The British government must make it “unequivocally clear” to Turkey that its accession to the EU cannot proceed without a resolution of the Cyprus problem which will respect the island’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK Peter Droussiotis has told the Cyprus News Agency (“CNA”) in an interview.

“After all, these are the things which Britain has guaranteed by international treaty,” he added. Mr Droussiotis, who has been at the helm of the British Cypriot Federation since 2007, is the elected leader of a community estimated to be around 300,000 strong nationwide.

Mr Droussiotis outlined the role and democratic dynamics of the Federation, as the acknowledged voice of the UK Cypriot community, and referred to its historic and ongoing efforts “to upgrade our relationship and enhance co-ordination between the Federation and Cypriot institutions for the benefit of Cyprus. We have been instrumental in spearheading efforts to improve bi-lateral relations between Cyprus and the UK at all levels.”

He explained that all the Federation’s main actions revolve around three core points: “Demonstrate our community’s strong presence and unity of purpose, articulate a positive pitch in favour of Cyprus’s freedom and unity and counter well-financed, systematic propaganda orchestrated by Turkey and its advocates.”

Questioned on the complexion of youth engagement in the British Cypriot community, the Federation’s President was optimistic, saying that although “the passage of time is not our ally,” he has been impressed by the genuine engagement of the younger generations with the Federation, their passion for the Cypriot cause and their strong commitment to the advancement of the UK Cypriot community. He envisages both a renewed Federation in terms of new generations of British Cypriots coming in and a new set of actions that will make the voice of the community stronger and the Cyprus case more powerfully heard in the decision-making centres of the United Kingdom.

In the face of increasing resources and relentless propaganda instigated by Ankara which, far from working for the island’s reunification, is seemingly bent on upgrading the illegal regime in the northern part of Cyprus occupied by the Turkish army, Mr Droussiotis emphasised that the Federation is able to face up to new challenges with a fresh approach. He said:

“We must develop multiple strategic alliances not only within but also outside our community, for example, with other influential communities and groups which share our emphasis on human rights or our ‘geo-strategic’ orientation. We must encourage our new generations to become more integrated into and more active in mainstream British political parties. Above all, we must be externally, not internally, focused. And, yes, we must do more to involve UK Turkish Cypriots who share our agenda and our vision in aspects of our work, intelligently and sensitively,” he explained.

On direct political engagement in the British Parliament, the Federation President spoke of his appreciation of the committed support of cross party Parliamentary allies but warned against complacency.

“Our core supporters in Parliament are knowledgeable, highly principled and committed to our community and the Cypriot cause. That support is crucial to the success of our key political initiatives [and our efforts] aimed at raising awareness and developing a dialogue with newer parliamentarians in all of the main parties. But we cannot afford to be complacent, especially in the face of aggressive Turkish propaganda.”

Successive British governments have sought to appease Turkey in relation to Cyprus and this has made Turkey even more intransigent in its approach to the Cyprus issue, he noted, calling for pressure to be exerted by London over its strategic partner.

“The absence of a solution in Cyprus hurts all Cypriots, but the regional instability which this creates in an already volatile part of the world is inimical to the interests of the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey as well. It is our duty to make the case for a united Cyprus and to seek an alliance of interests which can persuade the British government to act more constructively in relation to this problem which, historically, is partly of its own creation.”

Along with the decision makers Mr. Droussiotis also acknowledged the importance of public opinion in the UK and the EU. “We need to articulate a simple but powerful message that can resonate with British and European public opinion. There is then a need to mobilise the community’s grassroots, throughout the UK, so that they become organically integrated into a relentless campaign to enlighten and pressurise ‘the powers that be’. (…) The impact of thousands of articulate and coherent voices united around a powerful proposition can make a difference to public opinion and politicians’ mindsets,” he said.

He stressed that the most important missing component for a solution to the Cyprus problem is “Turkey’s will to move on from its policy of partition and its desire to exercise de facto control over the island.”

Referring to talk of a “window of opportunity” for renewed progress in negotiations following Cyprus presidential elections this month, he made clear that this would be the case only if Turkey changed its position dramatically and worked for a solution “based on principles already agreed.”

