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The Policy of the Government of Cyprus Vis-a-Vis the Turkish Cypriots (Set of Measures)
April 30, 2003
As long as
the situation of non-solution to the Cyprus problem continues, the main concern
of the Government, through the introduction of the measures mentioned below, is
to give Turkish Cypriots who live mainly in the occupied areas the opportunity
to enjoy, to the extent possible, the rights and benefits that the Republic of
Cyprus offers its citizens. All the measures will be implemented within the
context of legality, international law and the acquis communautaire.
The legal
reasoning underlying these measures is that the Republic of Cyprus can tolerate
the results of certain actions of the subordinate local administration of Turkey
in the occupied areas - without this negating or affecting the fact that they
are produced illegally or by organs or bodies established and operating
illegally - in those instances which, if disregarded, would constitute or would
have as a consequence the deprivation or violation of fundamental rights of the
Turkish Cypriot citizens of the Republic.
This
is based on the position of the European Court of Human Rights, which, invoking
the opinion of the
That
the Cyprus Government has taken this stand denotes its readiness for a conscious
and pragmatic approach to certain facts which is based on its free will to take
them into account, whereas they could have been ignored. Consequently, the
measures cannot be interpreted as entailing a risk of recognizing the
secessionist entity or its acknowledgment, or of assisting in any way the
secessionist entity in the occupied areas.
Arrangements
will also be made in accordance with Cypriot legislation in force and the acquis
communautaire for the movement of goods produced in the occupied areas to the
local and the European Union market and third countries. For the practical
implementation of this measure the contribution and agreement of the Commission
and non-governmental organizations are expected.
Movement
of Turkish Cypriots and other persons lawfully residing in
Furthermore,
there will be a gradual relaxation of restrictions in force regarding the
movement of tourists from the Government-controlled to the occupied areas, as
regards the length of stay.
Practical
measures will be taken to facilitate the employment of Turkish Cypriots who live
in the occupied areas by employers in the Government-controlled areas with the
same terms of employment which apply for the rest of Cypriot employees. Within
this context more publicity will be given, among other things, to the existing
practice so that Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas are informed that they
can apply to the District Labour Offices for finding employment. The submission
of applications via e-mail will also be promoted. Emphasis will be given to the
employment of technically qualified personnel. Arrangements will be made so that
an appropriate coordination role is entrusted to the labour federations, the
Pancyprian Trade Union Forum and the Employers’ and Industrialists’
Federations of the two communities.
The
assignment of contracting and
subcontracting to Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas will also be promoted,
provided that the contractors and subcontractors fulfil the requirements of the
relevant legislation.
The
Cyprus Government, while insisting
that the setting up of higher and tertiary education establishments in the
occupied areas is illegal, but also wishing to avoid discrimination against
really qualified graduates of these educational establishments, will make
arrangements so that qualified Turkish Cypriots are employed in the
Government-controlled areas on the basis of their substantive qualifications.
The
participation of Turkish Cypriots in research and other programs such as
Leonardo, Socrates, 6th Framework Program will be encouraged and
facilitated. Scholarships will be given to Turkish Cypriots to attend courses in
the recognized institutions of higher and university education in
The
teaching of the Turkish language will be gradually introduced at basic level in
the Secondary Education and to adults in the Government-controlled areas. To
this end an effort will be made to employ Turkish Cypriot teachers.
Practical
arrangements will be made for the free teaching of the Greek language by Greek
Cypriot teachers to interested Turkish Cypriot pupils/students residing in the
occupied areas.
The
Cyprus Government will facilitate through the competent sports federations the
participation of Turkish Cypriot athletes in international sports events,
through the national teams of
The
Cyprus Government will not object to the participation of scientists,
professionals and artists etc from the occupied areas to events abroad provided
that they participate in their personal capacity and not in the name of or with
the use of the emblems of the secessionist entity in the occupied areas.
The
Government will strengthen in practice bi-communal contacts and the fostering of
relations and co-operation between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
non-governmental organizations.
The
relatives of Turkish Cypriot missing persons and non-combatants killed during
the 1963-67 period and in 1974 will receive the same treatment as the relatives
of Greek Cypriot missing persons and dead. The measures will include the
provision of benefits, access to information held by Government departments, the
strengthening of the investigative effort for the ascertainment of the fate of
missing persons, the creation of a bank of genetic material and a bank of
ante-mortem data and other necessary information from relatives, and the
carrying out of exploratory excavations of burial sites as well as exhumations
in cases where relatives show interest and willingness to co-operate.
