A few facts would not go amiss here

Sir,
I really don’t think Mr J. Mills of Nicosia should be lecturing Cypriots on minority rights and unfair representation (The EU and minority rights, Thursday 29 March). Whether he likes it or not, the legal position is clear regarding small independent, indivisible EU states and their right of veto.

A fact would not go amiss here. Had Britain respected the will of the majority of the Cypriot people back in the 50s, the island of Cyprus – as a whole – would have joined the EU as early as 1981 but with NO direct representation in the EU parliament and with NO EU commissioners.

It’s thanks to Britain that a small independent, indivisible state like Cyprus now enjoys ‘unfair’ EU representation and veto rights. And, by the same token, it’s also thanks to Britain that Cypriots in the north don’t yet enjoy any form of EU benefits.

Thanks Britain.
Andreas Koumi,
London

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