The colonial days are gone’
UNJUSTIFIED, provocative,
immoral and unacceptable were the responses of political parties yesterday to
the comments by Jack Straw on Cyprus and President Tassos Papadopoulos. Reams
of paper, and hours of airtime were given to vent the anger and indignation of
the Greek Cypriot side at Straw’s criticism.
Demetris Syllouris, European Party
The revelations of Mr Straw are a contribution to our understanding of how
devastating it would have been to accept the Annan plan and should lead us to a
clearer realisation that we cannot find a solution based on this. In hindsight,
it’s a pity that Cyprus did not make use of its veto (on Turkey’s accession) on
October 3. This party has said many times that the President’s decision not to use
the veto was not appreciated.
Dinos Michaelides, ADIK
This was clearly an effort at misinformation, the distortion of truth and the
falsifying of historical facts. Apart from the repetition of threats against
the legal government and the people of Cyprus, this also reveals a certain
‘sang-froid’ on the part of the British. Mr Straw is guilty of finding ways to
legalise crimes committed against Cyprus with the support of the US by the use
of a policy of threats and diplomatic terrorism.
Nicos Cleanthous, DIKO assistant chairman
I wonder whether Britain has realised that the colonial days are gone. There is
only a complete arrogance and scorn for the feelings of the Cypriot population,
the fact that the government of Cyprus is legal. Apparently this puzzles them.
They have a role they play but we do not have patience that is inexhaustible.
Tassos Mitsopoulos, DISY spokesman
The statements are unacceptable and outside of diplomatic norms. They come
during a period of rapid deterioration of relations between Cyprus and Britain.
How much certainty and truth can any political leadership and population feel
when it is forced to move in such a hostile international environment.
Andros Kyprianou, AKEL spokesman
The statements of the British Foreign Secretary can only lead to the clear
conclusion that the objective here is not a solution to the Cyprus problem but
the unhindered accession course of Turkey to the EU. The provocative and
unacceptable statements spring from the arrogance of the powerful, in the context
of the new order of things. Mr Straw ruminates about the isolation of the
Turkish Cypriots, overlooking the fact that it is owed to the invasion and
occupation.
Mikis Shanis, United Democrats spokesman
These statements are unprecedented and provocative. We call once again for a
meeting of the National Council. We cannot continue watching developments from
the sidelines. We must create developments or else we will continue to be
subject to such unpleasant developments.
Yiannakis Omirou, EDEK chairman
The government must react immediately and decisively to this challenge by
Britain.
The statements of Jack Straw are a monumental provocation showing the colonial
mentality that the British government continues to possess. It is time for a
political and diplomatic counter-attack.
Green Party
We denounce these statements with indignation. Jack Straw’s attitude is immoral
and offensive. Some people considered our reaction to Straw’s recent visit as
excessive, afraid it would cause a diplomatic incident. Well, we have not
avoided a diplomatic incident due to the lukewarm attitude taken by the
government and the parties during his visit.
Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos
The attitude of the British minister causes feelings of rage and indignation in
the Cypriot population. Britain has undertaken to promote the plans of America
for the complete integration of Turkey in the EU and for the recognition of the
pseudo-state. The continuing attitude of Britain makes necessary a revision of
the attitude of Cyprus to the British government.
Marios Matsakis, MEP
I see Mr Straw did not bother with the hypocrisy of English pseudo politeness
when he took off his mask to hit back at Cyprus and the President of the
Republic. The truth is that for our long time it has been galling for the
British Foreign Secretary that such a small population has been has been an
obstacle to the satanic blueprint for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Mr Straw let his mask slip and showed the humiliation that he must have felt
when he was snubbed by the President. I hope there are no more Cypriot citizens
that still doubt that one of the main obstacles to a solution is the attitude
of Britain. The poison that poured from Mr Straw has shown those who want us to
bow to Britain and want to avoid opening a second front with Britain that
Britain has already opened a front with us, and it fights dirty.
Cyprus Mail 10/022006
SUMMARY OF THE GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS
Thursday
February 9,
2006
n Government, politicians, newspapers attack Jack Straw for comments he made on Cyprus before the House of Commons
n No happy ending to an effort similar to the one in Burgenshtok
n American ambassador averts members of Congress flying directly to the “TRNC”
n EP document on T/C withdrawn after strong reaction by government
n Christofias in favour of opening Ledra Street
OTHER NEWS
n Church agreed to start paying taxes
n More Cypriot suspects in child pornography
via the Internet
n Pilots on a 4-hour strike today
- Jack Straw’s statements on Cyprus during a House-of-Commons debate are the major story in almost all G/C newspapers today. The papers report on what the FS said, but also interpret what was said in a very negative way. PHIL writes that “exceeding every limit of provocative attitude, the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw issued threats against the Republic of Cyprus and against the President of the Republic… Jack Straw, revealing his real self… threatened Nicosia with the pseudostate’s recognition and pointed out that his country wouldn’t have allowed Cyprus’s accession to the EU if the issue was tabled today.” POL writes there’s an open war is going on between Nicosia and London. POL also notes that all indications point out that a similar worsening of relations is expected in relation to the US since the government announced that President Papadopoulos won’t meet Mat Bryza. POL describes what Straw said as an unprecedented attack. Straw, according to POL also threatened directly with the possibility of the “TRNC’s” recognition by some countries. SIM comments that Jack Straw threw poison against Cyprus during his speech before the House of Commons. This paper too writes that Straw threatened with the “TRNC’s” recognition. ALI talks about an unbelievable development. It writes: “With a type of rhetoric, reminiscent of attacks against Saddam Hussein, Jack Straw sent out two important warnings: Firstly, that with the policy we have been following the pseudostate would be recognised gradually and, secondly, that under the current circumstances Cyprus would have never joined the EU.” HAR writes that what Straw said constitutes an unprecedented attack against the Republic of Cyprus and President Papadopoulos. HAR also writes that Jack Straw implied that the policy applied by the Government of Cyprus would lead to the “TRNC’s” recognition.
