THE GOVERNMENT is to make representations on statements made by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at the House of Commons, which Nicosia said were “misleading” President Tassos Papadopoulos has said.
Papadopoulos said that if a UN-scripted Annan plan was brought back in its current form, it would be rejected by the Greek Cypriots again ”by a larger majority this time” than the 76 per cent who voted ‘no’ last year.
Commenting on Straw’s statements at the House of Commons regarding Cyprus, Papadopoulos said they constituted a ”repetition of statements made in the past” and added: “I deem that their basis is wrong and misleading. The necessary representations will be made, at least so that he does not distort facts”.
Asked about the overall stance of Britain towards Cyprus, he said that the British “promote their own interests, like any other country”. “It seems that they prefer to have better relations with Turkey, perhaps because they have bigger interests there,” he said.
Straw said that the recognition of Cyprus would follow a peace process – “everyone knows that that is the case”.
“They also know – the Turks know this – that a country cannot achieve membership of the EU if it does not recognise another country sitting at the table,” Straw said.
“The history of the conflict on the island of Cyprus is very complicated. We need each side to recognise the other with dignity and within a unified single government. I have already made it clear that in the European Union it would not be possible for us to operate if members did not recognise, de jure, the states around the table.
“That does not mean, however, that the obligations to achieve that position rest entirely on Turkey or on the Turkish Cypriot community. They rest equally on Turkey, the Turkish Cypriot community and the Government of Cyprus, as well as on the international community. That is made absolutely clear in a number of Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1250,” Straw added.
He was answering a question at the House of Commons on whether the recognition of Cyprus by Turkey as well as the withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces from the island are an indispensable requirement for Turkey’s accession to the EU.
Straw said that he had already spoken to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan about the circumstances in which he would deem it appropriate to restart his good offices mission in respect of Cyprus under Security Council resolution 1250.
Commenting on this Papadopoulos said: “I don’t believe that there are many people who think that it is possible for the plan to be brought back. If this is the case, then it will be rejected again, and this time with a bigger majority”.
“We, too, wish the intensification of the initiative, provided that it is well prepared and aims at the right direction,” he added.
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