Cyprus may send envoy to Syria to settle ship dispute

The government of Cyprus may send an envoy to Syria in an attempt to settle a dispute between the two countries which erupted after a Turkish ship, which left the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta, in Cyprus’ northern part, docked at Latakia.

“There is an ongoing dialogue with Damascus on this issue at different levels and it is possible that we may send an envoy to Syria,” Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas said when asked if the government intends to dispatch Vassos Lyssarides, honorary president of the Social Democrats Movement EDEK to Syria.

Palmas recalled that foreign ministry technocrats from both countries are dealing with the matter and said that the foreign ministers of Cyprus and Syria met earlier in the week in New York and Cyprus’ Ambassador in Damascus is also dealing with the issue.

“This dialogue will continue and shall not cease as long as the matter is pending,” Palmas stressed.

Speaking Thursday in New York on this issue, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos explained that the Turkish vessel, which sailed from Turkish occupied Cyprus to Syria, did so following an arrangement between the shipping company that owns the vessel and the Latakia local chamber of commerce.

The Turkish occupied town of Famagusta has been declared by the government of Cyprus a closed port following the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island. The UN has described the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in occupied Cyprus, as “legally invalid”, calling on all states not to recognise or facilitate it in any way.

The Syrian authorities are looking into all the evidence in this matter and will inform us appropriately, the President said.

Cyprus and Syria enjoy very good and friendly relations, which seemed to have been tarnished to some extent as a result of this incident.

Nicosia has sought clarifications from Syria to ensure that such an incident will not occur again and that no agreement has been reached between Damascus and the illegal regime on permitting vessels to travel from occupied Cyprus to Syria.