In
parallel, the Cyprus Government proposes the establishment of a bi-communal
committee for humanitarian and other related issues with the involvement of
UNFICYP. The committee’s mission
will be to discuss and resolve humanitarian problems and to facilitate contacts
and communication among persons residing on either side of the cease-fire line.
The
Cyprus Government will facilitate, with further practical arrangements, the
issue to Turkish Cypriots, by the authorities of the Republic, of travel
documents, identity cards, birth certificates and other certificates and
official documents.
Certificates
regarding one’s family or personal status and other relevant documents of
Turkish Cypriots who reside or used to reside in the occupied area can be
examined on a case-by-case basis and their content be taken into account by
appropriate authorities of the Republic of Cyprus for the purpose of issuing
administrative acts concerning those Turkish Cypriots.
Further
practical measures will be taken so that Turkish Cypriot patients who come to
the Government-controlled area for examination or treatment will be better
served. To this end a hot-line will be established which will operate on a
24-hour basis to deal with emergencies. Facilities will also be provided as well
as incentives for developing relations between doctors and medical
establishments on both sides of the cease-fire line for the benefit of patients.
CULTURAL
HERITAGE
The
Government adopts the proposal made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (sub-committee on cultural heritage) for the establishment of an
international foundation for the protection of the cultural heritage of
UPGRADING
OF TURKISH CYPRIOT PROGRAMMES OF THE CYPRUS BROADCASTING CORPORATION
The
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation’s Turkish programmes will be upgraded. There
will be, among other things, more programmes with Turkish subtitles and longer
Turkish news bulletins. The
programmes entitled “Aktualite”
and “Prisma” will also be extended in length and a new television programme
will be created aimed at Turkish Cypriots which will foster a climate of
confidence, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence between Greek and Turkish
Cypriots.
DE-MINING
OF THE BUFFER ZONE
In
January 2002 the Cyprus Government presented to UNIFICYP a proposal for
de-mining all the mine-fields in the
buffer zone in accordance with relevant UN resolutions. Despite the negative
response of the Turkish side, the Cyprus Government confirms its intention to
proceed unilaterally to de-mining the National Guard’s mine-fields in the
buffer zone in the near future.
CO-OPERATION
AT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES LEVEL
The
Government has drawn up a formula for the promotion of co-operation between
local authorities on both sides of the cease-fire line as well as the funding of
projects on a local level in the occupied area, without affecting its position
towards the illegality of the secessionist entity.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE OCCUPIED AREA AND
Direct
telecommunication with the occupied area and
PARTICIPATION
OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN ELECTIONS
The
necessary legislation will be promoted so that Turkish Cypriots might
participate in local elections in the Government-controlled areas and in the
European Parliament elections on the basis of the relevant European Union
legislation and the relevant jurisprudence of the European Court of Human
Rights.
OFFICE
FOR TURKISH CYPRIOT AFFAIRS
For
the coordination of the implementation of the aforementioned measures an Office
for Turkish Cypriot Affairs will be established, headed by a Commissioner to be
appointed. The Office will have the following competences:
(a)
To co-ordinate the efforts of the State for the careful
screening of all laws, policies and administrative practices, so that their
implementation does not give rise to any kind of discrimination against Turkish
Cypriots.
(b)
To make recommendations, where necessary, for the
introduction of legislative and administrative measures or for the revision of
existing ones, so that the rights and legitimate interests of Turkish Cypriots
are better protected.
(c)
To recommend and monitor the introduction of practical
arrangements for providing Turkish Cypriot citizens of the Republic with
services, which take due account of the practical difficulties they face in
having access to State services and to benefits accruing from the implementation
of State policies.
(d)
To receive, without substituting the competent
services, requests by Turkish Cypriots and to forward them to the relevant
Government departments or other services, submitting at the same time its
recommendations.
(e)
To provide the Turkish Cypriots with advice and
information regarding the rights, obligations and benefits they can enjoy in
accordance with existing laws and policies (as regards passports, economic
assistance, subsidies, etc.) as well as their rights, obligations and benefits
accruing from Cyprus´ accession to the EU.
(f)
To translate in Turkish relevant forms, applications
and other documents and to set up a website to host these along with other
information useful to the Turkish Cypriots.
In
this context information centers will operate both in
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