United Nations Secretary General's Report Contains Important Omissions

LEFKOSA (A.A) - 04.04.2002 - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry said on Thursday, ''it is observed that the United Nations Secretary General's report entitled ''Questions of Human Rights in Cyprus'' issued on March 26, 2002 contains important omissions.''
Releasing a statement, TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry said, ''the history of human rights violations in Cyprus goes back a long time. It started in 1963 when the Greek Cypriots launched a genocidal attack againts the Turkish Cypriots in order to realize their dream of annexing the island to Greece (Enosis). The division of Cyprus has not been an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights as alleged by the report, but on the contrary, has provided 200,000 Turkish Cypriots with security of life, right to a decent life and economic freedom, and has enabled them to return to life under humane conditions after having waged a struggle for survival under grave conditions in enclaves 1963-1974.''
''It is regrettable that the report fails to mention the continuing violations of human rights in addition to the past human rights violations in Cyprus. The inhuman embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people for the past 39 years are being portrayed in the report as if they are restrictions confined merely to trade dealings in the village of Pyla, while no reference is made to the illegal restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people in the fields of travel, trade, sports and culture,'' it said.
The statement noted, ''in the report, it is stated, once again, that the TRNC authorities have imposed restrictions on the so-called 'bi-communal' contacts, while the underlying reasons are being disregarded. It is not possible to comprehend a mentality which backs the inhuman embargoes implemented by the Greek Cypriot administration and which forces the Turkish Cypriots to have 'bi-communal' contacts only with Greek Cypriots while denying them the right of international contact.''
''In addition, it is alleged in the report that the division does not allow for a full assessment of the enjoyment of human rights by individuals living in the north. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, established by the free will of the Turkish Cypriot people, is a democratic state with all its functioning institutions in place, and all human rights and freedoms are guaranteed under the TRNC Constitution,'' it said.
The statement noted, ''the illegal usurper Greek Cypriot regime which came into being after the destruction of the 1960 partnership Republic by the Greek Cypriot side, is referred to in the report as the 'government of Cyprus'. This reference has no constitutional, legal or political basis and constitutes a sufficient reason for the Turkish Cypriot side to consider the report as negative.''
''The reference to the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the Loizidou case and the fourth application of the Greek Cypriot administration, which has been taken on the basis of political considerations and which ignores the existence of the TRNC and blames motherland Turkey, has been received with indignation by the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC government and is thus rejected as such,'' it said.
The statement continued, ''the actual violations of human rights in Cyprus are those suffered by the Turkish Cypriot people for years in the face of Greek Cypriot genocidal attempts, and those directed even today against the Turkish Cypriot people whose freedom of travel and cultural, sportive and trade contacts are subject to the embargo and illegal actions of the Greek Cypriot side.''
''It is regrettable that the United Nations Secretary General has failed to put forward the above situation clearly in his human rights report,'' it added.