Tag: Cyprus

DISPLACED: A Turkish Cypriot Story to be released on 1 August

28 July, 2026

In a piece published on 21 July, the leading Turkish Cypriot news outlet Kıbrıs Postası reported on the upcoming release of DISPLACED: A Turkish Cypriot Story, confirming that the documentary will premiere on YouTube on 1 August, with its official trailer released the same week. The outlet described the film as one that recounts the experiences of Turkish Cypriots from the 1950s through to 1974 and its aftermath, told through the first-hand testimony of those who lived through those years.

The article set out the ground the documentary covers, noting its central themes of displacement, loss and endurance – of abandoned homes, burned villages and destroyed livelihoods. It listed the key chapters of the story the film moves through: the years of EOKA, the events of Bloody Christmas in December 1963, the Larnaca Missing Bus, the siege of Erenköy, and the attacks on areas such as Geçitkale and Boğaziçi, before reaching 1974 and the massacres at Taşkent and at Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar, and closing on the 1975 population exchange agreement.

Statement on the Visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Cyprus

28 July, 2026

Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus (FFNC) welcomes the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Cyprus – the first by a sitting Secretary-General in over sixteen years, and the first since Ban Ki-moon in 2010.

A visit of this significance is itself a signal that the Cyprus issue has returned to the international agenda after years of stalemate. We welcome any form of constructive dialogue aimed at a just, fair and lasting outcome, and we commend the Secretary-General for the personal engagement he has shown in the final months of his tenure. That he has chosen to come to the island in person, meeting both President Tufan Erhürman and the Greek Cypriot leadership, reflects a seriousness of purpose that the people of this island have too rarely seen from the international community.

Any lasting settlement must begin from a simple truth: the Turkish Cypriots are equals on this island. This is not a matter of aspiration but of history and law.

When the Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960, it was founded as a partnership between two peoples. The Turkish Cypriots were co-founders and equal partners in that Republic, with their status enshrined in its constitution. In 1963, they were forcibly removed from the institutions of the state they had helped to create, driven from government, and left without the protections that partnership was meant to guarantee. They have lived under embargoes and isolation ever since.

Any process that does not recognise the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people – their right to be heard, to participate, and to shape their own future – will not produce a durable peace. It will simply repeat the failures of the past.

We also urge realism about how the island reached this point. Too often, the history of Cyprus is told as though responsibility for the absence of a settlement is shared equally. The record shows otherwise.

In 2004, the United Nations put the Annan Plan to simultaneous referendums on both sides of the island. The Turkish Cypriots voted to accept it by 65%. The Greek Cypriots rejected it by 76%. Days later, the Greek Cypriot side was admitted to the European Union as the government of the whole island, while the Turkish Cypriots – who had voted for reunification – were left isolated.

In 2017, at the talks in Crans-Montana, it was again the Greek Cypriot side that walked away as a settlement came within reach. Time and again, over decades, the Turkish Cypriots have come to the table in good faith. Time and again, agreement has faltered on the other side of it.

We say this not to assign blame for its own sake, but because an honest account of the past is the only sound foundation for the future. A process built on a false equivalence of responsibility is unlikely to succeed.

We hope these talks succeed, and we support every genuine effort to reach a comprehensive settlement.

But if no agreement is reached, there can be no justification for prolonging the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people any further. For over half a century, an entire population has been cut off from the world – denied direct flights, direct trade, and the ordinary connections that every other people takes for granted – through no fault of their own, and for a division they did not create.

This isolation is not an unavoidable fact of the dispute. It is a choice, and it was one the international community itself pledged to end. In April 2004, following the referendum, the European Union, the United Nations and others gave their word that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots would be brought to an end. Twenty-two years later, that promise remains unkept. The Direct Trade Regulation that would have delivered it has never been implemented.

That promise must finally be honoured – whether or not a wider settlement is reached. Ending the isolation requires the recognition of no new state and prejudges the outcome of no negotiation. It is simply a matter of fairness, and of keeping a word that was freely given to a people who chose peace.

Peace on this island has held for over fifty years. What is still missing is fairness.

New Platform Launched for Turkish Cypriots in the UK to Contact Their MPs Directly

1 July, 2026

Kıbrıs Postası

Leading Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kıbrıs Postası has reported on the launch of the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus Email Your MP platform, describing it as a new tool enabling Turkish Cypriots and supporters across the United Kingdom to reach their local MP directly.

The article covers the five key issues the platform raises: the absence of direct flights between the UK and Northern Cyprus, restrictions on direct trade, the difficulties of sending post directly, the exclusion of Turkish Cypriot athletes and teams from international competition, and the unresolved property issue which has persisted for over fifty years.

If you haven’t already, use the platform today and contact your MP in under 10 seconds: https://emailmp.freedom-and-fairness.org/

Statement Regarding The Stationing Of French Troops In South Cyprus

11 June, 2026

The Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign strongly condemns the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement between the Greek Cypriot administration and France, which establishes a legal framework for the stationing and operation of French military personnel in South Cyprus.

