British Residents Society, North Cyprus - GOVERNMENT LIAISON DETAIL

GOVERNMENT LIAISON DETAIL

This page last updated 11/04/2007

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15/10/2004	Letter from BRS to The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Houses of Parliament, London Calling their attention once more to the continuing injustice that the United Kingdom, and the international community at large, appears content to perpetrate against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Houses of Parliament

London

SW1 1AA

United Kingdom

15^th October 2004

Dear Secretary of State,

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

I am writing to yourself and the Prime Minister to call your attention once more to the continuing injustice that the United Kingdom, and the international community at large, appears content to perpetrate against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

In doing so I should point out that this letter comes to you not merely in a personal capacity, but with the full authority of the Committee of the British Residents Society which is the representative body of the British Community in North Cyprus – now in excess of 5000 people – and almost all of them with full voting rights in the United Kingdom.

It is not my intention to labour the case of the injustice being done to the Turkish Cypriots, the history and more recent developments of which I trust you will be all too familiar. Suffice it to say that this small State, which cannot be a threat to anyone, and which conducts its affairs in the best traditions of democracy, has had to work under embargoes that seriously hinder its economic development, greatly restrict the freedom of its people to travel and prevent them from participating in international events of all sorts. In short, there is a gross denial of basic political and human rights which the United Kingdom, and the world at large, has seen fit to countenance for 40 years.

In April/May of this year following the referendum on the Annan Plan, it did seem that, at last, the situation was going to change. For the first time warm words were addressed to the Turkish Cypriots by such august entities as the UN Secretary General, the American Secretary of State and the EU Enlargement Commissioner. The Prime Minister himself weighed in during his visit to Turkey – I quote,,,,,,” We made it clear we must act now to end the isolation of Northern Cyprus. That means lifting the embargoes in respect to trade, in respect to air travel.”

Not unnaturally all this raised great hopes and expectations among the Turkish Cypriots most of whom, despite our shabby treatment of them, retain a great respect and regard for the United Kingdom. Unfortunately some six months or so later, disillusion is once more setting in. Little or nothing has been achieved and such moves that have been made, for example opening the border to trade with the south of the island or proposals for financial aid, have become mired in bureaucracy and/or opposed by the Greek Cypriot Government.

A crisis of confidence is now rapidly developing in North Cyprus and it will need prompt and determined action if the situation is not to deteriorate. I must urge you most strongly therefore, to give your attention to this problem. It should not be too difficult to rectify. Some real political will and, perhaps, a modicum of political courage is all that is required. The British Community in North Cyprus has every hope and expectation that you can rise to the challenge.

Yours sincerely,

(Mrs) Julia Price

Vice Chairman

For the Chairman

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