Ray Burke
Question:66 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's response to the killings which have occurred in the Cypriot buffer zone over recent days. [19090/96]
Written Answers. - Cypriot Conflict.
The recent disturbances and tragic deaths are matters of deep concern to the Irish Government and the European Union. The Irish Presidency issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on 16 October which strongly condemned the killing of an unarmed Greek Cypriot civilian on 13 October and repeated its call for restraint on all sides, to avert further such tragic deaths. The European Union deplores this latest death, as it does all the violent deaths which have occurred recently in Cyprus. The European Union fully supports the principle that deadly force must not be used by the either side against persons who cross the respective ceasefire lines or enter the United Nations buffer zone.
These events have led to an increase in tensions between both communities on the island and the immediate objective is to restore calm and move forward efforts to establish a political dialogue between the two sides. These incidents have highlighted the urgent need to intensify efforts towards promoting a comprehensive political settlement under the aegis of the United Nations.