British Residents Society, North Cyprus - GOVERNMENT LIAISON DETAIL

GOVERNMENT LIAISON DETAIL

This page last updated 11/04/2007

	Detail
12/12/2006	Letter from BRS to The Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London Concerning direct flights to TRNC

12 December 2006

The Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London SW1 1AA

Dear Prime Minister

Re: Direct Flights to the T.R.N.C.

As I am sure you will be aware, Cyprus Turkish Airlines, the national airline of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has made an application to the British Civil Aviation Authority to operate flights directly between Britain and North Cyprus.

The outcome of this application will be of some considerable significance, both to the future economic development of North Cyprus and the issue of its continuing isolation from the international community at large. It will also be of more than passing interest to the British expatriate community in North Cyprus, the size of which has been growing rapidly in recent years. For these reasons we are instructed to write to you on behalf of the British Residents Society, which is the representative body of the British community in North Cyprus, and to urge you most strongly to throw the full weight of your personal authority, and that of your government, behind this application to bring it to a successful conclusion for North Cyprus.

The Society does not feel the need to labour the case of the continuing injustice being done to the Turkish Cypriot people, the history and more recent developments of which you are, doubtless, already well known to you. It is also very aware of the difficulties and frustrations your government is facing in it’s attempts to make good the promises made to the Turkish Cypriots following the referendum on the Annan Plan in 2004. Nevertheless, the hard fact remains that little, if anything, of substance has been achieved. The patience and goodwill of the Turkish Cypriot community is not inexhaustible and is now being severely tested, whilst the standing the credibility of the British Government is being steadily eroded.

In this situation, the application for direct flights between Britain and North Cyprus would appear to present an ideal opportunity for your Government to achieve some real progress towards both ending the isolation of this country and, ultimately, assisting the reunification of Cyprus.

Your views on these issued and your commitment to achieving them are well known here. Expectations are high that you will find the political will to deliver a clear and favourable response. Any other result may well cause considerable damage to the future developments in this island.

Yours sincerely,

M Maternaghan A G Aldridge

Chairman Vice Chairman

British Residents Society British Residents Society

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