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Turkish Cypriots Take Their Isolation Protest to 10 Downing Street - 27 April 2008

London, 27 April 2008: Human rights group Embargoed! organised a Go-Slow Convoy through central London today to protest at the continuing isolation of North Cyprus. The demonstration comes on the fourth anniversary of the UN backed Annan Plan referenda for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement, which Turkish Cypriots backed, resulting in promises to end North Cyprus’ isolation. Over 120 protestors in 50 cars decked in black balloons and banners took part in the Convoy, which concluded with a letter being delivered to 10 Downing Street to highlight British Turkish Cypriots’ huge disappointment and frustration that four years on from the promises, not a single embargo has been lifted.

Two convoys for ‘Respect and Equality’ set off at 11am on Sunday 27 April. The starting point for North London was Queensland Road, next to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, while protestors gathered by Peckham Mosque in Cobourg Road for the South London convoy. The cars travelled slowly to central London, converging at Blackfriars Bridge an hour later. Demonstrators parked their cars to walk the short distance along the Embankment to 10 Downing Street where a letter was handed in to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a reminder that Turkish Cypriots have not forgotten the British Government and the EU’s promises to end the embargoes on North Cyprus. The 120 peaceful but boisterous protestors remained opposite Downing Street chanting in the rain, demanding freedom and human rights for Turkish Cypriots.

Embargoed! Chair Fevzi Hussein said, “We are fed up with these broken promises. How long must Turkish Cypriots wait to have their basic human rights restored? We can’t fly, trade or communicate directly with North Cyprus – even friendly football matches are banned! Everything goes through Turkey costing us more time and money.” He continued, “The Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a settlement. Now the British Government and the EU must deliver on their commitment to end North Cyprus’ isolation”.
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Notes to Editors

Embargoed! – www.embargoed.org
The international isolation of Turkish Cypriots dates back to 1964, following the collapse of the power-sharing Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Since that time, Turkish Cypriots have been prevented from exercising their rights as a politically equal partner to Greek Cypriots. They have no international political representation, nor can they trade, travel or communicate directly. They are prevented from participating in international sporting and cultural events – including competing under the Olympic flag.

Embargoed! is a human rights group campaigning to bring an immediate and unconditional end to these embargoes against the people of North Cyprus. Launched on 4 March 2005, Embargoed!, receives widespread support from international politicians, civil society groups, and Turkish Cypriots in London and North Cyprus. Its patron is the internationally renowned artist and fashion designer Hussein Chalayan MBE.

About Cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960 as a power-sharing state between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. This ended in December 1963 when Greek Cypriots violently seized power and started an oppressive campaign against Turkish Cypriots to coerce them into accepting a “minority” status on the island. In July 1974, an Athens-backed military coup on the island and mass killings of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots prompted Turkish troops to intervene. The island has been divided into Turkish North and Greek South ever since.

The UN has tried to bring about a permanent solution to unify the island on the basis of a bi‑zonal, bi-federal solution, the last attempt being the internationally backed Annan Plan, which was put to a referenda on 24 April 2004. 76% of Greek Cypriots rejected the plan, 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted in favour. Greek South Cyprus was admitted into the EU on 1 May 2004, while Turkish North Cyprus continues to live under embargoes, even though the UN, world leaders and institutions promised immediately after the referenda to end its international isolation. To date, not a single embargo has been lifted.



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