Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom have expressed their support for a solution that would reunify Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
Their support was expressed to a Morphou municipality delegation, headed by its Mayor Viktoras Hadjiavraam. The delegation of the Turkish occupied town of Morphou handed over a petition on Wednesday to all five permanent member states of the UN Security Council condemning the 43rd anniversary since the Turkish invasion and occupation of their beloved home town, Morphou.
At the Embassy of the Russian Federation, the delegation was received by the Charge d’ affaires, Andrey Gomov, who expressed Moscow’s support to the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem and assured the delegation that their resolution would reach the Russian government.
Later on, the delegation went to the Chinese Embassy, where they were received by the Charge d’ affaires Zeng Yun. The Chinese diplomat said that China always supports and respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus, not only based on UN resolutions and the UN Charter, but also on the basis of international law.
He assured that Beijing will continue to support a solution that would lead to the reunification of Cyprus and noted that despite the fact that the Crans Montana talks were not successful the two communities in Cyprus must not lose hope since some progress has been achieved and talks should continue.
At the French Embassy the delegation was received by Charge d’ affaires Jacques Lajoie, who expressed his country’s support to the efforts for a viable solution that would reunify Cyprus on the basis of UN resolutions and the EU acquis communautaire.
France, he said, is working in the framework of the UN, the EU, in Cyprus as well as during its contacts with Turkey, so that the efforts yield results, but pointed out that the situation after the Crans Montana talks is complicated. He also said he understands the feelings of the displaced Cypriots, who were obliged to leave their homes.
The Morphou delegation handed over their petition to the British High Commission as well. The delegation was welcomed there by High Commissioner Matthew Kidd. Speaking in Greek, the British diplomat told the Mayor of Morphou that he hoped that next year there would be better results, noting that London would work towards this goal.
Meanwhile, in his statements to journalists, the Mayor of Morphou said that the municipality is making efforts to persuade the five permanent members of the UNSC to make every effort and work together so that Ankara terminates its violations on the island.
He expressed his concern about recent developments and changes brought about by the occupying forces in the occupied area of Morphou, saying that unless there is a solution to safeguard the three fundamental freedoms, abolish the system of guarantees and secure the withdrawal of foreign troops from the island, “we would find ourselves at the beginning of the partition of our country.”
Later on the delegation visited the EU House, where the Mayor handed over the petition to representatives of the European Commission Representation and the Office of the European Parliament in Cyprus. Handing over the petition, Hadjiavraam expressed the view that EU funds allocated to the Turkish Cypriot community make things more difficult and create a fait accompli on the ground, noting that these funds must be allocated wisely.
He underlined that “the EU must play a substantive role as regards the process for a settlement and safeguard the acquis communautaire basic freedoms in Cyprus,” noting that “I am not sure that the EU wants to exert pressure on Turkey with a view to find a viable solution.”
Receiving the petition on behalf of the European Commission Representation, Yoland Valassopoulou assured that she will convey both the petition and the Mayor`s remarks. She recalled that European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker said in a letter he sent to Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, in July, that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be a European one and that the Commission remains ready to contribute to this end.
On behalf of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus, Vaggelis Vasiliou said that they will convey the petition to the EP headquarters. “You know that our MEPs work towards the direction you have outlined, with the hope that things will be different next year,” he noted.
The petition was also handed to the US Embassy here and as the Mayor told journalists, the delegation was received at ‘a very low level’.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of the UN-backed Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended inconclusively. The peace talks under the auspices of the UN aim at reuniting the island under a federal roof.