(b) Due to the fact that the functions of the Greek Communal Chamber became impossible in 1965, a Law was enacted (Law 12/65), whereby the powers of the Greek Communal Chamber were transferred to a newly constituted Ministry of Education. (Later renamed the Ministry of Education and Culture). The Representatives of the religious groups in the Chamber, despite the dissolution of the Chamber itself, retained, until the expiration of their term of office, the right to state the view of their community on any matter affecting it, and to make the necessary representations before any official body or committee of the House of Representatives or other authority of the Republic. Moreover, the House of Representatives had the obligation to obtain the views of the Representatives on any matter affecting their community. The future representation of the groups in the House of Representatives was reserved for regulation in the future.

(c) In 1970 a Law was enacted, entitled Religious Groups (Representatives) Law (No. 58/1970), providing for the election of Representatives of religious groups in the House of Representatives.

(d) The last elections of Representatives of the religious groups took place on 26.5.1996.

(e) Thus, religious groups elect their own Representatives, in the House of Representatives who attend as observers and have an advisory role on religious and educational matters, which affect their group, but without any legislative powers.

(f) It should be recalled that the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus is a granted Constitution, the basic articles of which cannot be amended. The said Constitution is based on a system of quota participation of the two major Cypriot Communities in all areas of public life. Seats in Parliament are allocated by the Constitution on a 70% to 30% basis between the Greek and the Turkish Communities.

According to the Constitution, members of the smaller Cypriot Communities, in order to actively participate in the political life of the country and enjoy their political rights freely, exercised their right to opt to which of the two communities they wished to belong. As members of their chosen community, they have the same rights as any other community member. Beyond that, and outside the said quota distribution, members of the smaller communities elect their own community representative to represent them in Parliament. This representative is additional to any member that a smaller community may elect to Parliament on the quota of the community to which it has opted to belong. This system does not give rise to tensions between political parties and the smaller communities, because they do not contest for the same seats in Parliament. The seats held by representatives of the small communities are additional to the normal Parliamentary seats.

(b) The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, mainly through its mediation and conciliation service, encourages and supports equality of pay in all cases, according to Article 28(1) and (2) of the Constitution. As regards conditions of work, equality of treatment in the private sector is almost universal.

(c) The State provides equal opportunity to members of religious groups to be appointed in the public service, without any discrimination. Moreover, equal opportunity for promotion in the public sector is safeguarded by virtue of Article 124(11) of the Constitution.

(d) According to the Public Assistance and Related Services Law 10/75, (as amended by Law 40/76), the right of every citizen to financial assistance for satisfaction of his basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, water, electricity rates), is safeguarded. The Law includes many supplementary provisions, which are intended to offer further social assistance to meet special or urgent needs. In addition, social work services are provided, without any discrimination, for all elderly and disabled persons over the age of eighteen, who are unable to look after themselves. Similar assistance is also provided for children.