Cypriot parliamentarian tables statement on Turkey during PACE session Nicosia, Jan 24 (CNA) – Cypriot member of the House of Representatives Antigoni Papadopoulou has tabled a statement during the deliberations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), informing members on a judgment by the European Court of Human Rights earlier this month which found Turkey guilty of human rights violations in Cyprus. In her written statement which was signed by a large number of PACE parliamentarians, Papadopoulou noted that the ECHR decision in the case of “Varnava and Others v. Turkey”, issued on January 10, ruled that Turkey is guilty of violations of the rights of nine Greek Cypriot missing persons and their relatives, making the country responsible for the violations of articles 2, 3 and 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Papadopoulou said that the ECHR decision points the attention to Turkey’s obligation to respect the injured and prisoners of war, as well as citizens, according to the relevant international conventions and international law. Through this judgment, said Papadopoulou, Turkey’s position that those persons who vanished during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 should be considered dead, is refuted. The Council of Europe, said Papadopoulou in her written statement, calls on Turkey once again to fulfill its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, implement the soonest the ECHR decision, conduct an effective investigation in ascertaining the fate of the missing, grant clear information on the Greek Cypriots Prisoners of war and allow access to the Turkish army and prisons’ records. In its judgment the Court said Turkey is guilt of “the continuing violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights on account of failure of the authorities of the respondent state (Turkey) to conduct an effective investigation into the whereabouts and fate of the nine first applicants who disappeared in life threatening circumstances”. The Court also ruled that there was violation of Article 3 which prohibits inhuman treatment and Article 5 (right to liberty and security). Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third. .