Letters to the editor: Cyprus Today’s report of High Commissioner’s comments was accurate

FOLLOWING the go to from his Excellency the British Excessive Commissioner, Irfan Siddiq, to the Olive Tree Resort in Çatalköy on June 27, I’ve been requested by a few of our members who didn’t attend the occasion whether or not studies on what have been mentioned have been right. 

Properly, I used to be there and might say that the article in final week’s version of Cyprus Right this moment (British diplomat causes outrage, July 1) was correct. 

It did really feel that any dialogue on earlier occasions in Cyprus provoked a one-sided reply and I might query the data being offered to Mr Siddiq by his advisers. 

Once I first visited North Cyprus for an inexpensive vacation in 1993, I knew nothing in regards to the historical past of the troubles on the island and believed what I had beforehand seen within the UK media. 

Like many, I fell in love with the place and folks, returning many occasions earlier than settling after retirement. 

Throughout these visits I stumbled throughout a ebook written in English giving an account of each side of the troubles. I used to be shocked and was stirred on to seek out out extra in regards to the fashionable historical past, while holding an open thoughts. 

I wish to suppose that our authorities representatives do the identical however pressures of contemporary day residing imply that they rely extra on these influential advisers. Maybe a few of these will not be as unbiased as maybe they need to be. 

I’ve at all times discovered the British Excessive Fee and Consulate employees very useful in welfare issues regarding expats based mostly within the North, however there’s solely a lot that they’ll do as a result of UK Authorities stance on the North’s isolation. 

Mr Siddiq talked about the British Residents Society lobbying marketing campaign and, whether or not it was real or a sarcastic remark, he wished us luck! 

Properly, the marketing campaign is beginning to make an impression on how Cyprus is seen and we’ll proceed combating for the tip of the discrimination that we and Turkish Cypriots discover ourselves in. 

We hope that his Excellency will return for extra conferences and that subsequent time extra time will be spent on points affecting life for expats within the TRNC fairly than the historical past.

Julian Mawdesley,

Chair,

British Residents Society,

TRNC

Mr Siddiq needs to be ashamed of himself

WHEN I went alongside to the assembly held by the British Excessive Commissioner Irfan Siddiq on Tuesday, June 27, I didn’t actually know what to anticipate.

As I drove up by Çatalköy, I used to be pondering that because the invite talked about sending questions upfront, perhaps this may be a fast Q&A session on among the points British expats have been experiencing as a result of they selected to stay right here, and are subsequently a part of the isolation imposed on the TRNC, adopted by a bit social time and an opportunity to satisfy the British Excessive Fee employees.

In spite of everything, I assumed, how lengthy would it not take to reply questions on direct flights, the one-day “T.O.M”, and the 90 day on, 90 time without work in 180 border crossing rule?

I didn’t anticipate it to final so long as it did, and I definitely didn’t anticipate to listen to and witness that which unfolded earlier than my eyes.

Initially a really informative discuss was given by Mr Siddiq. Most of it was not new to those that understood the place and insurance policies of the UK in relation to Cyprus and the Cyprus downside.

We have been reminded that British residents on each side of the Cyprus divide are third nation residents now, since Brexit, and are available beneath a brand new algorithm.

He referred to the residents of the North as Turkish Cypriots and to the residents of the South as Greek Cypriots.

I did surprise if he was selecting his phrases rigorously due to the place he was talking, and likewise puzzled if that is how he would confer with the 2 sides if he was speaking at a gathering South of the border. He didn’t confer with the North because the TRNC in any respect.

He additionally reminded us a number of occasions that he was a diplomat. Following his discuss, questions have been invited from the ground, and never as I anticipated from any questions forwarded so “diplomatic” replies might be given.

Questions have been as anticipated and there was one lengthy assertion made by a gentleman who was fairly offended on the British Excessive Commissioner and the British Authorities, and he pressured in his assertion that he had a really lengthy affiliation with Cyprus as an entire.

Then, for some cause, Mr Siddiq, replying to a query in regards to the occasions of 1974 and the function (I might say lack of) of the British Authorities, mentioned the second section of the Turkish Peace Operation was deliberate as a “land seize” and likened it to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

That assertion provoked uproar within the room and members of the viewers started shouting at him and heckling him. He appeared shocked by the response. 

After some order returned naturally to the room, from then on he was heckled by a number of individuals. One in all his feedback to the now sad viewers was that both they need to let him discuss or discuss themselves. 

There was additionally controversy and additional reactions of dismay to his assertion that the 1960 Structure doesn’t exist anymore. This isn’t the case. 

It might have been amended in components, however the Turkish Cypriots are nonetheless entitled to illustration within the Republic of Cyprus authorities, regardless that they don’t select to after being compelled out and in not agreeing to the 13-point amendments made by Archbishop Makarios in 1963.

As Mr Siddiq left after closing the assembly, I moved throughout the room in his route to talk with different attendees. 

I used to be a couple of toes away from a dialog that he was having with Eltan Halil of Cyprus Right this moment, wherein Mr Siddiq was very animated, sounded offended and mentioned “do what you need however there can be penalties”.

This, I understood, was a direct response to being informed that his public phrases could be reported in addition to the pre-meeting interview he gave to Cyprus Right this moment.

I respect Eltan for remaining calm in a state of affairs the place somebody of the best place representing the British Authorities was shouting at him in his face. Not very diplomatic I might say.

He then in a short time left the room. Perhaps I used to be the one one who observed, however he was not in any hazard of being lynched, that’s for sure.

