Political opponents unite to demand finish of Turkish Cypriot isolation | EUROtoday

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A cross-party group of fifty influential politicians have urged international secretary Lord Cameron to finish the UK’s “punitive and unfair ban” on direct flights to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The letter was despatched to the international secretary as final ditch effort earlier than Parliament is dissolved for the final election however had the help of Labour’s Jack Straw and Tory Sir Iain Duncan Smith amongst different.

The transfer comes as Cyprus’ divided island is about to mark 60 years because the disaster which noticed them break up into rival elements and remains to be to be resolved.

While the transfer is simply too late to affect the present authorities coverage of not permitting flights or recognising the elected authorities within the TRNC, MPs, former MPs and friends hope that will probably be a immediate for whoever wins the following election.

As Labour’s international secretary Jack Straw oversaw the failed talks on the Annan Plan in 2004 which might have reunited the island however failed regardless of the north voting in favour as a result of the Greek Cypriots within the south rejected the proposals in a referendum.

He has spoken of his remorse of the UK permitting Cyprus into the EU per week later when the Annan Plan had been a situation of entry.

The parliamentarians previous and current wrote to Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, elevating critical considerations over the remedy of the TRNC and calling for “the commencement of direct flights from the United Kingdom to Ercan International Airport – the largest airport on the island of Cyprus”.

They need the international secretary to finish “one of the most restrictive policies of any country in Europe when it comes to air travel to Ercan”.

They level to the UK permitting flights to non-UN member states equivalent to Kosovo, and to nations that it doesn’t recognise equivalent to Taiwan. The query is “why not to northern Cyprus?”

They declare that air journey to the TRNC just isn’t a threat and there’s no historical past of poor security. They declare that Ercan Airport abides by worldwide aviation safety requirements, and safely hosts lots of of hundreds of passengers every year.

But the parliamentarians from throughout events have additionally warned that if the UK continues to fail to have interaction with the TRNC, it should “risk letting countries such as Russia and Iran do so instead – fundamentally challenging the UK’s strategic foothold in the eastern Mediterranean.”

The letter follows a name for motion from the 300,000 robust Turkish Cypriot diaspora and comes as a brand new normal election has been introduced. Turkish Cypriots, their pals and households, will even be placing strain on each the federal government and different main events to decide to ending this unjust scenario. The marketing campaign has been spearheaded by TRNC president Ersin Tatar who has additionally led requires a two state answer.

Chet Ramadan, founding father of Freedom and Fairness for northern Cyprus, stated: “It is time that the UK ends their regressive ban on flights to the TRNC. This is something that was promised 20 years ago and has yet to be fulfilled.

“Around 300,000 Turkish Cypriots live in the UK, and 15,000 British expats live in Northern Cyprus. The onerous and unnecessary flight rules only create a cruel burden for those wishing to visit family members or go on holiday.

“UK parties must commit to allowing direct flights to restart and we will repeat this call to whoever forms the next government.”

Such a transfer although will fiercely be resisted by the Cypriot authorities on the south of the island which is the recognised state and will threaten repurcussions with the UK’s relationship with the EU.

The occasions six many years in the past are nonetheless angrily disputed with Turkish Cypriots accusing the Greek Cypriots of beginning the battle with a navy coup which aimed to unite Cyprus with Greece. This adopted with what has been described as an try at “ethnic cleansing” with assaults on the Turkish Cypriot communities.

Both sides had heavy losses within the battle which adopted with Greek Cypriots accusing Turkey of invasion and subsequent occupation of its territory within the north. The authorities within the TRNC insist that the Turks intervened to stop Turkish Cypriots from being massacred and have remained as a safety power.

Numerous makes an attempt to convey the island, which gained independence from Britain in 1960, again collectively in a federal system have failed. Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan now helps the TRNC demand for a two state answer, which is opposed by Cyprus, the UK and EU.