Tag: Cyprus issue

Parliamentarians urge Cameron to end discriminatory ban on flights to Northern Cyprus

30 May, 2024

A cross-party group of influential politicians have urged Lord Cameron to end the UK’s punitive and unfair ban on direct flights to Northern Cyprus.

Last week, the parliamentarians wrote to Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, raising serious concerns over the treatment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (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 want the Foreign Secretary to end “one of the most restrictive policies of any country in Europe when it comes to air travel to Ercan”.

The move by more than fifty parliamentarians and politicians, including former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, highlights the hypocrisy of the UK’s current position. They point to the UK allowing flights to non-UN member states such as Kosovo, and to countries that it doesn’t recognise such as Taiwan. The question is “why not to Northern Cyprus?”

Air travel to the TRNC is not a risk and there is no history of poor safety. Indeed, Ercan Airport abides by international aviation security standards, and safely hosts hundreds of thousands of passengers each year.

They warn that if the UK continues to fail to engage with the TRNC, it will “risk letting countries such as Russia and Iran do so instead – fundamentally challenging the UK’s strategic foothold in the eastern Mediterranean.”

This call for action from the 300,000 strong Turkish Cypriot diaspora comes as a new general election has been announced. Turkish Cypriots, their friends and families, will
also be putting pressure on both the Government and other major parties to commit to ending this unjust situation.

Chet Ramadan, founder of Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus, said: “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.

“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.”

DUP call for UK to lead in resolving ‘Cyprus issue’

23 February, 2024

A two-state solution is the only way forward.

The United Kingdom must step forward and fulfil its duty by ensuring lasting peace for Cypriots, according  to the leader and senior figures of the Democratic Unionist Party. 

A former leader of the party and the Rt. Hon. Sammy Wilson MP have both called on the UK government  to take a lead on resolving the 50-year-old ‘frozen conflict’ in Cyprus in recent commentaries. 

They believe that Cypriots on both sides of the UN-enforced Green Line deserve better than the current  efforts of the British government and international community. 

Both believe that there is a “moral duty” and “responsibility to help resolve the Cyprus issue” that, by  failing to create a lasting peace, the UK government is not upholding. 

They believe that peace can only be achieved with a two-state solution and recognition of the Turkish  Republic of Northern Cyprus as equal to the Republic of Cyprus.

Writing for the House Magazine, the former leader highlights that continuing to reject Northern Cypriot  independence is “an unfair and untenable situation” that leaves Turkish Cypriots “perpetually punished for  the inability of their counterparts to reach an agreement”. 

Mr Wilson, published on politics.co.uk, argues that “Continuing to insist on reunification is not helping  anyone and only adds to the problem. Cyprus has changed and cannot be considered one state  anymore.” 

Calling on the opportunities of Brexit and the strength of the UK’s historic relationship with Cyprus, both  are clear that the UK is uniquely placed to take the lead on ensuring a cooperative and long-term solution  for Cypriots. 

Sammy Wilson goes further and points to the UK’s support for Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina,  commenting that, “The UK has a long history of supporting new states declaring independence on ethnic  and religious lines… We support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. What makes the  situation in Cyprus different?” 

Commenting Chet Ramadan, co-founder of Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus, said: 

“I am profoundly grateful for the intervention of the DUP and their recognition of reality in Cyprus. For 50  years, the international community has been far too willing to ignore Cyprus and let it continue in limbo  with a succession of failed negotiations – all rejected by Greek Cypriots. 

“The United Kingdom has a responsibility to find a true solution that benefits all Cypriots and continued  support for the status quo is failing that duty. A two-state solution is the only answer.”