Jim Murphy

Cyprus Settlement

A lot of Brits might still be lucky enough to be holidaying on Cyprus at the moment, and if so they'll be inadvertent witnesses to a historic moment today when the leaders of the two Cypriot communities  launch direct negotiations aimed at finding a Cyprus settlement.  The progress that has been made this year has been incredibly encouraging.  The two leaders have demonstrated their commitment and willingness to work together towards a settlement to reunify Cyprus.  What the two leaders are embarking on presents perhaps the best opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem.

I welcome the launch of these talks and encourage the two leaders to seize the opportunity to put an end to this damaging division that cuts right through the heart of Cypriot society.  The phrase "once in a generation" is overused in politics but that really is what this is.  We'll continue to support their efforts in the coming months, and I look forward to having the opportunity to visit the island soon.

Posted at 17:11 03 September 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[1]

Visit by President Christofias of Cyprus

President Dimitris Christofias and Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou of Cyprus were in London recently for their first official visit to the UK since President Christofias’ election in February. Given the sun that was beaming down on London during their visit, clearly the Cypriots brought some of their eastern-Mediterranean weather with them. 
 
I must admit to being very impressed by President Christofias’ commitment to a settlement and the leadership he has shown since his election earlier this year. This commitment was apparent throughout the visit.  Both in the meetings with the Prime Minister, and with the Foreign Secretary and I, we made it clear to President Christofias and Markos Kyprianou that the UK is ready and willing to support the settlement process as best possible, and is fully committed to the establishment of an indivisible Cyprus.  The Prime Minister also stressed that the UK wants to work with all parties, to help ensure progress towards a Cyprus settlement that all parties are happy with. 
 
The UK and Cypriot populations could not be closer –every year, more than 8,000 Cypriot students come to study in the UK, and Cyprus is the tourist destination of choice for more than one million Brits.  But politically, given our many shared objectives, there are also plenty of areas of potential cooperation between the UK and Cyprus, both in the EU and bilaterally, including subjects like water management, road safety, education and tourism.  Both the Foreign Secretary and I made clear throughout our meeting that we are looking forward to a strong partnership with Cyprus, based on friendship and cooperation.
 
I am very much looking forward to visiting Cyprus in the near future, and meeting, amongst others, the President and Foreign Minister again. My visit will be an opportunity to listen and learn, and explore how best the UK can support the settlement process.  Interesting times to come!

Posted at 10:36 11 June 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[1]

Cyprus: reopening of Ledra Street

Parliament is in recess at the moment but just before I left London I met the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in London. I hope to visit Cyprus in the coming months, and when I am there, I will make sure that I take the time to walk through the newly opened Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia. Last Thursday, thanks to the hard work of both communities, the crossing - in the heart of old Nicosia - was opened, after being closed for 45 years. This move is an extremely important symbol of the new mood within Cyprus - the equivalent of barriers being taken down on Oxford Street. For this to be achieved so soon after President Christofias' election and the first meeting between the leaders of the two communities is a tribute to their relationship and political courage. The collaborative manner with which they addressed the (inevitable) problems around the opening was also an encouraging sign for the, no doubt, challenging times that lie ahead. I'm proud that British peacekeepers also did their bit as part of UNFICYP.

An open Ledra Street is already having a significant impact on life in Nicosia. It's estimated that more than 20,000 Cypriots went through the crossing on the first weekend - many of them going into the north for the first time since 1963. The newspapers in Cyprus are carrying heart-warming stories of old friendships re-forged and individual acts of kindness and generosity. The economic impact has also been significant - with some traders reporting a 100% increase in business and plans to open new cafes and shops around the crossing point. This, in microcosm, supports our belief that reunification of the island would bring substantial economic benefits for both communities.

However, progress must not stop there. This confidence building measure is an achievement that should be celebrated, but it must be built on. The focus must now be on making sure that the constructive atmosphere in Cyprus continues, and that fully-fledged negotiations, under UN auspices, are able to start soon.

Achieving a settlement for Cyprus is one of my own personal priorities. The UK will use its contacts on the island, throughout the region, and here in Britain to support the UN's efforts. But above all, as the opening of Ledra Street demonstrated, the work towards a comprehensive settlement must come from Cypriots themselves - any future plan will be for Cypriots, by Cypriots.

Posted at 15:34 14 April 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[1]

Turkey

On Monday evening I travelled out of Heathrow's new Terminal 5. I did so with a degree of trepidation due to its well publicised problems last week. But I was relieved that it went well. My destination was Istanbul. I had been invited to speak at a conference of academics, politicians, officials and journalists about Turkey's future in the European Union. I wanted to take the opportunity to put forward our case for something that the British government is firmly convinced of.

The point I wanted to make is that Turkey joining the EU is in our shared interest.

