EMBASSY OF CYPRUS, WASHINGTON DC
TURKS KILL 2, INJURE 50 IN PROTESTS AGAINST CONTINUING
OCCUPATION
International Outrage at Turkish Brutality
Turkey carried out its most serious provocation on Cyprus since 1974
when Turkey's occupation troops and extremists brutally attacked
Greek Cypriot demonstrators in the U.N. buffer zone on August 11 and
14, killing two and injuring more than 50.
"This criminal and abhorrent act is another example of the
ruthlessness of the occupation troops and constitutes a blatant
contempt of every principle of international law and violation of
fundamental U.N. principles," Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said
on August 11, after Anastasios Isaac was beaten to death, adding that
"the murder provides yet more telling evidence that toleration of the
continuing occupation intensifies the provocative behavior of the
occupation troops."
The cold-blooded murders of innocent civilians which was captured
on video and broadcast by television networks around the world were
quickly condemned by the international community. The U.N. Security
Council has repeatedly stressed that the status quo on Cyprus is not
a solution and recent events in the buffer zone, the Security Council
President emphasized on August 13, again underlined "the need for a
political, peaceful, and durable solution of the Cyprus problem."
Cyprus Appeals to International Community
The international community must intensify its "efforts and create a
momentum to accelerate the peace process and bring a solution
closer," Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides said on August
17, following the murder of the second demonstrator, Solomos
Solomou.
Intensified efforts by the international community to revitalize the
U.N. initiative are expected. The Cyprus government supports a
resumption of direct talks, provided Turkish positions shift to allow
common ground to be reached on the key issues towards a comprehensive
settlement. President Clerides stressed on August 19 that common
ground must be reached before the start of talks since the Cyprus
government does "not wish for the perpetuation of a dialogue which
[Turkish Cypriot leader] Denktash uses as a way not to solve the
Cyprus problem, but to show that the two communities cannot find a
solution."
U.S.: Events Underscore Need for Comprehensive Settlement
The United States, Great Britain, Russia, Canada, and other countries
condemned what the E.U. Presidency termed the "brutal killings" of
the two Greek Cypriot demonstrators. The European Union also stressed
on August 16 that the "events have again highlighted the urgent need
to intensify efforts to promote a comprehensive political settlement
in Cyprus, under the aegis of the United Nations."
The United States strongly criticized Turkey's use of lethal force
against peaceful demonstrators. "The United States expresses its
deep concern over the recent violence on Cyprus and our shock and
sadness over the killing of two Greek Cypriot civilians and the
injuring of several other persons, including two U.N. peace-keepers,"
according to a statement on Cyprus the State Department issued on
August 16. "We particularly deplore the actions of the Turkish
Cypriot security forces in firing on protesters two days ago. The
use of force on this occasion, as well as during the original
incident on Sunday (August 11), was disproportionate to the threat
posed by the protesters . . . We call on the Turkish Cypriot security
forces and the Turkish military forces on Cyprus to adhere to
internationally accepted norms and to avoid the use of lethal force
in non-life-threatening situations."
The State Department stressed that "the tragic events of the past few
days underscore once again the urgent need to reach a comprehensive
settlement on Cyprus. The U.S. will continue its current efforts to
seek common ground between the two communities and achieve a lasting
agreement."
Responding to Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller's attempted
defense of the killing of a demonstrator attempting to take down the
flag of the occupying power, Turkey, State Department Spokesman
Nicholas Burns said "protection of a flag cannot excuse the horrible
events of August 14. Human life and the sanctity of human life are
ultimately more important."
Demonstration for a Europe Without Borders
In July and August events were held to commemorate the twenty-second
anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus and a ride from Berlin to
Kyrenia in occupied Cyprus was organized by the Cyprus Motorcycle
Federation, in cooperation with the Federation of European
Motorcyclists. The Berlin-Kyrenia ride was meant to dramatize the
demand for freedom of movement throughout Cyprus a right denied to
Cypriots since the Turkish invasion.
Riders from 12 European nations arrived in Nicosia on August 10 for
the final phase of the ride, but responding to the security concerns
of the government the organizers agreed not to attempt to ride to
occupied Kyrenia. Instead, an anti-occupation rally was held in
Nicosia.
