Cyprus Problem – British MP Sir Alan Meale calls EU and UK to intervene in the conflict
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British MP Sir Alan Meale:
EU and UK ‘must demand’ that Turkey leaves Cyprus
Introductory comment by Ralph Kratzer
Daily something is said or written about the conflict between North and South Cyprus. Politicians of both parties insist on their standpoint and the opinions among the Turkish and Greek Cypriot population remain divided (click here!).
So far all this is comprehensible for me, because still to date, 40 years after the Turkish peace intervention and the subsequent separation of the island, even in the schools in both parts, a different picture of the Cypriot history prior to and after 1974 is taught (click here!).
But what I still read sometimes makes me shake my head in disbelief!
A British MP, Sir Alan Meale, believes he is allowed to interfere in the conflict, and indeed in such a biased, arrogant and one-sided way that it really drives me into a flush of the face in anger.
Has this man seriously dealt with the history and the current situation in Cyprus? Or is it “IN” nowadays amongst European politicians to exercise blind opinion-making rather than moderate diplomacy?
Personally, I can only say that IF there should be any kind of reunification of Cyprus under the domination of the Greek Cypriots and under the EU umbrella, it would be time for me to pack my bags and leave the island quickly!
Here comes the reason for my excitement – an article in the Greek Cypriot “Cyprus Mail”.
EU and UK ‘must demand’ that Turkey leaves Cyprus
By Stefanos Evripidou
THE European Union must demand Turkey to leave Cyprus as part of the obligation to protect its members, a British MP said on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, Labour MP for Mansfield Sir Alan Meale criticised the EU and UK government for not demanding freedom for Cyprus.
“What is the use of having a family if you don’t support its members? What we have to do is not ask Turkey to leave, it’s not our job to ask, it’s to demand.
“Thousands of Cypriots died for Europe and Britain during the two world wars. For us to give way and not demand freedom for them is absolutely outrageous. It’s morally and strategically wrong,” said Meale.
The British MP has been following and actively engaged in the Cyprus problem since 1987 when he entered the House of Commons.
He remains optimistic that a solution can be found, despite the stretch of time passed since the island was split by the invasion of Turkish troops over two phases in the summer of 1974.
“We’ll all wake up one day and it will be over and we’ll all wonder why it took so long to do that,” he said.
Meale listed the geostrategic advantages of Cyprus that make the island “irreplaceable” for Europe, including its large maritime fleet, role as a telecommunications crossroad, financial services, and trade arrangements with Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
He made a special reference to Cyprus’ natural gas prospects.
“Cyprus could be the gas station of the world. The European community will not allow anyone to take this resource away from them. We must take advantage of that to clear away some of the other issues,” said the MP.
Meale welcomed the possible return of the fenced area of Famagusta but warned that this should not be considered a solution in itself.
“I won’t be satisfied until every single inch of Cyprus is in the Republic and administrated by a regime which represents all of the people,” he said.
The Labour MP highlighted the need for the fate of the missing persons to be revealed in full detail, so that those responsible could be held accountable, as happened in South Africa, where truth was followed by peace and reconciliation.
“At best it was an illegal incursion which resulted in the death of thousands of people, at worst it was genocide and why should genocide be applicable in Bosnia, in the Far East or the Middle East and not in Cyprus?”
Meale noted that some of the victims were British citizens or relatives of British citizens.
Asked about his thoughts on the 40th anniversary of the invasion and occupation, Meale said: “I shake my head in disbelief that someone could do this and get away with it in modern society. It’s against everything we stand for. I think the 40th anniversary is a sad reminder of what humanity can do to one other.”
“We have to have democracy again. We have to take it back, it is one country, one island, all the people have to be together and the involvement of Turkey in this is absolutely disgraceful.”
To read the source article and other news on Cyprus Mail – click here!
What actually is absolutely disgraceful is that someone in a position such as his could make such ridiculous and ignorant statements. But I guess this is the way of the world at this time. Definitely no statesmen of any sort left.
Well, nothing to add, Jane!
What about the British. ..are they to be “demanded” to leave the island and no longer have bases???
Ostrich , head and sand comes to mind.
Excellnt article about the rants of a misguided, ‘Greek-loving’ dillusionist. Utter tosser!!!
Excellent – even….
He is probably so brain washed he has never met a TC and thinks they all have horns, a tail and carry a 3 pronged fork!! His constituency is probably so over loaded with GC, Greeks and their sympathisers he dare not look at an alternative view for fear of loosing his seat.
What a PLONKER!!! This is the standard of MP’s we have in the UK. They haven’t got a clue!
No wonder only about 30% of the British Public turn out to vote at elections.
This man is in desperate need of some kofte and raki!
It is good to see that at last a person of British extraction has got it right. Sir Alan Meale is spot on. How can the regime in Ankara be allowed to continue occupying Northern Cyprus. Would Britain stand for the occupation of Scotland by the Republic of Ireland or for that matter would the USA agree to stand aside while Russia occupied for the last 40 years Alaska. I am sure they wouldn’t and yet they stand aside and support Turkey in her occupation of Northern Cyprus.