UK Cypriots urge British PM to end Turkish occupation
LONDON (CNA/ANA-MPA)
Cypriots living in Britain have sought assurances from the British
government that its objective is to work for a reunited Cyprus, free of
the Turkish military.
The demand was put forward in a letter by the President of the National
Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom Peter Droussiotis to the
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He called on Brown to issue a full policy statement condemning and
calling for an end to the occupation of the north of Cyprus by the
Turkish army, reiterating his commitment to UN resolutions on Cyprus
and reaffirming sup****t for the UN process laid down by the 8th of July
2006 agreement, reached between Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos
and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
The letter was handed over to 10 Downing Street, during a demonstration
held Thursday evening outside Downing Street to protest the signing of
a Strategic Partner****p Agreement between Britain and Turkey.
Droussiotis stressed that the agreement "entirely ignores the
fundamental nature of the problem of Cyprus which stems directly from
Turkey's invasion in 1974 and its ethnic cleansing of more than 200,000
Greek Cypriot refugees from their homes in the occupied northern part
of the island."
He noted that the agreement advocates the promotion of direct,
commercial, economic, political and cultural contacts between the UK,
the EU and the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in Cyprus' occupied areas
and the maintenance of high level contacts with this regime.
"This approach wholly undermines the ongoing positive, unilateral
efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to promote a negotiated settlement
and the reunification of the island," he said.
There is no doubt that this Agreement undermines the good relations
which should exist between the Republic of Cyprus and the United
Kingdom, two countries with historic links and a multitude of common
interests reflected in their mutual member****p of the Commonwealth and
in their respective capacities as partners within the EU, he added.
He expressed hope that the British Prime Minister will respond
positively to their request for a meeting with him and his colleagues
to discuss this issue.
The partner****p agreement commits Britain and Turkey to take forward
work on ending what the Turkish Cypriots call "isolation" and to
encourage others in the international community to join them in their
efforts.
In the document, London and Ankara say they will work within the UN,
the EU and bilaterally to promote direct commercial, economic,
political and cultural contacts between the UK, the EU and the Turkish
Cypriots.
They will also provide "continued help for "TRNC"
authorities/universities in their attempts to engage with the Bologna
process" and will uphold "the right of representation of the Turkish
Cypriots in the European Parliament."
Ryan says no change in British policy regarding puppet regime
Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus Joan Ryan has assured that
there is no change in British policy on the subject of recognition of
the puppet regime in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic of
Cyprus.
In remarks on London Greek Radio regarding the memorandum of strategic
cooperation signed between Britain and Turkey, Ryan said that ''there
is no question of a change to our policy on the subject of
recognition'' and reassured the Greek Cypriots that '''this is not in
any way a move towards recognition'' of the puppet regime.
''We express full sup****t to the good offices of the UN Secretary
General. Our priority is a settlement,'' she added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied
its northern third.
http://www.greece.org/cyprus/GordonBrown.htm
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