Cyprus-Forum.com

[brother]

British MPs issue damning report on Cyprus
By Jean Christou


THE HOUSE of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has called on the British government to authorise direct flights to the north, criticising the Cyprus government for being un-European, and the Turkish Cypriots for not allowing Greek Cypriot trade to go north.

The damning 90-page report, which is published today, and is sure to fuel the recent war of words between Cyprus and Britain, also recommends the re-opening of Famagusta port to be jointly run by both sides. Among its recommendations were a call on Turkey to withdraw some of its troops, and an expression of disappointment at the way in which Green Line trade was being handled, and the slowness of progress.

It also warned British citizens about buying property in the north, listed a number of suggestions for the resumption of Cyprus talks, and emphasised the leading role Britain could take to push the process forward when it assumes the EU presidency in the second half of this year.

The report was carried out in the wake of the rejection of the Annan plan, as an inquiry into what went wrong and what, if anything, could be done to salvage the process.

“We conclude that there is as yet little evidence that the Republic of Cyprus has fully taken on board that its membership of the EU involves obligations, as well as opportunities,” the report said, adding that it recommended Britain and other EU member states encourage Cyprus to “adopt European Union values and methods of working”.

The report said that undertakings given to Turkish Cypriots by the international community in the wake of last year’s referendum must be honoured.

“We recommend that the government do more to turn its words into action, by working with the Luxembourg presidency of the EU to remove obstacles to direct trade with and travel to northern Cyprus, and that it encourage the wider international community to do the same,” it said.

“We recommend that in its response to this report, if not sooner, the government clarify whether it has the power to authorise direct passenger flights between the United Kingdom and northern Cyprus. We further recommend that, if it does possess the power to authorise flights, the government announce a date from which such services will be permitted, subject to satisfactory safety inspections of the facilities at Ercan and other assurances.”

It also recommended that in absence of an early overall settlement Britain support practical measures that would enable Turkish Cypriots to trade with the UK and other countries, such as refurbishment and then joint operation to EU standards of the port at Famagusta, as proposed by the government of Cyprus.

The Committee said it regretted that financial aid for the Turkish Cypriots was being held up by political and procedural disputes within the EU. It reiterated support for Turkey’s EU entry, but said in practice Turkish accession would be impossible as long as there was no settlement in Cyprus.
The Committee noted the very strong feelings of Greek Cypriots on the property issue and said it remained one of the most crucial to be addressed in the search for a solution.

“We conclude that in any revival of the talks process it will be necessary to find ways of addressing Greek Cypriot concerns which do not disadvantage Turkish Cypriots,” the report said.

The Committee also suggested a supervised population census be held in the north, funded by the EU to determine the exact number of Turkish settlers on the island.

“We recommend that in any resumption of negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus problem, the (British) government seek to persuade the parties of the need for an increase in the number of Turkish settlers who will be required to return to Turkey as part of a solution, together with improved financial compensation for them. The precise figures should be for negotiation between the parties,” it said.

“We conclude that a substantive financial gesture by Turkey on the property
compensation issue would be a magnanimous and positive move which would reflect well on Turkey and should be of some assistance in reducing Greek Cypriot opposition to a solution which stops short of full restitution.”
Referring to the way forward, the report said that a step-by-step approach was likely to be better than no progress at all. “We conclude that a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem is overwhelmingly in the interests of the people of Cyprus and that it offers important advantages for the European Union, for Turkey and for the international community,” the Committee said. “We further conclude that, although the prospects for success may not be great, the opportunities which will arise in mid-2005 must be seized. The United Kingdom is in a uniquely special position to assist the process. We recommend that the government make the achievement of a solution to the Cyprus problem a priority of its foreign policy in 2005.”

[Nickp]

Very constructive comments, would be fantastic if both sides acted on them than making no progress at all.

I'm sure letting chartered flights to the north and opening Varosha to it's owners and joint use of the port is definetly a point in the right direction in the short term.

[brother]

It would show the goodwill of both goverments and also the cypriot community would benefit immensley from it.

[Alexandros Lordos]

British MPs issue damning report on Cyprus
By Jean Christou

Hmm, I am not sure I agree with the title which Jean used here ... I felt that the report was "constructively critical" rather than "damning".

[Viewpoint]

Look out here come the British

[magikthrill]

I dont think I agree with chartered flights directly to the north, since that is slowly moving into the uplifting of the embargo, which is all the RoC has.

[brother]

Well i am all for it, at the moment tassos has no incentive to sit at the table and be reasonable but this sort of implementation will certainly help make his mind up.

[boulio]

concernong direct flights it will never happen without the consent of roc to register ercan as a airport,i would look more at the suggestion of opening the famagusta to both t/c and g/c for mixed use more promising to be accepted.

[Viewpoint]

apparently you dont need permission for charter flights.

[brother]

The tassos goverment seem to not understand that there is always a way to go around problems, and the brits are the best at that.