Press Releases

The Hottest Dinner-Debate in Town - 27 November 2006

London, 27 November 2006: Human rights group Embargoed! are co-hosting a dinner-debate in Brussels on EU-Turkey-Cyprus relations with the American European Institute (AEI) on Thursday 30 November. The keynote speaker is Christian Danielson, Head of the EU Enlargement Commission’s Turkey unit, with guests including MEPs, journalists, diplomats and think tank representatives. The dinner-debate comes ahead of the 6 December deadline set by the EU for Turkey to open its ports to the Republic of Cyprus, despite the non-fulfilment by the EU of promises to open the ports of North Cyprus.

“The evening will focus on two key questions: Does the EU really want Turkey in her midst? And is all this helping or hampering a search for a solution in Cyprus? Given the current frenzy of activity to avoid the EU-Turkey ‘train crash’, we are sure this is going to be a night for lively discussion.” said Dominic Dyer, Executive Director of the AEI.

Up to 30 guests are expected to join the dinner-debate, which is being hosted at the elegant Hotel Metropole under Chatham House rules. The evening will commence with an address from Christian Danielsson, followed by ‘Questions and Answers’, then informal discussions over drinks before the debate gets under way over dinner.

The function will be the first major political event in Brussels involving a Turkish Cypriot organisation and follows Embargoed!’s earlier ‘Gagged in Brussels’ demonstration outside the EU Enlargement Commission in April 2006.
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Notes to editors


AEI – www.americaneuropeaninstitute.com
Based in London, the American European Institute was set up as a transatlantic relations political think tank. The Institute seeks to provide an independent forum for discussion, research and analysis, and to promote closer links between political, academic and economic institutions by focusing on the importance of the strategic alliance and trading relationship between the United States and Europe.

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
E: campaigns@embargoed.org


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