“I STATE without reservations that Greece would never agree to anything that would harm the best interests of Cyprus,” Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou announced yesterday.
The minister was addressing the House Foreign Affairs Committee during discussions on the recent appointment of Turkey as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Asked by deputies and later by reporters to comment on Greece’s involvement in Turkey’s appointment, Kyprianou said he could not respond on behalf of another country, no matter how good relations were between the two states.
“There is close co-operation with the Greek government and political powers; there is understanding and agreement, and I state without reservation that Greece would never agree to anything that would harm the best interests of Cyprus,” said Kyprianou.
But he added that he didn’t know if Greece had supported Turkey’s inclusion in the Security Council.
The Cyprus problem, Kyprianou pointed out, primarily concerned the five permanent members of the SC, therefore Turkey’s appointment would not have direct consequences on this matter.
“We will make sure that Turkey doesn’t try to affect current negotiations in the Cyprus problem with a number of precautionary measures that we have already prepared; the situation is being closely monitored,” said the minister, adding: “Turkey did not seek a place in the Security Council because of the Cyprus problem, but because it wants to improve its role and presence internationally.”
Kyprianou was also keen to point out that the UN resolutions – especially Resolution 550 that provides the departure of the Turkish occupying forces from Famagusta and its return to its residents – would not be affected by these developments.
“Certainly we are not pleased with Turkey’s appointment as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and if the international organisations of order had acted, this would never have happened,” said Kyprianou.
Famagusta Mayor and president of the Municipalities’ Union Alexis Galanos wanted to know what obstacles the Cyprus government had presented to prevent the situation.
“How did we reach the point for Turkey to become a member of the Security Council?” he wondered. “At some point, Turkey managed to get out of the difficult position it was in and we want to know how we reached this point.”
Galanos added, “Turkey’s appointment to the Security Council is a wound to the Cyprus Republic and we need to see it for what it is.”
DISY Deputy Soteris Sampson later told reporters he was not satisfied with the Minister’s explanations on Greece’s role in Turkey’s appointment.
“DISY is extremely concerned over Greece’s general role in the Cyprus problem. We are also concerned over the fact that the Famagusta issue has not yet been discussed at the direct negotiations [between the two community leaders],” said Sampson.
Committee Chairman Averoff Neophytou of DISY, however, jumped to Greece’s defence. “It is my obligation as Chairman of the Committee to stress that Greece was and remains a supporter to Cyprus. Any help we asked for has always been offered.”
