WRITTEN QUESTION E-0167/01

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Moves by Turkey to press ahead with the annexation of the occupied part of Cyprus

On 13 December 2000 Mr Panikos Tsiakourmas, a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus, was seized by the authorities of the puppet state of northern Cyprus

while he was on the territory of the British bases on the island. Mr Tsiakourmas who has been a refugee since the invasion of northern Cyprus by the Turkish army in 1974 suffers from diabetes and is still being held, despite the obvious risk to his health. The report drawn up by the police force of the British bases on Cyprus states that this citizen of the Republic of Cyprus was taken by force to the Turkish-occupied territory and points out that there is no information whatsoever linking him to drugs trafficking, which proves that the claims made by the occupying regime are pure fiction.

This action by the Turkish army in Cyprus follows its provocative behaviour in the Strovilia region where it seized part of the no man's land which was previously under UN control and its trench-digging actives in the no man's land in the village of Pyla. Turkey's behaviour in Cyprus has become increasingly aggressive since it was designated a candidate country for accession, and a report in the Turkish newspaper Sabah which has not been denied by the Turkish government states that Turkey is examining a plan to incorporate the occupied territories of Cyprus as part of Turkey, and to designate it as the 82nd Vilayet (i.e. administrative district) of the Turkish Republic.

Will the Commission say what actions it is taking to secure the immediate release of Mr Tsiakourmos and to prevail upon Turkey to cease its hostile activities directed against the Republic of Cyprus (a country with which the EU is conducting talks with a view to accession) and to act in a manner befitting a European state? Will it also say what view it takes of the planned annexation by Turkey of the occupied territory of an independent Member State of the UN?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2001)

The Commission is aware of the circumstances concerning the detention of the Greek Cypriot building contractor Mr Tziakourmas on 13 December 2000. It appears that Mr Tziakourmas was abducted from the territory of the Eastern United Kingdom Sovereign Base Area. As a result, the British government has raised this incident with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and with the authorities in Ankara. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The criteria for membership agreed by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 include the guaranteeing of the rule of law and of human rights. In this context Turkey's fulfilment of its obligations as a consequence of membership of the Council of Europe is an important factor. The Commission monitors respect of these commitments by all candidate countries and regularly reports to the Parliament and to the Member States on developments in these areas.

The enhanced political dialogue between the Union and Turkey, as mentioned in the Helsinki European Council conclusions, provides the possibility to further discuss these issues. The usual diplomatic channels will also be used for this purpose.