President Ersin Tatar congratulates CTCA and associations in their protest against the ‘discrimination’ shown by Waltham Forest Council, London
President Ersin Tatar held an online meeting with officials of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations UK (CTCA) and association representatives, where he expressed his gratitude to them for their work in combating the discrimination shown by Waltham Forest Council, London.
Waltham Forest councillor Grace Williams had ordered the TRNC flag to be prematurely taken down from the flagpole in front of the Waltham Forest municipal building on November 15, 2021 after it was legitimately hoisted earlier that day. Turkish Cypriot civil organisations in the UK have been outraged after the flag was taken down and called this a discriminative act.
The second protest against the discrimination was held by CTCA and supported by different associations last night outside Waltham Forest municipal building.
“This act of discrimination against our flag, which is the symbol of our sovereignty and our identity, needs to be ended. Turkish Cypriots exist, and we are one of the inherent equal co-owners of Cyprus,” the President said in the virtual meeting. “I wish for the appropriate authorities to lend an ear to the messages you communicated last night and for the necessary action to be taken to end this discriminative act,” he added.
Emphasising the importance of lobbying in the UK in voicing the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots, the President added: “I commend your determined stance in continuing the struggle against this great injustice. I particularly wish to thank our youth in the UK for the passion they have in lobbying for their homeland, the TRNC, and the rights of Turkish Cypriot people.”
Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Tatar said that “we are continuing to put forward our vision for sustainable peace and stability in Cyprus through a two State settlement that is based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of Turkish Cypriots”. Explaining that “this is a policy that is supported by Motherland Turkey,” the President added that “the support for this policy has also been reaffirmed by the public in the January 23 General Election, where at least 32 Parliamentarians – the majority of our Parliament -- support a two State settlement”.
In reference to the Russia-Ukraine war, the President said: “Many things were claimed by certain circles. . .one being that no war can ever be lived in this day and age. Unfortunately, we are witnessing one of the biggest wars of our time. The tragedy of what is being lived has once again reaffirmed the importance of the guarantees of the Republic of Turkey in Cyprus. We will never accept going back to the days pre-1974.”
The participants thanked the President for his support and said they would like to welcome him to London at the earliest opportunity.
The second protest against the discrimination was held by CTCA and supported by different associations last night outside Waltham Forest municipal building.
“This act of discrimination against our flag, which is the symbol of our sovereignty and our identity, needs to be ended. Turkish Cypriots exist, and we are one of the inherent equal co-owners of Cyprus,” the President said in the virtual meeting. “I wish for the appropriate authorities to lend an ear to the messages you communicated last night and for the necessary action to be taken to end this discriminative act,” he added.
Emphasising the importance of lobbying in the UK in voicing the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots, the President added: “I commend your determined stance in continuing the struggle against this great injustice. I particularly wish to thank our youth in the UK for the passion they have in lobbying for their homeland, the TRNC, and the rights of Turkish Cypriot people.”
Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Tatar said that “we are continuing to put forward our vision for sustainable peace and stability in Cyprus through a two State settlement that is based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of Turkish Cypriots”. Explaining that “this is a policy that is supported by Motherland Turkey,” the President added that “the support for this policy has also been reaffirmed by the public in the January 23 General Election, where at least 32 Parliamentarians – the majority of our Parliament -- support a two State settlement”.
In reference to the Russia-Ukraine war, the President said: “Many things were claimed by certain circles. . .one being that no war can ever be lived in this day and age. Unfortunately, we are witnessing one of the biggest wars of our time. The tragedy of what is being lived has once again reaffirmed the importance of the guarantees of the Republic of Turkey in Cyprus. We will never accept going back to the days pre-1974.”
The participants thanked the President for his support and said they would like to welcome him to London at the earliest opportunity.