Comments by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in the House of Commons this week have led to a strong reaction in the Greek Cypriot media, which have interpreted them as a threat to recognise the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
While emphasising that Britain does not recognise the TRNC, Straw said that the approach of the (Greek Cypriot) Republic of Cyprus government “does not in any way represent movement towards a united Cyprus and objectively is likely to lead to the opposite result”.
Straw also strongly criticised Cypriot President Tassis Papadopoulos, who recently refused to meet Straw during his visit to the island to assess the conditions for re-starting solution negotiations.
Straw said Papadopoulos objection to his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was “entirely counterproductive”.
The Republic of Cyprus government recently changed its policy on visits to the Turkish Cypriot leader at the offices he occupies as president of the unrecognised state, saying they were no longer appropriate, but it appears that the government failed to inform any of the embassies about it.
Britain anyway insisted on pursuing established protocol, a stance likely to be taken by the US, when US Under-Secretary of State Matthew Bryza visits the island.
“…I believe, the House too also regard it a matter of regret, that the Administration of President Papadopoulos have sought to distance themselves from the Turkish Cypriot community and to cease to have any contact with it”, Straw said.
Abusing the EU
He also said he suspected that the government of Cyprus “are now seeking to use their membership of the EU to try unacceptably to seek progress on their United Nations-related issues”.
He added that what he said to the Cypriot officials “was that if they go down that road, they will get exactly what they do not want, because they will make it impossible for Turkey to enter into full negotiations for membership of the European Union and then, over time, there will be a status quo in Cyprus which some countries may start to recognise in practice”.
He noted, however, “that this is not the position of the UK”.
The British FM further accused the Cypriot government of an “unhelpful approach” towards the EU aid proposals for the Turkish Cypriots, noting that in his judgment they are “seeking to marginalise the Turkish Cypriot community and not in any way to assist in their economic development.
That cannot help the Greek Cypriot community any more than it can help the Turkish Cypriot community”.
Responding to a question on the interests of British citizens, whose property and homes in northern Cyprus have been expropriated by the occupation military forces, Straw said that “the only salvation for Cyprus is through negotiations leading to a sensible settlement, brokered by the United Nations, and by an end to the division of the island. That is the only way in which the genuine interests of the Greek Cypriot community, including those of Greek Cypriot origin who are British citizens, can be resolved satisfactorily. The issue of compensation for land seized is central to those negotiations”.
Noting that the issue will only be solved at the negotiating table, he said: “I wish it were otherwise, but the Mr. Iacovou, the Foreign Minister of Cyprus whom I saw, could offer me no alternative prospect for his own people and for solving their problems. That is why I regret very much the negative approach that that Government are taking”.
