Lord Maginnis’ behaviour is no surprise

Sir,

It comes as no surprise to note that Lord Maginnis was the leader of the Turks that gate crashed the two Cyprus related meetings at Westminster. The Peer is better known as the former Ulster Unionist MP, Ken Maginnis who, along with fellow Ulster Unionist MPs and Conservative MPs with strong ties to Ulster, such as Sir Dudley Smith, formed the 40 core supporters of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus at Westminster.
Many of these core supporters, like Maginnis and Smith took houses in the occupied area, but they did not act out of greed, the support they give to the Turks comes from belonging to a political system in Ulster that thrived on hate, bigotry and apartheid. The ruthlessness of the Turkish Army in invading, dividing and forcing the mass movement of people to create two distinct regions in Cyprus separated, not by history or geography, but by ethnicity and religion was a utopia that for them could not be achieved in Ulster. They were natural supporters for the ultra-nationalistic sectarian policies of the Turkish army.
Although the Ulster Unionists were credited with supporting the Good Friday Peace accord in Ulster, of which Maginnis was a key player, it was also clear to me that they had to be dragged into that process kicking and screaming to avoid being left behind and did their best at times to sabotage that accord. At a key moment in the peace accord, Maginnis was in occupied Cyprus giving an interview to Cyprus Today extolling the virtues of the division and the Turkish Army.
Because our own politicians have abandoned all meaningful attempts to campaign on the international stage for an end to the Turkish occupation, forced division of Cypriots and the colonisation of the north by mainland Turks, the old supporters of apartheid and sectarianism are resurfacing with a free hand to do as they wish.
Andreas E. Alexandrou
High Barnet, Herts, UK