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In August 1996, the civilized world had been shocked by the cold-blooded murders of two young Greek Cypriots in Derynia. It was in August 11th when 24 years old Tassos Isaac was brutally beaten to death by a mob of neo-fascist "Grey Wolves" in the U.N-controlled Buffer Zone of Cyprus, during a civilian rally against the military occupation of the island. Three days later, Solomos Solomou, 26, was shot by a Turkish Cypriot while he was trying to remove the Turkish flag from it's mast.
Evidence from photographs and video tapes identified two Turkish Cypriots, Kenan Akin and Erdal Haciali Emanet, as Solomou's murderers. Wanted by Interpol and Cypriot Police, Akin admitted in 2004 that he pulled the triger killing Solomou - however, neither Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriot authorities did anything to seek the truth and bring to Justice the alleged killers of the Greek Cypriot civilians. Furthermore, Kenan Akin - a member of the Turkish Cypriot administration who was a candidate in the recent elections of "TRNC" - showed no signs of repentance. On February, during an interview in the Greek weekly "Proto Thema", an unregretted and shameless Akin stated that he killed Solomou and would do it again if needed. On that point there are two issues of political importance which obviously come into question:
First, the political involvement of Kenan Akin in the administration of the self-styled "TRNC" consists de facto a negative prerequisite in Cyprus' peace talks. Instead of bringing him into Justice for what he committed, the Turkish Cypriot authorities seem to have rewarded Akin with political priviledges. At least, the moderate government of Mehmet Ali Talat should have respected the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (June 2008) which vindicated the Greek Cypriot position that "the use of force had not been justified, in violation of Article 2 (of the European Convention on Human Rights)".
A Second issue has to do with Turkey and it's objectionable stance on that matter. Since the Derynia events in 1996, the Turkish governments seem to have done everything in order to compound the felony. Shortly after the killings in Cyprus, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling Turkey "to cooperate by taking all necessary measures to identify, arrest and bring to justice all those implicated in the murders and firing at unarmed civilians". But, in 2004, when Kenan Akin was arrested in Istanbul for smuggling charges, he was released despite Interpol's arrest warrant (Question of MEP D.Papadimoulis, 14.10.2004).
It's a perspicuous fact that a prospective member of the E.U., like Turkey, has to respect the International Law and any obligations deriving from the membership process, taking into serious consideration decisions produced by the Union's institutions. A potential EU member-state should neither abet cold-blooded murderers nor tolerate terrorist actions from extremist, ultra-nationalist groups.
Both Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot leadership have to understand that the 1996 Derynia atrocities consisted a brutal act against the Peace process. But even most importantly, it was a tragic proof that the demilitarization (and decolonization) of Cyprus is the only way for a viable solution in the island's division. And as long as the Turkish armed forces remain in the north - as long as people like Akin have active role in politics - no space for solution and compromise would be available.
Published in Phantis.com, August 10, 2009.
