The UK Government has expressed its support for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ intention to convene a new round of expanded talks on the Cyprus issue, in a statement to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
Responding to a question from CNA following the Secretary-General’s visit to Cyprus, a spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said that London “welcomes his intention to convene a further round of expanded meetings on the Cyprus issue once the necessary conditions have been met.”
The UK Government also reaffirmed its longstanding position in support of a UN-led settlement process, stressing that “as a Guarantor Power, we continue to fully support the UN-led process, and the work of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy.”
The FCDO spokesperson further told CNA that the United Kingdom remains committed to working towards “a comprehensive and lasting settlement for all Cypriots.”
The UK Government’s statement follows António Guterres’ remarks during his visit to Cyprus, where he announced his intention to convene a new expanded 5+1 meeting once the appropriate conditions are in place to allow the peace process to resume.
“The reference by London to the ‘necessary conditions’ is consistent with the United Nations’ position that any new informal multilateral meeting should be preceded by adequate preparation and held under conditions that would allow for meaningful progress in the negotiations,” a British diplomat told CNA.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.