More than 30 associations undersigned a letter calling for Australia to lead the international community for ending the inhumane isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Australia is home to one of the largest Turkish-Cypriot diaspora communities in the world, and this week they are celebrating a visit by the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar.
Mr. Tatar, with this visit, has become the first ever elected leader of the Turkish-Cypriots to do so.
Greek Cypriot lobbying efforts had succeeded until recently in Australia not accommodating similar attempts by Turkish Cypriot leaders to Australia.
In a letter published by the Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance, the Australian Turkish community, including the Cypriot Turks have welcomed the President, and called for Australia to end the inhumane isolation imposed on the Turkish people of the island.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was founded in 1983 as the islands Turkish people exercised its right for self determination.
The Republic of Cyprus gained independence from the British in 1960 on the premises of island's Greek and Turkish populations would have equal rights and proportionate representation in power. However, soon after the independence, the Greek Cypriots declared their intention to usurp power and eventually annex the island to Greece.
This followed a bloody period of ethnic cleansing of Turks in the island, causing tens of thousand being displaced.
On 15 July 1974, a far right coup d'etat backed by the fascist junta in Greece, diminished final hopes to restore the nation's founding constitution, forced the Republic of Turkiye on 29 July 1974 to exercise its right to intervene unilaterally, in order to protect the Turks on the island.
Following years of failed negotiations for the reunification of the island, including Greek side's refusal to endorse a UN plan which was endorsed by the Turks, resulted in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to pursuit a two-state solution on the island.
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