The Embargoed! Saints

The following UK political candidates have been selected for assisting the Embargoed! campaign to end North Cyprus’ isolation &/or for their efforts to bring about a fair solution in Cyprus where people on both sides of the island can enjoy the same rights and opportunities.

  • Alev Cazimoglu – Labour local Councillor candidate for Enfield Highway, Enfield
  • Andrew Charalambous – Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Edmonton
  • Ertan Hurer – Conservative local Councillor candidate for Winchmore Hill, Enfield
  • Joan Ryan – Labour Parliamentary candidate for Enfield North
  • Jonathan Fryer – Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Poplar & Limehouse
  • John Oakes – Liberal Democrat local Council candidate for Bounds Green ward, Haringey
  • Ramis Cizer – Liberal Democrat local Councillor candidate for Jubilee ward, Enfield
  • Dr. Turhan Ozen – Liberal Democrat local Councillor candidate for Mildmay ward, Islington
Alev Cazimoglu

Labour local Councillor candidate for Enfield Highway, Enfield

Ms Cazimoglu has worked tirelessly as a Labour activist to educate her party about the realities in Cyprus, including the root causes of the conflict and the unacceptable isolation of North Cyprus. She has helped generate official and unofficial meetings between the Labour Government and the North Cyprus Government and Turkish Cypriot NGOs. Working with a range of bi-communal groups, she remains committed to a fair solution in Cyprus that balances the rights of everyone on the island.

Andrew Charalambous

Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Edmonton

Mr Charalambous has taken considerable time getting to know the local British Turkish community in Edmonton and understands Cyprus is an important issue. His own family is from Paphos and he recently told Embargoed! that he is ready to visit North Cyprus and meet its people and leaders to gauge how the international isolation affects life there. He wishes to see an immediate end to educational and sporting embargoes. If elected, he will work for a fair solution on Cyprus, helping Cypriots to overcome their past traumas and current differences so they can create a new positive chapter for the island.

Ertan Hurer

Conservative local Councillor candidate for Winchmore Hill, Enfield

A co-founder of the Conservative Friends of Turkey, Mr Hurer has worked behind the scenes to encourage balanced action from the Tories on the Cyprus issue. He wants to see Greek and Turkish Cypriots learn to live side-by-side under the same political roof. He has helped facilitate various meetings for Embargoed! such as with MEP Syed Kamall to discuss the EU promises on ending North Cyprus’ isolation.

Joan Ryan

Labour Parliamentary candidate for Enfield North

Five years ago Ms Ryan would have been on the Sinner list, her attitudes towards Cyprus were that biased and misinformed. However, in recent years she has become more open and shown herself to be a true friend of all Cypriots. She is committed to permanent federal solution for the island and has worked hard to foster trust and confidence between Cypriots, meeting regularly with representatives from both sides, and issuing statements that reflect the rights and needs of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Although she has not always seen eye-to-eye with Embargoed! (Operation Pabuc!), Ms Ryan has worked with the group on its 2006 Silent Walk project, meeting former TRNC First lady Oya Talat in the process, and facilitated meetings with members of the Labour Government.

Jonathan Fryer

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Poplar & Limehouse

In keeping with his party’s progress attitude towards Turkey and Turkish Cypriots, Mr Fryer helped drive through a UK Liberal Democrats motion at the European Liberals congress in Barcelona in November 2009. The motion, which called on the EU to end Turkish Cypriot isolation and demanded criteria for Turkey’s EU accession to be consistent with other candidates, was successfully passed.


John Oakes

Liberal Democrat local Council candidate for Bounds Green ward, Haringey

One of the most pro-active politicians on trying to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, Mr Oakes is a keen supporter of Embargoed! He spoke out against the ridiculous ban on a friendly match between Luton and Cetinkaya back in 2007, and the Arsenal flag ban prompted by the racist “i-Greek petition” against the TRNC flag. He flew to North Cyprus to learn about the impact of the embargoes, meeting then President Talat, and has stood outside the High Court during the Orams case demanding justice for all refugees and current users of property in Cyprus. He has been pivotal in raising awareness about the North Cyprus issue within the Lib Dems, initiating the Cyprus-Turkey-EU motion at the 2009 European Liberals congress, and supporting his party’s efforts to find a fair and balanced solution in Cyprus.

Ramis Cizer

Liberal Democrat local Councillor candidate for Jubilee ward, Enfield

Mr Cizer first encountered Embargoed! as a journalist and quickly became a supporter of the group’s campaign. He is keen to raise awareness about the issue, particularly the sports embargoes, regularly exposing the injustices to the UK’s Turkish speaking community and beyond.

Dr. Turhan Ozen

Liberal Democrat local Councillor candidate for Mildmay ward, Islington

Dr Ozen is a co-founder of the Lib Dem Friends of Turkey and another supporter of Embargoed! He helps disseminate group news to his network, helping to ensure Turkish Cypriots do not remain the forgotten people of Europe. He works to ensure his Lib Dems party pursues a fair and balanced policy for all Cypriots.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Comments are closed.