Further written evidence submitted by
Friends of Cyprus
You will find a lot of criticism of the UK on
your visit to Cyprus next month. They feel we tried to bully them
into a "Yes" vote in April on the Annan 5 plan and have
abandoned them since.
Please may I ask you to bear in mine these five
points on your visit?
1. The best prospect for progress on a settlement
is if there are discussions at all levels (not just politicians)
on how to bridge the gaps. Ideally some kind of constitutional
convention could reach enough agreement to put proposals to politicians
north and south.
2. Steps might be agreed to encourage free
trade across the island, with more and easier crossing of the
green line as positive steps to wider trade links across the EU.
3. A deal of work is going on in joint bodies
(north and south) to agree a plan to restore "old" Famagusta
and exploit its tourist potential and open up its port perhaps
under UN supervision.
4. If people on the ground can demonstrate,
as they are doing, that they can work and live together, this
will encourage pro-settlement politicians in both communities
to take risks.
5. The longer it takes to agree a settlement,
the slimmer the chances of agreement. If Turkey gets a date to
open EU negotiations in December (as seems likely) and the EU
aid package to the north goes ahead, there is less pressure to
settle—which brings up back to point 1!
Enjoy your visit.
Robin Corbett
Chairman, Friends of Cyprus
| 
