Press Releases

Hopes reach new heights for the lifting of Embargoes - 31 March 2008

London, 31 March 2008: Human rights group Embargoed! has responded with renewed optimism on the back of the symbolic first ever meeting with the United Kingdom’s Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy. In the meeting, also attended by Joan Ryan, the Prime Minister’s appointee responsible for Cyprus, Mr. Murphy made no attempt to fudge the issue when questioned about the ongoing unjustified isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots for the past 44 years.

Mr. Murphy commented that “isolation must be addressed, it has to be”. This was in response to a question from the Chairperson of Embargoed! Mr. Fevzi Hussein on the vexed issue of Direct Flights. Mr. Murphy confirmed that it is the British government’s policy to support direct flights to Ercan airport. Mr. Hussein added “the meeting was certainly historic, as it was the first time a Minister for Europe has come to North London to meet Turkish Cypriots. The British government has demonstrated that it officially recognises that Turkish Cypriots have a voice and that our concerns must be addressed if there is going to be any progress on resolving the Cyprus problem”.

It has been almost four years since Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the Annan Plan – a plan that the Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected. Since that referendum, despite the wide international support and promises to lift the unjust isolations, not a single embargo has been lifted. Worryingly, the new Greek Cypriot President Christofias has already consigned the basic premises of the Annan Plan to the rubbish heap. The Minister for Europe, Mr. Murphy repeatedly said “people should be judged on their actions”. Embargoed! is clear that the Turkish Cypriots have shown their patience, strength and bravery already. It is a disgrace that to this day every single embargo is still in place. Turkish Cypriots should not have to wait any longer. It is indeed time for action on the part of all those by whom promises were made. Talk is cheap, as the saying goes.

Embargoed! encourages all Turkish Cypriots to embark on a peaceful protest so we can show exactly how strong we feel about this issue. The fourth anniversary of the Annan Plan is almost upon us. Write to your MP’s using the template on our website to complain about the amnesia and lack of support from the United Kingdom. It is, nominally, the “neutral” one of the three guarantor powers behind Cyprus (the other two being Greece and Turkey), and urge your MP to lobby the government to end the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots.

There is something in the region of 200,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the UK – let us make our presence known!


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