ATLANTA (AP) — More than 15 million people from Texas to Florida were under threat of severe storms and the potential for more tornadoes...
Diaspora communities call on Prime Minister to hold Turkey to account during trade talks
BREAKING News
Greek and Turkish leaders seek to stress thawing relations but tensions remain under the surface
By ANDREW WILKS Associated Press ISTANBUL (AP) — The leaders of Greece and Turkey met Monday for talks aimed at underlining their efforts...
The Latest | Michael Cohen takes the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
NEW YORK (AP) — The fourth week of witness testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial could be a doozy: Michael Cohen, the prosecution's...
Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial begins, his second in the last decade
By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Sen Bob Menendez, a Democrat, went on trial in Manhattan federal court Monday,...
The leaders of the organised Cypriot, Armenian, Kurdish and Egyptian communities in the UK have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to “incentivise” Ankara to end its destabilising actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, in the context of the ongoing UK-Turkey trade negotiations.
The communities, who have all felt the impact of Turkey’s authoritarianism and aggression, note that Turkey is increasingly a “destructive force” in the Eastern Mediterranean and wider region. They go on to say that Turkey is causing regional instability, undermining UK interests and espousing principles contrary to Global Britain. The letter listed examples of Turkey’s actions, including:
- Frequent illegal maritime and land incursions into neighbouring countries, accompanied by statements that disregard & violate international law
- Deliberately aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric from President Erdogan to stoke racial, religious and political tensions
- Extensive jailing of journalists and restrictions on freedom of expression
- Emerging & longstanding evidence of collusion with Daesh, facilitating the movement of foreign terrorist fighters via Turkey and exploiting/guiding illegal migration flows through Turkey
The co-signatories highlighted the concern that such actions cause and pointed to the decision by the UK Foreign Secretary not to grant new export licenses to Turkey for weapons which may be used in Syria.
The letter urged the Prime Minister to use the trade negotiations to hold the Turkish government to account “with clear commitments and conditions as part of the UK-Turkey trade deal” and “by encouraging and incentivising Turkey to cease its actions aimed at destabilising the Eastern Mediterranean and wider region”. The communities also noted that the UK’s stated intention to play a positive role in the world “makes the UK’s current absence from the Eastern Mediterranean, where it has historically had a very prominent role, all the more noticeable.”
Signatories
Christos Karaolis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK
Annette Moskofian, Chair of the Armenian National Committee UK
Turkan Ozcan, Chair of the Kurdish People’s Democratic Assembly of Britain
Mostafa Ragab, Chair of the Egyptian Council in the UK
Annette Moskofian, Chair of the Armenian National Committee UK
Turkan Ozcan, Chair of the Kurdish People’s Democratic Assembly of Britain
Mostafa Ragab, Chair of the Egyptian Council in the UK
Breaking News
Severe storms blitz the US South again after one of the most active tornado periods in history
ATLANTA (AP) — More than 15 million people from Texas to Florida were under threat of severe storms and the potential for more tornadoes...
Greek and Turkish leaders seek to stress thawing relations but tensions remain under the surface
By ANDREW WILKS Associated Press ISTANBUL (AP) — The leaders of Greece and Turkey met Monday for talks aimed at underlining their efforts...
The Latest | Michael Cohen takes the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
NEW YORK (AP) — The fourth week of witness testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial could be a doozy: Michael Cohen, the prosecution's...
Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial begins, his second in the last decade
By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Sen Bob Menendez, a Democrat, went on trial in Manhattan federal court Monday,...