High Commissioner: No return to ‘touchdown’ flights to UK

THERE shall be no return to the follow of passengers travelling from North Cyprus to the UK being allowed to attend on the aircraft throughout “landing” in Türkiye, even as soon as the brand new Ercan airport opens, the British Excessive Commissioner in Cyprus, Irfan Siddiq, has stated.

EXCLUSIVE

By ELTAN HALİL

THERE shall be no return to the follow of passengers travelling from North Cyprus to the UK being allowed to attend on the aircraft throughout “landing” in Türkiye, even as soon as the brand new Ercan airport opens, the British Excessive Commissioner in Cyprus, Irfan Siddiq, has stated.

Whereas the UK doesn’t enable planes to fly instantly from the TRNC, previously flights may land in Türkiye earlier than persevering with on to Britain, with passengers allowed to attend on board.

That long-running follow was dropped at an finish in June 2017, with passengers compelled to disembark in order that they and their baggage may undergo a second spherical of safety checks in Türkiye.

With the brand new state-of-the-art Ercan airport terminal anticipated to open on July 20, hopes had been raised that any issues British officers might have over airport safety within the TRNC can be allayed, paving the best way for a potential return to the landing flights. 

Nevertheless Mr Siddiq has dashed any such hopes. Talking completely to Cyprus At present throughout a wide-ranging interview at a lodge in Çatalköy on Tuesday, forward of a public assembly there with British residents within the TRNC, Mr Siddiq stated the shortage of direct flights between the UK and North Cyprus is likely one of the largest points raised to him by British individuals who journey usually to the TRNC.

“That’s clearly a long-standing challenge and one which we want to see progress on, however in fact, it’s linked to progress on a [Cyprus] settlement,” he stated.

Requested if the UK may enable direct flights to happen and not using a resolution in Cyprus, he replied that that is “not one thing the UK can undertake ourselves”.

Citing the “Chicago Conference” on worldwide aviation guidelines, Mr Siddiq continued by saying that the direct flights challenge is “not one thing that’s completely contingent on a complete settlement”.

“However it’s contingent upon there being an settlement for there to be direct flights with the Republic of Cyprus as a result of, because the Republic of Cyprus is the one internationally recognised state in accordance with the Chicago Conference, it controls all of the airspace and designation of airports and due to this fact it could want settlement.”

Mr Siddiq stated an instance of how direct flights could possibly be allowed and not using a complete resolution in Cyprus could possibly be via a “confidence-building measure”, giving the instance of a deal instructed by former Greek Cypriot Nicos Anastasiades involving direct flights to and from Ercan and the opening up of Gazimağusa port to worldwide commerce, in change for “the return of Varosha [Maraş]”.

The provide “wasn’t accepted on this aspect so it by no means went anyplace,” Mr Siddiq said, “however that provides you an instance of how, absent a everlasting settlement, we may discover a resolution which may facilitate direct flights”.

PASSENGERS WAITING ON PLANE AN ‘OVERSIGHT’

Requested about the potential of passengers from the TRNC as soon as once more being allowed to attend on the aircraft in Türkiye after the brand new Ercan airport opens, Mr Siddiq stated the choice to place a cease to the follow in 2017 “wasn’t truly associated to points at Ercan airport”. The choice, he stated, was associated to “two issues”. 

“One is that any flight that involves the UK from Turkey, and even when it stops in Turkey, as a result of we don’t recognise flights that come instantly from Ercan they’re deemed to be coming from Turkey, wants superior safety checks,” he defined.

“That’s one thing that’s in place between the UK and Turkey. So firstly, you want that to alter, which there’s no present prospect of. 

“If that modified, then there’d be a problem of whether or not you may do a safety evaluation for Ercan, however once more, that will depend on consent from the Republic of Cyprus because the physique that has the worldwide accountability beneath the Chicago Conference. 

“So sadly, I don’t see that altering. Simply to be clear, the rationale why that [touchdown flights] modified in 2017, [and] it’s troublesome for me to grasp this, but it surely was an oversight, it shouldn’t have been occurring. . .  [passengers] ought to at all times have been stopped and checked.

“For some motive it wasn’t occurring and after they realised that that wasn’t occurring, they instated what has at all times been the proper safety protocols.”

Mr Siddiq added that “any flights coming from Turkey to the UK have particular safety checks which might be required” and that “sadly, there aren’t simple options”.

The Excessive Commissioner’s feedback that travellers from the TRNC to the UK ought to by no means have been allowed to attend on the aircraft in Türkiye appeared to vary from earlier explanations given by British authorities officers for the disembarkation choice in 2017.

In October 2017, the then-British Excessive Commissioner Matthew Kidd stated throughout a gathering with British residents within the TRNC: “It’s actually about how Ercan run their operation total . . . There are explicit methods wherein safety preparations are designed at any given airport. 

“It’s not about safety at one level or who takes care of baggage at which level. It’s the entire mixture of particular person parts which add as much as a safety blanket which is nice sufficient or not.”

