Measures which might be embodied in a political settlement of the Cyprus question in order to ensure that the rights of all Cyprus citizens are safeguarded by international guarantees

Recommendation 463 (1966)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly Debate on 27th September 1966 (11th Sitting) (seeDoc. 2118, report of the Political Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28th September 1966 (12th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Having noted with great interest the study prepared by the Secretary General on the measures which might be embodied in a political settlement of the Cyprus question in order to ensure that the rights of all Cyprus citizens are safeguarded by international guarantees, and the report submitted by the Political Committee ;

2. Noting with increasing anxiety the continuation of the Cyprus crisis which is affecting relations among three member States of the Council of Europe :

3. Acknowledging the difficulty of separating the political and legal aspects of the problem for the purpose of visualising a solution thereto ;

4. Having noted the Opinion of the Legal Committee on the subject ;

5. Anxious not to obstruct the efforts of the United Nations and the negotiations in progress ;

6. Believing that the rights of all citizens of Cyprus must be safeguarded without delay by means of both national and international guarantees ;

7. Believing that the European Convention on Human Rights offers an appropriate framework and machinery for supplementing national and constitutional guarantees by international guarantees ;

8. Welcoming the intention expressed by the Cyprus authorities to accept :

a the right of individual petition provided for in Article 25 of the European Convention on Human Rights ;

b the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court provided for in Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights ;

8.1 the system of international supervision provided for in the European Social Charter of 1961 ;

9. Considering that the optional declarations provided for under the European Convention on Human Rights and the provisions of the Social Charter will, whatever happens, have to be incorporated in the political solution as an important element in the agreement,

10. Recommends the Committee of Ministers to urge the Governments concerned to find a political solution to the dispute which, on the basis of the above guarantees in particular, effectively preserves the rights of all the inhabitants of the island.