Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kikapu]

Britain’s Special Representative for Cyprus Joan Ryan who has been having a series of contacts on the island was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat this morning.

The British High Commissioner Peter Millet was also present at the meeting.

No statement was issued before or after the meeting,


The British Special Representative is set to hold a press conference this afternoon at the British High Commission in Lefkosa where she will be evaluating her contacts on both sides of the island.



As part of her contacts, yesterday, Ms Ryan met with the Greek Cypriot Leader Tasos Papadopulos, Speaker of the Greek Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Hristofyas, Foreign Minister Erato Markulli and some political party leaders.



The aim of the visit – which is the first by Ms Ryan after being appointed as Britain’s Special Representative to Cyprus – is to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand.


Earlier, she stated that the 8-July agreement was the only way forward towards achieving a solution in Cyprus, a position, which she said, was supported both by the UN Security Council and Britain.


Noting that she would not act as a mediator and that she would not be bringing a new plan, Ms Ryan said that her country was ready to do all it can to support the UN peace process in Cyprus.


Ms Ryan also said that a solution must be found to the problem by the end of 2008.

Halil, the whole Cyprus problem should have been solved back in 1974, and not wait until 2008.

The aim of the visit – which is the first by Ms Ryan after being appointed as Britain’s Special Representative to Cyprus –
is to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand

Where the hell has this person been hiding for the last 40+ years??

....to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand..

It sounds like end of 2008 is the dead line for Turkey's "shit or get off the pot" decisions, as far as the EU talks go, so naturally they want the issue to be settled by the end of 2008.

[Nikitas]

Ryan is British. Her paramount concern is the safeguarding of British interests. In effect she is here to see that British Sovereign Base areas are OK.

The original 1960 agreement was mostly about the bases, so was the Annan plan, and the European constitution contains clauses safeguarding the base areas. The new plan is no different, as far as Britain is concerned on the SBA matter.

[phoenix]

As part of her contacts, yesterday, Ms Ryan met with the Greek Cypriot Leader Tasos Papadopulos, Speaker of the Greek Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Hristofyas, Foreign Minister Erato Markulli and some political party leaders.

Halil: . . . Editorial correction required to:
President of the Republic of Cyprus

Thank you.

[zan]

Britain’s Special Representative for Cyprus Joan Ryan who has been having a series of contacts on the island was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat this morning.

The British High Commissioner Peter Millet was also present at the meeting.

No statement was issued before or after the meeting,


The British Special Representative is set to hold a press conference this afternoon at the British High Commission in Lefkosa where she will be evaluating her contacts on both sides of the island.



As part of her contacts, yesterday, Ms Ryan met with the Greek Cypriot Leader Tasos Papadopulos, Speaker of the Greek Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Hristofyas, Foreign Minister Erato Markulli and some political party leaders.



The aim of the visit – which is the first by Ms Ryan after being appointed as Britain’s Special Representative to Cyprus – is to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand.


Earlier, she stated that the 8-July agreement was the only way forward towards achieving a solution in Cyprus, a position, which she said, was supported both by the UN Security Council and Britain.


Noting that she would not act as a mediator and that she would not be bringing a new plan, Ms Ryan said that her country was ready to do all it can to support the UN peace process in Cyprus.


Ms Ryan also said that a solution must be found to the problem by the end of 2008.

Halil, the whole Cyprus problem should have been solved back in 1974, and not wait until 2008.

The aim of the visit – which is the first by Ms Ryan after being appointed as Britain’s Special Representative to Cyprus –
is to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand

Where the hell has this person been hiding for the last 40+ years??

....to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand..

It sounds like end of 2008 is the dead line for Turkey's "shit or get off the pot" decisions, as far as the EU talks go, so naturally they want the issue to be settled by the end of 2008.

Probably getting on with the rest of the world problems.........Poor little Cyprus...Where are you from?.......Cyprus!.........Oh! You must be Greek then.........


Where was Cyprus again??????

[halil]

JOAN RYAN :
"For a modern country within the European Union to remain in this fractured state is simply not acceptable. A solution must be found, and time is running out. There is a window of opportunity in 2008 when there are no elections in the region. If this is not seized with both hands, the prospects for a settlement look bleak. It would be a grave mistake to delay any longer.”

She went on: "During my visit to the island I want to explore how progress can be made. I will meet with Tassos Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat as leaders of their respective communities to discuss the urgent need to make progress on the stalled United Nations peace process.

