Cyprus Missing Persons

EDM number 697 in 1995-96, proposed by Alan Meale on 01/04/1996.

That this House deplores the continued illegal occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops in direct contravention of both UN policy and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee; notes the remarks made by Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali that the absence of a solution on Cyprus is due to lack of political will by the Turks; was appalled by the recent callous announcement made by Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash who stated that all the 1,619 persons missing since 1974 were put to death by members of Turkish Cypriot paramilitary organisations after being handed over to them by Turkish troops in direct contravention of numerous human rights conventions and international law; considers the withholding of such information from the relatives of the missing for more than 20 years a disgrace; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to demand of Turkey and the illegal regime in Northern Cyprus to divulge immediately to the UN Missing Perons Committee information concerning the fates or whereabouts of all missing persons, to end such prolonged humanitarian abuse and allieviate any further suffering to all concerned.

This motion has been signed by a total of 69 MPs.