Latest Cyprus News

[Truth Bearer]

No the Turkish Cyprians will drop the Turkish and just become Muslim Cyprians and Orthodox Cyprians.The country will have 2 religious minorities one people.Reducation at schools to respect each other's beliefs and both their loyalties will be to Cyprus not Greece or Turkey.
Watch this space and see.....

[Tsontos]

Christofias on EU-Turkey relations

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias on Sunday was quoted here as stressing that the European Union must become more exacting vis-à-vis the obligations assumed by EU candidate-state Turkey towards the Union.

"Assessment of Turkey's accession course is a juncture that must be exploited in order to promote efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem," Christofias, the recently elected president of the island republic, was quoted as saying by the Sunday edition of the Athens daily "Vima".

Asked about "guarantees", the veteran Cypriot politician emphasised that the people of Cyprus "are mature enough so that they do not need guarantees and guarantors…"

"Besides, Cyprus' accession to the European Union is a major guarantee for not repeating the traumatic situations of the past, which hurt our people as a whole, or one or the other community. If the abolition of guarantees is unfeasible at present, we will at least insist on there not being any right by a guarantor power for unilateral intervention in the Republic of Cyprus' internal affairs," he said.

http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/sh...01&service=100

[Tsontos]

FM confers with UN official

4/8/08

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Monday conferred here with visiting UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe over developments on the Cyprus issue, and specifically, on a March 21 agreement between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

The UN official arrived in Greece after his visit to Cyprus, and before heading to Turkey.

After the meeting, Pascoe said: "We had very fruitful talks with Ms. Bakoyannis about Cyprus. We both agreed that there is a very good chance to proceed and we must find a way to help. We will work together in order for procedures to be accelerated. We will cooperate firmly with Greece, Turkey and all the people in Cyprus to reach a solution".

Foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos stressed that Bakoyannis reiterated Greece's position for the resumption of a well-prepared negotiations process in order to accomplish a just and viable solution for Cyprus.

Later in the day, Pascoe will meet separately with Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis.

http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/sh...81&service=100

[zefs]

The Cyprus problem: a simplified solution framework
By Panayiotis Demetriou

Recent developments in Cyprus – the restarting of negotiations between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot leaders, the opening of Ledra Street, the setting-up of working groups and technical committees - all mark a new era for the divided island. Hopes for an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem have revived locally and internationally.

If President Christofias and Mr Talat show the appropriate good will and understanding, and particularly if Turkey?s political and, most importantly, its military leadership is determined to solve the problem fairly, the vision of a reunited Cyprus could become a reality soon.

Leaving aside complexities and maximalistic targets, the two communities can elaborate on the following simple framework:

First, the constitutional structure which will consist of a federal bicommunal and bizonal state, which will reunite Cyprus politically, economically and geographically in a single sovereign state, with one legal personality and citizenship.

Second, European values and human rights have to be safeguarded; any derogation in this respect necessitated under present relevant circumstances should apply for a transitional period only.

Third, withdrawal of all foreign troops must start as from the day an overall settlement of the problem is reached and be concluded within reasonable time. Demilitarisation of the island should be the final goal.

Fourth, the EU and UN should guarantee the implementation of the settlement; the
existing guarantees - the source of the present evils in Cyprus - should be set aside.
In order for a solution to be achieved the EU has to play an active catalytic role in the negotiating process, complementary to that of the UN. The EU should be primarily concerned with a functional and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, which after all is also a European problem.


n Panayiotis Demetriou is a Member of the European Parliament

http://www.phantis.com/

[zefs]

Barroso: Turkey should open its ports to Greek Cypriots

THE PRESIDENT of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday urged Turkey to fulfil its European Union obligation and open its ports to Cyprus.
“We have a historic opportunity in Cyprus,” Barroso, on a three-day visit to Turkey, said of the recent agreement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots to restart stalled reunification talks.

“I know all the necessary steps will be made on this issue but during this procedure, Turkey should open its ports to Greek Cypriots,” he said during in a speech in the Turkish parliament.

“This is today the main obstacle for significant progress in Turkey's accession process."

The EU has blocked several of Turkey’s negotiating chapters over its refusal to open its ports and airports to Cyprus.

“And no chapter can be closed until Turkey ensures full implementation of the additional protocol," Barroso said.

