EUROPEAN UNION: Foreign RH Aid Sparks Debate
Euractiv.com on 4 February reported that according to health advocates, conservatives who oppose using EU development aid to finance family planning have succeeding in reducing support for reproductive health services in poorer nations. The EU’s role in supporting reproductive health and birth control and financing the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) escalated a decade ago when George W. Bush set out to revamp American aid priorities, shifting money away from ideologically divisive reproductive and women’s health programmes to the more popular fight against malaria and AIDS. Read in English: Euractiv.com
CYPRUS: Downer – Census Will Need Stamp Of Approval From UN
Cyprus Mail reported on 14 April that the made it clear there has not been an agreement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots to carry out simultaneous censuses, as the UN said any population count should have the organisation’s stamp of approval. The government clarification came after comments made by UN envoy Alexander Downer, implying that the two sides had agreed to conduct separate censuses. Concerning the Turkish Cypriots, “they said they are happy to work with the UN, (but) the details of how it will happen have not been discussed with them,” the UN official said. He added that the process is something to be discussed by the Turkish Cypriot side and UNFPA who have the expertise. “The Turkish Cypriots have agreed to discussions with UNFPA and we are looking forward to those discussions,” Downer said. “There will be technical discussions about how the UN can help them with the census and they are going ahead with the census as soon as they can.” Read: Cyprus Mail
CYPRUS: Eroglu – Census, But Not Simultaneous Ones
Cyprus Mail reported on 24 March that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has agreed to work with the UN to carry out a population census in the north, but rejected a Greek Cypriot proposal for simultaneous counts in both communities. Speaking on his return from the direct talks with President Demetris Christofias yesterday, Mr. Eroglu said, “Mr. Christofias talked about carrying simultaneous population censuses on both sides. Of course, this is not acceptable. We are a separate state, a separate administration. “Certainly we will carry out a population census, based on international standards and through dialogue with the relevant UN officials, but we are not at all considering a simultaneous census with the south,” he added. UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer strongly hinted last week that the two sides should make use of UNFPA so that negotiators could have a clear idea of what they are talking about when discussing the issue of citizenship. Speaking on his return to the presidential palace, Christofias said the Greek Cypriot side tabled “a very specific proposal, to conduct a population census in the two communities under the auspices and supervision of the UN.” Read: Cyprus Mail