UK Lords Confront the Injustice Facing TRNC

UK Lords Confront the Injustice Facing TRNC

Readers Mail….

From…. Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus 

Speaking at a session of the House of Lords on the King’s Address, Lord Sharkey made noteworthy statements regarding the Cyprus issue, the Crans-Montana talks, and the decades-long isolation suffered by the Turkish Cypriot people.

In his speech, Lord Sharkey highlighted the role of the Greek Cypriot side in the failure of solution attempts in Cyprus, emphasizing that Northern Cyprus has been subjected to isolation and embargoes for years. He also referred to the statements of the newly elected President Tufan Erhürman, stating that a solution on the island cannot be reached by ignoring the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people.

The full text of Lord Sharkey’s statement is as follows:

“My Lords, I declare that I have previously served as the Chair and Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (APPG). I have raised the issue of the division in Cyprus many times in the House of Lords and I would like to express my gratitude to the Foreign Office (FCDO) for its intensive efforts toward finding a long-term solution to the problem. Our colonial past and our status as a guarantor power have led us to assume a real responsibility, particularly before the Crans-Montana negotiations nine years ago. It is a great regret that these negotiations failed at the last minute due to the withdrawal of the Greek Cypriot negotiators.

Cyprus has been divided for over fifty years, and during this half-century there have been many attempts to reunify the island. All of these attempts have failed, and in each case the main reason for the failure has been the Greek Cypriot side. In the current situation, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the northern part of the island, is a de facto state recognized only by Turkey and supported economically and militarily by Turkey. Northern Cyprus is under isolation and embargo.” It is under the following conditions:

Collapse of the Crans-Montana talks

In 2017, following the last-minute collapse of the Crans-Montana talks, the then-President of the TRNC adopted the quite understandable view that further negotiations would be a waste of time unless the TRNC was formally recognized as a separate state. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in a lack of significant progress – until recently. However, warnings about the fragility of the situation and the escalating tensions were never absent. This was before the war in the Middle East began, and the war has made tensions on the island much more intense. Yet, despite all this escalating tension – or perhaps because of it – there appears to be a new, albeit weak, desire for the resumption of negotiations.

The leader of Southern Cyprus has expressed that talks between the UN Secretary-General and the President of Turkey could lead to a new peace plan and has called for the resumption of negotiations. The UN Secretary-General has also expressed a desire to revive the reunification talks. Clearly, fifty years of failed attempts at a solution have taught harsh lessons about good faith and serious, possibly unpleasant, consequences. This has revealed the inevitability of compromises. The Minister will also know that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus recently elected a new leader: Tufan Erhürman.

On April 28th, Mr. Erhürman stated:

‘The question to be asked is: Is there anyone who truly believes that a solution can be reached on this island by ignoring the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people? … As for our position? Drawing strength from the will of our people for a solution; we are here patiently, calmly, and resolutely with a serious sense of responsibility.’

The people of Northern Cyprus have lived for decades without recognition, under disadvantageous conditions, and under embargoes. Deprived of access to international capital, they are now facing wars in the region and their consequences. The division of the island is not the fault of the people on the island; they are not guilty, but as a result, they have been isolated for fifty years, and this has had inevitable economic consequences. Geopolitical shifts in the region, the reshaping of alliances, and the emergence of newly elected politicians may offer an opportunity for progress.

Ursula von der Leyen this year 7 In January, he made the following statement regarding the situation:

“For the European Union, a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue remains an absolute priority.”

I am asking the Minister whether he will make the same commitment. As he knows, there is considerable sympathy and significant expertise on the Cyprus issue within this Assembly, and I request a meeting with him and my colleagues to discuss how we can contribute.”

Source (Turkish): Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus

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