WRITTEN QUESTION E-1483/99

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Initiatives intended to bring about the liberation of Cyprus

On 20 July 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern part of Cyprus. The last 25 years have witnessed arbitrary occupation based on force and oppression and involving a constant and systematic violation of international law and human rights: thousands of people lost their lives as a consequence of the invasion, the invaders have expelled hundreds of thousands of Greek Cypriots from their territory and the same thing has happened to several thousand Turkish Cypriots as a result of systematic ethnic cleansing (the very same ethnic cleansing which these days, as a response to the tragic events in Kosovo, arouses indignation in so many noble spirits).

None of the UN resolutions calling for a peaceful solution to the crisis has had the slightest effect on account of Turkey's intransigence, an attitude which is backed by the USA.

1. Does the Council not think that it should act independently within any appropriate international organisation in order to help re-establish international legality and restore the human rights which have been violated as a result of the relations between Turkey and Cyprus?

2. Does the Council not consider it both urgent and essential for it to take an active part in the proper preparation of an international conference on the Middle East which would enable a realistic (in both its methods and its timetable) programme to be drawn up, so as to allow crisis hot spots which, if allowed to smoulder, may lead to one huge conflagration to be coded in good time?

Reply

(2 December 1999)

The Council believes that the best way forward in the Cyprus question, including the situation of human rights, is to push ahead with the search for a solution on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolutions. The Council welcomes the 9/10 June G-8 Summit conclusions and the UN Security Council Resolutions 1250 and 1251 of 29 June 1999 and considers that the invitation to UN talks this autumn without preconditions, together with the Resolutions, have brought about new momentum. The Presidency will continue supporting, together with other EU partners and international players, the efforts of the UNSG, Mr Annan, to reduce tensions and to contribute to progress towards a negotiated settlement.

The Union also considers that progress towards EU accession and towards a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem should reinforce each other. It believes that Cyprus's accession to the EU should benefit all communities and help bring about civil peace and reconciliation on the island. It regrets that it was not possible to achieve a political solution in time for the start of accession negotiations. The Presidency continues to work (in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council of Luxembourg) for the involvement of representatives of the Turkish-Cypriot community in the EU accession negotiations.

The Council has repeatedly stressed to Turkey, and will continue to do so, the need for Turkey's positive contribution to the solution of the Cyprus problem. The Council expects countries with a European vocation to cooperate with it over its major priorities, one of them being the accession of Cyprus to the EU and a solution to the Cyprus question. Unfortunately Turkey has been blocking the political dialogue with the Union on some sensitive questions, including Cyprus, since the European Council in Luxembourg. However, following the earthquakes in Turkey and Greece and improving bilateral Greek-Turkish relations the atmosphere in EU-Turkey relations has improved, hopefully paving the way for dialogue also on Cyprus.

The Council does not share the view expressed by the Honourable Member that an international conference on the Middle East could be beneficial in the case of Cyprus.