‘I’m not here as Anna’s envoy’

JACK Straw went to great lengths during his visit to emphasis the friendly links between Cyprus and Britain, well aware that he had offended the government by ignoring its demand that he not see Mehmet Ali Talat at the ‘presidential’ palace in the north.

Offence was also caused by a declaration made by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan backing Straw on the eve of the visit, without having informed the government that he considered the visit as a contribution to his own engagement on Cyprus.

Defending his decision to defy the government, Straw said Cyprus would never have gotten into the EU as a divided island without the full backing of Britain. “If it wasn’t for this, Cyprus would have remained outside the EU,” he said. “That was an act of friendship.”

He also made it clear that his visit to Talat was in accordance with previous precedents, not only for British officials but also EU officals.

“Moreover we were not aware of any change in policy by the Cyprus government,” he said. However he added: “I’m not saying we would have changed our positions if we had been aware…”

As for being snubbed by President Tassos Papadopoulos he said: “It’s up to the President whether he is available to see me or not. (Foreign Minister) Iacovou is my interlocutor. “The UK has never seen itself as a mediator.”

Asked whether the UN’s last-minute public backing of his visit had made him into an envoy for Annan, Straw said: “I am grateful to Mr Annan for his support but I am not here as his special envoy.”

Fending off criticism that Turkey had announced its initiative immediately before his visit, Straw said: “That’s a matter for them and not for me”.

During his short visit, Straw also met some political figures on a private basis. He met former President, and honorary chairman of the United Democrats George Vassiliou on Tuesday night. The meeting was said to be secret.