Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-05-11

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

Friday, 11 May 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] European Court of Human Rights finds Turkey guilty
• [02] Attorney General says European Court ruling is historic

[01] European Court of Human Rights finds Turkey guilty

The case was brought before the Court by the Cyprus government in 1994, arguing that the 20-year-old Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island violated most of the rights enshrined in the European Human Rights Convention.

Now six and a half years later, in a judgement passed by 16 votes to one, the Court ruled that Turkey had violated 14 articles of the convention, including the right to life, the right to liberty and security, the right to freedom of thought, and the right to freedom of expression.

Among other charges Turkey was found guilty of violating the rights of Greek Cypriot refugees to their property and their right to return to their homes in the occupied north.

The Court also ruled that Turkey has violated the right to life and the right for personal freedom of the persons missing since the Turkish invasion and for persistently denying an adequate investigation into their fate, in respect of whom there is an arguable claim that they were in Turkish custody at the time of their disappearance.

Ankara was also found guilty of violating the rights of the relatives of missing persons because its refusal to inform them of their fate violates article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

In addition Turkey was found guilty of violating the rights of some 500 Greek Cypriots enclaved in the Turkish occupied north.

[02] Attorney General says European Court ruling is historic

Mr Markides said "it is binding for all Council of Europe member states and is the biggest and most serious case ever to have been tried by a European court since the establishment of the Council of Europe in 1950".

"The ruling is of historic importance", Mr Markides said, "because it reaffirms that Turkey is responsible for upholding human rights in the areas of Cyprus under its occupation".

He said that the Court's ruling that Turkey continues to violate the property rights of the displaced Greek Cypriots also implies a right to return.

He added that the ruling on the missing persons means Turkey has a legal responsibility to investigate the issue, while at the same time its refusal to inquire into their fate amounts to a degrading treatment of their relatives. Moreover, he said, it ascertains that there are violations of rights of the enclaved.

Mr Markides said that the government would be examining the report in detail and would then brief President Clerides on the issue.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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