Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process

 Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process
Under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden

Press Release
March 10, 2014

Greek Orthodox and Turkish Muslim religious leaders of Cyprus to Attend the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.

H.G. Bishop Porfyrios of Neapolis, representing H.B Archbishop Chrysostomos II and H.E. Dr Talip Atalay, Mufti of Cyprus will be attending the second week of the 25th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva when the Special Rapporteur on religious freedom or belief will be addressing the Council. This is the first time ever in the history of Cyprus where religious leaders of the two main ethnic communities participate together in meetings of the United Nations dealing with human rights.

On the 13th March at 17:00 the religious leaders will be addressing the Human Rights Council alongside the Special Rapporteur, Prof. Dr Heiner Bielefeldt at a side event co-sponsored by the United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations Office in Geneva. Swedish Ambassador H.E. Mr Jan Knutsson will be making the introductory remarks.

The religious leaders will be accompanied by Ms Salpy Eskidjian, Executive Coordinator of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden who will be making an oral intervention on the 11th March during the interactive dialogue session with the Special Rapporteur on religious freedom or belief under Agenda item 3.

The side event will be open to all UN accredited journalists and others.

For more information please contact: Salpy Eskidjian +35799983944

N.B. Attached for convenience the poster for the side event, the country report of the UN OHCHR on Cyprus to be discussed on 26.3.14, and the report of the Special Rapporteur to the Human Rights Council- to be discussed on 11.3.14. Both reports contain positive references to the work of the Religious Track and the efforts of the religious leaders of Cyprus. OHCHR country report: Note paragraphs 10, 28, 33, 35-40, 49 and 58-62 references to freedom of religion and interreligious communication.