The UK continues to “support strongly” the efforts of the two communities in Cyprus towards the aim of a just and lasting settlement and “encourages both sides to seize the historic opportunity that now exists to end the division of the island,” states a Foreign Office letter addressed to the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK Christos Karaolis.
The letter comes as acknowledgment of the resolution that Karaolis had handed in at Downing Street in July, on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion and subsequent military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.
The Federation President was asking the new Prime Minister Theresa May and her Government to “demand that Turkey works sincerely and through real deeds, not empty words, for the reunification of Cyprus” and “remind Turkey of, and pressurize Turkey to fulfil, its obligations to the EU and UN in relation to Cyprus.”
“Ultimately, the issues arising from the difficult events of summer 1974 can most effectively be addressed as part of a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus that protects the interests of both communities,” reads the letter by Cyprus Desk official at the Eastern Mediterranean Department of the Foreign Office.
The letter also commends “the leadership that President Anastasiades and Mr Akinci have shown to enable progress in the UN-facilitated negotiations” and assures Karaolis that “the UK will continue to do everything it can to support the efforts of the two communities to reunite Cyprus.”
In reference to Turkey, the Foreign Office letter states that the country “has an important role to play in efforts to secure a solution in Cyprus” and that the UK Government “welcomes Turkey’s continued support for a settlement.” UK ministers and officials have had meetings with their Turkish counterparts regularly discussing Cyprus and are expected to continue to do so.
“We value our deep historic ties and strong bonds of friendship with Cyprus,” concludes the Foreign Office letter.
