92001E1348

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1348/01

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2001)

Subject: Influx of gypsies from occupied Cyprus into the non-occupied areas

From the beginning of March, dozens of gypsies have moved from the part of the Republic of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops into non-occupied areas. These people belong to a community of 1500 gypsies who had decided to remain in the occupied area following the Turkish military invasion of 1974.

Now, 27 years later, dozens of gypsies are applying to live in the non-occupied areas. This is being approved by the official government of the Republic of Cyprus which is taking immediate measures to provide them with assistance and accommodation, given that these people are Cypriot citizens. This exodus by the gypsies clearly demonstrates the critical decline of the Turkish occupied northern section of the island and gives rise to suspicion of ill-treatment of gypsies by the occupying authorities, which appear to be seeking to complete the ethnic cleansing commenced in 1974 when 200 000 Greek Cpriots were driven from the north.

Reports from the occupied areas would appear to indicate that the cross-border movement of dozens of people has made the occupying authorities nervous. Given their policy of opening fire on anyone sighted along the Green Line between the occupied and on-occupied areas of Cyprus, as was the case with the Berlin Wall, this will further endanger the lives of those concerned.

What view does the Commission take of this exodus of gypsies from the Cypriot pseudo-state administered by Mr P. Denktash (calling to mind other periods when the wall of shame still ran through the heart of Europe) and does it have any information concerning the treatment and living conditions of non-Turkish nationals living in the occupied part of Cyprus?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2001)

The Commission is aware of the recent exodus of Roma people from the north of Cyprus to the government controlled areas. A total of 154 persons crossed in March 2001 of which 23 returned to the northern part. The Commissioner responsible for Enlargement has also recently drawn attention to the importance the Commission attaches to the position of the Roma in a number of candidate countries.

On the living conditions of non-Turkish and non-Turkish Cypriots living in the north, the Commission Regular Report for Cyprus of November 2000(1) states:

access by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (Unficyp) to Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the north remains limited. Obligations under the Vienna III agreement of 1975, concerning the treatment of Greek Cypriots and Maronites, are still not fully implemented both Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the north continue to be unable to change their housing at will. They can only bequeath their properties to close family members who are also resident in the north.

The Commission will be returning to this question in its Regular Report on Cyprus for 2001.

(1) COM(2000) 702 final.