Infringement of standardisation of geographical names in Cyprus
9.7.2013
Question for written answer E-008161-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Kyriacos Triantaphyllides (GUE/NGL)
Reports have been published that, in official documents of the European Union, which is financing a series of projects in the Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus, occupied villages are referred to using the changed names given to them by the occupying army, rather than by their historical names.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
- — Is it aware of this fact?
- — Does it not agree that this violates agreements by the UN conferences on geographical names, given that Cyprus has filed a list of historical and local names in Cyprus with the UN, thus safeguarding the only proper and legally recognised way of writing the names of these villages?
- — Does it not agree that, in adopting the changed names imposed by the occupying authorities, it too is in breach of international law?
- — What does it intend to do to put an immediate halt to this unlawful situation?
OJ C 65 E, 05/03/2014