B4-0669, 0679 and 0688/95

Resolution on the missing persons of the Cyprus tragedy

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions relating to the Cyprus problem and the protection of human rights,

A.whereas the fate of 1619 missing persons of the Cyprus tragedy is still unknown 21 years on,

B.whereas some of them are citizens of the European Union (Greek, British),

C.whereas the US Congress has approved a resolution to set up a committee to investigate the fate of the US citizens among the missing persons, approving a budget of USD 1.5 million and establishing a special office in Cyprus staffed by 3 members,

D.whereas there have been recent reports that a number of missing persons are still alive in Turkey,

E.whereas, on humanitarian grounds above all, the relatives of the missing persons must be given a conclusive answer,

F.whereas the European Commission of Human Rights (Council of Europe) has decided that there is an infringement of Article 5 of the European Convention which provides for evidence to be supplied with regard to the fate of the missing victims of the Cypriot tragedy,

1.Calls on the Council and Commission, following the example of the US Congress, to take the necessary steps to investigate the fate of the missing people of Cyprus and to report back to Parliament as soon as possible,

2.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the parliaments of the Member States and to the Cypriot and the Turkish Governments.