Action

ACTION CYPRUS

AN HEC PROJECT

Illegal development of refugees land

 

Campaign of Action

US based “Hawthorn Suites” a subsidiary of “US Franchise Systems” plans to illegally develop and manage hotels in the occupied Greek Cypriot village of Ayios Amvrosios. Please take action to stop this.

Send protests to info@usfsi.com, public.relations@usfsi.com, hawthornpr@usfsi.com

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has come to my attention that Hawthorn Suites a subsidiary of US Franchise Systems has signed an agreement with developer Savyon Village Limited to develop and manage hotels at the Turtle Bay village Resort in the occupied Greek Cypriot village of Ayios Amvrosios (Esentepe) in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus. The agreement you have singed is morally reprehensible and violates the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union of which Cyprus is a member as well as the European Convention of Human Rights and numerous resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, therefore I demand that you revoke it immediately otherwise you will face legal action and a customer and investor backlash.

In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus illegally in violation of over 30 exiting UN resolutions condemning its systematic aggression and numerous acts of terror, which 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 Greek Cypriot village of Ayios Amvrosios (Esentepe) where the Turtle Bay village Resort is located was systematically ethnically cleansed of its original population consisting of 1543 Greek Cypriots who own all of the land and property in this village. No Turkish Cypriots resided in the village before the illegal Turkish invasions of July and August 1974. According to the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, Loizidou v. Turkey (European Court of Human Rights Application no. 15318/89), Cyprus v. Turkey, (ECHR Application no. 25781/94), Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey, (ECHR Application no. 46347/99), all Greek Cypriot land and property in occupied Cyprus continues to belong to its original owners and must be returned to them by Turkey.

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 agreement to operate hotels built on stolen land in occupied Cyprus is legally invalid and contrary to these resolutions and international law. The European Union does not permit investment or development of Greek Cypriot refugees immovable property in occupied Cyprus.

The so-called "Turkish Cypriot Airlines" which is the only airline to fly to occupied Cyprus 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. This land and property includes the illegal "Erkan" airport in the occupied Greek Cypriot village of Tymbou from which its 2000 inhabitants were ethnically cleansed. The resolutions of the UN and the judgments of the ECHR demand that this property is returned to its original Greek Cypriot owners.

Under Cyprus and EU law (Article 281 of the Penal Code) 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 of over $11,000 US dollers. 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 Lufthansa employees.

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 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.

Airlines operating in the occupied part of Cyprus are not under effective control of the government of Cyprus and do not comply with European Union or international regulations including the Chicago Convention. They have not been registered or accredited by the Cyprus Ministry of Trade and their self-declared aviation accreditations are not recognised anywhere in the world except Turkey.

By continuing its franchise and managment of hotels in occupied Cyprus, Hawthorn Suites and its parant company US Franchise Systems are not only bringing their name into disrepute but are committing a criminal act and are engaged in the blatant violation of international law as well as transgressing the basic human rights of the ethnically cleansed Greek Cypriot refugees who own the land and property that the Turtle Bay village Resort hotel complex is buit on.

I therefore urge you to cancel your so-called agreement with the illegal Turkish developers if you wish your integrity and reputation to be restored and do not want legal actions to be taken against you or your clients.


Yours faithfully, 

 

 

 

 

THE FACTS

 

Hawthorn Suites as subsidiary of US Franchise Systems plans to operate the illegal “Turtle Bay village Resort” in occupied Ayios Amvrosios, which will boast more than 1,000 bedrooms including 408 two-and three-bedroom suites, plus 35 three-and four-bedroom villas with kitchens and living rooms, which are all built illegally on Greek Cypriot owned land. The complex will also feature six swimming pools, two tennis courts, a basketball court, gym, business centre, convenience store, beauty saloon and mini-golf. The US company also plans to sell or rent out 150 illegal time-share villas in this illegal resort.

The occupied village of Ayios Amvrosios where the illegal hotel complex is located was populated by 1543 Greek Cypriots in 1974 and no Turkish Cypriots. All the land and property where this hotel complex is located legally belongs to Greek Cypriot refugees who have been judged by the ECHR to still be the legal owners [Loizidou v. Turkey (European Court of Human Rights Application no. 15318/89), Cyprus v. Turkey, (ECHR Application no. 25781/94), Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey, (Application no. 46347/99)]

Anyone using or exploiting the land or property of Greek Cypriot refugees including US citizens may be tried in the Republic of Cyprus with judgments against them enforceable in any European State. (The Courts of the Republic of Cyprus have the power following the passing of a law on 17.3.2005 by the Cyprus House of Representatives with amends Article 281 of the Penal Code, as a result of which the crime of illegal occupation, cultivation, distribution or use of immovable property carries a prison sentence of up to two years or/and a fine of up to ₤5000 equal to 11,013.22 US dollars.)

 

Entering the occupied areas through ports and airports declared closed to traffic by the Cyprus government and residing in hotels in the occupied north constitute the following violations of Cyprus and international law.

1.- Violation of Cyprus laws which declare the use of all ports and airports
in the occupied areas illegal.

2.- Violation of Cyprus laws which prohibit the illegal exploitation of
refugees property which now carry a sentence of two years in prison.

3.- Violation of Cyprus laws of trespass

4.- Violation of the European Convention of Human Rights (Right to
property).

6.- Violation of EU customs regulations which prohibit the use of the
illegal ports and airports.

7.- Illegal entry into the Republic of Cyprus.

8.- Illegal entry into the European Union.

9.- Illegal trade across EU borders.

10.- Encouraging the violation of Cyprus and EU laws through the promotion and use of illegal flights, and refugees property.

11.- Violation of the UN Resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984)

12.- Violation of the Cyprus Flight Information Region.

13.- Illegal entry into Cyprus Air Space.

14.- Ignoring the Air Traffic Control Regulations.

15.- Flying without insurance.

16.- Illegal designation of an air flight.

A grieving mother holding photos of her missing son.
1600+ men, women and children still missing
Greek Cypriots taken prisoner and transported to Turkey.
up to 70,000 held hostage in concentration camps

A Greek Cypriot napalmed by the Turkish air-force.
5000+ massacred
Greek Cypriots subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment.
thousands raped and tortured
200,000 ethnically cleansed

Christian gave stones smashed by the Turks.
500+ churches desecrated or destroyed

The murder of Tasos Isaac.
murders of refugees continue to this day

The murder of Solomos Solomou.

© 2001/2006 HEC and Argyros Argyrou. Updated on 15 November 2006.