Cyprus Talks: UK urges Cyprus leaders to seize ‘historic opportunity’ to reach a settlement

Cyprus: The UK has commended the leadership that the Greek Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades and his counterpart Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have shown in their efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

A letter by the UK foreign office signed by the foreign office official on behalf of the foreign secretary addressed to five Cypriot refugees living in the UK stated that the two leaders had allowed progress in the UN-facilitated negotiations.

The letter also reiterated the UK government’s encouragement to both sides “to seize the historic opportunity that now exists to end the division of the island.”

“The UK will continue to do everything it can to support the efforts of the two communities to reunite Cyprus,” the letter also affirms.

The letter also noted that a similar message of support was underlined by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in his meetings with Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and with Akinci at the UN General Assembly in New York, as well as by Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan during his recent visit to Cyprus.

The letter concluded by stating that the UK “values its deep historic ties and strong bonds of friendship with Cyprus.”

The letter, signed by an official from the Cyprus team at the Eastern Mediterranean desk at the foreign office, came in response to a letter addressed to Mr. Johnson in August written by members of the UK Cypriot community.
The UK Cypriot community in their letter urged Johnson “to keep the Cyprus issue on top of your agenda through your foreign policy until the island is re-unified.”
Source: Cyprus Mail