The UK Minister for Europe David Lidington provided written answers to questions about the British government’s views on matters concerning Cyprus posed by the Shadow Minister for Europe Gareth Thomas.
Following meetings in London in recent weeks with the Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, the President of the House of Representatives and leader of EDEK Yiannakis Omirou, as well as with a delegation from the Famagusta Association UK, Thomas asked the Foreign Office what discussions he have had with Turkish ministers on efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus in respect of issues relating to the port of Famagusta.
Lidington replied that both the Foreign Secretary and himself, regularly discuss Cyprus with their Turkish counterparts. “All ministerial discussions with the parties and EU member states are aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement, including on the issue of the Varosha area of Famagusta,” added the minister.
Thomas also inquired about the assessment the Foreign Office has made of the potential economic benefits of reaching a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus in respect of resolving the issues relating to the port of Famagusta.
According to Lidington’s written answer, “a comprehensive settlement would bring significant economic benefits, through increased opportunities for trade, investment and tourism, including to the Varosha area of Famagusta.” He added that the UK continue to support Cypriot efforts aimed at ending the division which has affected the island for too long.
The other question posed by the Labour official concerned any ministerial discussions “on the potential role of the UK’s sovereign bases in Cyprus in reaching a comprehensive settlement.”
David Lidington replied that no such ministerial discussions have taken place. “It is for the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to agree on the terms of a solution. The British Government has maintained the offer to cede nearly half the sovereign base area territories in the event of a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus,” he added.
Lidington and the Foreign Secretary, it seems do not support the return of Famagusta as a confidence building measure. That is they do not support the immediate restoration of human rights and do back the UN resolution calling for the return of the fenced area of Famagusta to it’s legitimate inhabitance. What they say is they urge Turkey to aim “at achieving a comprehensive settlement, including the issue of the Varosha area of Famagusta”. In other words nothing more than the intransigent Turkish position, they are not looking for a ‘game changer’ nor the implementation of international law, human rights, or UN resolutions. In fact their position is immensely hypocritical given that Turkey disrespects the territorial integrity of Cyprus, yet when it comes to Ukraine they sing a different tune