Giving his view on the negotiating framework relating to Cyprus, Peter Droussiotis noted that while there is always room for tactical change and new thinking in any negotiating situation “what must not happen is an abandonment of the Cypriot side’s principled adherence to the strategic framework for a solution or a departure from a UN process or basis for future negotiations. Cypriots must never be tempted to surrender the only weapon or shield currently at their disposal, namely the rule of law.”

A full transcript of the interview in English appears below. A Greek translation can be found on the Federation website by clicking  here:

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY QUESTIONS:

Q1: How does the federation work? Who sets the targets and the strategy?

A1: The Federation represents virtually all of the community’s organised groups in the UK (with very few exceptions) and is the effective voice of the UK Cypriot community in this country. It functions through a Secretariat, currently comprising 37 members, and a 13-member Executive Council led by a President all of whom are elected bi-annually. The Federation adopts key strategic decisions collectively, through a democratic process,  and these are executed by the President and the Executive Council with support from a paid full-time Executive Secretary and an external PR and media communications agency. All of the people in elected roles are unpaid volunteers. The Federation represents the largest community of Cypriots outside the island itself (estimated at well in excess of 300,000) in one of the most important overseas centres in the world and this is reflected in its pre-eminent place within the global overseas Cypriots movement.

Q2: Are you satisfied by the level of support by Nicosia and the coordination with the government? 

A2: The Federation has had traditionally strong relations, throughout its history, both with the President and government of the Republic of Cyprus as well as with all of the leading Cypriot politicians and the political parties represented in the Cyprus House of Representatives. Our mission has always been to upgrade our relationship and enhance co-ordination between the Federation and Cypriot institutions for the benefit of Cyprus. We have also been instrumental in spearheading efforts to improve bi-lateral relations between Cyprus and the UK at all levels. I am satisfied with the current level of support and contact but there is always room for improvement. The Cypriot state and semi-governmental organisations need to do more to engage with the UK Cypriot community, especially with groups of UK Cypriots who are well placed to add value not only to Cyprus’s political cause but also to the island’s economic diplomacy which is, arguably, of equal importance. We need to be listened to more, not less; there needs to be greater interaction at all levels and accomplished British Cypriot academics, professionals, scientists, artists and entrepreneurs need to be better integrated into Cyprus’s body politic and business world.

Q3: Can you tell me some of the initiatives and the action of the Federation? 

A3: The Federation’s initiatives and actions are aimed primarily at the UK’s political and media world, in particular, the British Government and the main political parties in Parliament as well as media organisations and opinion formers which influence British foreign policy. The development of close links with British politicians in government and in opposition is a core objective of the Federation and this is achieved by a variety of means including strategic events at the Houses of Parliament as well  as more intimate meetings with selected parliamentarians. Such political development work is reinforced by a co-ordinated communications strategy centred on regular news output to thousands of targeted people and organisations of influence in the UK and in Europe, comprising elected politicians, prominent journalists, academics, business people, community leaders and others. All of our actions revolve around three core points – demonstrate our community’s strong presence and unity of purpose, articulate a positive pitch in favour of Cyprus’s freedom and unity and counter well-financed, systematic propaganda orchestrated by Turkey and its advocates.

Q4: What is the level of participation and interest by the Cypriot community in the UK? What about the younger generations specifically? 

A4: I am convinced that Cyprus’s case in the UK would have been seriously, perhaps fatally,  undermined by now had it not been for the active presence and effective advocacy of the British Cypriot community, through the Federation and its member organisations, in the British Parliament and other centres of power in the UK  The passage of time is certainly not our ally in this regard but I have been very impressed by the genuine engagement of our younger generations with the Federation and their passion for the Cypriot cause. This is equalled by their strong commitment to the advancement of our community in this country which is the only guarantee we have that British Cypriots will not only retain their identity in the future but also that they will flourish.  The Federation must respond to the challenge of renewal, both in terms of people, but also and, equally importantly, in the context of the strategies and the methods that it adopts to maintain and enhance the level of participation and interest in its work. We need to re-examine the way we work and to consider new and more effective tools of engagement whether in relation to our political lobbying work or the way we involve our community in what we do and how we do it. We must abandon those things which manifestly no longer work  and inject our collective energies into those initiatives and activities which deliver measurable outcomes. This requires courage, leadership and a willingness to challenge the norm.

