Joint British Turkish Cypriot NGO Action Group calls for David Burrowes MP to resign as APPG Chairperson for Cyprus

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David Burrowes with Greek Cypriot protestors

FROM: Cetin Ramadan

Dear Editor,

 

Joint British Turkish Cypriot NGO Action Group calls for David Burrowes MP to resign as APPG Chairperson for Cyprus

Tuesday, 04th December 2012:  The British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA) in conjunction with over 55 British Turkish and British Turkish Cypriot non-government & civil society organizations have collectively undersigned this statement as listed in Addendum A.  They are requesting the resignation of David Burrowes as the Chairperson of The British All Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus (“APPG”).

 

03 December 2012

 

To all members of the Cyprus All Party Parliamentary Group

House for Commons

London SW1A 0AA

 

Dear APPG Member,

 

RE: DAVID BURROWES

 

Over 55 British Turkish and British Turkish Cypriot non-government & civil society organizations have collectively undersigned this statement as listed in Addendum A.  We are requesting the resignation of David Burrowes as the Chairperson of The British All Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus (“APPG”).

 

Turkish Cypriots living in the UK have lost confidence in David Burrowes as an impartial guardian for the APPG.  We feel that his representation of Cypriot affairs in particular to the House of Commons is far from balanced and contrary to HMG policy.  He has consistently ignored the views of the overwhelming majority of the Turkish Cypriots living in the UK.

 

As Chairperson of the APPG, and in accordance with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association principles, his actions should be impartial.  It is incumbent upon him to represent the views of ALL Cypriots.  Openly and without any reasonable justification dismissing British Turkish Cypriot NGO groups simply as “extremists” is incorrect and inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Burrowes.  Moreover, his selective refusal to communicate with British Turkish Cypriot NGO groups shows an absolute bias and a closed mindset.

 

He has failed to exemplify any genuine intentions of using his position to re-connect the two communities and allowing a fair and equitable solution because his door is not open to ALL the Cypriot people and the APPG is not an impartial interlocutor as it is claimed.  David Burrowes has consistently expressed a one-sided attitude in relation to handling British Turkish Cypriot concerns.

 

By far the worse illustration of his bias is his purposeful omission and demeaning of the destruction of the Turkish Cypriot National Heritage in the south.  More than 25% of the mosques left under the jurisdiction of the “Republic of Cyprus“ have been destroyed.  In contrast, less than 4% of the churches left in the north under Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ jurisdiction have been destroyed.  However, Mr. Burrowes’ commentary on this matter leads others to believe that the problem only exists in Northern Cyprus.

 

David Burrowes conveniently chooses to ignore the facts and unashamedly misleads the House of Commons with false accusations and incorrect statements.  This deliberate and manipulative strategy is unacceptable behaviour from a person who is meant to be impartial.  His polarised views are harming the negotiation process because his actions entrench positions on all sides and he undermines any confidence building measures of the UN and/or the International Community at large.

 

Turkish and Turkish Cypriots in the UK & Cyprus will no longer tolerate his bias and insulting views.  As the Chairperson of the APPG Mr Burrowes cannot continue to claim to represent both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities if he is consistently singing the virtues of one over the other.  This renders his position untenable.

 

We therefore request that David Burrowes should be requested to resign from his position as Chairperson of the APPG with immediate effect and appoint a person who is unprejudiced, unbiased and non-partisan.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mr. Cetin Ramadan

Chairman

British Turkish Cypriot Association

Joint UK Coordinator

34-35 D`Arblay Street, London W1F 8EY, United Kingdom

 

ENDS/

 

  Addendum A

 

The following UK non-government and civil society organizations have confirmed their support for the statement:

 

Aksu Türk Birliği
Anadolu Kultur Merkezi / Anatolian Cultural Centre
Birmingham Türk Cemiyeti
British CPTR
British Turkish Cypriot Association
Cezire Association
Doğan Türk Birliği Dayanışma Derneği
Erenköy Mücahitler Derneği
Ergazililer Derneği / Ergazililer Association
Green Tower Turkish Cypriots Elder’s Club
Güney Londra Türk Yaşlılar Derneği
Ingiltere Turk Dernekleri Federasyonu / The Federation of Turkish Associations UK

(representing 16

Kıbrıs Türk Cemiyeti Baskanı
Kıbrıs Türk Kültür Derneği
Kıbrıs Türk Ticaret Odası / Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce
Kuzey Kıbrısla Dayanışma Derneği
North London Turkish Islamic Trust / Kuzey Londra Türk İslam Vakfı
Limasollular Dernegi
Olıve Tree Educatıon Foundatıon
Plan B Platform
Polilıler Derneği
Serdarlı Kıbrıs Türk Derneği
Southwark Kıbrıs Türk Derneği
Swindon Turkish Cypriot Union
Toplumcu Dayanısma Dernegi
TRNC Freedom
Türk Birliği
Turkish Cypriot Foundation
Turkish Cypriot Surveyors Association
Turkish Cypriot Trust
Turkish Elders Club / Türk Yaşlılar Kulübü
Turkish Forum World Turkish Alliance (TFWTA)
UBP Londra Dayanısma Dernegi
USİAD/TABA
Vroisha-Yagmuralan Association
Ataturk Society UK  / Ingiltere Ataturkcu Dusunce Dernegi
Avrupa Turk Birligi
KKTC Magdurlar Dernegi
Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad
TRNC Human Rights Association (UK)
The Azerbaijan House (London)

 

  Addendum B

 

The following TRNC non-government and civil society organizations have confirmed their support for the statement:

 

ISAD KKTC / TRNC Businessmen Association

Milli Varolus Konseyi / Council of National Existence

Ulusal Halk Hareketi  / The National People’s Movement 
Emekli Ast Subaylar / Retired Non-Commissioned Officers
K.K.T.C Parlamenterler Birligi / TRNC  Parliamentarians  Union
T.M.T. Mucahiter dernegi / TMT Association of the Mujahideen
Dunya Kibris Turkleri Vakfi / Worldwide Turkish Cypriot Foundation
TRNC Human Rights Association
TRNC Consumers Association
Trade Union of the Public Service Personnel

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