity to be briefed on the present situation regarding issues such as migration, refugees and asylum seekers, human trafficking and living conditions in detention centres.
As he noted, despite the fact that on some of these issues progress has been made, yet there are some problems which need to be resolved.
The positive thing for Cyprus, Hammarberg added, is that it has ratified all the standards set by the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, showing in this way its willingness to find solutions for the remaining problems.
Referring to the issue of human trafficking, he welcomed the fact that Cyprus has ratified the relevant International Conventions against human trafficking, although he pointed out that their full implementation was still pending.
“The problem is that all these decisions must be implemented in reality and the fact is, the way I understood it, that trafficking is still wide spread with all the cabarets still operating here”, he noted.
It is a very serious problem and in this way it should be treated, he continued, expressing the need to take strict measures in order "to combat organised prostitution".
Invited to comment on the problem of illegal immigration Cyprus is facing, Hammarberg described it as a european problem that the European Union needs to tackle, expressing at the same time his disappointment that till today EU has not managed to adopt a common policy on this issue.
“I am very disappointed about the lack of progress when it comes to coordinating the EU countries on the issue of migration, where the European countries have not managed to clarify a common policy”, said the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner.
Reffering to the situation in Cyprus, he mentioned the "big delay" for an asylum application to be examined. He expressed the need for further improvement of the reception and detainee centres for migrants which are overcrowded, he said.
At the same time, Hammarberg welcomed the “well organised and well run” state-owned shelter for women, victims of sexual exploitation.
Commenting on the fact that the majority of illegal immigrants reach the government-controlled areas of the Republic through the Turkish-occupied areas, the CoE Commissioner acknowledged the problem as a fact, adding that one of the reasons this is happening, is due to the lack of cooperation between the two communities.
“There is not a sufficient cooperation between the police forces of the Republic and those in the north and it would actually be quite helpful if there was a willingness on both sides to start meaningful cooperation”, he noted, expressing the hope that an effective policy would be found when the Cyprus problem was solved.
During his visit in Cyprus, Hammarberg was also briefed on the ongoing process to prepare the ground for a solution to the Cyprus problem through working groups and technical committees, stressing the need for a discussion of human rights issues at this level.
These kind of issues were discussed, he recalled, at his meetings with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, adding that both leaders had shown keen interest in finding solutions in problems, such as property and missing persons.
"With both leaders I discussed issues related to the Committee of Missing Persons and the procedure of the excavations to exhume remains of missing persons. I think it is absolutely important and it is good that at long last something constructive is done on that problem”, he added.
Invited to comment on the fact that human rights in Cyprus are being massively violated by Turkey since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third, Hammarberg expressed his sadness that all these years so little progress has been made, especially, when it comes to the missing persons question.
He expressed hope that the Committee of Missing Persons will continue and speed up its work so as the relatives on both sides eventually be informed about the fate of their loved ones.
