Beyarmudu mayor İlker Edip and a delegation of the municipality visited President Tatar at the Office of the Presidency, where discussions were held in relation to the difficulties being experienced by people who have retired from working in South Cyprus and at the Sovereign British Bases (SBA’s).   Mr Edip explained that their treatment by the Greek Cypriot Administration “violates human rights laws”. 

In response, President Tatar said that it is necessary to protect the legitimate rights of workers who commute to South Cyprus and SBA area for work.  The President said that the Greek Cypriot Administration is trying to enforce an unjust treatment to these Turkish Cypriots which breaches their human rights. 

President Tatar said that Turkish Cypriots who work in South Cyprus or SBA are being told by the Greek Cypriot authorities that “since you settled in North Cyprus in 1974, we are not prepared to recognise your birth and marriage certificates or such documents from North Cyprus”. He said this is causing great hardship to the workers. “No discrimination can be made between people, regardless of whether they are a citizen or not, about the rights arising from the same service provided,” the President said. 

President Tatar said that this treatment also contravened international employment law. 




“TRAMPLING OVER THE RETIREMENT AND OTHER RIGHTS OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS WHO WORK IN THE SOUTH AND IN THE SBA’S IS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW. . .I WILL BE BRINGING THIS INJUSTICE TO THE AGENDA”



President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot side is making this a political matter and trying to trample over the rights of retired workers. “I will be bringing this injustice and many others to the agenda of the five-plus-UN informal meeting and during the meetings of the respective delegations,” the President said.

President Tatar stated that the SBA’s are sovereign areas, adding that he will also be seeking the views of the UK on this matter. 

Stating that Turkish Cypriots are continuing to wage a struggle against the unjust treatment which has been ongoing for many years, the President added that sovereignty is equal, and there is no difference between the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people.