We have to change foreign policy on Cyprus problem, says House President

House of Representatives President Yiannakis Omirou has called for a change in Cyprus` foreign policy vis-à-vis the Cyprus problem.

Addressing an EDEK ball in London Omirou said Cyprus` European partners subdued reactions and a stance ranging from washing their hands of the matter like Pontius Pilate to being in favour of Turkey`s illegal behaviour even on the part of the UN General Secretariat “require the immediate and urgent differentiation of strategy and moves.”

He proposed stern representations on the part of Cyprus to the EU and the UN and of immediately approaching traditional friends and allies of Cyprus such as Russia, France and China. He called for abandoning “illusions for a change of position of our so called friends whose actions consistently undermine our national rights.”

The House of Representatives President added that a multilevel cooperation front in the wider region with friendly countries such as Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and the Arabic world in general who are at odds with Turkey, should be forged.

“We need to make use of our country`s European membership”, he said, pointing out that Turkey has been violating clear obligations set out by the European Council which concern both the EU and Cyprus.

“We should veto any other attempt of progress in Turkey`s accession course”, he noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

Last October Turkey issued a NavTex and dispatched its seismic vessel Barbaros into Cyprus’ EEZ. President Anastasiades decided to suspend his participation in the talks, citing the infringement of the country’s sovereignty.

CNA

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.