2 July 1993

Doc. 6896

1403-5/7/93-7-E

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 352

by Mr HADJIDEMETRIOU

on the rights of Greek Cypriot children

1.       One tragic aspect of the continuing violations of the rights of the Greek Cypriots is the case of the enclaved pupils, some forty-three children in the three elementary schools operating in the occupied part of Cyprus. Despite the clear provisions of the Vienna III Agreement, reached between the two communities under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General on 2 August 1975, providing that the Greek Cypriot enclaved would be given every help to lead a normal life, including, inter alia, facilities for education, the Turkish occupation forces have over the years flagrantly violated these provisions.

2.       Following massive expulsions of the enclaved and the fact that secondary schools were never allowed to operate, the number of enclaved students has been drastically reduced from 1 003 children in September 1975 to forty-three children.

3.       The three Greek Cypriot elementary schools in the occupied area continue to operate under extremely difficult conditions both for the teachers and the pupils. Books and other material are subjected to censorship; some books are not delivered to the schools at all (including books on history, religion and geography), while others are not delivered in time; the school buildings are very often vandalised and wilfully destroyed, the Turkish occupying forces are refusing the placement/transfer of new teaching personnel, no inspectors are allowed to visit the schools and the children grow up in an unsuitable environment being subjected to severe restrictions of movement, in the practice of their religion etc. and with severely limited opportunities for educational, social and cultural development.

4.       On the other hand, due to the refusal of the Turkish occupation authorities to allow the operation of secondary schools for the Greek Cypriot enclaved children, when the latter reach the age of 12, they have no choice but to go to the government controlled area to attend school. These children are not allowed by the Turkish occupation regime to visit their parents, except in the Christmas, Easter and summer vacations. When boys reach the age of 16 and girls the age of 18 they are not allowed to return to the occupied area even to visit their parents, thus resulting in the separation of families.

5.       Mr HADJIDEMETRIOU,

      To ask the Committee of Ministers

if, in the face of the flagrant violations of the human rights of the enclaved Greek Cypriot children by Turkey, they are considering taking any action in addition to the publication of the report of the European Commission of Human Rights on the third recourse of the of the Government of Cyprus against the Government of Turkey (Application No. 8007(77), with a view to ensuring Turkey's full compliance with the provisions of the Convention.

      Signed: HADJIDEMETRIOU,