The UK remains firmly committed to achieving a fair and enduring settlement based on the agreed international framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, British High Commissioner Michael Tatham said at a reception in his residency for this year’s King’s Birthday Party.
“As a guarantor power, we will continue to do all we can to support progress towards that goal,” he stressed.
The High Commissioner also referred to the current Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, saying that “to have achieved so much against a difficult regional and global background speaks volumes for the focus, discipline and agility of all those involved”.
He noted that during this Presidency the UK and the EU have been working to build a closer partnership in both economic and security matters and thanked Cyprus for the support the Cypriot Presidency has given to that effort, expressing hope that the next UK-EU Summit will “turn that work into concrete progress – and it will be a staging post to a still closer partnership in the future”.
He addressed the Cypriot Foreign Minister, saying that “through you, let me congratulate the Republic of Cyprus on a highly effective Presidency, delivered in very challenging circumstances”.
“To have achieved so much against a difficult regional and global background speaks volumes for the focus, discipline and agility of all those involved. In particular, I welcome the steps taken to strengthen EU support for Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Russia – an area where the UK and EU continue to stand side-by-side”.
The High Commissioner also referred to the conflict in the region saying that it “has, of course, been a central concern for both the UK and Cyprus. Moments of crisis test even the closest partnerships. If this period has taught us anything, it is that the harder the situation, the closer partners need to work”.
“And I believe that lesson has been applied in the very intensive top-level political dialogue we have seen throughout this period – between you and the UK Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe; between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and Prime Minister Keir Starmer and between our officials at every level” he stressed.
It has also been evident, he went on to say, ” in the exceptionally close cooperation between our respective armed forces, working together so that our defensive assets are combined and coordinated to ensure maximum protection across the island of Cyprus”.
Referring to the situation in Cyprus, he said that “one of my most vivid memories of the past year has been seeing a High Commission-supported project run by the United Sports Cyprus NGO which brings young children from both communities together to play basketball. Watching Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot children – representing the future of this island – playing together so naturally as teammates brought home to me how much human potential is held back by the island’s division”.
The High Commissioner thanked “all those working patiently and persistently to overcome that division, including members of the Technical Committees, some of whom are here this evening”.
Moreover, he said that the High Commission “was proud to support the conference in the UK in February that brought together the co-chairs of all the Technical Committees”.
“The longer I live in Cyprus, the more strongly I feel that the future lies in a reunited island. In bringing to an end this tragic division and all its consequences” he concluded.
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 latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.