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Thursday, 23 December 2010
Monday, 20 December 2010
Chrysoula Skodra article in PROKARELIA
Chrysoula Skodra article in PROKARELIA
CYPRUS: A DIVIDED COUNTRY IN THE EU
Turkish occupation in 1974
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most popular tourist destinations among Finns. This year the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its 50-year anniversary. The Republic of Cyprus, a member of the United Nations since 1960, joined the European Union in 2004 as a divided country and still is a country under foreign occupation.
In 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern part of Cyprus. Since the Turkish invasion, a large number of Turks have been brought to the north of Cyprus in order to change the demographics and influence the decision-making.
Turkish Cypriots also fled their homes from the south and relocated in the north. More than one quarter of the population of Cyprus was expelled from the occupied northern part of the island where Greek Cypriots constituted 80 % of the population.
Occupation is a violation of the Geneva Convention
“An aggressive war is a crime against international law, and it was a crime also in the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974”, says Kari Silvennoinen, Attorney, LL.M. Turkey’s actions constitute violation of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention and hence a war crime, to occupy the homes of the Greek Cypriot refugees.
In addition, the European Commission of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of repeated violations of the European Convention of Human Rights. Moreover, Turkey has been condemned for preventing the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their properties.
The current political situation is an ongoing matter of dispute between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, even though “the international community has not recognized the Turkish occupation”, continues Silvennoinen.
Cyprus and Karelia: similarities and differences
The Cyprus issue has a number of similarities with the Karelian issue as well as significant differences. First of all, in both cases there are the dramatic and painful stories of exiled and expelled people as well as the subsequent property loss.
Finland and Cyprus are both members of the European Union of Exiled and Expelled People, which is the first European organization that represents democratically the interests and protects the rights of over than 15 million European citizens deprived of their properties, their civil rights and fundamental freedoms before, during and after the Second World War.
From a legal standpoint, the Finnish Karelian issue differs significantly from the Cyprus issue. Finland lost Karelia in the Continuation War succeeding the Winter War.
The Continuation War was formally concluded by the ratification of the Paris peace treaty in 1947, which defined the Finnish borders and resulted in the territories of Karelia were ceded to the Soviet Union.
On the other hand, the case of Cyprus is different. In Cyprus there has been no peace treaty, and it is evident that the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus is against the international law.
Human rights and the missing Cypriots
The Cyprus issue is a source of immense pain for the Greek Cypriots whose relatives’ fate remains unknown. As a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion, 1 619 Greek Cypriots were reported as missing.
Most of them were soldiers or reservists, as well as many civilians, women and children, arrested by the Turkish invasion troops and Turkish-Cypriot paramilitary groups.
The undeclared prisoners and missing persons is a major humanitarian issue, which has not received the proper exposure on the international level, and violates fundamental principles and declarations on human rights.
Property rights
After the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, the Greek-Cypriot displaced persons were forced to leave their properties and move to the south. Currently, in the occupied North part of Cyprus a number of hotels that used to belong to Greek-Cypriots or have been built on land belonging to Greek-Cypriots are illegally seized and exploited by Turkish-Cypriots.
According to the United Nations Principles on Housing and Property for Refugees and Displaced Persons “all refugees and displaced persons have the right to have restored to them any housing, land or property of which they were arbitrarily or unlawfully deprived”.
Therefore, the right to peaceful enjoyment of one’s property is an inalienable human right protected under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Illegal hotels in occupied Cyprus
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus has published a list of hotels situated in the occupied part of Cyprus that informs Finnish and other international travelers that wish to travel to the occupied part of Cyprus that staying in Greek Cypriot owned hotels or hotels built on property without the consent of the owners is illegal and assists the illegal exploitation of the Greek Cypriot properties.
Cyprus envisions of the reunification
In conclusion, Demetris Christofias, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots envision the reunification of the island and the peaceful and creative co-existence of all citizens of our Republic, irrespective of their community or ethnic background.
During the second half of 2012 Cyprus takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union with the aim to influence and assist substantially in furthering EU ideals and enhancing the profile of the European Union internationally.
Meanwhile the Cyprus issue should be a concern of broader importance for all EU member states and the Unites Nations in order to secure the stability in the region and in the southern east corner of the European Union.
source: PROKARELIA
Learn more on the Return of Finnish Karelia issue THE RETURN OF FINNISH KARELIA
CYPRUS: A DIVIDED COUNTRY IN THE EU
Turkish occupation in 1974
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most popular tourist destinations among Finns. This year the Republic of Cyprus celebrated its 50-year anniversary. The Republic of Cyprus, a member of the United Nations since 1960, joined the European Union in 2004 as a divided country and still is a country under foreign occupation.
In 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern part of Cyprus. Since the Turkish invasion, a large number of Turks have been brought to the north of Cyprus in order to change the demographics and influence the decision-making.
Turkish Cypriots also fled their homes from the south and relocated in the north. More than one quarter of the population of Cyprus was expelled from the occupied northern part of the island where Greek Cypriots constituted 80 % of the population.
