The UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has described as “disappointing” the failure to reach enough common ground in the recent UN-led informal talks in Geneva to allow for the resumption of formal negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
In a response letter to Leonidas Leonidou, Chairman of the Cypriot refugees’ associations in the UK, seen by the Cyprus News Agency, Raab notes however that the UK welcomes “the prospect of further UN-led informal talks between the parties”.
He adds that before and during the talks he urged all sides to demonstrate “flexibility and compromise”.
The Foreign Secretary letter concludes by stating that the UK “recognises the ongoing difficulties faced by all Cypriots following the events of 1974” and that it remains committed to supporting the UN settlement process.
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.
The 5+1 Informal Meeting that took place in Geneva, on April 27-29, has failed to find enough common ground to allow for the resumption of formal negotiations in relation to the settlement of the Cyprus problem.
UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres, has said that he will convene in the near future another meeting of the 5+1, the five plus the United Nations, again with the objective to move in the direction of reaching common ground to allow for formal negotiations to start.