U.K.: Removal of Cyprus wall offers prospects for solution

British High Commissioner in Nicosia Peter Millet welcomed once more the removal of the wall at the end of the Ledra street in Nicosia, noting that this gesture offers real prospects for progress both in reuniting the capital and for the process of finding a permanent and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

”The removal of the wall offers real prospects for progress, not only on reuniting the centre of Nicosia but on the wider process of finding a permanent and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem,” Millet said in his opening remarks at a press reception in Nicosia.

The British diplomat called for progress in the July 8 agreement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, noting that it could be achieved despite the elections taking place this year in Turkey and in 2008 in Cyprus.

He noted that the technical committees and the working groups should start work soon, adding that ”domestically, the existence of a credible settlement process will help manage the rhetoric and the tensions which elections invariably produce.”

”Early, real, measurable progress will also convince the international community that it is worth devoting time, effort and money to the reunification of this island,” he added.

In Millet’s words, ”there is no reason to delay. The status quo is unacceptable and the longer a solution is delayed, the more difficult it will be to achieve. Current trends in Cyprus, social, political and economic are widening the gap between the two communities. Time is not on our side.”

”Creating trust will help reverse the drift towards partition that has been talked about in recent months, by underlying the inter-dependence of all Cypriots on this small island,” the British diplomat added.
Millet recognized that Britain ”made mistakes in the past”, noting that one of them has been to spend too much time looking backwards”.

”Our role on the Cyprus problem is clear,” he said and went on: ”As a guarantor power, permanent member of the Security Council and member of the EU we have a unique role to play which we take very seriously.”

However Millet noted that this ”does not mean that we want to impose a solution,” adding that only the Cypriots ”can find a solution which will be acceptable to both communities.”

He also reiterated that his country supports Turkey‘s bid to enter the EU, noting that ”Cyprus stands to gain the most from this process.”

As regards Turkey‘s European course, Milled said that membership does not mean giving special favours. ”It means treating Turkey like only other candidate negotiating for accession and ensuring that she implements and fulfills he obligations”, he added.

Noting the accession process is complicated and long, Millet pointed out that that process give the EU the tool to bring about change, adding that ”it would be damaging to loose it.”

Millet also said that his country wants to build a more modern relationship with Cyprus based on the joint membership of the EU, recalling the Structured Dialogue between the Cyprus and Britain.