STRASBOURG (AA) - The Council of Europe (COE) Committee of Ministers adopted on Wednesday an interim resolution regarding the complaint made by the Greek Cypriot administration against Turkey in 2001.
In the interim resolution, the committee stressed that significant steps had been taken about prevention of violation of rights to education and freedom of religion of Greek Cypriots living in TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), and about military courts.
In its interim resolution, the Committee of Ministers asked for more effective investigation into the fate and whereabouts of the missing persons.
INTERIM RESOLUTION
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided in 2001 that Turkey violated 14 articles of the European Convention on Human Rights after it received the complaint of the Greek Cypriots.
In its interim resolution, the Committee of Ministers said that the Court condemned the excessive censorship of school textbooks for use in the primary school of Greek Cypriots living in TRNC and the absence of appropriate secondary education facilities in violation of the right to education of Greek Cypriots living in TRNC. But, the interim resolution noted that the opening of the school in TRNC constitutes an important development in order to remedy the violation found by the Court in this regard.
Recalling that the Court considered that a certain number of measures limiting the religious life of Greek Cypriots living in TRNC, the interim resolution said that such restrictions have been lifted in a satisfactory manner.
The interim resolution recalled that the Court condemned the legislative practice of authorizing the trial of civilians by military courts, and said that violations have ended after necessary measures were taken.
MISSING PERSONS
Recalling that the Committee of Missing Persons in Cyprus was reactivated at the end of 2004, the resolution said that more efforts should be exerted regarding the issue of missing persons.
2005-06-08