Theresa Villiers MP Press Release Tel: 020 8449 7345 Fax: 0208 449 7346 | |
| Ref : Date: 11th November 2010 |
VILLIERS CONDEMNS CALL FOR PARTITION OF CYPRUS
MP for Chipping Barnet, Theresa Villiers, has condemned comments made by senior Labour MP and former Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, in The Times this week. Mr Straw called on the UK Government to consider a formal partition of Cyprus into two separate states. He also criticised former President of Cyprus, the late Tassos Papadopoulos for campaigning for a ‘no’ vote in the referendum on the Annan V proposals.
Theresa said, “Jack Straw’s comments go against a political consensus that has lasted for decades – namely that the island is Cyprus is one country in international law and that its people should be reunited. The Conservatives have made it very clear that we strongly oppose partition. We have always supported the efforts being made by Cypriots to find a just, lasting and peaceful settlement that sees Cyprus reunited with its people living together again in one country with a single international personality and single citizenship.”
“Mr Straw’s article fails to recognise the pain caused by the invasion and the continuing impact it has on thousands of Cypriots who lost homes and loved ones. His comments about the stance of the late Tassos Popadopoulos during the referendum show a fundamental misunderstanding on the key to the success of any settlement in Cyprus – that Cypriots should be free to make their own decisions on their future after a full and frank debate in a referendum.”
“Jack Straw is a very senior member of the Labour Party and held office for many years in the Governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. His latest statement shows that Labour cannot be trusted on Cyprus”, concludes Mrs Villiers.
ENDS. For further information please contact Claire Dowson on 0208 449 7345 or email theresa@theresavilliers.co.uk
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