Written evidence submitted by Action for
Cyprus (Midlands)
Action for Cyprus (Midlands) welcomes the decision
by the Foreign Affairs Committee to conduct an inquiry into UK
policy towards Cyprus and to review British Policy in the light
of the recent referenda on the Annan Plan. More importantly it
provides an opportunity for organisations like ours to participate
in the formulation of British foreign policy as should be the
case in a truly democratic country that lays so much weight on
international law and human rights.
AFC is a non-partisan organisation representing
the interests of thousands of Cypriots living in the UK. Our sole
concern and aim is to see a truly re-unified island where all
the people of Cyprus can live together in peace and harmony, as
they have lived for most of the last 400 years. Most of all we
would like to see all Cypriots enjoy the same democratic freedoms
and human rights as other European nationals and as provided for
by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Our organisation has been fighting for years
for a just solution for all Cypriots, guaranteeing everyone their
fundamental human and democratic rights. We believe that human
rights and freedoms should be the cornerstone of any solution
and the details of the constitution should revolve around these.
We welcome a solution to the problem of Cyprus
and the UN efforts to re-unify the island. However it is important
that the solution proposed must not only be workable but it must
be just and hence viable. The solution must truly unify the people
that long to live together as one people and one nation state
and to conform to international norms of justice and the rule
of law.
It is very important for the Foreign Affairs
Committee, when formulating a view on UK policy towards Cyprus,
to understand not only the background to the Cyprus problem and
the reasons for the results of the recent referenda, but also
the significance of a just solution in a very much changed world
following 9/11. It is imperative that foreign policy is, and is
seen to be, conducted consistently across all issues and countries
by invoking human and democratic rights, the rule of law and international
agreements.
Should the UK Continue to Back the Annan Plan?
The Annan Plan was rejected by the Greek Cypriots,
not because they do not want a solution to the Cyprus problem,
as believed by some, but because the Plan legitimises the injustices
of the forceful invasion and occupation of nearly 40% of Cyprus
by Turkey, the displacement of nearly 500,000 Cypriots (forced
refugees and migrants living abroad at the time) from their homes
and properties, and the deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing
and demographic change pursued by Turkey. The Turkish Cypriots
voted "Yes" because the proposed solution gives them
a much better chance for economic prosperity than the current
state of affairs even though they would prefer to see a truly
united island. Basically the Annan plan was rejected because it
provided improvements in the welfare of one side without addressing
the concerns for human rights and international justice of the
other side.
It is evident that the Secretary General's Plan
does not conform to the instructions of the UN that the proposed
plan for Cyprus must conform to UN Resolutions and be compatible
with the European body of legislation (the Acquis Communautaire)
particularly that dealing with human rights which constitutes
primary legislation. It sets the foundations for an unworkable
constitution; it perpetuates the division among the people of
Cyprus; it violates the basic human rights of all the Cypriots
and constitutes them second class citizens of Europe.
We believe that the UK should not continue to
back the Annan Plan as it is, but should support significant alterations
that promote the true reunification of the island and its people
and is compliant with the European Acquis, particularly with the
Charter of Fundamental Rights.
We believe that a plan that enables all displaced
persons to return to their villages, homes and properties within
a maximum period of five years and safeguards human rights will
attract a resounding "Yes" vote. This we believe can
be accommodated by thinking outside the conventional (box) model
of partitioning the island. The solution proposed should allow
self government for all Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot towns
and villages and shared power in mixed villages, with a strong
central government that guarantees the territorial integrity of
the state of Cyprus, with no borders separating the two communities.
The UK is in the privileged position of playing the honest broker
and strengthening its role and position on the island by offering
to be the guarantor of the territorial integrity and security
of a truly reunified island and people and ensuring the human
rights of every citizen. This will eliminate the need for having
Greek or Turkish troops on the island and will demonstrate value
to the Cypriots for the continued existence of the British military
bases on the island.
A truly unified Cyprus within the EU, and with
UK having a pre-eminent role as guarantor power within an EU framework,
will meet the requirements of the majority of Cypriots for peace
and prosperity and will safeguard the interests of the UK.
The Implications for the EU of the admission of
a divided Country
It is not in the interest of Cyprus, the EU
or the UK to have a situation where a Member State of the EU cannot
enforce the Acquis across the whole of its territory. A speedy
solution that truly unifies the island is essential to ensure
ease of administration, harmonisation with EU law, application
of international law, monitoring and control particularly against
money laundering, drug trade and the fight against international
terrorism. We believe that the Government of Cyprus attaches top
priority to an early resolution of this state of affairs and has
already embarked on a number of actual and announced policies
to increase the welfare of the Turkish Cypriots and to encourage
the greater integration of all the people of Cyprus. It is equally
important for the EU and the UK to support this process within
the legitimate framework of international law and justice.
