By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
Turkish Cypriot presidential undersecretary Mehmet Dânâ asked British lawmakers on October 21 to help ease restrictions on Turkish Cypriot cultural, sporting and commercial activities. At a House of Lords event, he cited replies from United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres and the European Commission to letters sent by Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman.
The event was held under the auspices of Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, with support from the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign. London-based reports named Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Nesil Caliskan and Baroness Hussein-Ece among the participants. Türkiye's ambassador to Britain, Osman Koray Ertaş, also attended.
What Guterres and Brussels said
Erhürman wrote to Guterres and the European Commission on August 28, alleging Greek Cypriot interventions had obstructed a children's football camp, music festivals and other international events. Dânâ told the gathering that the cancellations had damaged efforts to build trust between the communities.
On October 18, the Turkish Cypriot Presidency released excerpts of Guterres's October 16 reply. The UN chief described the developments as "disheartening" and criticised actions that obstruct confidence-building, including the cancellation of events. The full letter has not been published by the UN, and the excerpts do not establish who was responsible for individual cancellations.
Republic of Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis denied exerting pressure on international organisations to cancel events, but defended the government's diplomatic representations. He said officials had explained the state's legal position to the relevant organisations.
Dânâ also referred to an October 6 European Commission reply. According to the Turkish Cypriot Presidency, the Commission acknowledged Erhürman's concerns and cited the EU Council's April 26, 2004 conclusions. Those conclusions called for an end to Turkish Cypriot isolation by encouraging economic development and closer contacts. The Commission announced a separate €34 million assistance programme in September. The Presidency's account of the October reply reported no new EU measure against the Republic of Cyprus.
What Dânâ asked of Britain
Dânâ urged Britain to take an impartial approach and help remove barriers to Turkish Cypriot participation in cultural, sporting and commercial life. He pointed to the United Kingdom's role as one of the three guarantors under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, alongside Türkiye and Greece, and its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Erhürman and Christodoulides remain divided over how formal Cyprus negotiations should restart. Erhürman wants political equality addressed and progress on UN confidence-building measures before another expanded meeting. The leaders are scheduled to meet on October 27, with UN envoy María Ángela Holguín expected back two days later.
Britain continues to support a bizonal, bicommunal federal settlement under UN Security Council resolutions. No new British government measure arising from the October 21 gathering had been announced as of October 23.
Sources: Turkish Cypriot Presidency, Council of the European Union, European Commission, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development
Office, Cyprus Mail, Londra Gazete, Bosphorus News review and reporting.