Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

UK Foreign Secretary to see Talat at his residence

Straw to visit

BY ANDREAS HADJIPAPAS

BRITISH Foreign Secretary Jack Straw plans to visit Cyprus later this month for talks with both sides in what is seen as a new effort to restart the stalled peace process in the wake of the April 2004 failed referenda.

The government confirmed the visit was on the cards but indicated that the official programme was still being discussed.

The Turkish Cypriots announced that the British minister would meet Mehmet Ali Talat on January 25. A spokeswoman for Talat told the AFP that Straw had asked for an appointment on January 25, which the Turkish Cypriot leader accepted.

The meeting will take place in TalatOs official residence in the Turkish-held part of Nicosia, she added - a move that is likely to irritate the government of the Republic.

Status

The government has no objection to foreign dignitaries meeting Talat as leader of his community, but a reception at his official residence would probably ruffle feathers as it might imply some sort of recognition of his status as OTRNC president.O

Foreign Minister George Iacovou recalled that the Council of Ministers had set a number of preconditions on meetings between foreign dignitaries and Turkish Cypriot leaders. The same applies to Straw, he added.

Iacovou insisted the dates of the visit were still being discussed between the British and Cypriot governments.

OWe know two or three dates that suit Mr Straw and we are also trying to find a date that suits our government,O he said.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides confirmed Straw intended to visit the island but said the dates were still being discussed.

He also explained that under the Cabinet decision

Show respect

OWe do not object to official visitors calling on representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community, but we do not agree with such meetings taking place in official offices or to have emblems of the secessionist regime displayed, something which is contrary to UN Security Council resolutions.O

Acting President Demetris Christofias said yesterday he hoped the British would show Orespect for the status and sovereignty of the Cyprus Republic,O a member of the European Union. He noted that John Prescott, the deputy Prime Minister, had shown the proper behaviour during his visit to the island last October, when he saw Sabri Soyer, Oprime ministerO of the Turkish Cypriot regime, at the offices of the British High Commission.

Straw will come to Cyprus after a visit to Ankara, during which he will discuss with Turkish leaders the Cyprus problem as well as matters concerning TurkeyOs entry negotiations with the European Union.

Comply



He is expected to stress the need for Turkey to comply with the protocol it signed, providing for extension of the customs union with the new member states, including Cyprus.

A Turkish diplomat told AFP the visit to Cyprus had yet to be finalised and it was only OprobableO that Straw would travel to the island on January 24, after talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

During his stay on the island, Straw is expected to discuss ways of breaking the protracted stalemate and explore the possibility of getting new talks started under U N auspices.

The question of EU aid to Turkish Cypriots, green line trade, the opening of the Ledra Street crossing, and Cherry BlairOs involvement in the land dispute case, will also probably feature in his discussions.

Iacovou said StrawOs visit was also part of the Ostructured dialogueO between Britain and Cyprus, agreed during a meeting in London between President Papadopoulos and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The British Foreign Secretary yesterday arrived in southern Iraq for talks with local politicians on efforts to form a new coalition government after last monthOs elections.