The Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union has staged an action in front of the Ayios Antonios Primary School in Limassol calling for the opening of a Turkish-language school in the city and demanding the right for Turkish Cypriot children in the city to educate in their native language.

The action was staged yesterday by a group of 25 representatives from the Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union.

The group was prevented by Greek Cypriot police from entering the school grounds, but it handed over a communiqué to the Limassol District Inspector calling on the Greek Cypriot Administration to grant the right to all Turkish Cypriot children living in Limassol to have education in their native language.

Pointing out that besides being accepted as one of the basic human rights, the right to educate in one’s native language is being protected by the provisions of the Constitution, the communiqué says it is unacceptable that this right is being prevented from being exercised.

Speaking during the protest, the General Secretary of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union Sener Elcil said his Union will continue its struggle to regain the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people stemming from the 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.

He complained that articles 20 and 87 of the 1960 constitution which outlines the right of education were usurped by the Greek Cypriot Administration which sees itself as the sole owner of the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr Elcil accused the Greek Cypriot government of hiding behind the European Union’s policy of multi cultural education by opening a separate class for Turkish Cypriot children at primary schools.

The Union representatives also protested the converting of Sedat Simavi Primary School into a betting house and carpenter workshop.