Occupation is a violation of the Geneva Convention
“An aggressive war is a crime against international law, and it was a crime also in the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974”, says Kari Silvennoinen, Attorney, LL.M. Turkey’s actions constitute violation of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention and hence a war crime, to occupy the homes of the Greek Cypriot refugees.
In addition, the European Commission of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of repeated violations of the European Convention of Human Rights. Moreover, Turkey has been condemned for preventing the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their properties.
The current political situation is an ongoing matter of dispute between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, even though “the international community has not recognized the Turkish occupation”, continues Silvennoinen.
Cyprus and Karelia: similarities and differences
The Cyprus issue has a number of similarities with the Karelian issue as well as significant differences. First of all, in both cases there are the dramatic and painful stories of exiled and expelled people as well as the subsequent property loss.
Finland and Cyprus are both members of the European Union of Exiled and Expelled People, which is the first European organization that represents democratically the interests and protects the rights of over than 15 million European citizens deprived of their properties, their civil rights and fundamental freedoms before, during and after the Second World War.
From a legal standpoint, the Finnish Karelian issue differs significantly from the Cyprus issue. Finland lost Karelia in the Continuation War succeeding the Winter War.
The Continuation War was formally concluded by the ratification of the Paris peace treaty in 1947, which defined the Finnish borders and resulted in the territories of Karelia were ceded to the Soviet Union.
On the other hand, the case of Cyprus is different. In Cyprus there has been no peace treaty, and it is evident that the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus is against the international law.
Human rights and the missing Cypriots
The Cyprus issue is a source of immense pain for the Greek Cypriots whose relatives’ fate remains unknown. As a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion, 1 619 Greek Cypriots were reported as missing.
Most of them were soldiers or reservists, as well as many civilians, women and children, arrested by the Turkish invasion troops and Turkish-Cypriot paramilitary groups.
The undeclared prisoners and missing persons is a major humanitarian issue, which has not received the proper exposure on the international level, and violates fundamental principles and declarations on human rights.
Property rights
After the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, the Greek-Cypriot displaced persons were forced to leave their properties and move to the south. Currently, in the occupied North part of Cyprus a number of hotels that used to belong to Greek-Cypriots or have been built on land belonging to Greek-Cypriots are illegally seized and exploited by Turkish-Cypriots.
According to the United Nations Principles on Housing and Property for Refugees and Displaced Persons “all refugees and displaced persons have the right to have restored to them any housing, land or property of which they were arbitrarily or unlawfully deprived”.
Therefore, the right to peaceful enjoyment of one’s property is an inalienable human right protected under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Illegal hotels in occupied Cyprus
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus has published a list of hotels situated in the occupied part of Cyprus that informs Finnish and other international travelers that wish to travel to the occupied part of Cyprus that staying in Greek Cypriot owned hotels or hotels built on property without the consent of the owners is illegal and assists the illegal exploitation of the Greek Cypriot properties.
Cyprus envisions of the reunification
In conclusion, Demetris Christofias, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots envision the reunification of the island and the peaceful and creative co-existence of all citizens of our Republic, irrespective of their community or ethnic background.
During the second half of 2012 Cyprus takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union with the aim to influence and assist substantially in furthering EU ideals and enhancing the profile of the European Union internationally.
Meanwhile the Cyprus issue should be a concern of broader importance for all EU member states and the Unites Nations in order to secure the stability in the region and in the southern east corner of the European Union.
source: PROKARELIA
Learn more on the Return of Finnish Karelia issue THE RETURN OF FINNISH KARELIA
Friday, 10 December 2010
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Monday, 6 December 2010
In the Cyprus press 6th December 2010 REGISTER OF FAMAGUSTA RESIDENTS
An electronic copy of the form can be sent to you if you email famagusta.association.uk@hotmail.co.uk
Sunday, 5 December 2010
In the Cyprus press 5th December 2010
Λεμεσός: Η πρόταση του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας για επιστροφή της κλειστής περιοχής Αμμοχώστου στους νόμιμους κατοίκους της, υπό τον έλεγχο των ΗΕ, είναι ισορροπημένη, εφικτή και εφαρμόσιμη, υπογράμμισε σήμερα ο Κυβερνητικός Εκπρόσωπος, Στέφανος Στεφάνου, με αφορμή αναφορές επιχειρηματικών κύκλων στα κατεχόμενα περί παραμονής του ελέγχου της κλειστής περιοχής Αμμοχώστου στο ψευδοκράτος.
Σε δηλώσεις του στη Λεμεσό, ο Κυβερνητικός Εκπρόσωπος ανέφερε πως ο ίδιος έχει δει σήμερα ''την πρόταση που κάνουν επιχειρηματίες και κύκλοι στο ψευδοκράτος ότι θα μείνει υπό τη διαχείριση του ψευδοκράτους'', σημειώνοντας παράλληλα ότι ''τα ψηφίσματα του ΟΗΕ λένε άλλο πράγμα''.
Είπε ακόμη πως η πρόταση του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας για την Αμμόχωστο, στο πλαίσιο του τρίπτυχου της Ε/κ πλευράς ''είναι ισορροπημένη και ταυτόχρονα είναι εφικτή και εφαρμόσιμη, γιατί στηρίζεται σε ψηφίσματα του ΟΗΕ και προβλέπει την επιστροφή της κλειστής περιοχής της Αμμοχώστου υπό τον έλεγχο του ΟΗΕ, που είναι μια βασική παράμετρος της πρότασης''.
