Cyprus to send Lyssarides as envoy in dispute with Syria

The government of Cyprus has decided to send to EDEK Social Democrat party founder Vassos Lyssarides  to Syria  as an envoy to solve the problem that emerged after a cruise ship sailing from the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta docked in the Syrian port of Latakia in violation of international decisions.
Dr. Lyssarides said he would travel to Syria on October 20 with the aim to help normalize the relations between both countries and maintain the traditionally friendly ties between Nicosia and Damascus.

He expressed the view that Syria would continue to play a role on the Cyprus issue especially in “less friendly” international fora, which do not back the official Cyprus government positions.

“We cannot afford to lose Syria’s support and I am sure that by following the right tactic and strategy we will return to our traditionally friendly relations that characterize and unite our countries”, Lyssarides said.

Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Markoullis sent a letter to her Syrian counterpart Walid Al Muallem demanding explanations over the use of illegal routes of Turkish-owned cruise ships between the closed port of Famagusta, and Latakia.

Markoullis handed the letter at a meeting on Sunday with Syria’s charge d’ affaires in Nicosia Nader Nader.

The Cypriot minister stated after the meeting that she had a telephone conversation with her Syrian counterpart demanding an answer to the question she had put forward to Walid Al Muallem at their recent meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, whether the Syrian government has decided the termination of the illegal routes between the Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta and Latakia.

A company in the occupied areas has announced two special routes on October 11 and 14 for the Ramadan Bayram celebrations and from October 18 onwards it will start regular scheduled routes.
The Cypriot minister stressed that she was expecting an answer from Syria before October 11.

Markoullis said she looks forward “to further develop our cooperation and to her forthcoming visit to Syria. I wish to discuss all those issues that unite the two countries and not to waste time and energy by discussing problems created by such acts,” she added.

But presidential candidate and former Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said last week that Cyprus should not seek to impose harsh conditions on Syria, nor threaten it with sanctions and to choose a peaceful way to a solution of the problem.