WRITTEN QUESTION E-2663/00

by Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Arrest of representatives of the press by Turkish forces in the occupied territory of Cyprus

The editor-in-chief of the newspaper Avrupa, Sener Levent, and the journalists Ali Osman and Harun Denizkan, along with other members of the newspaper's staff, were arrested on charges of espionage on 7 July 2000 and subsequently interrogated by the authorities of the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state and the Turkish forces occupying northern Cyprus. These spurious and defamatory accusations, which have also been made against the Cyprus Writers' Union and in particular against its chairman, Andreas Kannaouros, constitute a flagrant violation of fundamental freedoms with the aim of intimidating journalists, curbing freedom of expression in the occupied part of Cyprus and, more specifically, compelling Mr Kannaouros to abandon his fight for press freedom and silencing the newspaper Avrupa and its journalists.

1. What steps has the Commission taken and what measures will it adopt in the face of this flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms?

2. On the basis of the conclusions of the Helsinki Summit and the strict application of the Copenhagen criteria with regard to respect for human rights in the applicant countries, is it possible for Turkey to open pre-accession negotiations with the EU while it commits such acts?

3. Given that relations between the EU and Turkey are governed by respect for democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and that their progress has been made subject to the fulfilment of these conditions, can the EU continue to deepen relations with Turkey if Turkey does not comply with these principles?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2000)

The Commission follows very closely the developments in the north of Cyprus and in particular the recent committal to trial of three Turkish Cypriots Avrupa chief editor Sener Levent, Sgt Tutuncu and his wife Pembe Tutuncu, on charges of espionage. The Commission has also taken note of the declaration of thirty-seven members of the Parliament condemning the arrests and demanding the release of the prisoners. Therefore the Commission welcomes the recent early release of the suspects on the basis of a lack of evidence to support their continued detention, despite the request by the prosecuting authorities for further detention. The Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation both from Brussels and from its Delegation in Nicosia.

In the context of enlargement, the Commission produces each year a regular report on all the 13 countries which are candidates for membership of the Union. The report reviews progress in the light of the Copenhagen criteria, including the important area of human rights. This report is presented to the Parliament and receives wide coverage in the media. In the case of Cyprus, there will be (as usual) a special section dealing with the situation in the northern part of the island. It is probable that the case mentioned by the Honourable Members will be detailed in this year's report. Concerning Turkey, a report will also be published at the same time, in which the issues raised by the Honourable Members democratic principles and human rights will be addressed.