B4-1111, 1131, 1164, 1167, 1171 and 1199/96

Resolution on the murder of a Greek Cypriot in Cyprus

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Cyprus, in particular its resolutions of 12 July 1995 on Cyprus' application for membership of the European Union ((OJ C 249, 25.9.1995, p. 74.)), and 19 September 1996 on the situation in Cyprus ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 9.)),

A. shocked by the latest cold-blooded murder in Cyprus of yet another Greek Cypriot, Petros Kakoulis, by the Turkish occupation army,

B. whereas this totally unjustified act took place near the former police station of Achna, a territory controlled by the British military base at Dhekelia, while the base police and officials of the United Nations peacekeeping forces were not permitted to approach the site of the incident,

C. emphasizing the fact that the victim was the fourth unarmed Greek Cypriot murdered without reason over the last months by the Turkish occupation army or Turkish paramilitary organizations, which could be an indication of the real intentions of some extremist circles to create the false impression that the two communities of the island of Cyprus cannot peacefully coexist,

D. having regard to the refusal of the occupation authorities to comply with the repeated requests from the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights for authorization to visit Greek Cypriots imprisoned in the occupied part of Cyprus in conditions which are in breach of those set out in the relevant international conventions, as is demonstrated in the UN Secretary-General's recent report to the Security Council,

E. having regard to the continuing violation of the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the enclave in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, including the right of education, given the refusal by the occupying regime to allow one of the three Greek Cypriot teachers in Karpassia who is retiring to be replaced,

1. Strongly condemns the murder of Petros Kakoulis by the Turkish occupation forces, expresses its sincere condolences to the victim's relatives and asks the Commission and the Council to inform the Turkish occupation forces of the profound indignation of the European Union with regard to the incident;

2. Calls for a thorough investigation of the incident in order to identify those responsible and bring them to justice;

3. Believes that the people of Cyprus, Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike, wish to see an end to the killings and to the division of the island, and that Cyprus' accession to the EU will benefit both communities and contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem;

4. Reminds the Turkish Government that relations between Turkey and the EU depend partly on the Turkish Government's policy on Cyprus and reiterates its decision to freeze financial cooperation with Turkey as well as the MEDA programme with regard to Turkey, with the exception of those aspects concerning the promotion of democracy, human rights and civil society;

5. Calls on Turkey to respect the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of the Greek Cypriots and Maronites in the enclave, to put an end to any action or omission which violates these rights and freedoms and to implement faithfully the provisions of the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975, particularly with regard to prisoners of whatever faith or origin who are imprisoned in the occupied part of Cyprus;

6. Calls upon the Member States to respond by maintaining firm pressure on Turkey with the aim of freeing the island of the presence of all Turkish troops, guaranteeing freedom of movement for all citizens and working for a just and peaceful solution to the current Cypriot problem, along the lines of relevant UN Security Council resolutions;

7. Reiterates its support for the Cypriot Government's proposal to demilitarize the island and calls on Turkey to withdraw the occupying forces and to comply with the UN resolutions on Cyprus;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of Cyprus and Turkey and the United Nations Secretary-General.