After the rally a small number of protesters entered the buffer zone
near Dherinia to present a petition to the Turkish occupation forces;
they were later joined by other Greek Cypriots.
Unknown to the demonstrators, the Turkish occupation forces had
allowed approximately 1,000 people from the occupied area, including
extremists brought from Turkey, to pass through the Turkish Army
lines and "enter the U.N. buffer zone armed with bats and iron bars."
The Turks attackers "then proceeded to pursue the Greek Cypriots and
mercilessly beat all those who they were able to catch," according to
an August 14 U.N. report on the August 11 incidents. The report
added that during this time uniformed officers also began shooting
"from behind the Turkish Forces cease-fire line towards the Greek
Cypriot demonstrators."
As the Greek Cypriot demonstrators ran for safety, Anastasios Isaac,
24, got caught in the barbed wire and was beaten by his Turkish
attackers to death.
Following the funeral of Isaac on August 14, a group of unarmed Greek
Cypriots entered the buffer zone for a peaceful demonstration and
were soon confronted by Turkish occupation forces, who had deployed
in full sight of the demonstrators. UNFICYP urged the occupation
authorities "to exercise restraint and not to over-react. It also
reminded them that UNFICYP has sole responsibility to deal with
incursions into the buffer zone and that there must be no
interference," according to an August 17 U.N. report on the
incident.
When Solomos Solomou, 26, began to climb a flag pole to take down
the flag of the occupying army., Turkey, "he was shot by a Turkish
or Turkish Cypriot soldier and then fell to ground with blood flowing
profusely." In addition to the murder of Solomou, two U.N.
peace-keeping soldiers and several Greek Cypriot civilians were shot
by Turkish soldiers.
Greece Expresses Solidarity with Cyprus
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived in Cyprus on August 17 to
demonstrate Greece's support for Cyprus during the crisis and to
consult with President Clerides. "The division of Cyprus is
incompatible with the future the peoples of Europe aspire to, and
Cyprus can no longer remain the last divided country in Europe,
deprived of its basic freedoms," Simitis said, adding that Greece
will continue to support Cyprus' effort to achieve a just and lasting
settlement. Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis arrived in
Nicosia on September 1 to continue consultations between the two
countries.
Thousands demonstrated in London, New York, Ottawa, Bonn, Australia,
and elsewhere, condemning Turkey's violence in the buffer zone, and
demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Turkish occupation forces
and settlers from Cyprus.
In early September a conference organized by overseas Cypriots taking
place in Nicosia will focus on informing their respective countries
on the recent tragic events and on ways to intensify international
pressure on Ankara to withdraw its troops from Cyprus.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALL FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST ANKARA
Members of the U.S. Congress have called for increased measures
against Turkey in light of the violence perpetrated against peaceful
demonstrators on Cyprus.
Describing the killings as "abhorrent," House International Relations
Committee Chairman Ben Gilman (R-NY) called for a "prompt resumption
of comprehensive talks to peacefully resolve the division of
Cyprus," while Congressman Lee Hamilton (D-IN) urged "concerted and
top-level attention," including the involvement of President
Clinton.
During a press conference by five members of Congress at U.N.
Headquarters on August 16, during which a videotape of the killings
was viewed, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) said that the "brutal act
demonstrates again why we must cut aid to Turkey . . . and why the
illegal occupation of Cyprus cannot continue."
Congressman Eliot Engel (D-IN) said recent events only underscored
the importance of President Clerides' proposal for the complete
demilitarization of Cyprus, and he called on President Clinton to
support this proposal.
Congressman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said recent events only underscore
that "Turkey cannot be a U.S. ally that acts with impunity, violates
U.S. law and international norms."
TURKISH AUTHORITIES INCITED BUFFER ZONE VIOLENCE
Strong evidence indicating that the violent attacks in the buffer
zone were the result of an orchestrated plan by Turkish officials was
given in representations Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides
made to the ambassadors of the permanent U.N. Security Council
members in Cyprus on August 30.
Michaelides expressed deep concern over the fact that Turkey is now
exporting terrorism to Cyprus, citing the recent murder of a Turkish
Cypriot journalist critical of the occupation and of extremist
attacks on demonstrators in the U.N. buffer zone.
