Christofias Advised to Stop Mixed Messages to Aid Cyprus Talks
FIFA offers Turkish Cypriots chance to play friendlies
The group was formed in September 2004 and launched on 4 March 2005. Our launch date coincided with the 41st anniversary of the formal start of the embargoes against Turkish Cypriots following the passing of UN Resolution 186 on 4 March 1964. This Resolution recognised the Greek Cypriot authority as the Government of Cyprus, which effectively removed the constitutional rights of Turkish Cypriots as political equals and the fallout of this is still being experienced today.
We wanted to prepare the groundwork and ensure the right framework was in place, so the group and its campaign would succeed. As we are all volunteers in full-time employment, this has taken considerably longer to fulfil.
No, we are independent of all political parties and leaders, and groups.
No - see response to above question. Embargoed! would refuse any donations that would compromise its independence and/or the group’s integrity.
Embargoed! is open to working with all groups and organisations that share its peaceful aims to end the embargoes against North Cyprus and whose actions and/or political stance would not compromise Embargoed!’s independence and/or its integrity. To date, we have formed common actions that involved several London and North Cyprus based Turkish Cypriot associations. International Council of North Cyprus, Southwark Cyprus Turkish Association and the North Cyprus Exists Foundation are three such examples.
Embargoed! is a volunteer managed, membership association that is Limited by Guarantee. This type of incorporation is used primarily by non-profit organisations such as ours which generate an annual turnover over £1,000. Our status is different to a commercial company that is Limited by Shares as we must plough all profits back into Embargoed!. However, like registered businesses, we have a higher standard of accounting to adhere to; we are required by law to make annual returns, keep various registers and proper accounts that must be audited professionally.
Our corporate status also ensures the voluntary Executive Committee that act as the guarantors of Embargoed! have limited personal liability in the event of a shortfall when the group ceases to exist.
Since our launch on 4 March 2005, our membership has grown to in excess of 150 people.
Membership of Embargoed! is open to everyone that shares our campaign aims and ethics, and abides by our Constitution and Code of Conduct.
Our existing members come from a wide spectrum of social and professional backgrounds, include professionals (lawyers, accountants, PR consultants, etc), businesspeople, students, and housewives. With people of Turkish Cypriot, English, Indian, Irish, Kashmiri, Turkish, and Welsh origin, we are also an ethnically diverse group.
Our opinions regarding the Cyprus question also varies. The one thing that unites us all is our outrage at the 41 years of injustice Turkish Cypriots have endured and that, given the promises of world leaders following the Annan Plan referendum in April 2004, these embargoes continue to blight the lives of everyone connected to North Cyprus.
As long as it takes and as long as we have active support from the people.
We are a human rights group that is campaigning for the immediate and unconditional end to all embargoes against Turkish Cypriots and North Cyprus.
Embargoed! believes that an embargo-free life is the fundamental right of every human being regardless of their political stance. It is very difficult for anyone - including Greek Cypriots and their supporters - to argue against our human rights. We believe that helping the people of North Cyprus to secure their basic rights will pave the way for a fair and lasting political settlement in Cyprus, where both sides are free to make decisions about their future.
No. Given our campaign mission, we do not advocate any political settlement for Cyprus (either TRNC recognition or Cyprus unification). We are only interested in delivering Turkish Cypriots the same economic, political, cultural and social rights and opportunities that we all enjoy. We spell this out in our Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Turkish Cypriot people where, amongst other things, we state that the Greek Cypriot authorities in South Cyprus do not represent Turkish Cypriots, and the world should deal with directly with the elected representatives of North Cyprus.
It is up to the two peoples of Cyprus to decide what is the best political settlement for them - though if the two sides are treated equally there must surely be a greater likelihood that this problem will be resolved once and for all.
Because the debate around the Annan Plan demonstrated that Turkish Cypriots are very much divided over the issue of Cyprus unification (bi-zonal, bi-communal)/TRNC recognition. But when it comes to our human rights, we can all unite under one banner.
Some Turkish Cypriots/people may find this stance strange. However, we strongly believe that this is the most effective strategy to ensure we do succeed where many others have failed. The key element to success is to bring everyone in the Turkish Cypriot community together.
The human rights focus also means international 'influencers' (foreign media, politicians, human rights groups, etc) are more likely to come on board and support Embargoed!, which is already happening. Our campaigns have already caught the attention of both representatives from both Houses of Parliament, the European Parliament, Greater London Assembly members, and key media (the BBC, Sky News, LBC Radio, various radio, press and broadcast media in North Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot media, etc.)