This agreement represents a further step in the ongoing militarisation of South Cyprus and follows an expanding network of military and strategic cooperation between the Greek Cypriot administration and foreign powers, including France, Greece and Israel. At a time when confidence-building and regional stability should be the priority, the decision to deepen foreign military involvement on the island sends entirely the wrong message.

The Greek Cypriot leadership has sought to present this arrangement as a humanitarian agreement. Such a characterisation is difficult to reconcile with the substance of the agreement itself. An arrangement which provides for the deployment of foreign military personnel, enhanced defence cooperation, access to facilities and expanded military coordination is, by any reasonable assessment, a defence agreement. The public deserves clarity regarding the true nature of what has been agreed.

Of particular concern is the fact that this agreement has been concluded without any consultation with the Turkish Cypriot people, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or the other guarantor powers on the island, namely Türkiye and the United Kingdom. Given the implications such arrangements have for the security and strategic balance of Cyprus, the exclusion of key stakeholders raises serious questions about both the process and intent behind the agreement.

Cyprus is not a unitary state represented solely by the Greek Cypriot administration. It remains an island inhabited by two peoples, with two administrations, whose political future has yet to be resolved. The continued practice of making unilateral decisions affecting the security, strategic direction and future of the entire island, while claiming to act on behalf of all Cypriots, remains one of the central obstacles to building trust between the two sides.

For more than fifty years, Cyprus has enjoyed a period of relative peace and stability. Rather than pursuing policies which encourage cooperation, mutual confidence and meaningful engagement between the two sides, the Greek Cypriot administration has increasingly chosen a path which combines the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots with the growing militarisation of South Cyprus through external partnerships and foreign military involvement.

This approach is both unnecessary and deeply concerning. Efforts to alter the strategic balance on the island without the participation or consent of the Turkish Cypriot side risk increasing tensions, undermining confidence and further complicating an already unresolved dispute.

The future security of Cyprus cannot be determined over the heads of the Turkish Cypriot people. Any sustainable approach to the island’s future must recognise that decisions affecting its security, sovereignty and stability concern both peoples and cannot be imposed unilaterally by one side.

The Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign therefore calls upon both France and the Greek Cypriot administration to reconsider this course of action and to pursue policies which contribute to stability, dialogue and regional cooperation rather than further militarisation.

Lord Sharkey Highlights Decades of Turkish Cypriot Isolation During King’s Speech Debate

22 May, 2026

Kıbrıs Gazetesi

Speaking during the King’s Speech debate in the House of Lords, Lord John Sharkey highlighted the continued isolation faced by the Turkish Cypriot people and expressed cautious optimism that a new opportunity for progress on the Cyprus issue may be emerging.

Lord Sharkey reflected on the failure of past settlement efforts, including the collapse of the Crans-Montana negotiations in 2017, which he said ended after the Greek Cypriot side walked away from the process. He noted that Turkish Cypriots have spent decades living under isolation and embargoes despite not being responsible for the island’s continued division.

Welcoming the election of President Tufan Erhürman, Lord Sharkey quoted the President’s recent remarks that no solution can be achieved while ignoring the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people. He also pointed to changing geopolitical circumstances and renewed international engagement as reasons to believe that fresh opportunities may exist to move the Cyprus issue forward.

FFNC Calls for Turkish Cypriot Inclusion in Debate Over Britain’s Cyprus Bases

22 May, 2026

GB News

The Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign has reiterated that Turkish Cypriots must be included in any discussions concerning the future of Britain’s Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus, following renewed debate over the bases in British and Cypriot media.

In comments featured by GB News, FFNC highlighted that much of the current discussion has focused almost exclusively on the British bases and the Greek Cypriot administration while overlooking Northern Cyprus, where thousands of British nationals live alongside the Turkish Cypriot people. The campaign stressed that Turkish Cypriots are equally affected by regional instability and that their security concerns must be taken into account when governments assess developments on the island.

FFNC further noted that any future discussions regarding the status of the British bases concern all communities in Cyprus and cannot be conducted over the heads of Turkish Cypriots. The campaign emphasised that past experience has shown exclusion does not create stability and that any credible process must include Turkish Cypriots as equal participants.

Letter Addressed to the Commonwealth Sports Executive Board Regarding the Exclusion of Turkish Cypriots from Commonwealth Torch Events in Cyprus

20 May, 2026

Dear Dr Rukare,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing on behalf of the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus (FFNC) campaign regarding the decision to carry the Commonwealth Torch exclusively within the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus during its visit to the island between 20–23 May 2026, whilst completely excluding the Turkish Cypriot people.

We believe this decision is deeply regrettable and inconsistent with the values of equality, inclusiveness, and fairness that the Commonwealth seeks to uphold.

