"HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CYPRUS BY TURKEY"

Gibrahayer
July 1, 2008
Nicosia

The Press and Information Office (PIO) of the Republic of Cyprus
has recently issued the following new publication in English: "HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CYPRUS BY TURKEY" This 48-page booklet examines
the documented, massive and continuing violations of internationally
protected human rights committed by Turkey in Cyprus. These violations
are the direct outcome of Turkey’s unlawful 1974 invasion of the
Republic of Cyprus, of the continuing occupation of nearly 37% of
its sovereign territory, and the systematic ethnic cleansing that
occurred in the area of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.

The text is based on a forthcoming larger study on the subject by Dr.

Van Coufoudakis, a distinguished political scientist and prominent
scholar of the Cyprus problem. That book will be published by the
end of 2008 in the United States of America.

The information comes from reports, investigations and decisions
by NGO’s, the European Commission of Human Rights, the European
Court of Human Rights, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the
European Parliament among other sources. These independent sources
fully document Turkey’s violations of contemporary international and
European human rights laws and treaties that Turkey itself has signed
and ratified.

The information presented leaves no doubt about Turkey’s systematic
and deliberate policy of eradicating the Greek and Christian
cultural heritage and presence in the Turkish occupied areas. These
discriminatory policies have been directed since 1974 at Greek,
Maronite and Armenian Cypriots because of their ethnicity, religion
and language. Such discrimination is explicitly prohibited under
both the European Convention of Human Rights and by the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the EU.

&nbs p; As the author points out: "This is a stigma on the
international community at a time when, with support from the Republic
of Cyprus, Turkey is engaged in accession talks with the EU. Turkey
continues to violate its international obligations capitalising
on regional instability and the support extended to Turkey by
influential external powers. The subordination of human rights to
economic, political and security considerations undermines not only
the European human rights regime, but also the European commitment
to the rule of law, democracy and human rights. Cyprus, since 1974,
was and remains the testing ground of these principles."

In short, the author argues that the restoration of human rights
in occupied Cyprus will provide the foundation of a just and viable
settlement to the Cyprus problem.

The booklet will be published in several languages.

HOW TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION ?

This publication can be downloaded in PDF format from the PIO website
at: Our Cypriot subscribers may also obtain free
copies by visiting the PIO at Apellis Street in Nicosia.

Diaspora Armenians as well as Armenians in our homeland & Artsakh
may receive a free copy by calling (+357) 22801207 or by emailing:
registry at pio dot moi dot gov dot cy This publication will also be
available from the diplomatic missions of Cyprus abroad.