I’ll say this in my private abstract of this occasion. Since when did the Excessive Commissioner develop into the mouthpiece of the Republic of Cyprus and are available out with Greek Cypriot rhetoric straight from the RoC false historical past textual content books and the present rhetoric to match the occasions of 1974 with Ukraine?

As a diplomat, was he conveying this because the consultant of the British Authorities or as a result of that is factually incorrect info he has been fed by the politicians and folks he speaks to within the South?

Was it a fake pas or one thing that he personally believes? I might say he, within the very least, wants to check the historical past of this island a bit tougher.

Whereas Mr Siddiq mentioned that the Turkish intervention was prompted by a Greek coup to depose Archbishop Makarios, he didn’t confer with what the coup actually was – an invasion.

He actually wants to grasp why the second section of the Peace Operation went forward after 25 days of a ceasefire with the Greek Cypriots regularly delaying negotiations and increase arms surrounding the Turkish Military within the slender hall it created from Girne to the outskirting villages of Lefkoşa.

In the meantime, on the similar time in the remainder of Cyprus, Greek Cypriot extremists and Eoka members have been hanging on the phrases of Nicos Sampson, who mentioned, “allow them to come, they won’t discover any Turkish Cypriots to save lots of”.

They have been killing Turkish Cypriots, massacring complete villages, even an entire faculty of kids, and dumping them in mass graves on garbage suggestions. Mr Siddiq must really feel ashamed of himself.

After this I don’t suppose he can have the face to return to talk to expats within the TRNC.

İsmail Atahasan

Siddiq is aware of nothing about what occurred in Cyprus

WHILST it was a step in the appropriate route for the British Excessive Fee to rearrange a gathering with British residents residing within the TRNC, sadly the assembly was precisely as I anticipated (British diplomat causes outrage, Cyprus Right this moment, July 1). 

I have no idea who the British Excessive Commissioner’s advisers are and I do perceive that he’s a diplomat and needs to be “diplomatic”.

Nevertheless, that was not the case. Calling the second section of the 1974 Turkish intervention a “land seize” exhibits he is aware of nothing about what was occurring on the island to immediate the second section.

His likening of the state of affairs to what Russia is doing in Ukraine was disgraceful. However in a approach it proves to the Turkish Cypriots that and not using a guarantor energy, no-one can cease any invasion.

Sadly, virtually all the British Excessive Commissioner’s feedback have been virtually phrase for phrase what the Greek Cypriot aspect has been saying.

His fixed remark that there are conflicting narratives once more exhibits his lack of respect for what occurred to Turkish Cypriots.

I requested him to look into the constitutions of all of the political events within the so-called Republic of Cyprus to see in the event that they nonetheless advocate Enosis (unification with Greece). I sincerely hope he does.

I additionally requested him to analyze the Greek Cypriot faculty books. We within the TRNC have amended our historical past books to rid them of derogatory phrases. 

I discussed that from my info the books within the South now not point out the Greek- Greek Cypriot coup of July 15, 1974, making it appear that Türkiye simply determined to “invade” for no cause. 

The difficulty of the lacking in Cyprus was additionally talked about and once more I discussed that individuals want to take a look at the dates Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots went lacking. 

The so-called Republic of Cyprus blames all lacking on Türkiye, whereas many of the Greek Cypriot lacking went lacking earlier than Türkiye intervened! 

Just a few feedback from the individuals mentioned we have to depart the previous previously! That’s simple for non-Turkish Cypriots to say. 

One factor that completely shocked me was that the British Excessive Commissioner mentioned that the 1960 Structure is now not in impact. It might be fascinating to know if that is official UK coverage.

While it’s true that that is the case, because the Greek Cypriots usurped the Authorities in 1963 after the Bloody Christmas assaults, my understanding is that any settlement, treaty signed between nations can solely be dissolved in the identical approach it was agreed upon.

If that is so, then there’s nothing to “unify”. Why is the British Excessive Commissioner insisting on talks for a settlement and settlement to “unify” the island. 

One other level is will the UK be giving up the bases it gained beneath that treaty? 

My understanding is that the UK now not needs to be a guarantor on the island. Equally the Greek authorities has additionally mentioned they don’t care in regards to the system of ensures. 

If the unilateral intervention of Türkiye is now not legitimate that is very harmful for Turkish Cypriots. Have a look at what’s occurring between Russia and Ukraine! No worldwide organisation or nation/group of nations can intervene! That is what the Greek Cypriots and Greece need. The point out of Greek Cypriots feeling threatened by the presence of Türkiye in Cyprus is precisely what the Greek Cypriots are saying. 

The Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye won’t ever conform to the lifting of the guarantor standing of Türkiye.

As a Turkish Cypriot I want acknowledgement from the elected leaders within the South to do the next if I’m to really feel that they actually desire a complete settlement in Cyprus: 

1. Acknowledge that the battle in 1974 was began by the Greek Cypriot aspect.

2. Apologise for this. 

3. Publicly announce that the South denounces Enosis. Until that is completed, I’ve no perception that there’ll ever be a settlement/settlement.

As for terminology used when speaking in regards to the individuals residing in Cyprus, the British Excessive Commissioner, Irfan Siddiq, referred to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot COMMUNITIES?? 

On the island of Cyprus, we’re a PEOPLE. This implies now we have the appropriate to sovereignty, whereas a neighborhood doesn’t. I urge everybody to make use of the right phrases. 

I might additionally wish to put out a name to different organisations representing British residents – please work along with all different organisations. 

I await some suggestions concerning the questions I requested however am not holding my breath.

Hatice Salih Kerimgil

Coordinator of the Affiliation of Turkish Cypriots Overseas

These letters initially appeared within the print model of Cyprus Right this moment dated July 8, 2023