The CTCA event saw many guests including Turkey’s consul general Emirhan Yorulmazlar, Çetin Ramadan, Ayşegül Yorulmazlar, David Amess MP, Representative Oya Tuncalı, Andrew Rosindell MP, Enfield Mayor Ali Bakır, İhsan Tuncalı, David Burrowes MP, Aysin Yılmaz and Mustafa Kemal Beyazbayram
A British MP risked controversy by addressing the Turkish Cypriot representative as the “High Commissioner for North Cyprus” despite his country’s clear foreign policy.
Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative member for Romford, said High Commissioners were the senior diplomats posted between Commonwealth countries instead of ambassadors and Oya Tuncalı should be referred to as the “High Commissioner for North Cyprus”.
Andrew Rosindell MP
Referring to the recent Scottish independence referendum, Mr Rosindell said if the Cyprus peace talks failed, all the Cypriot people should be permitted to use their right to self-determination.
Speaking at a networking event organised by the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations, he said: “this situation cannot continue forever”.
Mr Rosindell’s words are controversial because Britain does not recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which posted Ms Tuncalı to London. The Foreign Office considers the Greek Cypriot-run Republic of Cyprus to be the only legitimate government on the island and uses the “High Commissioner” title for its diplomats.
BURMESE EXAMPLE
Also speaking at the event was the Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes, who spoke of his experiences visiting Burma and the progress made towards democracy there.
Mr Burrowes said similar methods used to resolve Burma could be used in Cyprus and that he struggled to understand why it had taken so long to fix Turkey.
More than 50 MPs attended the event held at the Westminster parliament and attended by Ms Tuncalı and her deputy Mustafa Beyazbayram, as well as Havering councillor Osman Dervish and many guests from the local business world.
The acclaimed Cypriot jazz musician Atila Hüseyin was also at the event and serenaded the audience with some of his best-known pieces.