Throughout the identical month a gaggle of high-profile Turkish Cypriots from North Cyprus and the TRNC had a gathering with the then-UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, the place they expressed to Mr Grayling their readiness to do “no matter it takes” to make safety at Ercan airport “that of European and worldwide requirements and for an internationally accredited firm to run safety on the airport that addresses the issues”.

In April 2019 this newspaper reported how the British authorities had reviewed safety coverage over Ercan airport and concluded {that a} change of strategy “was not potential”.

A response from the International and Commonwealth Workplace’s Mediterranean Division to a letter from the Beşparmak think-tank to then-Prime Minister Theresa Might, delivered to 10 Downing Road, which known as for a rethink of its disembarkation coverage, stated: “Whereas we acknowledge the inconvenience this may increasingly trigger, we think about the rise in journey time a proportionate measure to guard the general public towards a real terrorist menace.”

In Might 2021 Lord Sharkey raised the problem throughout a debate in Parliament, saying: “I do know from conversations with President [Ersin] Tatar that his administration would adjust to any situations the [British] authorities may need.

“We imposed that restriction, and we may elevate it ourselves regardless of anybody.”

GUARANTEE SYSTEM

Throughout his interview with Cyprus At present, Mr Siddiq additionally answered questions concerning the Cyprus downside and the present prospects for a settlement on the island.

Requested if he thinks the system of “ensures” in Cyprus is outdated, Mr Siddiq replied: “Any change to the system of ensures and any change to any of the safety and ensures preparations that exist because of the 1960 Structure should be agreed by each side and should be framed in a approach that they offer each side a way of safety.

“The UK has made clear for a very long time that it’s open to any association that each side discover passable. We’re not wedded to a selected strategy and we’re not insisting on retaining a selected strategy. 

“However in fact, it must be agreed by each side . . . we’re not a determinant right here, we’re not going to dam one thing that each side conform to. So no matter each side conform to by way of the assure future, we are going to, I’m certain, on the premise of our earlier statements and coverage be joyful to conform to.”

It might be “high quality with the UK” if the 2 sides of Cyprus agreed to abolish the Treaty of Assure – one thing the Greek Cypriot aspect has lengthy known as for however which the Turkish Cypriot aspect is towards – Mr Siddiq added.

On Britain’s Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), which had been established in 1960 as a part of the agreements to grant Cyprus independence from the UK, Mr Siddiq stated any change to the Treaty of Assure wouldn’t have an effect on the standing of the SBAs, that are coated by the Treaty of Institution.

“The Treaty of Institution governs the functioning of the bases. . . Altering the standing of the ensures and guarantor powers doesn’t essentially affect upon the state of affairs of the bases.”

SOVEREIGNTY 

Requested for his views on President Ersin Tatar’s demand for sovereign equality, Mr Siddiq stated: “I’ve had a number of discussions with Mr Tatar about this. It’s clear beneath the 1960 Structure that each Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are recognised as key constituents of the state, residents of the state. 

“So there’s no query that, theoretically, Turkish Cypriots don’t have the appropriate to sovereign citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus, which initially they had been clearly a part of.

“The step to declare a self-declared separate TRNC shouldn’t be recognised by anyone aside from Turkey and due to this fact that claimed sovereignty shouldn’t be recognised within the sense of it constituting the identical entity, the self-declared TRNC. 

“In order outlined as a self-declared TRNC, sovereignty shouldn’t be recognised as a result of it’s not a recognised state of anybody however Turkey.

“However that doesn’t imply that in a settlement, which is clearly what all of us aspire to, the place Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are fellow residents, they won’t share in that sovereignty. “So there’s no denial of their inherent proper to sovereignty, however . . . as is articulated and expressed via a self-declared TRNC, it’s not accepted or recognised by anyone. 

“And I do know that’s a troublesome message to swallow, but it surely’s the fact of the TRNC not being recognised by anyone aside from Turkey.”

Mr Siddiq continued by saying that Mr Tatar and his advisers inform him they “don’t trust within the Greek Cypriot management’s dedication to discovering a settlement” and “on the premise of that there needs to be a unique strategy, which is what Turkey additionally says”.

“So that they problem the premise that you may fulfill the inherent proper to sovereignty via a unified state since you don’t suppose you may get an settlement, that’s what they are saying anyway.

“My view, the view of my authorities, the view of the entire worldwide group aside from Turkey, is that there’s nonetheless a viable prospect for a settlement that can create a unified federal state beneath which Turkish Cypriots will have the ability to train their inherent proper to sovereignty.”

Referring to the failure of the final main push to unite Cyprus beneath a federal umbrella, on the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana six years in the past, Mr Siddiq stated this triggered a change in Turkey’s place in direction of the Cyprus challenge.

“Up till then it was supporting a federal resolution,” he stated. “After which it began advocating a two-state resolution. [This] then led to the election of a pacesetter on the Turkish Cypriot aspect, Mr Tatar, who was additionally an advocate for a two-state resolution. So you could have an alternate mannequin being espoused.”

