Cyprus-Forum.com

[Talisker]

Following the recent RoC presidential elections the motion below was placed before the UK House of Commons (26th February, 2008).

ELECTION OF DEMETRIS CHRISTOFIAS AS PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS
That this House warmly congratulates Demetris Christofias, leader of AKEL, on his election in the Cyprus Presidential elections on 24th February; also welcomes the statement of the runner-up, former Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides MEP, offering his unconditional support to the new President, particularly as far as the solution of the national problem is concerned; and, after years of a stalled process for settlement, calls upon President elect Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to take advantage of this new appointment to implement promptly confidence building measures including supporting the opening of the Ledra Palace/Lakmaci checkpoint in central Nicosia and other checkpoints, progress on Famagusta/Varosha, demining throughout the Buffer Zone, the teaching of each other's language in state and other schools, efforts to preserve and enhance the natural environment of Cyprus, following the success of the work of the UN Missing Persons Committee, setting up the committees envisaged in the Gambari Agreement of 8th July 2006 to deal with issues identified by Cypriots, and to consider setting up a process involving individual Cypriots, civil society and social partners to allow Cypriots to come together to own the process of creating their own future in their own demilitarised, peaceful and reunited island; and sees Mr Christofias's election, given his long track record of working across the divide for a just solution in Cyprus, as the best hope for a settlement for many years.
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetai ... ESSION=891

Nice words of encouragement, but no mention of active support in finding a solution. Or should the UK keep out?

Or can the UK help? After all, to draw an obvious parallel, I doubt we would ever have had a solution to our own problems in Northern Ireland without the assistance/encouragement/forcefulness of an active participant in negotiations, the powerful 'outsider', the United States of America?

Or is the UK considered to be (i) too steeped in Cypriot history which resulted in the current situation (damaged goods?), or (ii) considered to have too much interest in any outcome to be an impartial broker in any negotiated deal (i.e. not to be trusted?)?

[bill cobbett]

I was reading a statement by the GB Foreign Secretary a few days ago re: Cy, in which he still refered to GB as a "Guarantor Power" !! What a joke.

Summer 1974 was the most disgraceful few weeks in GB's recent history.

GB has one concern in the Cyprob and that is the silly notion that there is still steam left in the RoT's EU entry bid.


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.... Driven out of home villages in the north by my own (GB) government.

[kurupetos]

The only assistance we need from the UK it's to get out. Give the land to the Cypriots.

[Talisker]

GB has one concern in the Cyprob and that is the silly notion that there is still steam left in the RoT's EU entry bid.

Don't forget the bases............

[wallace]

They will make some kind of deal again with the turks to fuck the cypriots again like they did in 74. Cheekey bastards!!

[Talisker]

The only assistance we need from the UK it's to get out. Give the land to the Cypriots.

I agree.

Been thinking for some time now that UK insistence on influencing international situations on the political and military level when at all possible is not necessarily a good thing. Too many serious mistakes. Iraq most obvious recent one, Cyprus up there as well.............

[Nikitas]

"Don't forget the bases............"

Yes, which only exist because of the 1960 agreement of establishment. So Britain HAS to be involved in the new deal if it wants to preserve its bases. On one side the TCs "need" Turkish troops to remain to "guarantee" their safety, then the Greeks must also have a contingent to "balance" the situation and the British must be in there to safeguards their interests and the whole shitpile will be an exact copy of 1960. And when it blows people will be blaming the usual suspects, the "extremist elements" again.

[bill cobbett]

GB has one concern in the Cyprob and that is the silly notion that there is still steam left in the RoT's EU entry bid.

Don't forget the bases............

Yes, quite right mate.

[Get Real!]

Solving the CyProb - should and could the UK assist?

That’s no different to asking if a wolf should and could assist a herd of sheep…

[Talisker]

"Don't forget the bases............"

Yes, which only exist because of the 1960 agreement of establishment. So Britain HAS to be involved in the new deal if it wants to preserve its bases. On one side the TCs "need" Turkish troops to remain to "guarantee" their safety, then the Greeks must also have a contingent to "balance" the situation and the British must be in there to safeguards their interests and the whole shitpile will be an exact copy of 1960. And when it blows people will be blaming the usual suspects, the "extremist elements" again.

Not like you to be so pessimistic, Nikitas! Can your doomsday scenario be avoided?