The Cyprus Government detects an intention by certain countries to upgrade the illegal state in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas said here today.
He added that this attitude follows the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots in 2004, noting however that the Government must make every effort to safeguard the interests of the Republic.
Responding to questions he said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the British government that following the recent signing of a memorandum of Strategic Cooperation between Britain and Turkey the UK/Cyprus Forum as well as the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Markoullis to London, are cancelled.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that after this development between the UK and Turkey, the climate formed is such that makes the organization of this Forum impossible even for the discussion of issues other than the Cypriot problemâ€, Palmas said, adding that it is a very delicate issue and the Government deals with it with discretion.
The UK/Cyprus Forum was planned to take place in Paphos on November 3, to deal with regional and EU, issues, immigration, criminality as well as the Cyprus problem and bilateral issues.
Asked which steps the Cypriot Government is willing to take in order to confront such negative developments, the Spokesman said that decisions were taken in several levels, and will be known after their implementation.
“It is a fact that after the rejection of the Annan Plan in 2004 by the Cyprus people and by the Cypriot President, a negative climate has been formed by certain countries as regards our decision. And it is also a fact that there have been moves to reward the Turkish Cypriot stance during the referendumâ€, he said.
He added that the “the road is not an easy one†but the Government must make every effort to safeguard the interests of the Republic.
Referring to the British stance, Palmas said that “through the years, the stance, the attitude and the political approach of Britain towards Cyprus, especially regarding the Cyprus issue is registered in the negative directionâ€.
“The difference in connection to the specific development with Turkey is that we have an unconcealed approach on British behalf as regards the unbalanced position between Cyprus and Turkeyâ€, he said.
Responding to a question as to which countries seem to have the intention to upgrade the illegal regime, he referred to specific political developments such as the resolution adopted by the German Federal Parliament and certain views of the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
As regards the structured dialogue between Cyprus and Britain, he said that it was a policy decided on the basis to improve relations between the two countries but it seems that it is not respected by the British.