“The flexible framework provided by the July 8 agreement remains the only show in town and has the full support of the UK government and the UN security council.”

Ms Ryan said that her mission in Cyprus is not going to be dictated by an agenda but instead she will learn and listen to various members from academics to ordinary citizens. If she is to have an agenda then it is the open one of supporting dialogue and peace between the two communities.

She added: "This is perhaps where British Cypriots have the most to contribute. In my Enfield constituency the divisions that exists between Greek and Turkish Cypriots are less pronounced than they are on island, but they do still exist. Meaningful inter-communal interaction between Cypriots in north London has the potential to be a model for similar activity on island.
“Together, British Cypriots from both communities could be a powerful voice for change, calling for a new outlook that focuses on a shared and prosperous future in a reunited island rather than dwelling on the pain and division of the past.”

Ms Ryan claimed that the impetus for a solution to the long-running conflict must come from Cypriots themselves.

She said: “I hope that British Cypriots, and all others involved, can grasp every opportunity to help make reunification a reality."

[Eliko]

I think it rather strange that Ms Ryan should highlight the situation that exists in the Enfield constituency as a yard-stick for what could be achieved here in Cyprus, a vast number of the highly successful 'Cartels' are run by Kurdish immigrants (legal and otherwise) and my understanding of the situation is that the authorities are faced with a great degree of difficulty in keeping track of them.

A similar situation exists with the sudden overnight appearances of 'Illegal' car-washing facilities which, once established, can involve the Local Authorities (and the community) in a long drawn out legal process to remove them, only for the same issue to be raised again a week later by the new 'Proprietors'.

Cunning use of the legal loop-holes, ensure that the operations can continue un-restricted since there is invariably another 'Proprietor' to take the place of the one sought by the authorities.

In short, if Britain is unable to control what goes on in one small constituency of it's own nation, how can it have the 'Gall' to send the ineffective councillor (who already admits that she doesn't really know what's going on) to resolve the issues here.

Another load of bollocks from the British Government who, you may be sure, are already well aware of what the future holds in store for this island, just as they knew what was about to happen YEARS before 1974.

In my humble opinion.

[Beth_Josephine]

Ryan has a very valid point, to be honest, Papadopolous isn't doing the ROC's interests any good. The same goes for the TC side, when one says yes the other say no, this seems to be stubburness rather than interests of the countries future. No offense when I say this, GET OVER IT!

Ryan also pointed out that Cyprus could learn from N.ire, now there is a country that has actual conflicts that had been going on till 2000, on a monthly/yearly basis since the seperation, something was always happening but they seem to have come to an agreement.

No offense to anyone but the only way Cyprus can be whole and move on is if the country stops being stubburn as a mule!

[Nikitas]

Ryan is British, you people overlook that simple fact. No British diplomat is going to overlook British interests and put the interests of others first. WAKE UP.

The urgency that Mrs Ryan is talking about has more to do with British intersts than those of Cypriots.

Cyprus entry into the EU puts the future of British bases in jeopardy. Britain tried to insert a clause in the EU constitution recgnising the Base Areas as a thing apart from the territory of Cyprus. That version of the constitution is now gone, and a new one is up for approval. This is the cause for the urgency and not the plight of Cypriots etc.

[Eliko]

.

No offense to anyone but the only way Cyprus can be whole and move on is if the country stops being stubburn as a mule!

I think 'Capitulates' would be more appropriate following 'country' in the above statement, ending there.

[phoenix]

Ryan has a very valid point, to be honest, Papadopolous isn't doing the ROC's interests any good. The same goes for the TC side, when one says yes the other say no, this seems to be stubburness rather than interests of the countries future. No offense when I say this, GET OVER IT!

Ryan also pointed out that Cyprus could learn from N.ire, now there is a country that has actual conflicts that had been going on till 2000, on a monthly/yearly basis since the seperation, something was always happening but they seem to have come to an agreement.

No offense to anyone but the only way Cyprus can be whole and move on is if the country stops being stubburn as a mule!

GET OVER WHAT? That there are still 200,000 people ethnically cleansed from their homes and kept away by 40,000 Turkish soldiers!

The Northern Ireland parallel can only be used here if you are suggesting that the Greek Cypriots form an IRA style terrorist group to undermine the invaders. To date the RoC has sought to end the conflict with diplomatic steps. These may be slow but it is in the nature of Cypriots to not go on the offensive with every provocation.