The sinister goal of the Turkish side in planning a violent response
to peaceful protests was to show "that Greek and Turkish Cypriots
cannot live together, that Turkish occupation troops are necessary
for the safety of Turkish Cypriots and that there can be no solution
to the Cyprus problem based on a federation," he said. Michaelides
also emphasized that the attacks were intended to undermine the
current U.S.-led effort seeking a resumption of U.N.-sponsored Cyprus
talks.
U.N. reports confirm that much of the violence appears to have been
carried out by members of extremist groups, including the notorious
Gray Wolves. The Turkish attackers seemed to be in accordance with a
plan "to hit as many [Greek Cypriots] as possible," a senior U.N.
official in Cyprus, Matt Cosgrave, told the Irish Times (August 27).
The involvement of extremist groups has been confirmed by a leader of
one of these organizations, Azmi Karamahmutoglu, who in an interview
published in the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Ortam (August 24) said
that 3,000 people from Turkey including members of the fascist "Gray
Wolves" had been sent to confront Greek Cypriot demonstrators. The
Turkish Cypriot press also published accounts of the arrival of the
Gray Wolves, including photographs with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash, who thanked the extremists for coming to occupied Cyprus.
Turkish parliamentarian Mehmet Sevigen also has information,
according to Istanbul's Hurriyet (August 27), that Turkish Foreign
Minister Tansu Ciller diverted thousands of dollars in government
funds to send the "Gray Wolves" to Cyprus.
Other evidence indicates that Denktash was present near the buffer
zone when the first victim, Anastasios Isaac, was beaten to death and
that Solomos Solomou, murdered on August 14, was shot by a Turkish
Cypriot officer or a member of the Turkish intelligence service,
MIT.
The assassination of a Turkish Cypriot journalist, Kutlu Adali, in
occupied Nicosia on July 6 has also been linked to a right-wing
terrorist group. Adali had strongly criticized Turkey's illegal
colonization of the occupied areas and the policies of the Turkish
Cypriot leadership. which were leading to a permanent division of the
island.
AMERICAN PRESS REACTION TO RECENT EVENTS
The forcible division of Cyprus into Greek and Turkish zones is as
unsatisfactory and dangerous an arrangement today as it was when
Turkish troops first partitioned the island in 1974 . . .The Clinton
Administration's mediation efforts on Cyprus are now more urgently
needed than ever. Only the United States has a realistic chance of
nudging the main parties toward agreement. Unfortunately, with
Turkish foreign policy now strongly influenced by nationalistic
politicians and generals, the odds against a breakthrough are
daunting.
President Glafcos Clerides of Cyprus repeatedly has called for the
complete demilitarization of the Mediterranean island nation. This
position is in accord with the U.N., whose Secretary-General has
termed Cyprus one of the most highly militarized areas in the world.
Recent events show the wisdom of President Clerides' position.
Knoxville News-Sentinel, editorial, August 20
NATO leaders need to pressure Turkey to cool down its belligerent
rhetoric . . . Turkey has yet to acknowledge that its troops
overreacted by shooting into the crowd. An apology and expression of
regret would be appropriate . . . the eruption of violence on Cyprus
indicates that partition doesn't necessarily result in peace.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, editorial, August 22
Unlike almost any other international dispute I can think of, the
situation in Cyprus is fairly clear-cut: First, the Turkish army's
22-year occupation of northern Cyprus is illegal under international
law. . . . the United Nations with Washington's full support has
called repeatedly for Turkey to withdraw its army and let Cyprus get
back to building a functioning multi-ethnic society of 750,000
people, almost 80 percent of them of Greek origin and most of the
rest of Turkish extraction. . . Cyprus requires close and immediate
attention.
The killings of two Greek Cypriot civilians there were an outrage,
and the United States was right to deplore them. But Washington must
do more . . . it must take up this developing crisis directly with
Turkey. . . Cyprus matters to the Western world as a Middle East
listening post, as an economic gateway, as a soon-to-be member of the
European Union. Turkey must understand that it can't win the world's
respect . . . unless it compromises over Cyprus.
Atlanta Constitution, editorial, August 20
September 1, 1996
Embassy of Cyprus
Press & Information Office
2211 R Street NW
Washington DC 20008
(202) 232-8993
(202) 234-1936 Fax
The New York Times, editorial, August 28
Jack Payton, St. Petersburg Times, August 17