The UK Government has repeated its position that it is ready to accept any possible agreement between the remaining parties involved on the Cyprus security and guarantees issue.
A Foreign office spokesman said that “on security and guarantees, we always made clear that we are open to whatever arrangements the two sides and the other Guarantor Powers could agree on in order to meet the security needs of a reunited Cyprus.”
The position is outlined in a letter, dated 26 July, to member of the UK Cypriot community, Doros Partasides, a distinguished photographer and active member of the community who along with other UK Cypriot refugees from the occupied part of Cyprus had asked the Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan for the UK Government’s support at the Conference for Cyprus that took place last month in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
The member of the Cyprus desk at the Foreign Office signing the letter states: “It is disappointing that the Conference on Cyprus at Crans Montana ended without agreement. The Government continues to work for a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus that will benefit all Cypriots. We are encouraging all parties to reflect on the outcome and consider next steps.
“On security and guarantees, we always made clear that we are open to whatever arrangements the two sides and the other Guarantor Powers could agree on in order to meet the security needs of a reunited Cyprus”.
UN-peace talks at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana took place between June 28-July 6 but failed to reach any fruitful results.
The talks, under the auspices of the UN, aim at reuniting Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, under a federal roof.
