External News & Events

Support the Orams London Rally on 9 July

The Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad (ATCA) are organising a rally in support of the Orams couple. The rally will take place on Sunday 9 July 2006, starting at South Street and the junction of Park Lane (nearest tube is Marble Arch) at midday and concluding outside the Royal Courts of Justice.

The Orams are a British couple who have bought and developed land in Lapta, North Cyprus. Greek Cypriots who owned the land prior to the 1974 Greek military coup and subsequent intervention by Turkey are suing the couple for “illegally occupying and developing” the property. The UK hearing, which will take place on 18 July, follows a court case in South Cyprus which found against the couple. Greek Cypriots, seeking to use a European Union (EU) loophole, are trying to have this court’s decision enforced in the UK, which could see the Orams’ home in Sussex seized as part of the compensation being sought.

The Orams are contesting the judgement on a number of counts, including on legal technicalities – the Greek Cypriots have not followed the appropriate legal procedure for the case – and that legal remedies to the Cyprus property issue should only be addressed as part of a comprehensive political solution to the ongoing conflict. Cherie Blair has been appointed as the lead barrister for the Orams.

Organisers ATCA, who campaign on a platform of ‘Respect , Equality and Recognition’ for North Cyprus, have called on London Turkish Cypriots and sympathisers to march in support of the Orams on 9 July. The group have organised coaches from North and South London, with pick-up points in West Green Road and Turnpike Lane (North), and Catford, New Cross and Old Kent Road (South). For further information about the rally should visit the ATCA website at www.atcanews.org , email: cetin@atcanews.org or telephone: 07958 387 246.
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