Former leader and Conservative Party MP for Chingford and Woodford Green Iain Duncan Smith, visited Northern Cyprus, engaging in various significant meetings. Accompanied by his team, Duncan Smith met with key political figures including the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar, Speaker of the TRNC Parliament, Zorlu Töre, and TRNC Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu.
During his visit, Duncan Smith also toured the closed-off area of Varosha (Maraş) with Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, the Secretary-General of the National Unity Party (UBP), and provided his insights on the situation.
Following his meeting with President Tatar, Duncan Smith emphasized his ongoing campaign for direct flights from the UK to Northern Cyprus.
“The reason for my visit is to address the difficulties faced by Turkish Cypriot British citizens, who have extended families here, due to the lack of direct flights. It is crucial from a humanitarian perspective for British citizens to reach their families as easily as possible. This is a significant motive behind my campaign,” stated Duncan Smith.
He highlighted that the campaign is bipartisan, with support from former ministers who have signed a letter to the UK Foreign Secretary regarding the issue. “This is not a party issue; it should be viewed as a matter of logic and humanity,” he said.
President Tatar emphasized the economic and social importance of direct flights, noting the presence of successful Turkish Cypriot businesspeople with investments in Turkey, the UK, and the TRNC. He stressed the strong ties between Turkish Cypriots and the UK, mentioning that the number of Turkish Cypriots living in the UK is almost equal to those in the TRNC.
