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Andy Shows No Love For Turkish Cypriots Over Cyprus Issue - 04 April 2006

London, 4 April 2006: Human rights group Embargoed! today released details of the meeting they had with North London MP Andy Love on Friday 31 March following his signing of Early Day Motion (EDM) 1792, which seeks to undermine the politically equality of Turkish Cypriots and to remove the United Nations from its role as principal facilitator in the Cyprus Conflict. During the meeting, Mr. Love conceded his support for this badly worded EDM would offend Turkish Cypriots, and he further shocked the group when he admitted the EDM had been drawn up by the Cypriot High Commissioner in London. However, Mr. Love refused to withdraw his signature and maintained his actions and approach to the complicated Cyprus problem was “balanced”.

Embargoed! were extremely disappointed with the response they received from MP Andy Love, whose Edmonton (UK) constituency contains a large number of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Whilst highly knowledgeable on Cyprus, the group felt Mr. Love’s comments, as summarised below, indicated a high level of bias towards Greek Cypriot concerns and interests:

* While Mr Love demonstrated understanding of the root causes of the Cyprus Conflict and the impact of 42 years of embargoes on Turkish Cypriots, he showed little concern for the fact that signing this EDM would further undermine the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people and encourage the intransigent stance of Greek Cypriot leader Mr. Papadopoulos.

* Mr. Love believed it was not for him to challenge the status of the internationally recognised, wholly Greek Cypriot controlled Republic of Cyprus or to support the political equality of Turkish Cypriots (who in December 1963 were forced out of Government by Greek Cypriots and relegated to a “community” status), hence his signing of EDM 1792, which he says “reflects the position of the international community on Cyprus”. All this despite the fact this approach undermines the UN’s commitment and efforts towards a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution for Cyprus.

* Mr. Love was against the visit of UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to North Cyprus and his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as it had caused him massive problems [with his Greek Cypriot constituents].

* Mr. Love felt more sympathy is needed towards the Greek Cypriots who for decades have been regarded as the sole victims on the island, enjoying international support and the economic monopoly on the island at the expense of Turkish Cypriots, but are now struggling to come to terms with the international backlash following their “no” vote to the UN Annan Plan for a comprehensive settlement in 2004. He stated that Greek Cypriots also feel they have conceded enough towards the “minority” Turkish Cypriots (a stance which even undermines the 1960 Constitution – albeit frozen – of Cyprus).

Dr. Fusun Nadiri, one of the Embargoed! delegation to meet with Andy Love, said, “We asked Mr. Love why he doesn’t ‘do the right thing and show more balance in his actions on Cyprus’? His response was that ‘if he had not signed the EDM he would upset lots of people’. Clearly, he is more concerned about Greek Cypriot votes than basic Turkish Cypriot human rights!” She continued, “Embargoed! intend to continue the dialogue we’ve started with MP Andy Love so we can help him develop a more positive and helpful position on Cyprus that respects the equal traditions of both communities.”

In addition to Dr. Fusun Nadiri, the Embargoed! delegation meeting MP Andy Love comprised Ipek Ozerim (Embargoed! Campaigns and Communications Officer), Ata Cholak and Halil Aras (Embargoed! members). The meeting was facilitated by local Labour Councillor Ahmet Karahasan, who was also in attendance. The meeting took place at the MP’s Edmonton surgery in Fore Street and lasted for about 1.5 hours.

Ends/

Notes to editors


UK Parliament EDM 1792 on Cyprus, introduced by MP Edward O’Hara on 9 March 2006

“That this House takes note of the set of proposals on Cyprus submitted by the Turkish government to the Secretary General of the United Nations on 20th January 2006; shares the stated wish of the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs for priority to be given to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus, and his gratification at the continued engagement of the Secretary-General with the matter; notes with concern however the proposals for a quadripartite meeting between Turkey, Greece, the Greek-Cypriot side and the Turkish-Cypriot side, the outcome of which would subsequently be endorsed by the Security Council of the UN; regards this as an attempt to elevate the secessionist Turkish Cypriot administration to the same status as the legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus, and as an attempt to involve the UN in what is properly a matter of Turkey's responsibilities to the EU as an applicant member; further notes with concern the proposal to render legitimacy to the secessionist entity by granting it governmental functions in contravention of international legality and successive UN resolutions; regretfully concludes that the purpose of these proposals is to evade Turkey's legal obligations towards the EU in respect of the extension of the additional Protocol of its Customs Union Agreement to the 10 new EU members including Cyprus; and calls upon Turkey to commit itself to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus in accordance with UN resolutions, the founding principles of the EU and its obligations to the EU as an applicant member.”

MPs Edward O’Hara and Andy Love declared registered pecuniary interests when signing this EDM; both MPs attending Greek Cypriot rallies in Larnaca (O’Hara, 2005) and Morphou (2004, Love – his second such trip)

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 / +90 533 876 3166 E: ipekh@excite.com





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