Two-State - Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus

Direct flights from the UK to Northern Cyprus? There may be a way…

1 August, 2023

Affordable holidays to Europe’s last unspoiled corner may be getting easier to go on. In an interview with Chet Ramadan, Chair of the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign, he argued for the practicality of a solution that allows for direct flights.

With countless benefits for the 300,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the UK, the 10,000 British nationals living in the TRNC, and for anybody who wishes to touch down in the island of Cyprus’ largest airport to begin a holiday without breaking the bank, direct flights are the answer.

Interested to learn how they could start? Click on the link above to read the article.

The TRNC can follow in Kosovo’s and the island of Ireland’s footsteps

31 July, 2023

The Rt. Hon. Sammy Wilson MP, PoliticsHome

The island of Cyprus need look no further afield than Europe when looking for a tried and tested, workable solution. For 25 years, the island of Ireland has seen steady peace thanks to the Good Friday Agreement. It is a blueprint for how two countries can co-exist on one island successfully.

If the island of Ireland can do it – why not Cyprus? Moreover, if Kosovo can seek its independence from Serbia through the courts, surely it is just double-standards to invalidate the TRNC pursuing its own independence through such means?

Out of touch High Commissioner calls 1974 Turkish intervention a “land grab”

12 July, 2023

David Maddox, Express.co.uk

Speaking to the estimated 10,000 British nationals living in the TRNC, the British High Commissioner to ‘Cyprus’ Irfan Siddiq referred to the second phase of Türkiye’s intervention on the island as a “land grab”.

Suggesting that the 1960 Constitution no longer could be applied to Turkish Cypriots, Siddiq, showcased his staggering ignorance of history and reality by likening the TRNC to that of Russia’s annexations in Ukraine.

President Tatar: “Something is cooking” as Macron eyes ‘revenge strategy’ to threaten British bases on Cyprus

7 July, 2023

David Maddox, Express.co.uk

Following a visit by French President Macron to Southern Cyprus in May, TRNC President Ersin Tatar raised his concerns about a potential French military base on the island stating it contradicts existing agreements.

The President put forward his case that this may be Macron seeking to exact revenge on the UK following its withdrawal from the European Union.

Tatar said that any agreement must consult Turkish and Greek Cypriots the UK, Türkiye, and Greece.

Senior politicians to join 30,000 Turkish Cypriots at London festival

30 June, 2023

Senior politicians from the UK and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are set to join thirty thousand people from the Turkish Cypriot community to celebrate its history and culture this weekend in London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and former Conservative Party Leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, will join Ersin Tatar, President of the TRNC, on Sunday (July 2nd) to mark the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Festival at Donkey Lane in Enfield, north London.

President Tatar is expected to use the event to protest that there are no direct flights between the UK and the TRNC , which makes life so difficult for the hundreds of thousands of Turkish Cypriots who travel between the two countries.

Direct flights would also mean that the TRNC would become a more popular destination with British tourists.

Speaking before the event, President Tatar said:
“The Turkish Cypriot community is thriving in Britain. 300,000 Turkish Cypriots have been welcomed into British society.
“I look forward to joining so many in London to celebrate our history, our culture and our important relationship with Britain and British people.

“I want to further enhance our relationship with Britain by establishing direct flights between our two nations which will make it so much easier for the Turkish Cypriot community and will enable us to welcome so many more British friends to the TRNC.”
The festival, organised by the Council of Turkish Cypriots Association (CTCA), is the sixth to take place, with the inaugural event taking place in 2017. However, the past three have been held online because of the pandemic.

The event will bring together tens of thousands of families and friends from the Turkish Cypriot community.

There will be traditional folk dancing, an array of food stalls, arts and crafts and funfair rides and the day will be topped off with a live performance from Işın Karaca, the British-born Turkish Cypriot pop star.

One of the event organisers, Chet Ramadan said:
“After three years of marking this event online, it will be fantastic to celebrate face to face once again. “This festival will bring the Turkish Cypriot community together to mark our unique culture.”

LISTEN: LBC’s Iain Dale and former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith discuss the TRNC and President Tatar

31 March, 2023

Iain Dale and the Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, ‘For the Many’

Renowned broadcaster, Iain Dale, and former Home Secretary under Gordon Brown, Jacqui Smith speak about President Tatar’s March interview on LBC, the Cyprus issue, and the continued importance of British involvement on the island. Describing it as ‘fascinating’, Dale spoke about the President’s CapX article, the history of the island, and makes comparisons to Israel-Palestine, and Northern Ireland.

LISTEN: President Tatar features on Times Radio for exclusive interview with Baroness Ruth Davidson

31 March, 2023

The Rt. Hon. Baroness Ruth Davidson, Times Radio

President Tatar speaks to former Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, the Rt. Hon. Baroness Ruth Davidson on his vision for a two State solution on Cyprus, the purpose of his visit to the United Kingdom, and his desire to see Britain adopt a more prominent role in resolving the ‘Cyprus issue’ in a fair way – respecting the sovereign equality of both Sides.

LISTEN: President Tatar gives an exclusive interview to LBC’s Iain Dale

29 March, 2023

Iain Dale, LBC

President Tatar speaks to LBC’s Iain Dale on his vision of a two State solution on the island of Cyprus, the role the TRNC can play on the world stage, and the history of the island and why the TRNC formed.

Global Britain – a ‘guarantor power’ capable of breaking the Cyprus deadlock

28 March, 2023

President Ersin Tatar, CAPX

Writing whilst on his official trip to London in March 2022, President Tatar sets out his argument for British parliamentarians and political stakeholders to support the inherent sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People. He argues that the Turkish Cypriot People are entitled to equal rights and opportunities as Greek Cypriots and that their inherent rights, including individual and collective human rights, have been violated for decades.

Despite pledges to end the isolation of the TRNC, the international community has not honoured their commitments, and the Greek Cypriot side has entrenched the status quo in their favour. The President advocates for a two State solution and calls for the UK and the international community to honour their promises to end the embargo on the Turkish Cypriot people, which will contribute to the security, stability, and cooperation in the region.

President Tatar is visiting the UK

27 March, 2023

President Tatar is visiting London to meet British politicians to discuss the need to reaffirm the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People so that new and formal negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus issue can start.

He will explain how federalism based negotiations have been exhausted, and have been rejected at least 15 times by the Greek Cypriot Side for more than half-a-century.

The President will be calling on post-Brexit Britain to play a lead role in resolving this conflict.

Tag: Two-State