US Vice President Joe Biden has expressed optimism about the prospects of a Cyprus solution, during a meeting he held on Thursday with leading representatives of overseas organisations in the US, asking them to support the efforts for a settlement of the problem.
The meeting, which lasted an hour, was attended by President of the PSEKA- International Coordinating Committee “Justice for Cyprus,” Philip Christopher, Andy and Mike Manatos from the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, President of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations, Kyriakos Papastylianou, Vice President of PSEKA Panikos Papanikolaou, founder of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), Nikos Mouyiaris, CEO of HALC Endy Zemenides, and President of the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey, Savas Tsivicos.
It is noted that the US Vice President said he had received and read the letter send by the overseas regarding their concerns about a false optimism for a solution of the Cyprus problem in 2016 and the proposal for Turkey to implement four Confidence Building Measures before the achievement of an agreement of the Cyprus issue.
According to PSEKA President Philip Christopher, `we acknowledge the intense personal interest of the US Vice President for a Cyprus solution` but there is no real indication on behalf of the Turkish government to support any statements of Turkish officials in favor of the solution.
`Without them, we do not see how there could be agreement for a solution”, he said.
He added that the US Vice President assured them he would continue his efforts in the remaining six months of his term and that conditions are the right ones.
Christopher said that overseas will only then support a solution of the Cyprus problem when it includes the principles of a solution, which will safeguard human rights, fundamental freedoms and the European acquis communautaire.
Resolution
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Meanwhile, the deliberations of the 32nd PSEKA Conference wrapped up on Thursday in Washington with a resolution adopted unanimously which includes four confidence building measures to ensure a successful Cyprus peace negotiation process, asking for
an immediate and substantial draw down of Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus.
The resolution notes that `given the constant peaceful interaction between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and the simultaneous need for troops to deal with the threat of ISIL and violence in Turkey, it borders on the absurd to maintain an occupation army – which continues to occupy Cyprus with American made arms in contravention of U.S. law – that equals the size of the surge force the Obama Administration sent into Afghanistan`.
`A public and substantial draw down via reassignment of these Turkish forces would serve as evidence of Turkey’s commitment to a workable solution on Cyprus and its commitment to fighting
ISIL, without Ankara losing face, and would also address the main reason why the 2004 Annan Plan was voted down`, it stresses, noting that 75% of those who voted “No” in that referendum
listed “security” as their reason for voting so.
The resolution also refers to the Turkish occupied fenced off city of Varosha, noting that
Varosha may be the greatest symbol of what a new reunified Cyprus could mean.
“The proposal to survey Famagusta/Varosha should be revived and should start immediately, with both communities and international experts participating. This could singlehandedly show that
Turkey is committed towards seeing reunification through. Allowing experts into Varosha as the negotiations on the political issues proceed is a nonirreversible goodwill gesture with highly practical and symbolic effects island-wide and internationally” the resolution says.
It also notes the need for an accelerated process for resolving the issue of the missing people.
“Turkey should lift all remaining obstacles in the search for the missing – including opening its military archives and making “military” sites available to the CMP immediately rather than over a period of time”.
Furthermore, it stresses the need to lift the restricion for religious services, imposed recently by the Turkish Cypriot `authorities` restricting Greek churches and monasteries to one liturgy per year. This `is a stunning setback on Cyprus` the resolution says, noting that while there have been welcoming
indications that this decision will be reversed, Turkish Cypriots must immediately lift this restriction in full, and we will be requesting condemnation of this restriction by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The delegates at the Conference were addressed by representatives of the two candidates for the US Presidential elections, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
On behalf of Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulou-Kounalaki said that Clinton will be fully committed to the efforts for an achievement of substantive progress for the Cyprus issue.
`There is no magic wand. If there was the first to have used it would be Joe Biden. The best that we can have is a government that will support the continuation of the same policy for Greece and Cyprus. What I can promise you is that Hillary Clinton will be fully committed to the effort to achieve substantial progress on the Cyprus issue”.
On behalf of Donald Trump, Republican Representative Tom Marino described Greece as one of the US most important allies and stressed that Greece can not be `the dumping ground of Europe` as regards the unprecedented refugee crisis.
Regarding Cyprus, he said that he is not very much aware of the problem and that in many issues Donald Trump`s foreign policy is still developing.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
UN-led talks between the leaders of the two communities, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, resumed in May last year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal political system.
Cyprus is a full EU member state since 2004. Turkish Cypriots, living in the territory which is occupied by Turkey unilaterally declared a so called `state` which is only recognized by Ankara.
