Cyprus Government to act on Olgac’s confession

The government will continue to inform the international community on the issue that has arisen from the self-confession of Turkish actor Attila Olgac that he killed ten Greek Cypriots during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said.

Replying to questions on Wednesday after a Cabinet meeting, Stephanou said that the government has decided to act on two fronts.

“Firstly, to raise the issue at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is the watchdog for the implementation of ECHR decisions”, he said. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Republic of Cyprus' fourth interstate application has asked Turkey to cooperate fully in the investigation into the fate of missing persons in Cyprus.

Secondly, the government is considering a second appeal to the ECHR, the Spokesman added. “It is a decision which the Law Office of the Republic is examining, because it requires specific action and procedures”, he explained.

Stephanou pointed out that there is the political aspect to the confession as well. The government and the House of Representatives have decided to raise the issue to several international fora, in order not only to inform the international community about the confession, but also to explain “what this confession means and what it proves”, he stressed.

“We are talking about crimes committed during the Turkish invasion to Cyprus in 1974”, he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Hundreds of Greek Cypriots have been missing since 1974, many of whom were last seen alive in the hands of the Turkish military. Nearly 500 Turkish Cypriots are also listed as missing since the intercommunal fighting in the early 1960s and during 1974.