London, United Kingdom. Liberal Democrat peer John Sharkey called for greater attention to the Turkish Cypriot side and condemned the Greek Cypriot community for the historic impasse in negotiations. Speaking during the King’s Address in the House of Lords, he said decades of efforts have not produced a settlement.
Assessment of past negotiations
Lord Sharkey reviewed the history of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, saying repeated efforts over more than five decades have not resulted in a settlement. He said “numerous attempts at reunification have been made during this period, all of which have failed,” and that “in each case the Greek Cypriot south was the proximate cause of these failures.”
Crans-Montana talks
He referred to the Crans-Montana negotiations in 2017, describing their collapse as a “great regret” after the “Greek Cypriots abandoned the talks.”
Comments on Turkish Cypriot conditions
Lord Sharkey said Turkish Cypriots “have lived for decades without recognition, under disadvantaged conditions, and deprived of access to international capital due to embargoes.” He also cited remarks attributed to Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, quoting him as having said: “is there anyone who truly believes that a solution can be reached on this island by ignoring the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people?”
Call for UK engagement and APPG role
He invited the British government to engage further with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Turkish Cypriots. Lord Sharkey has served as chair and vice-chair of the group, which has lobbied for the north’s recognition and for the British government to lift economic embargoes.
How should the British government respond to Lord Sharkey’s call to engage further with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Turkish Cypriots?