Prospects of a political settlement in Cyprus and preparations for a visit to London by Cyprus President were the key issues of a meeting on Monday in Brussels between the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou and his British counterpart David Miliband.
Specifically, the two Ministers discussed the prospects relating to the Cyprus problem, a forthcoming meeting between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the expected visit of a UN delegation to Cyprus.
”I informed the Foreign Secretary about our fundamental positions on a UN-brokered agreement of July 2006, I explained that the UN-proposed solution plan, the Anan Plan, cannot be on the negotiating table and stressed that we will not accept ‘virgin birith’ – the establishment of a new state in Cyprus, as part of an overall settlement,” said Kyprianou.
The Foreign Minister said that during his meeting with Miliband both sides expressed a desire to improve relations between the two countries. ”I was given the opportunity to explain our position on the Cyprus problem, and on other issues which can improve bilateral relations, both within the European Union as well as on a bilateral level”, the Cypriot Foreign Minister pointed out.
On the sidelines of the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels, Kyprianou met his counterparts from Spain, Luxembourg and Denmark.
Today, Kyprianou will meet the High Representative for Foreign Policy, Security and Defence Javier Solana and have lunch with the Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. He will also meet the Foreign Minister of Albania, and possibly, the Slovenian President of the EU, Dmitri Roupel.
During the Ministerial Council session, the issues of the Western Balkans, the Middle East and visas for travel to the United States were discussed.
Regarding the issue of the Western Balkans, Kyprianou pointed out that the European Union should maintain close contact with Serbia, in order to bring the country as close as possible to the EU.
On Kosovo, the Minister said that Cyprus believes that when the EU commits itself on the issue, regardless of whether or not all member states participate, joint discussion and decisions must be taken.
On the abolition of visas to the US, Kyprianou suggested that there should be a European approach, pointing out that the EU must speak in one voice on the matter.
The July 2006 agreement provides for discussions between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides on substantive issues as well issues that affect the day to day life of Cypriots, in a bid to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations, leading to a settlement that would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
The Anna plan was rejected as a solution by the Greek Cypriot community in a referendum in April 2004. It was approved by the Turkish Cypriots. The UN had said at the time that rejection of the plan by one of the island’s two communities would render the plan nul and void.
