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Christofias Advised to Stop Mixed Messages to Aid Cyprus Talks - 29 July 2008

29 July 08, London: Human rights group Embargoed! have sent an open letter to Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias advising him to avoid “inflammatory rhetoric and actions which only polarise the two sides, and instead move towards a new phase of developing respect, trust and confidence between all Cypriots”. The group gave its support to the political talks between the two Cypriot leaders to end the decades-old Cyprus dispute. They advised the Greek Cypriot leader that to reach a settlement he needs to win the trust of Turkish Cypriots, which will only materialise if he, his government and allies act ‘more truthfully and with greater sensitivity to Turkish Cypriots given their past and present suffering’.

In the letter, Embargoed! state they would like to see both sides publicly discredit any parties whose negative actions have a detrimental effect on the talks or relations between the two sides. They single out efforts to distort history by the huge Greek Cypriot PR machinery, which focuses on highlighting Greek Cypriot missing persons and claiming ‘genocide’ took place against them, while deliberately ignoring Turkish Cypriot suffering and the root causes of the conflict. The group are also upset by the continued use of the ‘Bloody Map’, including in AKEL’s UK newspaper Parikiaki.

Embargoed! chair Fevzi Hussein said, “Everyone wants to see a new phase in North-South Cyprus relations, one built on mutual respect and benefit. There is so much to gain if we can grow to trust each other and behave as friends instead of enemies. Yet we will achieve nothing together if we Cypriots are not truthful about our past or we treat each other badly.” He added, “Greek Cypriots cannot embargo and demonise Turkish Cypriots in one breath and then expect a solution with us with the next.”

The Greek Cypriot leader and his counterpart Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat began talks in March 2008, immediately after Christofias was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus.

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28 July 2008
Dear Mr. Christofias,

Working together for mutual benefit

Embargoed! felt that the time is right to engage with you directly and offer our support for the ongoing talks that you are having with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat.

Clearly, we will agree to disagree on a number of things – you are on record as stating that North Cyprus is “illegally occupied” and the isolation of Turkish Cypriots is “a myth”. If you want to understand Turkish Cypriots and their needs, you need to realise how offensive and upsetting these comments are for us. Turkish Cypriots have as much right to live in Cyprus as Greek Cypriots do and also to manage their own affairs. And our isolation is not a myth – we have been living under embargoes on a daily basis since March 1964.

We are encouraged by the fact that you and Mr Talat are having what can be described as ‘relatively positive dialogue’, as echoed by political commentators around the world. As long as Turkish Cypriot concerns are acknowledged and addressed in a fair manner Embargoed! will offer its support to the process of reconciliation and mutual understanding and respect.

It goes without saying that there is a special responsibility for both parties who are in talks to demonstrate consistency in their approach and to distance themselves from actions and people that would have a detrimental impact on this process. Indeed, we would like to see such negative influencers publicly discredited to show both leaders in Cyprus are committed to avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and actions which only polarise the two sides, and instead move towards a new phase of developing respect, trust and confidence between all Cypriots.

In the UK, the last 14 days have again highlighted that some prominent Greek Cypriots continue to be trapped in the past. A series of events, all organised by key UK NGOs (such as Lobby for Cyprus), which your government supports, cast serious doubt as to whether your side is committed to uniting with Turkish Cypriots. You claim that you ‘will do everything in your power’ to help find a solution for ‘all Cypriots’, yet we Turkish Cypriots continue to see, for example, the missing persons issue used as propaganda. No-one disputes the very sad stories affecting the many hundreds of Greek Cypriot missing persons, but it is a shame that Greek Cypriot groups claiming to represent all Cypriots constantly fail to mention the tragic losses of Turkish Cypriots. As you know, there are some 500 missing Turkish Cypriots – again, dating back to 1963 – and at a time when both sides are trying to come together, it is important that a more truthful, balanced approach is adopted by all and that political one-upmanship around such emotive issues be avoided.

We have seen continued use of the ‘Bloody Flag’, which I am sure you will know is a map of Cyprus with blood running from the North to the South. I cannot begin to describe to you just how offensive this hateful image is to Turkish Cypriots. The National Federation of [Greek] Cypriots and Lobby for Cyprus continue to use this racist symbol, which unfairly puts all the blame of the conflict at the feet of Turks/Turkish Cypriots and in essence brands all ‘Turks’ as barbarians/murderers. More disappointing is that Parikiaki, AKEL’s official newspaper in the UK, is happy to carry this offensive image every year, despite our complaints.


In addition, as part of its commemorations of 20 July, these Cypriot groups ran at least two seminars in London focusing on the so-called ‘genocide’ of Greek Cypriots in 1974. Everyone who knows anything about Cyprus will know the problems started in the 1950s and during this period to 1974, several hundred Turkish Cypriots and “non-cooperating Greek Cypriots” were murdered by EOKA/EOKA-B. Similarly, the Greek National Guard also carried out mass killings of Greek and Turkish Cypriots during the summer of 1974. Yet again and again we see Greek Cypriots trying to re-write history.

We all know the staggering amount of money which the Republic of Cyprus government has invested in PR to try to deflect attention away from the role Greek Cypriots played in the tragic history of Cyprus. You may fool some people around the world, but you can never hide these realities from Turkish Cypriots. Again, we remind you that the more your government and its supporters attempts to solve Cyprus through such negative bias, the less opportunity for trust and respect to develop between the two peoples on the island.

A more constructive approach is for you to give a directive to all Greek Cypriot NGOs, public servants and the media that a change of tact is required. If you are serious about reconciliation and finding a permanent solution in Cyprus, such changes are a must. By avoiding offensive commentary and acknowledging Turkish Cypriot suffering and rights, you and the Greek Cypriot people will demonstrate to all that you are ready for power-sharing with Turkish Cypriots.

To conclude, we hope you accept this letter in the spirit it is intended and that you will give greater thought as to how you can avoid the mixed signals that have emanated from your office since you became President. On the one hand you say you want a solution for Cyprus. Yet, on the other, you continue with the same rhetoric and actions as your predecessors, which contradicts your claim to be a more progressive leader genuinely wanting unity with Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Christofias, you have the power and the opportunity to make a positive difference to all Cypriots. Embargoed! is genuine about its commitment to work together with all Cypriots for our mutual benefit and to assist the Cyprus political process to this end, and we would be more than willing to meet with you or your team to elaborate on the above points.

Yours sincerely,



Fevzi Hussein
Embargoed! Chairman


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