The leaders of the organised Cypriot, Armenian, Kurdish and Egyptian diasporas in the UK have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to “incentivise” Ankara to end its destabilising actions in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of the ongoing UK-Turkey trade negotiations.
The diaspora leaders note that Turkey has increasingly become a “destructive force” in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, that routinely violates international law. This, they add in their letter, has caused regional instability, undermines UK interests in the region and runs contrary to the principles of Global Britain.
Detailing Turkey’s actions they point to “frequent illegal maritime and land incursions into neighbouring countries”, “deliberately aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric from President Erdogan to stoke racial, religious & political tensions”, “extensive jailing of journalists and restrictions on freedom of expression”, as well as “emerging and longstanding evidence of collusion with Daesh”.
The co-signatories highlight the concern that such actions cause and point to the decision by the UK Foreign Secretary not to grant new export licenses to Turkey for weapons which may be used in Syria.
While the letter acknowledges London’s positive foreign policy agenda through the new sanctions regime against individuals that are responsible for human rights violations, it comments that this agenda “makes the UK’s current absence from the Eastern Mediterranean, where it has historically had a very prominent role, all the more noticeable.”
Prime Minister Johnson is then asked to exercise the “crucial role” that the UK can play in holding the Turkish government to account “with clear commitments and conditions as part of the UK-Turkey trade deal”.
“These trade talks represent a unique opportunity to reinforce this positive foreign policy agenda, by encouraging and incentivising Turkey to cease its actions aimed at destabilising the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region. We urge our Government to utilise this opportunity to reinforce our foreign policy goals,” concludes the letter.
Signing it are 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 and
Mostafa Ragab, Chair of the Egyptian Council in the UK.