LETTER TO THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER FROM A TURKISH CYPRIOT

18.10.2005

 Ayhan Mehmet
24 Christine Street
Northmead 2152
NSW

Honourable John Howard  

The Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
Canberra.

                           Why  Embargoes for Turkish Cypriots?

Dear Prime Minister,

It has not been long since Australia committed itself in restoring the democracy, human rights and liberating the people of IRAQ. The mission of our combat units has not finished, yet  I am not asking  your government to do the same for the people of North Cyprus. I just would like your government to show  the same dedication and same understanding to the Turkish Cypriots’ plight, who had been under constant oppression and embargoes for over 40 years.

Please Prime Minister help!. All we want is the abolition  of the infamous  embargoes listed below:

• Ban on Direct Communication,
• Ban on Sporting/Cultural Events
• Ban on Direct Trade
• Ban on Representation
• Ban on Economic Development and International Aid
• Ban on Direct Travel
• Ban on Academia

The hardship that Turkish Cypriots enduring at the moment  is the shame of the world community at large who believe in democracy, equality and liberties.

Today in Cyprus the quality of  life and the ability to exercise basic human rights depends on which side of the border the people  live.

If you live in the South Cyprus, you have the opportunity to enjoy normal trade, political, and social relations with the rest of the world . In contrast, people living in the North Cyprus have  to endure the internationally-imposed embargoes that have denied them the right to engage in any political, economic, social or cultural activities, leaving them completely isolated from the rest of the world.

For example:

·           The people of North Cyprus will  not  be represented in the forthcoming 2006 Commonwealth Games which will be held in Melbourne.

·          Visa for a visit to Australia was denied by the Australian government to the first  President Denktash of TRNC. This action of the Australian government have caused  discontent and disappointment amongst the Turkish Australians.

I do not believe for one minute that this kind of policies and dribbling the meaning of democracy would receive sympathy and support by the peace loving Australian people.

It is important to note that the embargoes imposed on North Cyprus do not have the authority of any UN Security Council Resolution under Article 41 of the UN Charter. However, due to the misconceived UN Resolution 186, passed on 4 March 1964, the Greek Cypriots have been able to legitimise their status as the sole recognised authority on the island of Cyprus and effectively deny Turkish Cypriots their legal, political and basic human rights.

As you will see Dear Prime Minister, the lobbying  Greek Cypriots has ensured that the embargoes they have applied to North  Cyprus is adhered to worldwide and their impact is therefore as comprehensive as any UN sanctioned embargo.

UN Resolution 186 was passed on 4 March 1964 as part of the UN’s commitment to end the violence in Cyprus caused by the Greek Cypriot’s bloody coup in December 1963.  Unfortunately, this badly worded Resolution referred to working with the “Government of Cyprus”, which at that time was 100% staffed with Greek Cypriots.

 I would like to bring to your attention the statement made by the than President of the Government of Cyprus Makarios, in February 1966:

“I declare that the 1960 Agreements had been abrogated and buried”

This statement made by Makarios himself  would  be sufficient proof that the Government of Cyprus which recognized by your government is the one that only represents the  Greek  Cypriots and not the whole people of Cyprus. Because of this misunderstanding the Greeks have used this recognition to assert themselves as the sole “legitimate” authority on the island, even though this contradicts with the 1960 Constitution of Cyprus where both Turkish and Greek Cypriots are politically equal.  I would like to believe this recognition of the Greek Administration as the legitimate Government of Cyprus is a mistake and will change soon.

The world community believed the propagandas of Greeks that the TRNC is a runaway state and is under the occupation of Turkey. Turkey’s presence in Cyprus  is true. It’s true because is there  to fulfil its obligations under the 1960 Guarantee Agreements. They came to Cyprus to restore the democracy, to restore the human rights and liberate the Turkish people from oppression of the Greek Cypriots just the same way your government did in Iraq and Iraqi people.

I wander since when Dear Prime Minister the restoration of democracy, restoration of  human rights and providing liberty to the oppressed people  of the world constituted an  occupation? All I am requesting from you and your government Dear Prime Minister is  to help the people of Northern Cyprus , the Turkish Cypriots, to live in their  own country like human-beings.

Yours truly,
Ayhan Mehmet JP