Η πρόταση του Προέδρου Χριστόφια, συνέχισε, ''είναι ισορροπημένη γιατί δίνει όφελος σε όλους, δίνει διέξοδο στην ΕΕ σε σχέση με την ανάπτυξη σχέσεων με την τ/κ κοινότητα, δίνει όφελος στην τ/κ κοινότητα, δίνει ένα κίνητρο στην Τουρκία να μπορέσει να συνεχίσει την ενταξιακή της πορεία, γιατί στην πρόταση του Προέδρου περιλαμβάνεται και η πρόνοια για συζήτηση ξεπαγώματος κεφαλαίων, εάν και εφόσον η Τουρκία αποδεχθεί αυτήν την πρόταση και ασφαλώς περιλαμβάνει και όφελος για την ε/κ κοινότητα με την έννοια ότι οι νόμιμοι κάτοικοι θα επιστρέψουν πίσω στην Αμμόχωστο''.
Ερωτηθείς εάν κρύβεται κάτι πίσω από την πρόταση που ακούστηκε αυτή τη χρονική περίοδο από τους επιχειρηματικούς κύκλους στα κατεχόμενα, ο κ. Στεφάνου απάντησε πως δεν γνωρίζει κάτι, σημειώνοντας παράλληλα ότι ''εμείς πρώτα από όλα προβάλλουμε τις δικές μας προτάσεις, τις τεκμηριώνουμε γιατί είναι καλά τεκμηριωμένες και αυτές προωθούμε''.
''Κατά καιρούς, λέγονται διάφορα πράγματα'', είπε ο κ.Στεφάνου, υπενθυμίζοντας ότι ''κατά καιρούς λέχθηκε πως η Τουρκία θα κάνει κίνηση, θα κάνει αυτό και εκείνο, ότι η Τουρκία διακηρύσσει πως θέλει λύση σύντομα, αλλά στην πράξη τίποτα δεν έχει κάνει, κάτι που επισημαίνεται στα τελευταία συμπεράσματα του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου τον περασμένο Δεκέμβριο, αυτή η αντίφαση, ότι ενώ η Τουρκία διακηρύσσει για σύντομη λύση, στην πράξη τίποτα δεν έχει κάνει''.
''Ούτε υποχρεώσεις έχει εκπληρώσει, ούτε τις σχέσεις της με την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία τις έχει αποκαταστήσει, ούτε έχει εκπληρώσει όλα όσα προβλέπονται στην αντιδήλωση του Σεπτέμβρη του 2005. Αρα η Τουρκία πρέπει να δείξει στην πράξη ότι θέλει και επιθυμεί λύση στο Κυπριακό, στη βάση βεβαίως των ψηφισμάτων του ΟΗΕ, στη βάση της συμφωνημένης βάσης λύσης, που είναι η διζωνική δικοινοτική Ομοσπονδία και ανάλογα να προσαρμόσει τη δική της συμπεριφορά και τη δική της πολιτική'', συμπλήρωσε.
Κληθείς να αναφέρει κατά πόσον η πρόταση για την Αμμόχωστο θα τεθεί στην συνάντηση της Δευτέρας, μεταξύ των δυο ηγετών, ο Κυβερνητικός Εκπρόσωπος υπέδειξε: ''να μην προτρέχουμε των γεγονότων''.
''Αντιλαμβάνεστε ότι είναι η πρώτη συνάντηση που θα γίνει μεταξύ του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας και του κ.Έρογλου μετά τη συνάντηση της Νέας Υόρκης και ενόψει της συνάντησης που θα γίνει στη Γενεύη'', είπε ο κ. Στεφάνου, προσθέτοντας ότι ''θα συνεχιστούν συναντήσεις και επαφές, ακριβώς για να συζητήσουμε και θεμελιώδη ζητήματα που έχουν να κάνουν με κεφάλαια του Κυπριακού που συζητήθηκαν όλο αυτό το διάστημα των απευθείας διαπραγματεύσεων και έχουν μείνει στη σφαίρα της διαφωνίας''.
Ανέφερε πως ''είναι γνωστή η θέση που έχει η e/κ πλευρά και που φαίνεται να την υιοθετούν και τα ΗΕ έτσι όπως διατυπώθηκε και στην δήλωση του ΓΓ του ΟΗΕ , τότε στη Νέα Υόρκη αλλά και στην έκθεση του, ότι χρειάζεται η διασύνδεση θεμάτων που εξ αντικειμένου συνδέονται μεταξύ τους, όπως είναι το περιουσιακό με το θέμα των εδαφικών αναπροσαρμογών και των εποίκων, έτσι ώστε και να επιταχυνθεί ο διάλογος, αλλά και να δημιουργηθούν συνθήκες για να υπάρξουν συγκλίσεις και στόχος είναι να βρούμε περαιτέρω συγκλίσεις''.
Phileleftheros 5 December 2010
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
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