The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, in its 90-page report published on the Cyprus issue yesterday (22 February), called on the British Government to authorise direct flights to the TRNC (from the UK) and criticized the Greek Cypriot Administration for being "un-European".

Including a number of suggestions for resuming the Cyprus negotiation process, the report, emphasizing the leading role Britain could take to push the process forward when it assumes the EU presidency in the second half of this year, stressed that "there is as yet little evidence that the 'Republic of Cyprus' has fully taken on board that its membership of the EU involves obligations as well as opportunities".

Recommending that Britain and other EU member states should encourage the Greek Cypriot Administration to "adopt European Union values and methods of working", the report stated that undertakings given to the Turkish Cypriots prior to the 24 April 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan must be honoured and that "the UK government do more to turn its words into action by working with the Luxembourg presidency of the EU to remove obstacles to direct trade with and travel to the TRNC and that it encourage the wider international community to do the same".

The report said: "We recommend that in its response to this report, if not sooner, the government clarify whether it has the power to authorise direct passenger flights between the United Kingdom and northern Cyprus. We further recommend that if it does possess the power to authorize flights, the government announce a date from which such services will be permitted".

Pointing out that "in the absence of an early overall settlement Britain support practical measures that would enable the Turkish Cypriots to trade with the UK and other countries", the report said this could include refurbishment and then joint operation to EU standards of the port of Famagusta with the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The reported also expressed its disappointment at the way in which the Green Line Regulation was being handled and the slowness of progress.

Noting "the very strong feelings of the Greek Cypriots on the property issue", the report said the property issue was one of the most crucial issues to be addressed in the search for a Cyprus settlement. The report also recommended that Turkey withdraw some of its troops from the island.

Underlining that "in any revival of the talks process it will be necessary to find ways of addressing Greek Cypriot concerns which do not disadvantage Turkish Cypriots", the report said "a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem is overwhelmingly in the interests of the people of Cyprus and that it offers important advantages for the European Union, for Turkey and for the international community".

The reported also stressed that in the coming months Britain and the rest of the international community should impress upon the Greek Cypriots that their interests were best served by a negotiated settlement such as the Annan plan, and that they needed to articulate their concerns "with precision, clarity and finality", in order that negotiations can take place this summer.