Press Releases

‘Love Cyprus, Hate Racism’ - 26 September 2007

26 September 2007: UK based human rights group Embargoed!, together with representatives from the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation (TCHRF), Cyprus Policy Centre, Journalists’ Union, University Women’s Association, and the Culture Association this week attended HDIM, an international human rights convention in Warsaw, Poland. Embargoed! gave a short-presentation entitled ‘Love Cyprus, Hate Racism’ on Day 2 of the conference, highlighting the recent racist attacks and discrimination faced by Turkish Cypriots.

Part of the Organisation for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) is the largest human rights conference in Europe. Taking place over 10 days, it aims to eradicate injustice and promote world peace and stability. Member countries and organisations review human rights policies and consider ways to promote tolerance, anti-discrimination and anti-nationalism to combat xenophobia and human rights abuses. This is the first time that Turkish Cypriots have actively participated at the conference, which attracts hundreds of delegates from governments, international experts and some 300 NGOs.

The Turkish Cypriot delegates met and lobbied many EU representatives including Austrian Ambassador Christian Strohal (also Director for the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights which runs HDIM) about the extent and effect of the international isolation on Turkish Cypriots. Embargoed!’s Head of NGO Liaison Officer Fevzi Hussein was one of the guest presenters to give a four minute talk. He focussed on the ongoing racism faced by Turkish Cypriots both in Cyprus and in the UK, from Greek Cypriot schoolboys promoting ways to “annihilate Turks” to racist graffiti on walls in Limassol, South Nicosia and North London. Hussein ended with a plea for all sides in Cyprus to stand up to racism, celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity, and promote universal rights.

Hussein’s presentation, together with the contribution made by TCHRF’s Dr. Ali Dayioglu was greeted by anxious looks and frenetic activity by Greek Cypriot representatives at HDIM, who were unable to challenge the facts being put forward.

Hussein described Embargoed!’s and other North Cyprus NGO groups’ presence at HDIM as, “An opportunity to send out a clear message that Turkish Cypriots will not tolerate racism. After 44 years of relentless discrimination, we are fighting back!” He added, “We are also here to put an end to the myth circulated by Greek Cypriots that there is no isolation – there is! – and we will continue to participate in high profile events like this to ensure the embargo issue is of international concern”.
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Notes to editors

Photo: Embargoed!’s Fevzi Hussein and External Relations Officer Ergin Balli at the 2007 HDIM convention in Warsaw.

About OSCE – www.osce.org
The Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional peace, security and international cooperation organisation.

About HDIM – http://www1.osce.org/odihr/
Based in Warsaw, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human rights (ODIHR) hosts the annual HDIM event, which has been running for over 10 years. One of its unique features is that NGOs are placed on an equal footing with all government and international representatives.

About Embargoed! – www.embargoed.org
Embargoed! is an independent human rights group campaigning for the immediate and unconditional end to all embargoes against North Cyprus. The group was launched on 4 March 2005 and aims to play an active role in raising awareness about the isolation of North Cyprus and lobbying world leaders and institutions to restore the fundamental political, economic and social rights of Turkish Cypriots.

Contact Embargoed!:
• Telephone/fax: + 44 (0)20 8279 8561
• Email: mail@embargoed.org;
• Post: Embargoed! Suite 205, 14 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 1JY

Press Enquiries:
Ms. Ýpek Özerim T: +44 (0)777 623 0466 E: ipekh@excite.com / campaigns@embargoed.org




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