More news on Cyprus

British High Commissioner says uncertainty in Cyprus cannot continue
British High Commissioner to Cyprus Peter Millett has said that an essential element for the future is that the status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable and ''we cannot continue to have uncertainty and instability on this island.'' In introductory remarks at the launch of the book ''Reflections on the Relations Between Britain and the Republic of Cyprus and the Case of the British Sovereign Base Areas'', edited by Andreas Theophanous and Yiannis Tirkides, Millet said the UK's commitment to solving the Cyprus problem was demonstrated by the appointment of Joan Ryan as the Prime Minister's Special Representative to Cyprus. Millet noted that ''one of the most important messages underlying this book is the importance of building a strong relationship between the UK and Cyprus and looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past,'' adding that he fully endorses that message.'Of course, it is impossible to ignore the past in any international issue. The book therefore starts by trying to set the historical context,'' he said and added that ''a British historian would not agree with some of the observations made in the book about the UK's role in Cyprus.'' Millet assured that ''we want to work with Cyprus, we have absolutely no interest in working against Cyprus,'' adding that ''our cooperation can cover many areas of benefit to both countries, not only continuing to work for a solution to the division of the island, but also working together on EU and regional issues.'' Referring to the future, he said he fully shares the view in the book on ''the need to work with Cyprus on all the issues relating to the island, the region and the EU.'' ''Our commitment to solving the Cyprus problem was demonstrated by the appointment of Joan Ryan MP as the Prime Minister's Special Representative to Cyprus. Her recent visit gave her an opportunity to understand the situation at first hand. She left rather pessimistic, but determined to play a positive role,'' he pointed out. He added that ''an essential element for the future is that the status quo is unacceptable'' and that ''we cannot continue to have uncertainty and instability on this island.'' 'As each day passes, the issues of greatest importance to Cypriots, for example property, are becoming more difficult to unravel and resolve,'' he pointed out and assured that ''we will continue our cooperation with Cyprus.'' He expressed hope that ''we will soon sign a formal memorandum of understanding for cooperation on research and development, and in November we will hold the first UK/Cyprus Forum, bringing academics and experts together to discuss an important issue of mutual interest; the relationship between east and west.'' ''This is the way to pursue a more constructive and forward-looking bilateral agenda. From the point of view of the UK and the High Commission, let me thoroughly support Dr Theophanous' final sentence in his preface to this book, 'The past cannot be changed. But the challenge is to influence the future in a constructive manner.' That in a nutshell is my job description. The UK shares and endorses that vision,'' he concluded.
COMMENTARY
Monday, October 22
TURKISH DAILY NEWS
Where do the Greek Cypriot policies lead to? by Sylvia Tiryaki
“The Greek Cypriot minister of foreign affairs, Erato Kozakou-Marcoulli returned only recently from her visit to Kyrgyzstan when another Greek Cypriot official, the honorary president of socialist political party EDEK Vassos Lyssarides started preparing for a trip, this time to Damascus. According to press reports, Marcoulli might follow him. A reason for the Greek Cypriot regional diplomatic traffic is the same as in many other cases: The Greek Cypriot officials usually go to those countries that have had a kind of contact with the Turkish Cypriots just prior to their visit – or if they are likely to visit soon. The situation is not much different now. The Greek Cypriots have feared that there might be a possibility of direct flights between Kyrgyzstan and the Turkish Cypriot airport of Ercan. And Syria has already started operating jointly a regular ferry service between Syrian city of Latakia and northern Cyprus' Famagusta. It is unfortunate that almost all of Greek Cypriot politics are dictated by their efforts to keep the Turkish Cypriots isolated from the rest of the world. It is a real pity that the whole Greek Cypriot political engagement in the Cyprus problem boils down to issuing diplomatic protests whenever a Turkish Cypriot finds a platform to express views. All of this is more pitiable as the “official” Greek Cypriot position is that of reunification of the island based on equal footing between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. However, does anyone believe them any longer? They continue to give the impression that they have had an inherent right to talk and to decide on behalf of Turkish Cypriots. It is enough to read their own – still valid but dysfunctional since 1963 – constitution (a must read for those who would like to learn more about the Cyprus conflict; it can be found on the official internet Web site of the Greek-Cypriot-run Republic of Cyprus) to realize that it has never been so. Their actual approach to the Turkish Cypriots resembles more a siege tactic used against an enemy civil population during times prior to the invention of the international humanitarian law than a move toward a constitutional partner with a vision of rapprochement. An insistent blocking of any move possibly leading to the lifting of the Turkish Cypriots' economic isolation (including blocking the EC's Direct Trade Regulation) is also closer to a strategy of “starving a besieged city out” than to a sincere readiness to negotiate a settlement based on power-sharing and political equality. But life goes on, as Emine Erk, Chairperson of the Turkish Cypriots Human Rights Foundation, pointed out when we visited her with a group of researchers last week. The global problems, whether ecological or those of human trafficking – the island of Cyprus is widely considered as one of the world's centers for human trafficking – need an immediate response, she added. Due to the misleading information campaign by the Greek Cypriots, not even Greenpeace and Amnesty International have any contacts with civic organizations in northern Cyprus (only because they are based in the northern Cyprus) which obviously not only has a negative impact merely on the Turkish Cypriots. Who is profiting from the Greek Cypriot Ministry of Education's (both unconstitutional and illogical) claim to be in charge of the Turkish Cypriot education but at the same time blocking the universities of the northern Cyprus (their number is currently six) to enter the Bologna process, creates yet another puzzle. New realities emerging Still, while being totally up to their necks in the effort to keep the Turkish Cypriots isolated from the rest of the world, the Greek Cypriot administration seems to fail to see at least some of the realities. The ferry between Syria and northern Cyprus is running, and according to Politis newspaper, the EU Commissioner Olli Rehn's office doesn't see anything legally wrong with that. The port of Famagusta is not illegal under international law and designating it as “illegal” was a unilateral decision of the Greek Cypriot government. Moreover, provided the isolation imposing policies of the Greek Cypriots continue, the Turkish Cypriots are likely to reconsider their position towards reunification that they voiced in the 2004 referenda, Erdil Nami, Head of the Turkish Chamber of Commerce told us during the meeting with our study group. As a result, it looks as if it might be increasingly difficult for the Greek Cypriot administration to send a “protest envoy” to other countries. Not because they wouldn't be able to handle a task professionally but simply because they wouldn't have enough people to do so.”