Press Releases

Thumbs up from Barcelona and the TRNC - 23 November 2009

Embargoed! co-founder Ipek Ozerim and Chair Fevzi Hussein were given firm support from key TRNC dignitaries and civil society groups for the group’s campaign plans. During a four-day visit to North Cyprus last week, the two took the opportunity to present Embargoed!’s future projects and galvanise local support and co-ordination. The week also saw European Liberal Democrats pass a resolution at their Barcelona congress urging the EU to end Turkish Cypriot isolation. The motion, which also championed Turkey’s EU accession, had been initiated by Embargoed!

Embargoed!’s trip to the TRNC resulted in a week jam-packed with meetings. Fevzi and Ipek met with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat, former President Rauf Denktas, Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, Turkish Ambassador Sakir Fakili, academic Erol Kaymak, BRT director Ozer Kanli, and representatives from the British High Commission, Besparmaklar Group, British Residents’ Society, and the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation. The two also conducted numerous interviews with key TRNC media – Can Gazi’s ‘A Cup of Conversation’ on BRT 2, Cem Kar’s ‘Oglen Ajansi’ on ADA TV, Dan Webber for Cyprus Today, and Dan Gibson for Cyprus Star. Assisting them were TRNC Embargoed! members Marion Stuart and Hal Crompton.

The TRNC visit followed another hectic period for Embargoed! In recent weeks, the group has presented at OSCE in Warsaw - Europe’s largest human rights convention, with the group’s statement that ‘Turkish Cypriots live under apartheid conditions’ picked up and circulated to all members of ICARE, the European anti-racism group. Embargoed! have also provided evidence to UEFA about Apoel Nicosia’s racist behaviour, resulting in the Greek Cypriot club being investigated. And ten days ago, Embargoed! held a Solidarity Vigil for the Orams outside the High Court.

While in the TRNC, Embargoed! discovered that a motion they had initiated with the UK Liberal Democrats, calling on the EU to end Turkish Cypriot isolation, had been carried by European Liberals at their congress in Barcelona. The resolution, which also pledged support for Turkey’s EU accession, had been championed by Jonathan Fryer, Chairman Elect of London Liberal Democrats, and Haringey Councillor John Oakes.

Fevzi Hussein said, “Our group is relatively small and staffed by volunteers, yet we continue to punch far above our weight. Slowly but surely, we are reaching key decision makers and influencing them about the need to end the unjust embargoes imposed on North Cyprus. Barcelona is the latest example of this.” He continued, “We used the TRNC trip to explain our future plans and to co-ordinate actions with the relevant authorities and groups here. It was great to hear the level of support offered to Embargoed! from all quarters. It’s vital we expand our support base – if we can generate the level of resources our campaign requires, we have every confidence what we saw in Barcelona will be repeated across Europe and carried forward into positive action for Turkish Cypriots.”
-ENDS-

Notes

European Liberal Democrats – www.eldr.org
For further information about the ELDR and its motion on Turkey and North Cyprus, please contact Jonathan Fryer at jonathanfryer@hotmail.com


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