UK Cypriot Barnet Councillor Lisa Rutter Reunify Cyprus – Allow refugees home motion to Barnet Council

Administration motion in the name of Cllr Lisa Rutter

Reunify Cyprus — Allow Refugees Home

Barnet has a large Greek and Turkish Cypriot community. Many of these residents

are refugees or descendants of refugees from the illegal invasion and occupation of

northern Cyprus in 1974.

As these residents’ elected representatives, in a borough twinned with the occupied

town of Morphou, Council believes we all have a vested interest in the Cypriot peace

process. Presently, many Barnet residents from both communities are unable to

return to their ancestral homes, which remains a source of considerable distress.

On 17th July the United Nations Security Council urged all sides to resume talks on a

settlement for the island “towards a bizonal, bicommunal, federal solution” and sent

an envoy of the Secretary-General to meet leaders last week.

Council supports these efforts and joins MPs and Peers in calling for the reunification

of Cyprus through a just and viable settlement, including the removal of Turkish

troops, in the interests of all displaced Cypriots in Cyprus, Barnet and around the

world.