Ankara says it will fulfil its obligation if the EU fulfils its pledge to end the Turkish Cypriots’ economic isolation.

Erdogan said his country backed a rapid settlement to Cyprus' 34-year division between its Turkish and Greek communities, which lies at the core of the dispute.

On Wednesday, Barroso warned that attempts to ban Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted governing party could harm ties with the European Union.

“It is not normal that the party that was chosen by the majority of the Turkish people is now under this kind of investigation,” Barroso said.

Turkey's Constitutional Court has agreed to hear the chief prosecutor's case for shutting down the party and banning Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul and 70 others from politics for five years.


http://www.phantis.com/

[zefs]

Christofias’ remarks against Turkey poisoning environment’
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has harshly criticized Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias for his remarks targeting Ankara by calling on permanent members of the UN Security Council to put pressure on the Turkish government to change its policy on the Cyprus issue.
What is this?
The polemic between the two leaders follows a landmark meeting of the two on March 21 when they agreed to restart stalled talks on reunifying the ethnically divided island. Talat and Christofias then agreed to meet again in three months to discuss reunification efforts. Aides have begun consultations on negotiation topics as part of preparations for the talks scheduled to take place in three months. Over the weekend, speaking at a memorial service, Christofias was quoted by Greek Cypriot media as saying: "[The Greek Cypriot people have] realized it was not at all easy to reverse the facts created by the invasion, the long-standing occupation and division of our homeland. We know that we are not dealing merely with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots."
Underlining the role of the international community, Christofias also noted: "More than ever, we need the international community to exert pressure on Turkey. Because, we repeat once again, that if Turkey does not alter its policy on Cyprus, the road for a solution will not open, in spite of the good will on our side."

Both the Turkish Cypriot Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and Turkey have exerted significant efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue and they do not have to prove these obvious efforts, Talat said in response, in remarks delivered to the Turkish News Agency-Cyprus (TAK) and the state-owned Bayrak Radio and Television (BRT).

The party which needs to prove its will for resolution and a change in its policy is the Greek Cypriot side, Talat added, while noting the fact that both the KKTC and Ankara at the time backed a UN-led reunification plan which was simultaneously voted on by the two sides of the divided island in 2004. The plan, however, became null and void after the Greek Cypriots rejected it shortly before entering the EU as official representatives of the entire island. Despite overwhelmingly supporting the plan, the Turkish Cypriots were left out without being granted EU rights.

"These kinds of statements serve nothing but to poison the environment," Talat said when asked about the probable impact of Christofias' remarks on the new process of reunifying the island.

"It should also not be ignored that Turkey -- whose role as an important actor in resolving the Cyprus issue cannot be denied -- could feel hurt, could even feel furious, if these kinds of approaches are repeated, although it is known that these are clearly wrong and lies," Talat said.

The four-decade-old Cyprus problem actually erupted after the eastern Mediterranean island was granted independence from Britain in 1960, soon followed by an outbreak of inter-communal clashes in 1963, the KKTC leader underlined, in response to Christofias, who described the Cyprus issue as "an issue of invasion," in apparent reference to the 1974 Turkish military intervention under the terms of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee after diplomacy failed to end unrest on the island.

Today's Zaman Ankara
phantis.com

[zefs]

Naked detainee beaten, chained in Greek Cypriot cell: rights watchdog
Published: 4/15/2008







STRASBOURG - A detainee was stripped and beaten then chained by the ankles and wrists in a Greek Cypriot cell, the anti-torture committee of the Council of Europe said Tuesday in a highly-critical report.

The investigation by the anti-torture committee of the rights watchdog said this example was just the worst from many disturbing episodes of police malpractice on the Mediterranean island to come to light.


The Greek Cypriot government in Cyprus rejected the allegations, saying the man in question had later been convicted to life imprisonment for murder.


The report said the man, a foreigner whose country of origin was not identified, had been beaten twice on one day in a police cell in Nicosia in 2004, first while dressed, then stripped naked, and finally chained standing up.


After hospital treatment he had written a nine-page confession admitting to charges laid against him by police.


In a response to the criticism the Greek Cypriot government said a tribunal had ruled that the detainee`s accusations of police brutality were without foundation. The man had later been sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in murder and arson.


The committee had investigated frequent reports of alleged mistreatment by Greek Cypriot police of foreigners found without proper residence qualifications or arrested on suspicion of a felony.