Straw’s statement brought about an angry response from the government. Government spokesman George Lillikas said that the statements were provocative and unacceptable, that they falsify the truth and the events and that they contain unacceptable hints. “No political force in Cyprus works for partition, especially the government. (Those who do work for partition) are those who support positions like those of Abdullah Gul and carry out acts like those carried out by Jack Straw,” Lillikas said. FM George Iacovou said Straw’s references were unprecedented, unacceptable and provocative. He also said the British FS downgrades the government’s efforts to raise the T/C standard of living. Iacovou added that Jack Straw is taking away from his country any consulting role it might have had on issues relating to Cyprus.
What Straw said was also criticised by opposition leader Nicos Anastassiades. He said Straw’s statements are unacceptable and do not contribute to the improvement of the turbulent relations between Cyprus and Britain. EDEK’s Omirou and EVROKO’s Syllouris were highly critical of Jack Straw.
- The government is sending out the message that there won’t be a happy ending to any effort to repeat a Burgenshtok type of scenario. The under-secretary to the President, Christodoulos Pashiardis, said the government is unaware of any behind-the-scenes contacts. The papers report that Mat Bryza has announced that he’ll be in Cyprus soon. They also write that President Papadopoulos won’t meet with him. The papers write that President Papadopoulos will meet with Kofi Annan in Geneva and that Erdogan and Talat have sent letters to the UN’s SG. Erdogan asks Annan to start a new effort on Cyprus based on Turkey’s proposals. Talat repeats the T/C side’s willingness to restart the process of negotiations and expresses his support for Ankara’s proposals.
- PHIL writes that the Turkish lobby in the US had prepared another visit to occupied Cyprus by members of the American Congress, but it was cancelled after the intervention of the American ambassador in Nicosia. The plane that was going to land in the north was going to take off from Germany, PHIL writes noting that the American effort was going to express itself within the context of lifting the T/C isolation. The visit was going to take place in December or January. PHIL writes that some American diplomats believe that such moves do not help the goal of lifting the isolation. As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, PHIL writes, Washington believes that the President of the Republic has to reply with a counterproposal to the proposals of the Turkish government.
- Cyprus’ Permanent
Delegation to Brussels made representations regarding a document that was
prepared by the EP’s contact group with the T/C. The document was withdrawn
after the reaction. The document, prepared by an official at the EP’s
External Relations directorate, blamed the government of Cyprus on a variety of
issues relating to the T/C and backed the “TRNC’s” stance. House Speaker Demetris
Christofias also protested about the document via a letter he sent to EP’s
President Josep Borrell. Francis Wurtz,
leader of the group of the European United Left, also sent a letter to Borrell
pointing out that the document was not objective and reflected the Turkish view
of things.
- Demetris Christofias met with a delegation of T/C shopkeepers and storeowners with whom he talked about the opening of Ledra Street. The T/C asked from AKEL to intervene so that progress can be made. Christofias said his party wants the street to open, but without the bridge and the without the presence of occupying forces.
- The uncertainty about Morphou’s future is the greatest problem of the people living in the town, the G/C papers report today based on T/C Press reports. Some G/C papers point out that the atmosphere in Morphou has changed and that its inhabitants no longer want a solution.
- A delegation of organisations from Karpasia met with Michael Moller yesterday and they asked him to intervene for a solution to the problems the enclaved persons face. They also asked for his mediation so that the “authorities” would allow the opening of election centres in the area where the enclaved could vote in May’s elections.
- PHIL writes that the government and the Church have agreed over the hot issue of the Church’s taxation. The agreement provides that the Church will pay taxes for all its profitable business activities and on property sales. The agreement does not cover the amount of £79 million, which the Church already owes the state in the form of taxes. This money, won’t be paid up.
- Four Russian-Armenians managed to drain ATMs of their valuable content by using forged credit cards. Within two days they managed to get out of the machines the total sum of £14,000. The police arrested one the suspects just after he had finished one such transaction. He’s been remanded in custody for eight days.
- More suspects of accessing via the Internet material related to child pornography are under police surveillance in Cyprus. The police and CYTA are working together on the story after Interpol passed on a new list of Cypriot suspects. The three previous cases of suspects will be passed on to the Attorney General soon and he’ll decide whether they will be persecuted.
- Cyprus Airways’ pilots are going on a 4-hour strike today. The measure is expected to affect four flights and 180 passengers. The company attacked the pilots’ union yesterday. It denied pilot allegations that it is not sticking to what has been agreed in the framework of its restructuring plan and pointed out that the pilots’ salaries are 37% higher than the EU average. The company also urged the pilots to cancel their strike plans.
- The papers write that every month one young person dies of heroin use. They also write that the drug-related deaths have been on the rise over the last couple of years.
Disclaimer: This document does not reflect the views or position of the British High Commission.