Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad (ATCA) Objectives

1. The Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad (ATCA) was established in July 2003 as a NON FOR PROFIT organisation, with the aim of forming a web site which would address the problems of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and that of the Turkish Cypriots worldwide.

2. ATCA has collated a vast amount of information regarding the issues concerning Cyprus. Historical documents, statements, plans, pictures, facts and figures as well as up to date news is presented by ATCA, for the purpose of enlightening those in power/decision makers, and also the ordinary Turkish or indeed Non-Turkish person regarding the Cyprus issue.

3. Following intensive organisation, the aims of creating a web site were finally realised, containing a rich source of information regarding the Cyprus issue, and ATCA has sought to present past and present news to its readers. The web site commenced in 2004 after preparations which took one year, and is now constantly updated on a daily basis.

4. ATCA has two primary objectives :

i) To effectively Lobby : ATCA knows very well that it is vital to have effective lobbying and to sufficiently communicate the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot People to worldwide leaders and international institutions. Therefore, ATCA has sought to cater for this need.

ii) To Organise and Unite the Turkish Cypriots Clear and concise information can not be communicated without organisation and unity. Therefore, ATCA is undertaking the task of arousing awareness and to uniting the Turkish Cypriots worldwide and their allies and friends, as well as the people who seek the truth about the Cyprus problem.

5. There are at present 8 Executive members for ATCA, and assisting that make significant contributions to the site.

6. ATCA is non-political, with no affiliation with any political group or NON FOR PROFIT ORGANISATION.

7. The slogans used : Respect Equality Recognition

ATCA shall lobby hard and effectively in light of the above slogans, calling on the International Community to Respect the Human Rights of the Turkish Cypriots, with particular reference to the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948’.

ATCA shall always call on the notion of Equality to be respected in any solution to the Cyprus Problem, in light of past UN Resolutions which stipulate that the Cyprus issue is not one of ‘majority and minority’ but that of ‘two equal Communities’. ATCA shall also call upon the International Community to treat the Turkish Cypriots with EQUALITY, so that they may enjoy the same rights and freedoms as the rest of the world citizens, and without interference from the Greek Cypriots, who have attempted to ethnically cleanse the island from Turkish Cypriots since 1963.

ATCA shall call upon the Recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as the Turkish Cypriots are equal with that of the Greek Cypriots, with rights to Self Determination. This was clearly demonstrated in the Annan Plan referenda, where both Peoples exercised their right of self determination. Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriots are NOT ‘Stateless’, but have their own democratically elected Parliamentarians; President; their own police force; judicial system; and the essential organs and institutions required for the effective functioning of the Republic.