The report published at Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg said it had found Greek Cypriot police behaviour generally remained "problematic."


The committee was also greatly concerned by the lengthy periods of sometimes up to 40 months during which foreign detainees were held in custody.


The report was written following an investigative visit by committee members to the island.


The Greek Cypriot authorities in their response had also stressed that intensive further training had improved police behaviour and reduced the identified cases of alleged mistreatment. Only four were recorded in 2005 compared with 32 in 2003.


The committee also criticised over-crowding in Greek Cypriot jails, and recommended improvements in such areas as prisoner activities, medical care and access by lawyers to detainees.


South Cyprus became the 16th member of the Council of Europe in 1961. It is also a member of the European Union.


tj/da/mat
turkishpress.com

[zefs]

Britain sees real possibility of Cyprus reunification

There is a real possibility that renewed talks to reunify the ethnically divided island could succeed, Joan Ryan, Britain’s envoy to Cyprus, said on Thursday at the end of a three-day visit to the island.


Ryan said the revived peace drive now under way is the best opportunity in many years to reunify Cyprus, and it should not be missed.

She said Britain will do all it can to encourage and support the process. Ryan added she was convinced of the "commitment and desire" of rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to reach an agreement.

Ryan met both Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat during her visit.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots will launch preparatory works for new Cyprus reunification talks on Friday, the United Nations mission on the divided island informed on Wednesday. Experts from both sides will hold their first ceremonial meeting on Friday, in the presence of the chief aides to Christofias and Talat who are slated to start reunification talks by June.
hurriyet.com
Photo: AP

[zefs]

Turkey rejects British-Greek Cypriot agreement

A memorandum of understanding signed between Britain and the Greek Cypriot administration "casted a shadow" on efforts to reach a permanent and a fair settlement to the Cyprus problem, Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.


British Premier Gordon Brown and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding which made reference to "a federation based on a bi-communal and bi-zonal structure in the ethnically divided island."

"The memorandum of understanding, which is away from being constructive at a time when the two leaders of the island engaged in a negotiations process, is a negative intervention," the ministry said in a statement.

hurriyet.com

[Amarantos]

Ένοχη η Τουρκία για τις δολοφονίες Ισαάκ -Σολωμού και την υπόθεση Φωκά

Λευκωσία


Καταδικαστικές είναι για την Τουρκία οι αποφάσεις του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων (ΕΔΑΔ) σε σχέση με τις υποθέσεις που αφορούν τις δολοφονίες των Τάσου Ισαάκ και Σολωμού Σολωμού, τον 1996. Ένοχη η Αγκυρα και για την υπόθεση της Ελένης Φωκά.

Συγκεκριμένα, το ΕΔΑΔ έκρινε την Τουρκία ένοχη για παραβίαση του άρθρου 2 της Ευρωπαϊκής Συνθήκης για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα που αφορά το δικαίωμα στη ζωή καθώς και για παραβίαση του άρθρου 2 σε ό,τι αφορά τη μη διεξαγωγή αποτελεσματικής έρευνας για τις συνθήκες θανάτου των Ισαάκ και Σολωμού.

Το Δικαστήριο επεδίκασε 80.000 ευρώ ως αποζημίωση στη χήρα του Ισαάκ, άλλες 35.000 ευρώ στη χήρα του Ισαάκ, τους γονείς του Ισαάκ και στον πατέρα του Σολωμού, ενώ η Αγκυρα θα πρέπει να καταβάλει επίσης το ποσό των 15.000 ευρώ σε κάθε ένα από τα αδέλφια των Ισαάκ και του Σολωμού. Επιπλέον η Τουρκία θα πληρώσει 12.000 ευρώ δικαστικά έξοδα.

Οι προσφυγές κατατέθηκαν από τις οικογένειες των δολοφονηθέντων Τάσου Ισαάκ και Σολωμού Σολωμού εναντίον Τουρκίας.

Το ΕΔΑΔ, με προηγούμενη απόφασή του, έκανε αποδεκτή την προσφυγή που καταχωρήθηκε από την οικογένεια του Τάσου Ισαάκ το 1998. Ο Ισαάκ δολοφονήθηκε το 1996 στη νεκρή ζώνη στην περιοχή της Δερύνειας κατά τη διάρκεια αντικατοχικής εκδήλωσης μοτοσικλετιστών.