Q5: Do you think the Federation and the community in general should consider changing anything in its approach to campaigning for a solution? 

A5: Yes, we must be open-minded and must be willing to consider new campaigning methods and approaches. We must develop multiple strategic alliances not only within but also outside our community, for example, with other influential communities and groups which share our emphasis on human rights or our ‘geo-strategic’ orientation.  We must encourage our new generations to become more integrated into, and more active in, mainstream British political parties. Above all, we must be externally, not internally, focused. For every one internally-oriented event we have, we should have 9 that engage with, and speak to, the world outside our community, especially those groups of strategic importance to our mission. And, yes, we must do more to involve UK Turkish Cypriots who share our agenda and our vision in aspects of our work, intelligently and sensitively.

Q6: What is the level of response and understanding by British MPs? 

A6: Our core supporters in Parliament are knowledgeable, highly principled and committed to our community and to the Cypriot cause. The support of such parliamentarians is crucial to the success of our key initiatives in the House of Commons and of other key events such as our political party conference fringe meetings which take place annually. Our challenge centres on raising awareness and developing a dialogue with newer parliamentarians in all of the main parties. This has been a strategic priority for us, especially following the general election in 2010 which resulted in wholesale change within parliament. I am satisfied with the level of cross-party response and engagement we have had but we cannot afford to be complacent, especially in the face of aggressive Turkish propaganda.  Key to our ability to maintain and build our parliamentary support further is to utilise whatever political connections each one of us has  within the mainstream British political parties and with our own elected representatives.

Q7: What would you want a British government to do and do you believe it ever will? 

A7: The British government can and must do more to exert pressure on its strategic ally, Turkey. Successive  British governments have sought to appease Turkey in relation to Cyprus and this has made Turkey even more intransigent in its approach to the Cyprus issue. Britain must make it unequivocally clear to Turkey that its accession to the EU cannot proceed without a resolution in Cyprus that respects the island’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty –after all, these are the things which Britain has guaranteed by international treaty. The absence of a solution in Cyprus hurts all Cypriots but the regional instability which this creates in an already volatile part of the world is inimical to the interests of the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey as well. It is our duty to make the case for a united Cyprus and to seek an alliance of interests which can persuade the British Government to act more constructively in relation to this problem which, historically, is partly of its own creation.

Q8: What more can be done from your side to convince politicians and the public opinion here in the UK to look into Cyprus and press for a just and viable solution? 

A8: We need to articulate a simple but powerful message that can resonate with British public opinion – simple messages enter the brain quicker and stay there longer. There is then a need to mobilise the community’s grassroots, throughout the UK, so that they become organically integrated into a relentless campaign to enlighten and pressurise ‘the powers that be’ – the institutions which make or influence decisions – based on our overarching message, directly and through the media.  The resources at our disposal are limited – we must, therefore, build virtual campaigning communities capable of co-ordinated and targeted action on a continuing basis. This requires intelligent investment in a strategic action plan to search for, connect with and inspire hubs of UK Cypriots, up and down the country, so that we can create a coherent grassroots movement in support of a just and viable solution in Cyprus. The impact of thousands of articulate and coherent voices united around a powerful proposition can make a difference to public opinion and politicians’ mindsets.

Q9: What do you think are the components missing for a solution? 

A9:The most important missing component is Turkey’s will to move on from its policy of partition and its desire to exercise de facto control over the island.

Q10: Do you share the opinion of those who say that after the Cyprus presidential election there is a ‘window’ of opportunity to make progress on the Cyprus problem since there are no elections in any of the concerned parties for some time? 

A10: This will only be true if Turkey changes its position dramatically and works for a solution based on principles already agreed.

11: There’s been much talk of a change in negotiations and/or targets: by Mr Downer, the Turkish side, The Turkish Cypriot leadership, even by candidate presidents in Cyprus. What is your view on that (could anything change and to which direction)? 

A11: There is always room for tactical change and new thinking in any negotiating situation. However, what must not happen is an abandonment of the Cypriot side’s principled adherence to the strategic framework for a solution or a departure from a UN process or basis for future negotiations. Cypriots must never be tempted to surrender the only weapon or shield currently at their disposal, namely the rule of law.