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Announcements
REFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, MR. YIANNAKIS L.
OMIROU,
ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
DEMOCRACY
Thursday, 15 September 2011
September 15 th
has been established in 2007 by the United Nations
Organisation as the International Day of Democracy and it is also the
day during which, in 1997, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) adopted
the Universal Declaration on Democracy. In this context, the House of
Representatives considers its contribution incumbent, in global efforts
to emphasize the meaning of democracy, the opportunities it offers to
parliamentarism in particular and to the political and state system in
general, but also the challenges it faces on the global scene.
This Day presents us, both in Cyprus and worldwide, with the
opportunity for self-evaluation inner-reflection. A lot has been
sacrificed regarding the meaning and practice of democracy. Democracy
though, above all, dictates respect for basic human rights, consensus,
transparency and justice. Its prevailing would be unthinkable if the
preconditions of peace and stability in any state or even in their wider
regions, did not exist.
The Republic of Cyprus in its registered brief life, has
unfortunately lived through the grim July of 1974, the brutal
abolishment of democracy and, afterwards the barbaric Turkish invasion,
the consequences of which are felt [in Cyprus] until today. The basic
human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cyprus people are still
violated by Turkey, which has been repeatedly condemned both by the UN,
other international organisations and the European Union, which it
aspires to enter. Our goal remains the restoration of the human rights
of our people and the reunification of our country through peaceful
dialogue for finding a solution based on the pertinent resolutions of
the UN and the principles of international and european law.
Sadly, violations of the principles of international law, the
infringement of human rights and the revocation of democracy, are a
common phenomenon in many countries of the world. Today, more than ever,
the democratically elected representatives of the people, are called
upon to defend and spread the values and principles of democracy, as
parliaments play a central and decisive role in the practice and control
of democratic procedures in politically healthy societies. The role of
Parliaments in promoting and safeguarding democracy and human rights is
vitally important and it should thus be maintained and what is more,
reinforced.
Democracy will shine foremost through our own words, actions and
measures as parliamentarians. The struggles and sacrifices made by
previous generations, both in our land and in other parts of the world,
will serve as a beacon, so that we can deliver democracy unscathed to
the next generations.
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