North Cyprus Properties

Turkish Cypriot authorities have announced the easing of restrictions on the 428 Greek Cypriots and 167 Maronites living in the north.  Turkish Cypriot authorities usually grant the applications of Greek Cypriot residents in the north to visit the government-controlled area.  Visits to the south are limited to a total of 6 months per year.  The applicants must return within the designated period or risk losing their right to return and to keep their property, although this rule rarely is enforced in practice.  Overnight stays also are limited to a "reasonable period" (said period to be determined by Turkish Cypriot authorities), with extensions possible.  However, there were reports during the year that Turkish Cypriot authorities prevented family relatives from extending their stays in the north.  There were also reports that Turkish Cypriot authorities prevented unlimited travel to the north by family relatives.  Greek Cypriots visiting from the sou ... [Read More]

2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Cyprus

The Government did not restrict Greek Cypriots from traveling to north Cyprus, but generally discouraged them from staying at former Greek Cypriot owned properties, gambling in the north, or buying or developing property there. The Government prohibited Turkish nationals from crossing from the north to the south. ...

For part of the year, the Government did not permit foreigners who had entered the country via ports in north Cyprus to cross into the government controlled area. On June 3, the Government revised its policy regarding green line crossings to allow EU citizens and citizens of other countries not subject to a visa requirement entering Cyprus from ports in north Cyprus to cross the green line into the government controlled areas. However, the Government continued to block any effort by Turkish Cypriot authorities or international parties to open Ercan Airport or any port in north Cyprus for travel to destinations other than Turkey. ... [Read More]

Cyprus

Constitutional or other legal mechanisms prohibit discrimination in both communities. The 1975 Vienna III Agreement remains the legal source of authority regarding the treatment of Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the north and Turkish Cypriots living in the south. The agreement provides for the voluntary transfer of populations, free and unhindered access by the UNFICYP to Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the north and Turkish Cypriots living in the south, and facilities for education, medical care, and freedom of religion. In practice, noncompliance with some of the provisions of the Vienna III Agreement by Turkish Cypriot authorities made daily life difficult for Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the north. At year's end, there were 403 Greek Cypriots and 140 Maronites resident in the north. ... [Read More]

Documents 26-54

The President said he could appreciate fact that fighting at St. Hilarion might not be fully explicable to people abroad but that in his view this was defensible objective on part of his govt (Gen Pantelides, Comander of Home Guard, had made similar presentation to me just before going in see President). He claimed that Turks had been extending their positions both to east and west of Castle and that UN had appeared unwilling or powerless to stop them. He added that UN appeared to be acting as "conciliatory commission" rather than peace-keeping force. He asked what might be expected on the part of Greek Cypriots in face of this sort of "provocation" which was not so easily identifiable as gun fire. Quiet infiltration by Turks in effort to consolidate their hold on northern range was more difficult pinpoint than outright hostility involving gun fire. Having accomplished objective of rolling back Turkish forward positions, he had issued the statement claiming Greeks had reached their obj ... [Read More]

Documents 98-127

Erim went on to reiterate that my proposals were about the least Turkey could have considered. Sunalp interjected that Greek base suggestion was ridiculous and that Greeks were "being comic" in putting it forward. Erim emphasized that he was prepared to continue discussion on basis my suggestions provided Greeks would do likewise. If they did not, Turkey would have to make its own proposals. In this connection he gave us map of Cyprus showing four zones. First enclosed all of Karpas Peninsula and something more, which he said would be Turkish military base. Second enclosed area stretching from Famagusta through northern Nicosia and up to north coast between Kyrenia and Lapithos; this, he said, would be Turkish territory but demilitarized. Third covered everything south and west of this line down to a line drawn along watershed from Pomos on coast of Tylliria through Mt. Olympus southwestward to coast at Petounda Point, between Larnaca and Limassol. This zone would be Greek but demilita ... [Read More]

Daily Press Briefing for December 10 - Transcript

QUESTION: Thank you. Last week, two North Korean defectors say that many North Koreans are suffering in hunger and tyranny in North Korea. Would you tell us what kind of specific solution the US have toward human rights in North Korea? ...

MR. REEKER: I do not want to get into playing games. I think we have talked about what North Korea needs to do in terms of its nuclear weapons program. I think they need to discontinue -- immediately dismantle their program, which they have admitted to in terms of developing highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. They need to do that immediately and verifiably, visibly. But obviously, a change in the way the people of North Korea live would be something that I think the people of North Korea would welcome, and those concerned about human rights around the world would also welcome. ... [Read More]

Daily Press Briefing for May 29 -- Transcript

The whole history of the U.S.-Canada relationship has been built on many, many things, but including a common commitment to defense. We think missile defense is very important for us and for our hemisphere for North America, and, therefore, the political significance of being able to join together and work with Canada on this is that it continues a longstanding relationship, a longstanding tradition that we have had, and shows that Canada and the United States still have many interests in common, including the defense of the people. ... [Read More]

2004

1111--04/21/04   The Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE); Heather Conley, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs; Testimony Before the House Committee on International Relations; Washington, DC ...

1111--05/11/04   Signing Ceremony of the US-Poland Cultural Properties Agreement; Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State; Indian Treaty Room, Old Executive Office Building; Washington, DC ... [Read More]

Daily Press Briefing for March 2 -- Transcript

MR. BOUCHER: As far as specific people captured, I think I'd have to leave it to our authorities in Northern Iraq. But as you know, we've been working closely with the Turkish government keeping in close liaison contact with them. But as far as any captures, I think that has to be done by military authorities and others in the North. ...

QUESTION: Do you here anything about some PKK cleric leaders captured in Northern Iraq? What is the current situation in Northern Iraq about the PKK captivitees? ... [Read More]