Our immediate target is the UK, given that they have the Presidency of both the European Union and the G8 countries for the next six months. This means it is a great opportunity for the mass of UK based Turkish Cypriots to make their voices heard.
We are developing new campaigns around football and direct flights, with ongoing campaigns for the Charter of Fundamental Rights petition and My Story, where we get case studies of the impact the embargoes are having on Turkish Cypriots to show politicians and others their attitudes are hurting real people!. We are also involved in good old-fashioned lobbying, writing letters and meeting politicians to show we have not forgotten about their promises to end North Cyprus’ isolation!
We have many more ideas in the pipeline... people should check our website www.embargoed.org frequently to keep updated.
Embargoed! is happy for people to bring flags to its demonstrations. However, as this is a human rights campaign that is open to people from all ethnic and national backgrounds, it is important that our actions are as inclusive as possible and having a mass of Turkish and/or Turkish Cypriot flags on display does not necessarily reflect this. Also, waving flags doesn’t necessarily get the point across, so we would prefer people to bring banners with messages or use ones that we supply.
No. Embargoed! will not permit any flags or banners that would cause offence to others, such as the displaying of a flag related to a fascist group or a banner inciting racial hatred of others.
No. Although membership subscriptions and donations are vital in funding our campaign, you do not need to pay a membership subscription fee to support our public activities such as signing the Charter petition, or taking part in our recent Gagged or Go Slow Convoy demonstrations. These are open to all sympathisers who wish to take part.
We will close Embargoed! and go and find ourselves a new mission!
The group felt it needed a short name that explained what our cause was about or at least to make people curious about who we were.
In order to launch Embargoed! and complete formalities such as opening a bank account, we wrote a constitution and formed a membership association with three elected officers - a Chair, a Treasurer, and a Secretary.
We held elections last autumn (2004), which was open to all members at the time. This process will be repeated this autumn at the 2005 Embargoed! Annual General Meeting, where we will vote on a much larger Committee.
Through annual membership subscriptions, fundraising and donations.
Currently everyone at Embargoed! gives their time voluntarily. We have covered much ground since our launch in March, mainly through the good will, generosity and talented pool of members we can call upon. Our current levels of funding cover our basic campaign costs: designing and production of campaign materials (banners, balloons, leaflets, newsletters, website), and communications and administration costs (stationery, stamps, envelopes, post, telephone, fax, travel, website).
However, running an international campaign and pressure group cannot rely upon a group of volunteers. In order to be effective, Embargoed! needs to become a much larger operation with a permanent office and campaign team, backed up by specialist lobbying agencies. This is the only way to counter the well-funded Greek Cypriot propaganda machine and tip international decision-makers’ views in favour of actually ending the isolation of North Cyprus. To do this would require significant funding and with your help, we can achieve this.
Because the targets set are achievable! The denial of basic human rights for Turkish Cypriots cannot continue to be defended in today’s political climate. The UN, US, EU and UK have already voiced support for ending the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation. In other words, the door is already ajar and only needs to be leant on to open! We need to remain Engaged in the process of moving forward.
People power is key when it comes to human rights. Look at the fall of apartheid or the Jubilee 2000 campaign to end third world debt; these people-led campaigns made the politicians sit-up and listen. Our position is no different. However, Turkish Cypriots have not been as vocal or organised or unified enough to make the necessary impact. Embargoed! hopes to change that by providing a common, intelligent platform that everyone can back - including non-Turkish Cypriots - to show the world we will not accept the current state of affairs.
Three main reasons: firstly, we are in the right place at the right time; this battle needs to be fought out here in London, where the world (Washington and EU especially) is always watching. Secondly, we want to succeed and have developed a campaign strategy around human rights to ensure maximum support from everyone that matters - Turkish Cypriots here in the UK and in the TRNC, UK and international politicians, media and NGOs worldwide. Thirdly, our campaign ideas are formed through expert input so they are highly targeted and therefore more likely to be effective.
For too long our community have been preaching to the converted! We know where to make a difference and how, and Embargoed! is confident that we will change minds on this issue - we already are!
See response to question 5. If your group fits in with this criteria, please email us details about your organisation, its campaign aims and methods, and of course your website address, so our Executive Committee can consider your request.
