Showing posts with label British MP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British MP. Show all posts

A British MP supports the Turkish positions on Cyprus


Dec 21, 2023. Posted by  Balkan Periscope - Hellas

 

British MP Sammy Wilson in his article on December 19, 2023 published in Reaction supports the Turkish positions for the definitive separation of the island of Cyprus and the recognition of the part occupied by the Turkish army as an 'independent state'.

Turkish publications reported extensively on the positions expressed by the British politician.

The article is titled: After failure in the Middle East, the West must realise the danger of unresolved conflict

The article:

 

At the end of the Cold War, many people decided to believe that the world had moved on from real conflict. That Western ideology and capitalism had been proved correct which would lead to the world becoming more peaceful and tolerant. War would be a thing of the past and division would die out.

 Events have proved that was a naïve and overly optimistic worldview. It led the West to ignore problems, crises and potential flashpoints that should never have been overlooked. This has consistently led to disaster. Disaster that, on many occasions, could have been prevented.

  In early October, terrorists once again attacked Israel. Hamas, backed by several regional powers has an explicit goal of exterminating Israel from the map. This is a conflict that has raged on for nearly 70 years and sadly shows no sign of a permanent resolution. The West has failed to truly engage with this conflict. Now, civilians are suffering as a result of this lassitude.

 All around the world, there are clear examples of where conflict has not been resolved, tensions and differences have festered resulting in fresh outbreaks of violence. We can look at the ongoing border skirmishes in the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan or the nearby Indian-Chinese border in Sikkim.

 In Africa, there are constant outbreaks of violence between governments and petty warlords. Between rival ethnic, tribal and religious groups. Earlier this year, war once again broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

  Closer to home, Kosovo remains an unresolved dispute in Europe. UN peacekeepers are still on the ground, doing their best to ensure that outright war does not break out again. The situation in Kosovo is remarkably similar to another frozen conflict in Europe – that of Cyprus.

 Cyprus also has UN peacekeepers maintaining a barrier between the two rival authorities that represent different ethnic groups. However, unlike in Kosovo – where the breakaway state has been largely recognised by the international community, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus remains isolated in its rejection.

 It is time that the West no longer ignores frozen conflicts. Instability helps no one and is one of the worse outcomes for civilians as they know that fresh violence could break out at any point.

  I see no reason why the UK does not recognise the TRNC as a legitimate authority for the Turkish Cypriot population. Indeed, I would argue that they represent a good partner for the UK because unlike the Greek Cypriot population, they have never targeted or campaigned against our Sovereign Military bases on the island.

 These SBAs are a crucial part of the UK’s international capabilities and have proved vital in recent years in creating no-fly zones in the Middle East and carrying out operations against terrorist groups like ISIS.

 Conflict should never be ignored. I am Northern Irish, and I am British. I know better than most the scars that intercommunal violence can create and the lasting scars of violence between different religious groups. However, lasting peace is possible.

There is a solution that will end the Cyprus issue once and for all. That is a two-state solution with treaties between the two sides that foster cooperation. Such a solution has worked before in Ireland and can work again in Cyprus. 

Sammy Wilson has been the Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Antrim since 2005 and was formerly Northern Ireland’s finance minister.

 

reaction.life

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