The importance of Turkey to the EU could not have been more obvious to me as I drove from the airport last night. Istanbul is a massive and impressive city. From the Byzantine walls to the Ottoman mosques and bazaars, it's a rich fusion of arts and cultures, of old and new. A gateway between Europe and Asia. Between Christianity and Islam.

The Bosphorus, which takes its name from Greek times when it had an important role as an east-west crossing point (Bosphorus means "ox crossing"), is now a vital north-south passage for thousands of ships from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. I was impressed by the hundreds of ships, lit up in the night sky, waiting to make the voyage just last night.

But equally, the EU is important for Turkey. It will gain influence. After joining the EU, Turkey's voice won't just be the voice of one proud nation, but will influence and speak on behalf of many nations - all members of the EU.

And I haven't even touched on the economic arguments.

I am convinced that when Turkey completes its process of reform, its destiny lies in the EU. But for its part, Turkey needs to be clear of its motivation for reform. Turkey shouldn't reform to please the EU, but because democratic and economic reform are in the interests of the Turkish people.

I've just met Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan and we discussed a great variety of issues, including Cyprus. Turkey must play its part in making progress on the UN process for a comprehensive settlement. Not because it will ease the accession process, but because it is in the interests of all Cypriots.

Posted at 11:34 02 April 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[5]

Turkey (Again)

Just to pick up some of the points raised in response to my earlier blog on Turkey:  Mike asked how far I thought the EU could expand, as Turkey was pushing the geographic boundaries.  I am against setting any pre-ordained limit on EU expansion - enlargement has been a huge positive both for the countries already in the EU, ourselves included, and those that have joined more recently.  Certainly the countries of the Balkans belong in Europe, along with countries to the EU's east like Ukraine.  Linked to this is an answer to Simon's points regarding the economics of EU expansion and the issue of values.  I strongly believe that Turkey joining the EU would be a real boost to British business.  Turkey has a strong economy, growing at around 7.5% per annum in recent years, so it would benefit the EU's single market and British jobs and growth. This is something I was asked about on a radio phone in for Radio XL last week.

Simon writes that he hasn't seen the EU doing much inter-faith outreach work.  Of course there is a lot of activity carried out by EU countries on an individual basis - for example Spain has played a leading role - with Turkey - in establishing an "Alliance of Civilisations" (more info at http://www.unaoc.org).  There are also some good EU-level initiatives.  For example the President of the European Parliament was recently in the UK and included in his visit talks with British Muslim leaders and a speech on intercultural dialogue at the London School of Economics.  If people have ideas on what the EU's role should be in this then I'm keen to hear them. 

I disagree entirely with the comments made by 'Lord Truth' - but it gives me the chance to point out that the entry of a reformed Turkey into the EU would be an excellent symbolic rejection of the idea that Europe is exclusively a "Christian club".  Turkey is a democracy, and it is making further reforms on its path to EU membership.  In recent years Turkey has abolished the death penalty, significantly reduced torture, ensured constitutional rights for women and improved the cultural rights of minority groups.  The EU accession process will continue to be a catalyst for reform.  To answer Richard's question - every indication I have seen suggests Turkey very much wants to join the EU, and is making progress towards doing so.  It's a balance - Turkey needs to keep going along the reform track, and the EU needs to reassert that membership is the destination.

With most of the House of Commons debate on the Treaty over, I am looking forward to having some more time to focus on issues like Turkey, Cyprus, Kosovo and the Balkans, and our relations with Russia, as well as things like inter-cultual dialogue.  I am the Minister responsible for the UK's "public diplomacy", and I'll be blogging about that in due course.  In any case, you'll be pleased to know this may mean a wider range of blogs!

Posted at 09:54 10 March 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[3]

Property issues in Cyprus and Spain

A lot of the letters I receive from members of the public, as well as MPs and MEPs writing on behalf of their constituents, are about problems people have experienced buying property abroad. I'm really pleased that lots of British citizens are investing like this throughout the EU - making the most of how easy it is to travel, live and work in different countries - but it's clear that buying property in other EU states is not always without risk. Legal systems in other countries are different to those in the UK, and language difficulties can be a cause of confusion. Prospective buyers should ensure that they take all the steps needed to avoid disappointment and sometimes serious financial consequences.

Two of the most popular destinations for UK house buyers are Cyprus and Spain. The FCO's travel advice pages for those countries warn potential purchasers of the risks involved with purchasing property in these countries and we strongly recommend that people seek qualified legal advice from a source independent from the seller before committing to a purchase. There have been - and still are - cases where dishonest estate agents and lawyers have knowingly taken advantage of the unwary. But I must emphasise that the FCO cannot become involved with private property disputes and it is important that independent legal advice is sought.

The travel advice for Cyprus contains a link to a document of frequently asked questions on property in Cyprus, containing information useful to anyone considering purchasing a property. The travel advice for Spain also has links to the British Embassy in Spain's website, which holds further details.

Posted at 10:04 05 February 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[5]