The Cyprus House of Representatives, in an extraordinary resolution, unanimously rejected on Thursday night, the US State Department Human Rights Report on Cyprus, describing it as false, prejudiced, lacking objectivity and completely unacceptable.
It also noted that the US omits to underline once again that it does not recognise the illegal regime in the areas occupied by Turkey since 1974.
The report was debated during the House plenary following a request by deputies of the left wing AKEL party.
The resolution approved by all deputies of the 56-seat House of Representatives said the State Department report was “false, prejudiced, lacking objectivity and is therefore completely unacceptable”.
“The report disregards international law and does not comply with the fundamental principles of respect of human rights”, said the resolution, adding, “it distorts the reality and constitutes an effort to upgrade the illegal regime”.
Furthermore, it underlines that the US State Department is not the assigned organ of international law and order to evaluate the level of protection of human rights in independent and sovereign UN member states.
“Cyprus, as an EU member state, is acting within the framework of European institutions with full respect to human rights, something which has been repeatedly recognised by the EU institutions”, the resolution added.
Furthermore it said “it considers necessary to stress that institutions in Cyprus operate completely democratically, within the rule of law, a fact which is recognised by the international community”.
Analysing the reasons that led to the resolution, deputies said in their resolution that the report was unacceptable because “it did not make any reference whatsoever to the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of a significant part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, in violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions, nor to the humanitarian issue of the missing persons”.
It also “avoided the fact that Turkey, in four interstate appeals before the European Court of Human Rights, was pronounced guilty of mass violation of human rights in Cyprus, as well as the fact that the same court has decreed that the pseudoregime constitutes a subordinate administration”.
“There is no reference to the presence of settlers, something which constitutes a war crime, nor to the barring of Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their homes and properties as well as to the desecration of the cultural heritage in the occupied areas”, the resolution added.
Efforts it said, “are underway to present the lawful government of Cyprus as preventing the operation of illegal airports and ports in the occupied areas, hiding the fact that their operation is contrary to international legality and relevant UN resolutions, especially resolutions 541 and 550 of the Security Council”.
It also “fails to mention, as in previous years, that the US does not recognise the pseudostate”.
