THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN CYPRUS
Opening Remarks by Struan Stevenson MEP
This session will examine the role of the United Nations in Cyprus and look at the sensitive issue of missing persons.

Following the hostilities of July and August 1974, the UN Security Council adopted a number of resolutions which have affected the functioning of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Ceasefire lines and a buffer zone were established between the areas controlled by the opposing forces. The ceasefire lines extend approximately 180 kilometres across the island. The buffer zone between the lines varies in width from less than 20 metres to some 7 kilometres, and it covers about 3 per cent of the island, including some of the most valuable agricultural land.

Strict adherence to the military status quo in the buffer zone, as recorded by UNFICYP at the time, has become a vital element in preventing a recurrence of fighting. UNFICYP maintains surveillance through a system of observation posts, and through air, vehicle and foot patrols.

In addition to maintaining the military status quo, UNFICYP must also preserve the integrity of the buffer zone from unauthorized entry or activities by civilians. As a result, UNFICYP has from time to time become involved in crowd control.

In addition, UN police maintain close cooperation and liaison with the Cyprus police and the Turkish Cypriot police on matters having inter-communal aspects. Together with the line units they contribute to law and order in the buffer zone and assist in investigations and in the Force's humanitarian activities.

Another major function entrusted to UNFICYP is to encourage the fullest possible resumption of normal civilian activity in the buffer zone. To this end, it facilitates the resumption of farming in the buffer zone; assists both communities on matters related to the supply of electricity and water across the lines; facilitates normal contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots; provides emergency medical services; and delivers mail and Red Cross messages across the lines.

In the absence of a political settlement to the Cyprus problem, the mandate of UNFICYP has been periodically extended. At the end of every six-month mandate period, the Secretary-General has reported to the Security Council, that in the light of the situation on the ground and of political developments, the continued presence of the Force remains indispensable, both in helping to maintain calm on the island and in creating the best conditions for his good offices efforts. For its part, the Council has regularly extended the mandate of the Force for six-month periods.

It has been said often that if the United Nations wants a solution on Cyprus, they have to first find a solution to the issue of the missing persons. They have to close the wound. Some 1,500 Greek Cypriots and 500 Turkish Cypriots are still officially registered as missing on Cyprus.

Some of those missing people, date back to the fighting which broke out between the two communities in the 1960s. During and after the 1974 Turkish invasion, thousands of Greek Cypriots were arrested and detained in camps by the Turkish army and by Turkish Cypriot paramilitary organisations acting under the instructions and responsibility of the Turkish army. Over 2000 prisoners of war were transferred to Turkey and detained in Turkish prisons. Some of them were not released and are still missing. Hundreds of other Greek Cypriots, both soldiers and civilians (including old people, women and children) disappeared in the areas under Turkish occupation and are still missing.

The Greek Cypriots argue that this amounts to a multiple violation of basic and fundamental human rights. The Turkish Cypriot side argues that many of the missing were, in fact, direct war casualties before the 1974 intervention took place and died in Greek Cypriot internal fighting. What remains certain is that these people, from both sides, have never been seen alive again.

The UN established a Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in 1981 to investigate the fate of the disappeared. In 25 years no family has received an explanation. But slowly, all that is changing. A joint team of Greek and Turkish Cypriot scientists is finally searching for answers. They have begun excavating mass graves all over Cyprus, led there by those who actually saw what happened.

Some of the bones recovered from an estimated 250 bodies have been reassembled into partial skeletons. Samples have been DNA tested. But first any evidence that can be gleaned from the skeletons or the grave is cross-checked against data provided by relatives. The exhumations are laying bare evidence of terrible violence committed by and against both communities on this island. When I was researching the background to this issue I came across this poignant quote from a Greek Cypriot mother, she said: "I know that it doesn't matter what your nation or religion is, the feeling of those who have missing loved ones is the same everywhere - pain."

Allow me to quote the words of Dr. Ioannis Kasoulides, the then Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 20th September 2002. He said:

"In keeping with the interests of our people and regional stability, our own vision for Cyprus is a departure from the passions of the past. We see the future of our country as a reunited federal State, member of the European Union, with the human rights and fundamental freedoms of each and every citizen fully protected. We are aware that the overwhelming majority of Turkish Cypriots share this vision and long for reunification, and a common future in the European Union, with all the safeguards of a modern, democratic and effective State. They know that the accession of Cyprus will offer to all its citizens security, social and economic advancement, especially for the Turkish Cypriot community."

Ladies & Gentlemen, I am sure that we all still share that vision.

This morning we have with us a group of eminent speakers who may help to shine a little light into this dark episode of contemporary European history. Michael MØLLER is the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and following his intervention on the mission of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force we will have a brief discussion. Then we will hear from Christophe GIROD, Elias GEORGIADES and Gulden PLÜMER KÜÇÜK, all members of the Committee on Missing Persons and from our distinguished colleague Ewa KLAMT, Rapporteur on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus.