Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has replied to letter from a UK Cypriot in his constituency (Islington North), regarding the #HandsOffCyprus campaign launched by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK.
It reads:
Many thanks for emailing me regarding the situation in Cyprus.
The UK is a guarantor of Cypriot independence under the 1960 UN treaty, and I was very disappointed to see the latest round of UN-led peace talks end without an agreement.
The UK has strong historical ties with Cyprus, including communities in the UK and British military bases and peacekeeping troops in Cyprus itself.
The presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus is a difficult matter to resolve. The UK recognises the sovereign right of Cyprus to its natural resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone and must continue to support those rights and the peaceful reunification of Cyprus.
As a back bencher, I brought up the plight of Cypriots with the relevant ministers, and since becoming HMG Leader of the Opposition I have pressed the Government directly in Parliament on this issue.
In 2016 I spoke at a UK Cypriot event to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion and in 2017 I was present at the parliamentary launch of the Labour Party’s ‘Friends of Cyprus Group’.
At this point in time I cannot see how I would be free to attend the UK Parliamentary reception on 16 July, but I hope the event is well supported, as I share your concern on this very important issue. I will continue to campaign for action to achieve a united, stable and peaceful future for Cyprus.
Ideally I’d have been in touch before now so forgive me for that. Once again, thank you for contacting me on this very important issue.
Kind regards,
Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP
Islington North
[email protected]
The #HandsOffCyprus campaign continues, with more than half of MPs having received emails from constituents, from Aberdeen and Belfast all the way to Plymouth and Exeter.
If you haven’t done so already, join the thousands of UK Cypriots and friends of Cyprus, who spared 30 seconds to email their MP via www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/MP
Our community needs to make its voice heard on the crucial issue of Security and Guarantees. We need to urge our MPs, Government and Opposition Parties to publicly speak out against Turkey’s unacceptable demands and insist that Turkey to takes its hands off Cyprus.
