TAKE ACTION: You can help end 45 years of pain by calling on Turkey to take its #HandsOffCyprus

Cyprus Briefing

14 June 2019

TAKE ACTION: You can help end 45 years of pain by taking just 30 seconds to call on Turkey to take its #HandsOffCyprus viawww.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP Please share this link www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP with friends and family and ask them to also email their MP Europe Minister responds to Federation letter saying, “we oppose [Turkey’s] plans to drill” Join us in Parliament on Tuesday 16 July

TAKE ACTION: You can help end 45 years of pain by calling on Turkey to take its #HandsOffCyprus viawww.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP

This July marks 45 years since Turkey illegally invaded and occupied over a third of Cyprus. You can help end 45 years of pain by taking 30 seconds to call on Turkey to take its #HandsOffCyprus viawww.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP   Across the UK, people have been emailing their local MPs and urging them to demand that Turkey takes its hands off Cyprus. The #HandsOffCyprus campaign is in full swing and people have been emailing their MPs to condemn Turkey's illegal and aggressive actions in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as urging them to speak out against Turkey's unacceptable demands regarding a solution to the Cyprus issue, for example, on the issue of security and guarantees. In the latest round of negotiations to reunify the island, Turkey insisted that it must have ‘the right to unilateral intervention' after a solution to the Cyprus issue. It also insisted on keeping its troops on the island.

MPs from Aberdeen and all the way down to Plymouth have received emails about the latest developments in Cyprus. This map shows the geographical spread of emails that have been sent as part of the #HandsOffCyprus campaign in the last few weeks.   So far, over 46% of MPs (304 MPs) have been contacted by their constituents about Cyprus and we would like to thank all those who have supported the campaign already. Many MPs are beginning to reply to the emails and people are sending the responses they have received from their MPs to us, if you would like to do the same, you can email us at: enquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk

We've made it simple and easy to email your MP through our website:www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP. Our website will find your MP, their contact details and prepare a template email - it takes less than 30 seconds and can make a big difference for Cyprus! Please share this message and ask friends and family to also email their local MP, so we can make even more of an impact.   Our community needs to make its voice heard on the crucial issue of Security and Guarantees. We need to urge our MPs, Government and Opposition Parties to publicly speak out against Turkey's unacceptable demands and to insist that Turkey takes its hands off Cyprus.   These campaigns can make a difference - recently, after 1 week of pressure from MPs & Opposition parties, the Europe Minister, on behalf of the Foreign Office, responded to our open letter regarding Turkey's recent illegal incursion into the Republic of Cyprus' EEZ, saying "we oppose [Turkey's] plans to drill", after they had not previously, explicitly, done so. (see below)   You could also use the following text to tweet/post on social media or text your friends and family. Don't forget to tag us on social media (@UKCypriotFed): "It’s been 45 years since Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus! Please send our pre-prepared email to your MP asking them to speak up for Cyprus -www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP #HandsOffCyprus"   CLICK HERE to email your MP NOW!

Europe Minister responds to Federation letter saying, “we oppose [Turkey’s] plans to drill”   Europe and Americas Minister, Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan MP, has responded to the Federation’s open letter regarding Turkey’s illegal incursion into Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (“EEZ”). In his response dated 3rd June 2019, the Minister stated that he had raised the issue with the Turkish Ambassador in London, and the British Ambassador in Ankara had also engaged with the Turkish Foreign Ministry, to urge de-escalation. He went on to say: “We have been clear both publicly and privately that we oppose their plans to drill”, urging “dialogue, in accordance with International law” to be used, not “force, militarisation or coercion”.   The Federation President, Christos Karaolis, wrote to the Minister following his response to an oral question by Bambos Charalambous MP on 14th May 2019. The Minister responded to Mr Charalambous' oral question saying: “The position of the UK is that, in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, exploratory drilling should not proceed in any area where sovereignty is under dispute”.   In his letter, dated 15th May 2019, the Federation President urged the UK Government to: clearly condemn Turkey’s action; call on Turkey to remove its drilling vessels and warships from the Republic of Cyprus’ EEZ and; take action to ensure that this happened. The Federation President's letter also highlighted that the Labour Party, Scottish National Party, Liberal Democrats as well as individual Parliamentarians (including Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP, Bambos Charalambous MP, Matthew Offord MP, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Julian Knight MP and Catherine West MP) had already condemned Turkey’s actions and called on the UK Government to do the same.   In his response, the Minister went on to re-affirm the position of the U.K. Government that it recognises the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit its oil and gas. In closing the Minister highlighted the ever closer cooperation between the U.K. and Cyprus and said “I want to reassure the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK of the great importance the U.K. attaches to this enduring friendship”.   The Federation’s open letter can be read here.

Join us in Parliament on Tuesday 16 July   The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus and the National Federation's annual Parliament event will take place on Tuesday 16 July to mark the tragic 45th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation. This is an opportunity for the UK Cypriot community and MPs to engage on the Cyprus issue. So, please join us to make your voice heard!   Guest speaker: Prodromos Prodromou, Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus   Register for free

www.cypriotfederation.org.uk