Cyprus Mail
CyprusFeatured

UK reiterates support for Cyprus settlement “in line with UN parameters”

british foreign office

British Minister for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton has stated that “the UK continues to advocate a solution (in Cyprus) in line with UN parameters based on the model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal Federation.”

She was responding to Sir Roger Gale, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus, who had sent a letter to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stressing that the UK Government “must take every opportunity both publicly and privately to reiterate its support for the agreed basis for a solution.”

The Minister for the European Neighbourhood adds in her letter that this model “is internationally accepted and one that we believe to be broad enough to address the concerns of both sides.”

Ultimately, she continues, “it is for the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to decide on the details of a Settlement and the UK, as a Guarantor Power and a friend to all parties, will continue to provide support to the UN-led process.”

Morton notes that at the informal talks in Geneva last April, the Foreign Secretary made clear the UK’s position on a settlement, urging all sides to demonstrate “flexibility and compromise” to find a solution to the Cyprus Issue “within UN Security Council parameters”.

She adds that the UK ministers “continue to make clear our position in conversations with our Turkish counterparts.”

Addressing concerns expressed by Sir Roger Gale about UK Government statements for the need to end the “so-called isolation” of the Turkish Cypriot community, which is only a result of the Turkish invasion and occupation, she states that the UK’s position has not changed: “Although UK Ministers regularly engage with Mr Tatar in the context of the Settlement process, on the question of UK recognition for the self-declared ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, the UK’s longstanding position is one of non-recognition and we fully support UN Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550 in this regard,” she points out.

“Within the constraints of Security Council Resolutions, the UK continues to support appropriately  measures aimed at reducing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. However, we maintain that the most sustainable means of addressing the isolation of communities on the island is through a just and lasting Settlement.”

Morton concludes her letter to Sir Roger Gale with a reminder that she is due to speak at the Annual Parliamentary Event of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, co-organised with the APPG on Cyprus on 19 July. The Federation is the APPG’s Secretariat.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

Follow the Cyprus Mail on Google News

Related Posts

One in ten women of reproductive age in Cyprus have endometriosis

Iole Damaskinos

Anti-racism campaigner banned from north sparking criticism

Tom Cleaver

A canvas of healing

Eleni Philippou

Second Gaza aid ship from Cyprus set to leave Saturday

Jonathan Shkurko

Gesy beneficiaries requested to update their online medical profile

Iole Damaskinos

Startup World Cup coming to Cyprus — $1 million grand prize on the line

Souzana Psara