NICOSIA, Jan 19: Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has refused to see Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw when he visits the island next week because Straw will not back down on plans also to see the Turkish Cypriot leader. The internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government does not approve of meetings with Mehmet Ali Talat, which could be regarded as giving credence to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the divided island’s north.
Straw’s fence-mending visit on Jan. 24 was supposed to sound out prospects of new talks to reunite Cyprus, a conflict which diplomats fear could complicate Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union where now only Greek Cypriots represent the island.
He also plans to visit Greece and Turkey.
“I repeated to him that if he goes to the occupied areas and meets Mr Talat at the so-called presidential office, the president of the Republic will not receive him,” said Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou after speaking to Straw by telephone. He will meet Straw during his visit.
British diplomats were warned Papadopoulos would refuse to meet Straw if the British foreign minister insisted on meeting Talat at his office in northern Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots said they would not have a problem if the meeting was anywhere but Talat’s official office.
But Britain refused to back down, saying Cyprus changed the ground rules on such meetings taking place. Toeing the line could be viewed as impinging on its position as a neutral player, diplomats said.
A Turkish official said the row showed how obdurate Greek Cypriots were.
“This (refusal to meet Straw) is not a problem for us because the British will see that the Greek Cypriots are not in favour of reconciliation (on Cyprus),” the official said.
Relations between Britain and Cyprus have been strained since 2004 when Greek Cypriots in the former colony rejected a British-backed UN plan to reunify the island. The plan was accepted by Turkish Cypriots.
London’s attempts to ease the start of Turkish EU entry talks last year also raised Greek Cypriot hackles for running roughshod over their concerns. —Reuters