Doc. 8970
5 February 2001

Abduction of Mr Tekoğul by the Greek Cypriot authorities

Written Declaration N° 316

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,

      Disturbed by the abduction of Mr Gazi Ömer Tekoğul, a Turkish Cypriot, on 1 December 2000 from the village of Pyla, situation in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Cyprus;

      Deeply concerned by the mistreatment of Mr Tekoğul by his abductors;

      Greatly worried by the incident, which is a clear case of forceful abduction, since it occurred within the UN-controlled buffer zone, where Greek Cypriot police have no jurisdiction, and cannot even be present, let alone make an arrest;

      Considering that abduction and illegal detention of persons constitutes a serious violation of the European Convention on Human Rights;

      Considering that the illegal incursion to the UN-buffer zone by the Greek Cypriot police constitutes a grave threat to the peace and stability of Cyprus;

      Invite the Greek Cypriot authorities to immediately release Mr Tekoğul, and refrain from violating the UN-buffer zone in Cyprus;

      Call on the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to use his influence in securing the good treatment and immediate release of Mr Tekoğul;

      Call on the member states of the Council of Europe to ensure that the Greek Cypriot authorities respect the UN-buffer zone established in Cyprus in order to preserve the state of peace on the island.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Telek, Turkey, EDG

Akçali, Turkey, EDG

Akgönenç, Turkey, EDG

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Bartoś, Czech Republic, EDG

Cerrahoğlu, Turkey, EDG

Cilevics, Latvia, SOC

Gül, Turkey, EDG

Gülek, Turkey, SOC

Gürkan, Turkey, SOC

İrtemçelik, Turkey, EDG

Kalkan, Turkey, EDG

Kostytsky, Ukraine, EPP/CD

Marmazov, Ukraine, UEL

Položhani, « the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia », EDG

Saglam, Turkey, EPP/CD

Salaridze, Georgia, NR

Surjan, Hungary, EPP/CD

Tanik, Turkey, EDG

Taylor J.D., United Kingdom, EPP/CD

Tevdoradze, Georgia, EDG

____________________

Total = 21

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group