AHI Statement On The Turkish Generated Tensions In Cyprus

On December 20, 2000 the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) released the following statement on recent tensions in Cyprus resulting from actions by the Turkish occupation forces.

"The American Hellenic Institute noted with regret a series of actions in recent weeks emanating from the Turkish Cypriots and Turkish occupation forces. These actions appear designed to raise tensions in Cyprus and to poison the atmosphere for the next round of proximity talks in January 2001. The actions include:

• The apparent abduction of a Greek Cypriot Mr. Panicos Tziakourmas by Turkish forces in the vicinity of a British sovereign base area;
• Illegal construction works by the Turkish occupation forces in the buffer zone village of Pyla;
• Illegal deployments by the Turkish occupation forces in the region of Strovilia; and.
• Threats by Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Rauf Denktash that he will not attend the next round of talks;

AHI strongly deplores these actions. In 2000 successive rounds of proximity talks under UN auspices, the Cyprus government of President Glafkos Clerides has shown a constructive and positive engagement in the negotiations process. The time has come for the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish side to put aside their intransigence and show the same spirit of goodwill.

There is universal agreement that the Cyprus problem has been on the international agenda for far too long. A settlement would benefit all sides. AHI therefore calls on the Turkish side to cease these provocations and to commit themselves to the negotiation process."