Latest news with #diplomatic spat
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour axes north Cyprus envoy Afzal Khan after the Mail broke the story of his unauthorised trip
The UK's trade envoy to Turkey was sacked on Friday after causing a diplomatic spat with an unauthorised trip. Six days after the Daily Mail first reported the story, and following a week of building pressure, Labour MP Afzal Khan was removed from his post following a visit to northern Cyprus. In common with the rest of the world bar Turkey, the UK does not recognise the breakaway state – and is forbidden from doing so by UN resolutions. Nevertheless, Mr Khan met its leader in his official residence and posed for photographs beneath the territory's flag – a breach of international protocol. The act of freelance diplomacy riled the official Cypriot government in the south who described his actions as 'absolutely condemnable and unacceptable'. They called for UK officials to 'respect' their state and the international agreements that forbid recognition of the self-declared government in the north. Sir Keir Starmer finally relented yesterday and sacked Mr Khan in a bid to smooth relations with Greek Cypriots. Dame Priti Patel, Shadow Foreign Secretary, said: 'Keir Starmer should have sacked his trade envoy straight away for his ill-judged travel. Yet again the Prime Minister has serious questions to answer about his poor judgment and actions that undermine Britain's global standing.' In recent days, the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK called for Mr Khan to go, pointing out that no UK official would visit occupied Ukraine. Tories branded Sir Keir 'spineless' for leaving him in post for so long, while Labour MPs and Mr Khan's constituents also raised the matter with the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. The row was sparked by Mr Khan's visit to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar's official residence last week. Mr Khan, the MP for Manchester Rusholme, told officials that it was a personal visit and ministers are understood to have been unaware of the trip. On Friday night, Christos Karaolis, president of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, thanked the Mail for raising the issue. 'We welcome Afzal Khan's departure as the trade envoy to Turkey. His position was clearly untenable following his deeply inappropriate and unacceptable visit to occupied northern Cyprus,' he said. 'Mr Khan's condemnable actions compromised UK foreign policy, undermined the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and contravened international law. A Government spokesman said: 'Mr Khan has left his position as trade envoy to the republic of Turkey.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trade envoy's trip to Cyprus 'is like visiting Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine'
A trade envoy's controversial trip to northern Cyprus was last night likened to visiting the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Sir Keir Starmer faced yet more pressure to sack Afzal Khan, who has caused a diplomatic spat with an unauthorised visit to a territory the UK does not recognise. Labour MP Mr Khan, UK trade envoy to Turkey, posed for pictures in the self-declared Turkish Republic of northern Cyprus, standing alongside the breakaway state's leader. The Cypriot government in the south regards the north as a rogue state. It says Mr Khan's trip, which it has branded 'absolutely condemnable', confers recognition on it. On Thursday, Christos Karaolis, president of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, said: 'No UK Government minister would travel to Crimea…or be pictured alongside flags and symbols representing the so-called 'Republic of Crimea' regime. 'The only difference between the occupation in Crimea and the northern part of Cyprus is time - Cyprus has been militarily occupied for 40 more years. Time cannot legitimise an occupation. 'Therefore, Mr Khan's position as UK-Turkey Trade Envoy is untenable. His removal would send a clear signal from the Government that his actions are condemnable and not in line with the UK's longstanding policy regarding non-recognition of the occupation regime.' Tory foreign affairs spokesman Wendy Morton said it was 'high time' Sir Keir sacked the MP who 'has created a diplomatic crisis'. She added: 'A government representative would never visit occupied Donbas or Crimea. So for Afzal Khan to unofficially visit occupied northern Cyprus is totally unacceptable. 'Spineless Keir Starmer has sat on his hands whilst one of his MPs has created a diplomatic crisis. It is high time he grew a backbone and sacked him.' Officials are said to have been unaware of his trip. The Government said there was no change to its position regarding northern Cyprus.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
UK trade envoy to Turkey's trip to Northern Cyprus turns into a full diplomatic row - as pressure piles on Sir Keir Starmer to sack him
A visit by the UK's Turkey trade envoy to Northern Cyprus has escalated into a diplomatic spat. The Greek Cypriot government condemned the 'unacceptable' trip by Labour's Afzal Khan, piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to sack him. Britain, in common with the rest of the world barring Turkey, does not recognise the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Despite this, the MP for Manchester Rusholme has this week visited the breakaway statelet to the fury of Greek Cypriots, who accused him of breaking international agreements. They regard the Turkish-controlled north as a rogue state and have called for the 30,000 troops stationed there to leave. Yesterday, anger increased over the trip, which saw Mr Khan meet the leader of Northern Cyprus in his official residence. Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a spokesman for the Nicosia government, said the visit was 'absolutely condemnable and unacceptable' as he insisted UK officials should 'respect' the state of Cyprus. He claimed Mr Khan's actions 'constitute an attempt to create false impressions and are in complete contradiction with the established position of all British governments'. Mr Letymbiotis said: 'We expect all UK officials to show respect for their country's policy as well as for the bilateral relations between Cyprus and the UK.' Cyprus has been a divided island for more than 50 years following a Turkish invasion that left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. The Tories have written to foreign minister Stephen Doughty calling for Mr Khan to be dismissed from his role, saying the trip sent a 'worrying signal'. Wendy Morton, shadow foreign affairs minister, wrote: 'This visit risks undermining the UK's credibility as a guarantor power and as an impartial interlocutor in settlement negotiations.' The Prime Minister's spokesman has said the visit was carried out in a 'personal capacity'. Ersin Tatar, the leader of Northern Cyprus, also waded into the row by criticising the 'intolerant statements and excessive attacks made by the Greek Cypriot side'. He said the visit was undertaken 'at my invitation'. Mr Khan's has also angered the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, which represents more than 300,000 British citizens of Cypriot origin. The Foreign Office did not respond to requests for comment.
