Newsroom / CNA
The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK has declared the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s attempts to change the UK’s stance over the illegal pseudo-state in the occupied part of Cyprus as unsuccessful.
Tatar has paid several visits to the UK over the last few years. His latest one in London, concluding today, included meetings with members of the Turkish Cypriot community and some British parliamentarians. He also gave interview in which he repeated his calls for “a two-state solution” to the long-standing Cyprus issue and for direct flights to the occupied by Turkey northern part of the island.
“This latest visit by Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar is now his third to the UK this year, as part of his unsuccessful attempt to change UK Government policy on Cyprus. Mr Tatar is aiming to promote the illegal permanent partition of Cyprus through his so-called ‘3Ds’, direct flights, direct trade, and direct contact. It is clear that his attempts are proving fruitless and he has not delivered any progress,” said the Federation in a press release.
“He has not been received by any Ministers of either the current, or previous UK Government. Whilst we are disappointed that a small number of individual MPs have met with him, it is worth noting that these individuals are not members of the Government or Opposition front bench", it is added.
“Indeed, the Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrats all provided policy statements to the Federation during the July 2024 General Election, clearly reiterating their commitment to the agreed UN framework for a solution that will reunite Cyprus in line with international law and EU principles. Moreover, Ministerial responses have also highlighted that direct flights to occupied north Cyprus are not possible because they would breach UK obligations under international law and judgments of the UK Court of Appeal,” added the Federation.
The Cypriot diaspora body went on to remark that the reason for Tatar’s lack of progress is, as was put to him during an interview on Times Radio on September 10th, that his demands are impossible both morally and legally.
“In the Times Radio interview journalist Dominic O'Connell repeatedly challenged Mr Tatar’s narrative and told him that Turkey’s presence in Cyprus is that of an illegal occupation. He went on to say that any recognition of the occupation regime, or implementation of the ‘3Ds’, is impossible as well as illegal under international law, and would set a dangerous precedent across the world and, especially, Ukraine.”
The Federation noted that the only viable solution for all Cypriots is to end the occupation and reunite Cyprus based on the UN framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as described in UN resolutions, with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship and in line with EU principles. “This is also the stated position of the UK Government,” commented the Federation.
“Therefore,” they concluded, “rather than trying, and failing, to change UK Government policy, Mr Tatar should focus his efforts on engaging constructively on a solution within the agreed UN framework. As a Federation, we will continue to engage with His Majesty’s Government and Opposition, Parliamentarians and the British media to advance the cause of a free, united Cyprus and to challenge Mr Tatar’s failed narrative.”
