London, Thanassis Gavos
Reactions from the Greek community, British politicians and citizens have provoked the hoisting of the pseudo-state flag on the mast of Waltham Forest town hall in north London on Monday morning, on the occasion of the “anniversary” of the illegal unilateral proclamation of falsehood.
The raising of the flag was organized by Turkish Cypriot municipal councilors and citizens, with the approval of the municipal council.
Following the reactions and the announcement to the municipality that this is the flag of an illegal and internationally recognized regime, the leader of the Waltham Forest City Council, Grace Williams, apologized publicly.
“The Waltham Forest City Council apologizes for the insult caused by the hoisting of the flag of Northern Cyprus, which has now been removed. “We accept that this remains a disputed area that is not recognized by the UK government and we will not raise it again in the future,” said Williams.
He added that cultural and historical sensitivities had to be fully taken into account.
The flag of Northern Cyprus was raised yesterday above Waltham Forest town hall without the knowledge of the leader of the council who has since condemned the action.
— John Cryer (@JohnCryerMP) November 16, 2021
North London MP Teresa Villiers also condemned the incident in a statement. “It was an irresponsible move that ignores cultural sensitivities. “The self-proclaimed ‘TRNC’ is not recognized as a legitimate government by the international community or by the courts,” the Conservative MP stressed.
Ms Villiers added that the hoisting of this flag at a town hall in north London would have caused “pain and unrest” to residents who were evicted from their homes due to the Turkish invasion and occupation.
He also noted that the incident looks like an attempt to secure recognition “through the back door” of the illegal administration in the north of Cyprus and the illegal division of Cyprus.
Ms Villiers also expressed relief at the rectification, urging the city council not to repeat the mistake.
The reaction of the National Cyprus Federation of the United Kingdom was immediate. Its president, Christos Karaolis, and the parish secretariat said that as the 38th anniversary of the illegal unilateral declaration of the pseudo-state was marked, the flag of the self-proclaimed “TRNC” was “raised unacceptably” outside Walt Town Hall.
Very interesting! Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus flag raised to tune of Turkish national anthem outside Waltham Forest Town Hall in London. Is this for Remembrance Sunday or for today’s anniversary of the establishment of the unrecognised Turkish Cypriot state? @wfcouncil pic.twitter.com/SUEtIkyYbV
— Ertan Karpazli (@Ertan_Karpazli) November 15, 2021
“It is bitter, insensitive and deeply provocative for Cypriots, as well as disrespectful to the UK’s long-standing position on Cyprus under successive British governments,” the statement continued.
It was even pointed out that in 1983 the British government disapproved of the unilateral declaration and therefore the raising of this flag is “unjustified”.
Mr Karaolis and other federal officials also referred to British support for United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), which condemned the unilateral declaration as “legally invalid” and called for its annulment.
“Cyprus must be reunited as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. This raising of the flag and any similar action only serve to undermine the prospects for reunification and encourage the supporters of secession. Therefore, while welcoming the apology of city council leaders for the insult and the assurance that the flag will not be lifted in the future, it is not enough. “Such actions must meet with unequivocal opposition and condemnation from all those who respect international law and want to see Cyprus reunited,” the federation said in a statement.
It is noted that after the apology of the leader of the municipal council, at least one of the organizers of the flag hoisting ceremony has requested her resignation.
Theresa Villiers MP, Chipping Barnet, has issued a statement condemning the flag-raising of the secessionist regime outside Waltham Forest Town Hall yesterday pic.twitter.com/2TYe3nmxtW
— National Federation of Cypriots in the UK (@UKCypriotFed) November 16, 2021
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