Cyprus calls on all five UN permanent members to get involved

The Cyprus government has called for all five permanent members of the UN Security Council to get involved in the intractable Cyprus problem.

Government Spokesman George Lillikas said, “Any UN initiative which we expect or look forward to and we are ready to support, must include the five permanent members of the Security Council and not selectively one or two members and we will insist on this and the other permanent members of the Security Council agree with this”.

Greek Cypriot political leaders have repeatedly accused the US and the UK of being biased in favour of Turkey.

Greek Cypriots rejected a UN- and EU-backed plan by a large majority in April 2004.

The Spokesman said “the government’s position and readiness to contribute is known, as well as its appeal to the Secretary General to develop efforts to prepare the ground for a new round of talks which will have prospects and the capabilities to lead to an agreed solution”.

Lillikas claimed that the three permanent members of the Security Council which were not involved in 2004 (France, Russia and China), would like to participate in a UN initiative.