Britain’s Turkish Cypriot community is invited to attend a special fundraising event to raise money for lobbying. The two-and-a-half hour event, which includes a keynote speaker and a buffet dinner, will take place at Empire Lounge in Walthamstow on the last Sunday of April.
The voluntary-led British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA) has been at the forefront of the campaign to overturn the air embargo imposed by UK authorities last year on all flights originating from Ercan Airport.
Since 1st June 2017, all Ercan passengers heading to the UK must not only have a touch-down in Turkey, but must also disembark from the plane and go through a new security check before re-boarding. The new rules have added time and stress for travellers, especially the elderly, disabled and those with young children. It has also seen many passengers abandon Ercan flights in favour of those travelling from airports in South Cyprus, which fly direct to the UK.
BTCA is trying to raise money to fund a sustained campaign that will reverse these rules. In October, they led a Turkish Cypriot delegation that met with Transport Minister Chris Grayling. While details of the meeting were not released, the team were pleased with the discussions. Yet six months on, the Ercan air embargo remains intact.
The BTCA have decided to turn to the community to raise funds to professionally lobby the government over the issue. On Sunday, 29 April, they will host Rikki Williams, a respected Conservative Party and Parliamentary Liaison Consultant.
Williams will be a guest speaker at this discussion night about how best to further Turkish Cypriot interests in the UK. Tickets are priced £30 per person, and include a hot and cold buffet. Those who can’t attend, but would like to support can also donate to the campaign fund. Contact BTCA to reserve your place or to find out how to make a donation.
Talk details
Date: Sunday 29 April 2018
Time: 5pm-7:30pm
Venue: Empire Lounge, 20 Woodford New Road, Walthamstow, London E17 3PR
Price: £30 (Hot and cold buffet with a complimentary drink on arrival)
More info and tickets: Kay 0783 423 5075 / Olgun 0780 123 4947
Main photo above: BTCA chair Ersu Ekrem third right, with BTCA committee member Olgun Sadik on far left. The two led the Turkish Cypriot delegation that met with Transport Minister Chris Grayling on 11 October 2017.
