Business Design Centre
52 Upper Street, Islington
London N1 0QH
Dear Mr Williams,
The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK is the representative body and the acknowledged voice of the largest and most significant community of Cypriots outside of the island itself. It is an umbrella organisation representing Cypriot community associations and groups across the United Kingdom and, as such, it leads and co-ordinates the activities of more than 300,000 Britons of Cypriot origin. The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK is committed to a free, united Cyprus based upon a just and viable resolution of the Cyprus Issue.
I write to you to express our organisation’s shock and disbelief at the Business Design Centre’s decision to host an event called the “Festival of North Cyprus 2017” on Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of May. The organisers claim that this event is a celebration of ‘North Cyprus’. This is a troubling and problematic claim as the northern part of Cyprus is under illegal occupation by Turkey.
In 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern part of Cyprus and continues to occupy over a third of its territory until this day. In flagrant contravention of the UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions and international law, Turkey continues to occupy the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, creating and sustaining an illegal regime which has been declared ‘legally invalid’ by the United Nations (UNSC Resolution 541) and which remains unrecognised by every single country in the world, except the Republic of Turkey.
We are very concerned to see that the Business Design Centre, an established and respected exhibition centre, is promoting the illegal occupation of the northern part of Cyprus as well as completely disregarding international law. It is particularly concerning that this is happening in the UK, a country that does not recognise ‘North Cyprus’.
The event’s “Visitor Information” section on the Business Design Centre’s website, describes that: “Among the exhibitors will be hotels and resorts, tour operators, universities, private hospitals, industrialists, and construction companies that are providing services in the northern part of Cyprus.” The northern part of Cyprus, contains towns and villages that were the homes of Cypriots who were made refugees as a result of the Turkish invasion and occupation. By hosting this event, the Business Design Centre is promoting the illegal development of land and property that was stolen from Cypriots by the occupying Turkish forces. The development and use of refugee land and properties has been declared illegal by the European Court of Justice, which further adds to the moral case.
Furthermore, the “Visitor Information” section also describes the “natural, historical and cultural wealth” of the northern part of Cyprus. Under the occupation of Turkey, churches and other religious monuments that were a major part of the culture and history in the northern part of Cyprus have been looted, desecrated and had their artefacts and art sold illegally. This has affected Greek Orthodox and Catholic churches; Armenian and Maronite monasteries; and Jewish cemeteries. It is a great tragedy for culture that Turkey’s invasion and occupation and their attempt at establishing a state in northern Cyprus led to the desecration of these cultural treasures. This also makes it even more saddening that the Business Design Centre would allow this ‘Festival’ to go ahead.
The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, kindly request that this event does not go ahead and we believe that illegal occupations should not be celebrated in any way.
Yours sincerely,
Christos Karaolis
President, National Federation of Cypriots in the UK