What role should the UK play in the continuing
process of negotiations?
Action for Cyprus believes that the UK should
play a central role in the negotiations of a solution and should
be prepared to push for innovative solutions and not be constrained
against the framework pursued for the last 30 years, of a bizonal,
bicommunal federal solution. The UK's interests will best be served
if it adopts a modern, fresh approach to international affairs
and takes on the role of an honest broker. The UK should push
for a solution that is consistent with UN resolutions and with
the ideals and values of the EU and the Acquis. The UK should,
in our suggested new role as honest broker, insist that human
rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms, as well as the UN Covenant on Civil Rights and Political
Rights, be an integral part of the Cyprus Republic Constitution
and that no exemptions should be allowed for the Cypriots, as
is currently the case (Art 11(3) of Annan Plan).
Implications of the Annan's Plan Rejection for
the northern part of Cyprus
It is highly regrettable that a mutually acceptable
solution could not be found and that the two communities' referenda
results were diametrically opposed. Nevertheless the benefits
to the northern part of Cyprus, since the lifting of the restrictions
on the freedom of movement by the Turkish occupying forces and
Cyprus joining the EU, are very real and substantial. The Government
of the Republic of Cyprus has put into action and has proposed
a number of policies that will improve significantly the economic
and social benefits of the Turkish Cypriots and enable them to
achieve the same standards of living as if the Acquis applied
to the whole island. The benefits to the Turkish Cypriots however
would be even greater if the island were truly reunited. These
potential benefits to the Turkish Cypriots, we believe, will maintain
the pressure on their leadership to find a speedy solution that
is acceptable to both sides. The British Government should support
the initiatives of the government of the Republic of Cyprus which
seek to encourage and strengthen the co-operation of the Cypriots
and further the confidence building measures, such as returning
the uninhabited town of Varosia to its legitimate owners and the
operation of the port of Famagusta under international laws.
Should the British Government seek to alter its
relationship with the northern part of the island and if so how?
The British Government should seek to truly
reunify the island and its people. The UK should show equal concern
for the democratic and human rights of all Cypriots in whichever
part of the island they reside. This must be the only consistent
and viable position for the UK to adopt. The UK must adhere to
the policy it has adopted up to now that there is only one internationally
recognised State of Cyprus and one legitimate Government, that
of the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus is an island that has been illegally
invaded, occupied and partitioned by Turkey. The British Government
can only bring hope to all the people of Cyprus if it is willing
to guarantee their safety, human rights and hence prosperity.
Implications for the EU's Relationship with Turkey:
It is important to recognise that it is in Turkey's
economic interests to join the EU and like any other Member State
it will need to negotiate its terms of accession. It knows and
expects that great sacrifices need to be made to become a member
of the family of Europe, not least on its record on human rights.
The Republic of Cyprus does not pose a threat to Turkey by any
stretch of the imagination and Cyprus in Europe will be even less
of a threat. A solution that truly unifies Cyprus and requires
the complete withdrawal of Turkish and Greek troops, and nullifies
their status as guarantor powers will not adversely impact on
the EU's or the UK's relationship with Turkey. The UK should play
the honest broker on Cyprus and convince Turkey to make the necessary
compromises to reach a just solution. In exchange the UK will
support the entry of Turkey to the EU and provide the necessary
guarantees for all Cypriots. It is the price Turkey will have
to pay and expects to pay, to be accepted in a club of Member
States where the values and ideals of democratic freedoms and
human rights are the corner stones of its creation. We believe
that should a solution be found along the lines suggested above,
Cyprus and Greece would welcome and support the accession of Turkey
to the EU.
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We believe that the UK should not continue to
back the Annan Plan as it is, but should support significant alterations
that promote the true reunification of the island and its people.
The UK should push for a solution that is consistent with UN resolutions
and with the ideals and values of the EU and the Acquis.
The UK's interests will best be served if it
adopts a modern, fresh approach to international affairs and takes
on the role of an honest broker. A truly unified Cyprus within
the EU will meet the requirements of the majority of Cypriots
for peace and prosperity and will secure the interests of all
parties concerned. The issue of guarantor for any solution should
be an international one with the EU and specifically the UK having
a pre-eminent role.
A solution that respects the fundamental human
rights of all Cypriots and is compliant with the EU Acquis will
also serve the interests of Turkey and will support her accession
to the EU.
Action for Cyprus (Midlands)
10 September 2004
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