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Appended below is a draft
letter. Please feel free to use as a model, but it is only effective if you
use your own words and not simply copying/pasting verbatim.
Nick Giannoukakis
February 12, 2005
For the immediate
attention of:
Regarding participation
in the delegation to Turkish visit
cc.
Investor/Media Relations
Dear. *****,
I am deeply concerned
about your participation in a delegation of US corporations being courted
by the regime occupying northern Cyprus. The Turkish media have confirmed
that representatives of your company will fly into the occupied territories
to hold contacts with the Turkish-Cypriot Chamber of Manufacturers as a
first step of establishing operations in that area.
You may be aware that
the only legal and internationally-recognised authority for Cyprus is the
government in Nicosia. The so-called “Republic of Northern Cyprus” is an
illegal entity that no other nation recognises except Turkey-which
illegally invaded the island in 1974- and maintains more than 30,000 troops
in support of a puppet regime. It is worth noting that a number of
international conventions, UN, US and European Union forbid any commercial
activity with the puppet regime and its entities (specific resolutions
appended).
American corporations
have nothing to gain and everything to lose should they choose to establish
any form of relationship with the occupying regime and its entities. I am
deeply troubled that US companies will be breaking international
law-further eroding our image and democratic values in the eyes of the
world at a time when we desperately need to demonstrate our leadership in
the arena of values and morals. Of the many dilemmas US companies should
consider prior to embarking on such an adventure, I only point out the
following:
The properties that the
occupation regime is flaunting to US companies and the land are properties
seized by the Turkish forces in 1974 following the eviction of more than
200,000 Cypriots. Legally, the land and property titles are still in the
hands of the Cypriots and if the Orams case in Great Britain is any
indicator, transfer of these properties to foreign nationals, including
corporations, will certainly result in seizure of the properties-certainly
in Europe-of corporate assets to offset the illegal transfer. In fact, the
US State Dept. clearly advises: “U.S. Citizens who buy property,
particularly in northern Cyprus, may find their ownership challenged by
people displaced in 1974. Prospective property buyers should seek legal
advice before buying.”-State Dept. Travel Advisory (Jan. 28, 2005).
The occupied
territories are known to harbor fronts, recruitment and training centers
for international terrorists. Al-Qaeda, through the Chechen groups is but
one of such operations running out of the occupied territories.
US agencies have
identified “banks” in the occupied territories as major money-laundering
centers and offshore havens for a number of illegal organisations.
That the regime and its
institutions have no international recognition makes it completely
illogical to expect any form of asset protection. It would be folly to
invest in anything that cannot be backed up or enforced through
international institutions. While you may be receiving suggestions that the
US State Dept. will provide guarantees, our venerable foreign office has no
such mandate nor can it realistically cover the losses and legal
liabilities of US corporations in areas that are not legal or
internationally-recognised. Such is reality.
It would be indeed sad
to have the USA, its citizens and its image tarnished once again in the
foreign arena. It would be even more sad if US corporations were to be seen
investing in regimes which are maintained by rogue organisations, rogue
operations and illegal activity. I implore you to reconsider your
participation in this delegation. Please help maintain America’s reputation
and image through your corporate governance and by promoting democratic
values and the rule of law.
Respectfully,
*******
APPENDIX:
UN Security Council - RESOLUTION
1251 (1999) plus 53 Security Council Resolutions, 5 UN resolutions on
missing persons, 4 UN resolutions on human rights. UN Security Council
Resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984).
House Subcommittee
Unanimously Approves H.Con.Res. 164 Supporting Cyprus Accession to the EU
July 25th, 2002.
Expressing the sense of
Congress regarding the security, reconciliation, and prosperity for all
Cypriots 2002 S. Con. Res. 122. November 18th, 2002.
European Parliament
Resolution 19/09/1996 plus another 8 resolutions
US State Resolutions:
State of Michigan Feb.
12, 2002
State of Rhode Island
Sept. 9, 1999
State of Pennsylvania
July 20, 2002
State of New York July
20, 2002
Relevant articles:
Drug Money Laundering
booming in Turkey and Turkish-Occupied Cyprus; By Orya Sultan Halisdemir /
Turkish Daily News Sat April 12, 1997
-and US Dept. of
Treasury Press Release August 24, 2004
-and www.
Moneylaundering.com (Central Bank of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus)
-Al Qaeda's Balkan Links, Wall Street Journal
Europe | November 1, 2001 | Marcia Christoff-Kurof.
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