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.
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