Britain - Cyprus memorandum

Cyprus and Britain have entered a “new era” in relations after the “frustrating” events of the past, President Christofias said after signing a wide-reaching Memorandum of Understanding with Gordon Brown in London on 5 June.

The Cyprus Main reports that speaking after a meeting at 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister pledged to play a “strong and supportive role” in solving the Cyprus problem, while commending the president for his “vision” and “political courage”.

“The President has been instrumental in launching work to reunify Cyprus. He has shown vision and political courage, reaching out to the Turkish Cypriot community and its leader, inspiring hope in Cypriots both sides of the Green Line,” said Brown, promising to fully support the president in achieving a Cypriot-owned solution. “We will do this through thorough engagement with all the parties in the region and beyond,” he said, adding later, “We are ready to play our part in any way.” To demonstrate his commitment to the process, Brown said he was sending his Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy, to Cyprus next month.

For his part, Christofias promised to do his utmost to make the relationship between the two countries “better, closer and more developed”. Christofias noted that the memorandum laid out Britain's commitment to a solution based on existing UN resolutions, where a reunited island would have single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship. The memo's key clauses refer to the UK's obligations emanating from the 1960 Treaties, including its role as a guarantor power, as well as a commitment not to support “any moves towards the partition of the island or the recognition or upgrading of any separate political entity”.

The two leaders were in agreement on the objective of full EU membership for Turkey, on condition that Turkey fulfilled “its outstanding obligations” to EU members; a reference to the Ankara protocol which requires Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cyprus-flagged ships and planes. The two countries pledged to hold regular dialogue and have a six-monthly review of the process.

Christofias also made reference to the British bases, noting that the two leaders agreed to leave the door open for future dialogue on their status. This was confirmed by a clause in the memorandum, stating that the two sides agreed to work together “in a constructive manner on all issues emanating from the Treaty of Establishment”. Overall, the president interpreted the agreement as a pledge by both countries to solve problems that arise and avoid “new misunderstandings” in the future.

Speaking to journalists later, Christofias clarified that: “The existence or demolition of the bases is not on the agenda now. It's something that will be discussed together with Turkish Cypriots as owners, as partners of a united Republic of Cyprus, after the wounds have healed.”

Both leaders pledged to support economic integration of the island based on the April 26, 2004, EU Council conclusions. They also referred to the full application of EU laws in the north based on Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty. A programme of bilateral co-operation on common interests and priorities was also established, covering a range of issues like education and health, illegal immigration, football hooliganism, economics, commerce and the Olympics. Christofias highlighted the strong ties between the two countries, noting that “half of Cyprus is living in the UK”. Speaking later at the newly-inaugurated Cyprus High Commision, he said: “It's a new page, a turning point”.

The Cyprus Mail reports that the Memorandum marks a real turning point in relations in that there are clauses in the text which effectively guarantee that Turkey's strategic partnership, as it stands, can only go so far in terms of upgrading the “TRNC” and/or orchestrating a “virgin birth”. It's a strong message of reassurance for Cyprus from Britain. It quotes a Cyprus government source as saying “We have changed our language. We no longer talk about Britain exerting pressure. We are looking for Turkey to do what it has to do to join the EU, which is in everyone's interests”. Effectively, the paper adds, following some good PR work, Cyprus is no longer in the corner, taking swipes at the “evil demon”. Instead, a lot of effort has been made by both sides to provide key reassurances about the future of the island while paving the way for a European-style pursuance of loosely-joined common goals.

Memorandum full text:
The memorandum says that a reunited Cyprus will bring an end to conflict in the island and lead to greater prosperity for the people of Cyprus, as well as contribute to the stability of the region and strengthen the EU’s ability to respond to global challenges.The two countries will cooperate in the following areas:
· Both countries commit themselves to working together to reunify the island. The aim is a comprehensive and durable settlement based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as defined by the relevant UN resolutions and the principles upon which the EU is founded. This settlement must be based on a single sovereignty, international personality and a single citizenship.
· Both countries support the on-going process under the Good Offices of the Secretary-General, including the move to full negotiations on a date agreed by the two leaders.
· The UK and the Republic of Cyprus will work with the UN, with relevant support from the EU, to ensure a successful conclusion to the on-going process and the achievement of an agreed, negotiated solution, between the two communities, as soon as possible.
· The two countries reiterate their commitment to their respective obligations under the Treaties signed in 1960.
· The UK reiterates its commitment to its obligations as a Guarantor Power. The UK will continue fully to respect existing UN resolutions on Cyprus, including UNSCRs 541 and 550. Therefore the UK will not support any moves towards the partition of the island or the recognition or up-grading of any separate political entity on the island.· In addition, the two countries will continue to work together in a constructive manner on all issues emanating from the Treaty of Establishment.
· The UK and the Republic of Cyprus reaffirm their support for measures aimed at the economic integration of the island in accordance with the 26 of April 2004 EU Council Conclusions and helping to prepare the Turkish Cypriot community for reunification and the full application of the acquis communautaire on the basis of Protocol 10 of the Treaty of Accession.
· The UK commends the measures taken and proposed by the Republic of Cyprus for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriot community. The UK will work with the Republic of Cyprus to help promote further contact between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in order to support the reunification of the island.
· The UK recognises the positive proposal made by the Republic of Cyprus towards the establishment of an accreditation process for enabling the Turkish Cypriot higher education institutions to participate in international co-operation programmes.
· The UK undertakes to continue to inform its citizens on the legal situation prevailing in Cyprus regarding the properties issue and relevant ECHR judgments.
· The Republic of Cyprus and the UK will establish a programme of bilateral co-operation on a range of priority issues. It will identify common interests between the two countries, based on the common legal framework, administrative structures, economic complementarity, people-to-people ties and shared strategic interests.
· This co-operation will be developed through exchange of best practice and direct co-operation in specific areas. The sectors to be covered will be identified, developed and adjusted by the diplomatic representatives in London and Nicosia. Initial priorities include:
Education and Health: schools, higher education, technical, vocational education and training; - Police and security issues: organised crime, counter-terrorism, illegal immigration, road safety and football hooliganism;Economic and commercial issues: competitiveness, research and development, financial services, energy and environment.
The Millennium Development Goals: The Republic of Cyprus has today joined the Call to Action. The UK and the Republic of Cyprus strongly support the need for an EU action plan to be agreed at the June Council.
The Olympics: we will work together to identify areas for co-operation as the UK prepares for the 2012 London Olympics.
· The Republic of Cyprus and the UK will establish closer dialogue in Brussels, London and Nicosia on EU issues where they have shared interests (e.g. to promote a more effective social dimension and co-operation on issues such as Justice and Home Affairs (JHA), taxation, budget reform, climate change).
· As the Republic of Cyprus prepares for its EU Presidency in 2012, the UK will offer to share its experience, including through inward secondments.
· The two countries will also hold a regular dialogue on EU/Turkey, where they share the objective of full membership once full conditions have been met. Both countries agree on the need for Turkey to fulfil its outstanding obligations towards all member states in accordance with the Negotiating Framework and the 21st September 2005 EU Declaration. The two countries will pursue dialogue by discussing issues relating to the negotiations at an early stage to clarify and resolve outstanding difficulties.
· This programme of action will be delivered through six-monthly reviews at Ministerial level in Nicosia or London and regular discussions between High Commissions and Governments in capitals. It will also be delivered through contact between Representations in Brussels and New York. The UK and Cyprus will also aim to hold an annual Cyprus/UK Forum to address specific issues of mutual interest.