Last Sunday, 13 July, Cyprus minister for Energy, Industry and Tourism, Giorgos Lakkotrypis, said at the annual Trafalgar Square rally:
“It was really far too long to have to wait for forty years for justice to be served in Cyprus, especially when the just cause of the island has been recognised by numerous resolutions of the United Nations and is based on the principles and values of the European Union. ... What is urgently required are steps to enhance the mutual trust between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Turkey has to decide whether or not it wishes to take concrete steps to build confidence and improve the political climate. It is to this end that President Anastasiades has proposed confidence building measures including the Famagusta proposal”.
Peter Droussiotis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, thanked those present including the Mayors of Kythrea/Değirmenlik and Lapithos/Lapta, Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Cyprus High Commissioner to the UK, Euripides Evriviades, Sir Alan Meale MP, Mike Freer MP, Charles Tannock MEP, Andrew Dismore AM and former MP Ian Twinn. A petition was delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron. Petros Kareklas, the Kythrea mayor, spoke on behalf of the Occupied Towns and Municipalities of Cyprus, about the cultural and religious heritage of Cyprus and noted that while a solution was desired by virtually all Cypriots, any settlement must safeguard the unity of the state and the peaceful co-existence and prosperity of all Cypriot citizens in their own country. He added his deepest thanks to British Cypriots and the Federation for their efforts in pressing for an end to the division of Cyprus. Andrew Dismore (speaking in Greek) reminded us that: “the eyes of the world at present are on the crises in Syria, Iraq and the Middle East, so it is important not to forget Cyprus, which makes it even more vital to have events such as this rally for as long as the injustice of a divided island remains”. Charles Tannock promised to prioritise the instigation of a resolution to focus the newly elected European Parliament on the issue of Varosha and Famagusta, and the reunification of the island. He felt that the recent interest of the USA in the Cyprus problem bodes well for the prospects of a solution under the United Nations. Sir Alan Meale highlighted the sacrifice of so many Cypriot lives to protect freedom and democracy in two world wars” and called for the redoubling of efforts in the search for the fates of Cypriots still missing and unaccounted for.
On Tuesday 14 July, Cyprus journalists travelled to Brussels to see the European Parliament elect Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker as President elect with 422 of the 729 votes cast. He will take over from incumbent Jose Manual Barroso in November. The portfolios for the various Commissioners will be negotiated soon. Cyprus' Commissioner is apparently Democratic Rally's (DISY) MEP elected in May, and former MP and government spokesperson, Christos Stylianides.
The British Commissioner has been chosen. He is the former Leader of the House of Lords and Education Minister, Lord (Jonathan) Hill. He will replace Baroness (Cathy) Ashton in November. Despite attacks on his appointment, he is a former political secretary to John Major, and meant to be a conciliator, disappointing for Eurosceptics. Being a member of the House of Lords means his appointment does not trigger a byelection. His place in the House of Lords is now taken by Baroness Stowell of Beeston who has not been given full Cabinet rank.
Also on Tuesday, Baroness Warsi responded to a debate in the House of Lords initiated by Lord Northbrook in the House of Lords, see:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/140715-0002.htm#14071567000154. Baroness Warsi remains in post although the Secretary of State has changed, from William Hague to the former Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond. William Hague is credited with forging a new relationship between the Republic of Cyprus and the United Kingdom. He will stand down as an MP at the General Election on 7 May 2015, and until then becomes Leader of the House, as did Robin Cook before him. David Lidington MP seems to be the longest serving Europe Minister in decades.
The Cyprus Negotiators, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Kudret Özersay, met yesterday exchanging proposals on federal public service, transitional arrangements, citizenship, security and guarantees. They will meet again tomorrow, 18 July, to prepare for the meeting of the Cyprus Leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Dervish Eroglu, in a week's time on 24 July which was to visit the laboratory of the Committee for Missing Persons, and focus on confidence building measures and the way forward.
In the USA, the 30th Congress of the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) has been holding its conference, with a gathering at the Capitol attended by over 45 members of the US Congress including the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, Robert Menendez, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Ed Royce.
Mary Southcott
this briefing does not represent the views of the Friends of Cyprus
00 44 117 924 5139 00 44 77 125 11931
--------
British CPTR