If it’s good enough for Lebanon…

Spokesman accuses US of double standards

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday accused the US of double standards, a week ahead of a planned visit by the State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Laura Kennedy.

Government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides made the comment at his daily press briefing in response to comments by US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.
When asked if the US administration could put the pressure of the international community on Turkey to leave Cyprus by implementing UN resolutions, as it appears to be doing in the case of Syria and Lebanon, Ereli said the best solution for Cyprus was the Annan plan.
“That continues to be our view and we believe that those who are committed to a peaceful and equitable solution to this longstanding problem would do well to rededicate themselves to the Annan plan and to moving forward with the Annan plan and to finding a way to implement its recommendations,” Ereli said.

Chrysostomides said there was “a double-standard policy regarding the withdrawal of troops illegally stationed in third countries, in countries that do not wish their presence there.”
He said that in the case of Lebanon there was great pressure on behalf of the UN and the US for the withdrawal of the Syrian troops, while the same did not apply in the case of Cyprus. “The same policy should have been followed here as well,” he said adding that the decision to accept or reject the Annan plan was up to the people of Cyprus.

”The decision regarding the plan remains the same and was taken last year. It is a decision on the specific plan, not on the solution, which along with the reunification of our country remains the permanent aim of our side,” Chrysostomides said.

Commenting on Kennedy’s a planned visit to the region Chrysostomides said: “The US diplomacy has said Mrs Kennedy is coming to listen.”