‘Eyebrow raising’ is how Phileleftheros is describing the upcoming meeting between British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in the Turkish occupied north on April 1.
The meeting coincides with the anniversary of the resumption of the EOKA struggle against colonial British rule.
According to the same sources, the visit is being dubbed a ‘gift’ to Eroglu and is bound to cause an official Nicosia reaction and public opinion anger, as April 1 is a highly charged day with celebrations and other events.
An unnamed foreign diplomat whose country is in a position to be aware of Cyprus issue developments is cited by Phileleftheros as saying that the Hammond-Eroglu visit, just 18 days before ‘elections’ in the non-government controlled areas is a British thumbs up to the Turkish-Cypriot leader.
And even if that’s not the case, it is only to be expected, according to the same source, that Eroglu will utilise the visit for political brownie points. Also of political significance is where the meeting will take place.
US Vice President Joe Biden was very careful to avoid a diplomatic spat by meeting Eroglu at his residence, next to the ‘Presidential Palace’, without having symbols of the illegal entity in the non-government controlled areas.
The day before his controversial meeting with Eroglu, Hammond is set to hold talks with President Anastasiades and other government officials.
Cyprus Weekly