‘ONE FINAL PUSH’ 

Given the rising disparity between the positions of the 2 sides of Cyprus, Mr Siddiq was requested why he feels {that a} federal resolution continues to be viable.

“The disparity within the two fashions now and the steps being taken by Turkish Cypriot authorities and Turkey to consolidate that separation of the 2 fashions is having an affect,” he stated.

“And it’s making, I feel, from what I’ve heard chatting with Greek Cypriots, notably the management, Greek Cypriots realise that the continuation of the present trajectory shouldn’t be . . . comfy for them, as a result of it would solely result in increasingly cementing of the division between the 2 sides. 

“And it’ll make the prospects for a settlement much less and fewer probably on the premise of a federal resolution. So I feel they realise that until they do one thing quickly to resurrect and revive prospects for a federal resolution, it would most likely change into unimaginable. 

“And that is one thing that the Greek Cypriot management have clearly articulated. So I feel they recognise that there’s a new crucial, a brand new momentum for them and stress on them to achieve an settlement. 

“And that is what the just lately elected president of the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot chief [Nikos Christodoulides], has stated very clearly. 

“So I feel that creates a possibility, that together with new management in Turkey and Greece, and a interval of not less than for just a few years the place there’s no electoral disruption or instability anticipated, implies that I feel there’s now a possibility to make doubtlessly one last push for a settlement on the premise of a bicommunal bizonal federation. 

“In the intervening time the Turkish Cypriot management isn’t satisfied that that’s credible and I feel it’s incumbent on all of us to attempt to work to attempt to make it credible.”

Requested why the UK nonetheless helps a federal resolution to the Cyprus downside, Mr Siddiq responded by saying: “For a rustic as small as Cyprus, a unified state will simply be far more efficient by way of the way it will function. 

“The sign it sends, in fact, round . . . our capability to resolve issues relatively than cement them. . . as a diplomat that’s one thing I’d prefer to see. 

“And, you realize, it’s clear that the EU anticipated when the Republic of Cyprus entered [the EU], sooner or later there to be unification in order that the North may additionally enter the EU and I feel if that prospect of a unified federal state died, the prospect of the North getting into the EU would additionally die. So there are good causes to carry on to attempting to make one last push to a federal resolution.”

EU INVOLVEMENT

Requested if the European Union ought to change into extra concerned within the Cyprus negotiations course of, Mr Siddiq stated: “So the Greek Cypriot chief, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, has known as for this.

“The EU has traditionally been fairly concerned due to the character of EU membership . . . So the fact is that the EU has just lately had a task, not a lead political actor as a result of that’s the UN’s position, however as a result of any settlement for a federal resolution would imply that the North would then accede to the EU. 

“There are a variety of sensible technical financial alignments that must occur, harmonisation, in order that the North is prepared for EU membership, similar to different international locations that . . . should undergo a strategy of preparation, that shall be wanted and the EU shall be central to that. So I feel it’s pure that the EU has a robust position. 

“I feel the Republic of Cyprus president Mr Christodoulides’s goal was notably round EU incentives for Turkey, in its relationship with the EU.

“I feel these is also optimistic however they’re all I feel supportive and contributory to the larger challenge, which is clearly the settlement between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. So the EU can have a supportive position but it surely’s not a lead position.”

GİRNE MEMORIAL TO BRITISH SERVICEMEN

Mr Siddiq additionally defined why he, and his predecessors, don’t attend the Remembrance service on the memorial erected in Girne for British servicemen killed by Greek Cypriot Eoka terrorists in the course of the “Cyprus Emergency” of the Fifties.

“We host our Remembrance service on the Commonwealth Battle Graves web site within the buffer zone, which is the place the servicemen who had been killed are literally buried,” the diplomat said.

“I do know that there’s a memorial to them within the North, however they’re truly buried there, so we historically go there. 

“My intention on the subsequent Remembrance service is to go to the place the place the British servicemen are laid to relaxation and make the commemoration there.”

Requested if he’s troubled by the truth that Greek Cypriot leaders proceed to pay homage to Eoka terrorists, however are then invited to attend receptions on the British Excessive Fee in South Nicosia, akin to one held just lately for the birthday of King Charles, Mr Siddiq responded by saying that the “historical past of the British presence in Cyprus is difficult” and the “historical past of the respective narratives round what that interval signified can be difficult and contested”.

“So simply as I think about Turkish Cypriots have very robust reactions to the Eoka marketing campaign, because the British do as nicely, I feel we perceive that Greek Cypriots have a really robust response differently,” he added.

“And I feel it’s actually essential to respect individuals’s variations and their completely different views, which I do. 

“So, simply as I’m certain there’s a really completely different strategy on the Turkish Cypriot aspect, which I respect, I perceive there’s a completely different strategy on the Greek Cypriot aspect, which I respect, even when I don’t agree with it.”

This story first appeared within the print version of Cyprus At present dated July 1, 2023.