For decades, Turkish Cypriots have faced unjust isolation in international sport, culture, and diplomacy. Despite repeated calls for engagement and inclusion, Turkish Cypriot athletes and institutions continue to encounter barriers that prevent them from participating equally in the international sphere. Against this backdrop, the complete exclusion of Northern Cyprus from an event intended to symbolise unity, friendship, and shared Commonwealth values has caused significant disappointment amongst Turkish Cypriots both on the island and abroad.

Cyprus is not home to a single political or social reality. It is an island with two peoples, two administrations, and a long and complex history. Ignoring one side of the island entirely, particularly in the context of a symbolic international event, risks reinforcing division rather than encouraging understanding or inclusivity.

As an organisation committed to fairness, dialogue, and peaceful engagement, FFNC firmly believes that sport and symbolic international initiatives should serve as bridges between peoples rather than reflect longstanding political exclusions.

We therefore respectfully urge the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board to reflect on the concerns being raised by Turkish Cypriots and to consider how future Commonwealth initiatives involving Cyprus can better represent both peoples on the island in a fair and balanced manner.

The Turkish Cypriot people should not continue to be overlooked in international sporting and cultural platforms that claim to stand for equality and inclusiveness.

Yours sincerely,

Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus (FFNC)

Nick de Bois: EU Involvement in Cyprus Raises Serious Doubts Over Neutrality and Sovereignty

24 April, 2026

Politics.co.uk

In his latest piece for Politics.co.uk, former MP and ex-Special Adviser to the Department for Exiting the European Union, Nick de Bois, sets out a clear warning over growing European Union involvement in Cyprus-related discussions. He argues that recent signals from the European Council indicate a shift from neutral observation to active participation in matters concerning the United Kingdom’s Sovereign Base Areas – a move he describes as a direct intrusion into British sovereignty.

De Bois stresses that the bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia are not subject to negotiation, having been established as sovereign British territory under the 1960 independence arrangements. He cautions that even informal or exploratory discussions risk evolving into sustained political pressure, noting that similar patterns have been observed in other cases where long-standing arrangements were gradually challenged and weakened.

Crucially, he highlights the issue of EU impartiality in the Cyprus context. Referencing the 2004 Annan Plan, he points out that Turkish Cypriots supported reunification while the Greek Cypriot side rejected it, yet EU accession proceeded in a way that entrenched division and left Turkish Cypriots isolated. The Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus (FFNC) campaign reiterates that any discussions concerning sovereignty, security, or the future of the island must include Turkish Cypriots, warning that continued exclusion will only deepen division and undermine prospects for a lasting settlement.

Letter to the Advertising Standards Authority regarding an offensive and inciteful billboard in Southgate, London

22 April, 2026

We are writing to raise a formal concern regarding a political billboard currently displayed in Southgate, London, promoting an overseas election campaign in Cyprus.

The advert calls for the “liberation” of areas in Northern Cyprus, using language that describes these regions as “occupied.” While such framing may form part of political discourse in Cyprus, its use within a UK public space – particularly in a diverse area such as Enfield – is inappropriate.

Northern Cyprus is home to the Turkish Cypriot people, regardless of the ongoing political situation on the island. It is also closely connected to the United Kingdom, where an estimated 300,000 British Turkish Cypriots live. This is therefore not a distant or abstract issue, but one that directly touches communities here in the UK.

In this context, the advert is clearly divisive and inflammatory. It challenges the legitimacy of people’s homes and communities, and introduces a highly charged narrative into a shared public environment. This is already generating concern locally and has the potential to undermine community cohesion.

We are also concerned by the broader principle of allowing overseas political campaign material – particularly relating to contested territorial issues – to be displayed in UK public spaces without appropriate scrutiny.

We therefore respectfully ask the Advertising Standards Authority to review this advert under its codes relating to harm, offence, and social responsibility, and to consider whether it is appropriate for such messaging to be displayed in a shared public environment.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Note for readers:

Submit your own complaint: https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html

EU Pressure on UK Cyprus Bases Sparks Renewed Debate Over Turkish Cypriot Exclusion

19 April, 2026

The Express

The Express reports on growing political pressure surrounding the United Kingdom’s Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, with warnings that the European Union is attempting to insert itself into discussions over British sovereignty. The article highlights concerns raised by former MP and ex-Special Adviser to the Department for Exiting the European Union, Nick de Bois, who cautions against any process that could reopen what has long been considered a settled issue.

De Bois argues that there is a “coordinated effort” involving the EU to challenge the status of the bases, stressing that they are sovereign British territory established by treaty in 1960 and are not open to negotiation. He warns that even informal discussions risk evolving into sustained political pressure, drawing parallels with other cases where longstanding arrangements have been gradually undermined.

Crucially, the article again brings attention to the broader Cyprus context, with de Bois highlighting the European Union’s record on impartiality. He points to the 2004 Annan Plan referendum, where Turkish Cypriots supported reunification but were left isolated after the Greek Cypriot rejection was followed by EU accession. The Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus (FFNC) campaign reiterates that any discussions concerning sovereignty, security, or the future of the island must include Turkish Cypriots, warning that exclusion will only deepen division.