Το 1999, το ΕΔΑΔ, αποδέχτηκε την προσφυγή της οικογένειας του Σολωμού Σολωμού, ο οποίος δολοφονήθηκε μετά την κηδεία του Τάσου Ισαάκ, όταν άοπλος, προσπάθησε να σκαρφαλώσει στον ιστό της τουρκικής σημαίας στο φυλάκιο των στρατευμάτων κατοχής της Δερύνειας για να την κατεβάσει.

Η προσφυγή των δύο οικογενειών στηρίχθηκε στα άρθρα 2 (δικαίωμα στη ζωή), 8 (δικαίωμα στο σεβασμό της ιδιωτικής και οικογενειακής ζωής) και 14 (απαγόρευση στη διάκριση), της Ευρωπαϊκής Σύμβασης Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων. Οι οικογένειες καταγγέλλουν την παράνομη δολοφονία των συγγενών τους από πράκτορες της τουρκικής κυβέρνησης και την αδυναμία των τουρκικών Αρχών να διεξάγουν έρευνα για τις δολοφονίες.

Η υπόθεση του Σολωμού στηρίχθηκε επίσης στο άρθρο 1 (υποχρέωση στο σεβασμό των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων) και 3 (απαγόρευση απάνθρωπης και εξευτελιστικής μεταχείρισης

Υπόθεση Φωκά

Το ΕΔΑΔ έκρινε ένοχη την Αγκυρα και για την υπόθεση της Ελένης Φωκά. Ειδικότερα, το δικαστήριο έκρινε την Τουρκία ένοχη για παραβίαση του άρθρου 10 της Ευρωπαϊκής Συνθήκης για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα, που αφορά την ελευθερία της έκφρασης.

Σύμφωνα με ανακοίνωση του ΕΔΑΔ, η Ελένη Φωκά προσέφυγε στο ΕΔΑΔ για θέματα που αφορούσαν τη μεταχείριση της οποίας έτυχε από στρατιώτες του ψευδοκράτους. Συγκεκριμένα, η κ. Φωκά κατηγορεί την Τουρκία ότι τον Ιανουάριο του 1995, κατά την επιστροφή της στην Αγία Τριάδα από τις ελεύθερες περιοχές, όπου πέρασε τις διακοπές των Χριστουγέννων με την οικογένεια της, είχε συλληφθεί και έτυχε κακομεταχείρισης από ένστολους αξιωματικούς του ψευδοκράτους, στο οδόφραγμα του Λήδρα Πάλας.

Οι κατηγορίες της κ. Φωκά αφορούσαν, επίσης, την κατάσχεση προσωπικών της αντικειμένων από την τσάντα της (κασέτες, βιβλία, ημερολόγιο και χάρτη), αλλά και το γεγονός ότι συνελήφθη λόγω της εθνικής της καταγωγής, των θρησκευτικών της πεποιθήσεων, και τη στάση της κατά της τουρκικής κατοχής του βορείου τμήματος της Κύπρου.

Η προσφυγή της κ. Φωκά στηρίχθηκε στα άρθρα 3 (απαγόρευση απάνθρωπης ή εξευτελιστικής συμπεριφοράς), 5 (δικαίωμα στην ελευθερία και ασφάλεια), 10 (ελευθερία έκφρασης), 8 (δικαίωμα στο σεβασμό της ιδιωτικής και οικογενειακής ζωής), 9 (ελευθερία σκέψης, συνείδησης και θρησκείας), και 14 (απαγόρευση στη διάκριση), της Ευρωπαϊκής Σύμβασης Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων.

Το Δικαστήριο ομόφωνα έκρινε ένοχη την Τουρκία για παραβίαση του άρθρου 10, και επέβαλε ποινή 300 ευρώ για οικονομικές ζημιές και 5.000 ευρώ για κόστη και έξοδα. Ωστόσο, έκρινε ότι δεν υπήρξε παραβίαση των άρθρων 3 και 5. Επίσης, έκρινε ότι δεν ήταν αναγκαίο να εξεταστεί εάν υπήρξε παραβίαση του άρθρου 8, 9, και 14.

Η Ελένη Φωκά εργαζόταν ως δασκάλα στο κατεχόμενο σχολείο της Αγίας Τριάδας στην Καρπασία.

Newsroom ΔΟΛ, με πληροφορίες από ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ

http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?ln...1&lngDtrID=244