Action

ACTION CYPRUS

AN HEC PROJECT

Exchange program with illegal university

Campaign of Protest

Send protests to Themis-SDSU@hec.Greece.org where they will be forwarded to SDSU and other relevant bodies and individuals.
 
Dr. Stephen L. Weber,
President
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8000
 
Telephone: 619.594.5201
Fax: 619.594.8894  
 
Dear Dr. Stephen L. Weber,
 
It has come to my attention that a group of 20-22 students from San Diego State University will participate on a six-week exchange program organized by the so-called “Eastern Mediterranean University” located in occupied Famagusta in the areas of Cyprus which have been under illegal Turkish military occupation for the past 32 years. The group will arrive in occupied Cyprus on July 8, 2006 and remain there for six weeks as a part of a memorandum of cooperation with the so-called illegal “Eastern Mediterranean University.” Ms. Stacey Sinclair, interim director of the University Honors program at San Diego State University, will lead this group of students to the so-called “Eastern Mediterranean University.”
 
Turkey invaded Cyprus illegally in 1974 in violation of over 30 existing UN resolutions condemning its aggression and numerous acts of terror it had perpetrated over the previous decade against both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Over 200,000 Greek Cypriots who made up 90% of the population were brutally raped, tortured, murdered and ethnically cleansed from 40% of Cyprus territory by the invading Turkish forces and have never been allowed to return to their land and homes since.
 
The puppet state which Turkey has set up in occupied Cyprus referred to as the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” has been declared "legally invalid" by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984) which also call upon all states not to assist this illegal entity in any way, therefore your memorandum of cooperation with the so-called "Eastern Mediterranean University" which operates in violation of Cyprus and European Union law and contrary to these resolutions is illegal.
 
The so-called “Eastern Mediterranean University” operates illegally from buildings and lands which were stolen from Greek Cypriot owners who were brutally ethnically cleansed by Turkish forces in 1974 and have not been allowed to return in violation of numerous judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and over 100 resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly passed since the illegal Turkish invasion, including resolution 550(1984) which demand this property is returned to its original Greek Cypriot owners. This land and property was formerly the Center for Higher Studies of Ammochostos (known as Saveriades K.L.S.L. College) and its legal owners have applied to the European Court of Human Rights for it to be returned (Saveriades v. Turkey, Case16160/90).
 
Under Cyprus and EU law the use or exploitation of land or property belonging to Greek Cypriots, without their permission is a criminal offence and carries a two-year prison sentence and a heavy fine. The judgments of the Cyprus courts are enforceable in all EU member states and international arrest warrants can be issued for the arrest of anyone illegally using or exploiting Greek Cypriot property including students of San Diego State University.
 
The only legal political entity on the island of Cyprus is the Republic of Cyprus, which is the legal government and represents all of the people on the island including both Greek and Turkish Cypriots and whose authority and jurisdiction extends to all parts of the island including the occupied areas. Under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and the EU it is illegal to enter the island through any ports or airports in the areas illegally occupied by over 40,000 Turkish troops since 1974. All points of entry in the occupied areas have been declared closed by the government of Cyprus and anyone entering through them is responsible for committing a criminal offence, which is punishable by the Cyprus and EU courts. Since the illegal Erkan airport in occupied Cyprus is built illegally on land belonging to over 200 ethnically cleansed Greek Cypriots from the village of Tymbou anyone entering Cyprus through this airport is liable to arrest in any EU member state and can be sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.
 
Universities operating in the occupied part of Cyprus are not under effective control of the government of Cyprus. They have not been registered or accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture and their academic accreditations and certificates are not recognised internationally. These so-called “universities” use properties which are owned by persons holding title under the law of the Republic of Cyprus and who have been unlawfully excluded from their property.
 
By continuing its relationship with the so-called “Eastern Mediterranean University,” San Diego State University abets and perpetuates a blatant violation of international law as well as a transgression of basic human rights. I therefore urge you to cancel this delegation trip and memorandum of cooperation and publicly apologise to the people of Cyprus.
 
 
Yours faithfully,
 
 
cc. Alan Sweedler, Office of International Programs

 

© 2001/2006 HEC and Argyros Argyrou. Updated on 3 July  2006