Cyprus remains peaceful on the peace index
By Nihal Sharaf
CYPRUS has ranked 52 out of 140 countries most at peace in the Global Peace Index of 2008, maintaining a higher ranking than the US, Turkey and Israel, while two places above Greece and three below the UK.
The index is annually compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which measures the countries’ peacefulness based on 24 indicators such as relations with neighbouring countries, political instability, military expenditure and number of homicides per 100,000 people.
This year, the list has expanded from 121 to 140 countries, with Iceland the most peaceful country in the world followed by Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Japan and Ireland.
Israel, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Iraq are the least peaceful.
However, according to the index, the expansion does not directly affect changes in the rank even though some countries were pushed downwards. The rankings are based only on the measurements examined by the researchers and to verify this, the index included a comparative version of the original 121 excluding the new countries of 2008.
Researchers examine the index compilation of the countries against patterns and drivers of democracy and transparency of government, education and standard of living in order to identify the order of peacefulness.
Although Cyprus fell one place from last year, according to the index, the indicator levels of peace have increased by two points.
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Papadopoulos makes ‘important’ revelations to Cyprus File committee
FORMER President Tassos Papadopoulos revealed important new evidence during the last part of his testimony to the Committee on the Cyprus File yesterday.
Chairman of the Committee for the Cyprus File and EDEK Deputy Marinos Sizopoulos said yesterday that the former President’s testimony revealed new facts that were classed as very important.
“I have to admit that Tassos Papadopoulos mentioned facts and incidents that are regarded as particularly significant and had not come to the attention of the Committee before this. These facts will be cross-checked with other information and documents and we believe will constitute important material for historians that will look into the Cyprus File in the future,” he said.
Papadopoulos’ testimony centred on events that took place in Cyprus between the years 1971 and 1974 and included evidence on the coup, the Turkish invasion and the return of Archbishop Makarios III to Cyprus.
Yesterday’s witness statement by the former President was the second time he had given evidence to the Committee for the Cyprus File as he had previously provided information regarding events that took place in the years 1967-71.
The Committee for the Cyprus File, which convenes behind closed doors, has been collecting testimonies and documents in a bid to clarify the exact events that took place leading up to the Turkish invasion.
Among the high profile names that have already appeared before the Committee include former President Glafcos Clerides as well as EDEK honorary Chairman Vassos Lyssarides.
Sizopoulos said that yesterday’s evidence officially concluded Papadopoulos’ testimony, though he could be called before the Committee again if its members felt that further clarification was needed on the evidence that he has already submitted. |
