Occupied-cyprus - epetition reply
7 June 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to act in accordance with Britain's treaty obligations with the Republic of Cyprus and to take decisive action to prevent direct trade and direct flights between Britain and Turkish occupied Cyprus and to prevent the illegal sale and advertising of Greek Cypriot property to British nationals."
Details of petition:
"According to the Treaty of Guarantee, Britain, Greece and Turkey undertook "to prohibit, as far as lies within their power, all activity having the object of promoting directly or indirectly either the union of the Republic of Cyprus with any other State, or the partition of the Island." In 1974 Turkey illegally invaded Cyprus and ethnically cleansed 200,000 Greek Cypriots who made up 82% of the population from 38% of Cyprus territory in the north, and still occupies their land and homes with 40,000 troops and 150,000 colonists. UN Security Council resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984) declare the self proclaimed "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," "legally invalid" and call upon all states not to assist this illegal secessionist entity in any way. All ports and airports in occupied Cyprus have been declared illegal points of entry and closed to all traffic and trade by the Cyprus government. Civilian flights to any airport in occupied Cyprus violate the Chicago Convention."
Read the Government's response
The British Government remains committed to the reunification of Cyprus, and believes that the ongoing division of the island is only likely to be resolved through dialogue. We continue to urge both sides to show the political will and flexibility to bridge the gap between words and deeds, and to engage constructively with the UN's efforts to broker a comprehensive and durable settlement.
Following the failure of the Annan Plan in 2004, EU Foreign Ministers made a commitment to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. Direct trade between the Turkish Cypriots and the EU was identified as one mechanism to deliver this commitment. The British Government believes that direct trade will help narrow the gap in economic development between north and south, and promote economic co-operation and business ventures between the two communities. Assisting the economic integration of the island would also boost significantly the prospects for reunification since it would make a settlement easier and less costly to accommodate. We therefore continue to support the efforts of the EU to agree a trade regulation.
Direct flights between European airports and Ercan would also represent a big step towards easing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. Following the receipt of an application on behalf of Kibris Turkish Airlines, the Government has carefully considered whether it would be possible to approve direct flights from the UK to Ercan airport in northern Cyprus. We have received clear legal advice that, under the terms of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Republic of Cyprus would first have to designate Ercan as an international airport. They have not done so, and we have concluded that to approve such flights would be incompatible with both our international obligations under the Chicago Convention and our domestic legal obligations.
Many people from both communities lost the use of their properties following the breakdown of communal relations in the 1960s and the events of 1974. We continue to have a full and frank dialogue with the leaders of both communities on Cyprus on the full range of issues caused by the ongoing division of the island, including property. However, we believe that the issue of property in northern Cyprus will only be fully resolved as part of a comprehensive settlement. We do warn potential purchasers of the disputed ownership of many of the properties in northern Cyprus, and the consequent risks of purchasing property in this part of the island, both through our online travel advice - available at www.fco.gov.uk (new window) - and in response to enquiries from the public.
Further Information
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