London: The United Kingdom continues to uphold its firm commitment and support for the efforts of the United Nations toward a ‘just and sustainable solution’ to the Cyprus issue. This is reaffirmed in a reply letter from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to the Council of British Cypriots, addressed to the Council’s communications officer, Doros Partasides.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the letter also notes that London, as a Guarantor Power and a friend to all sides, ‘participated in the two informal 5+1 meetings convened by the UN Secretary-General’ and ‘looks forward to taking part soon in further UN-led discussions on the next steps.’
‘We will continue to engage actively with all parties in support of the UN’s efforts,’ the letter states, adding that the United Kingdom thanks supporters of the peace process for maintaining an ‘open and constructive dialogue’ with FCDO officials.
It is worth noting that this reaffirmation of the longstanding position of the British government on the Cyprus issue comes at a time when the UN is attempting to reinvigorate the talks process amid stagnation and differing approaches among the parties involved.
The Council of British Cypriots is an organisation that promotes Cypriot interests in London’s decision-making centres and works to deepen bilateral relations. It has, from time to time, addressed letters to senior British government officials, such as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, as well as to other international actors involved in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, including UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres.
The letters are signed by Doros Partasides, Marie Nickolsby, Antonis Savvides, Spyros Neophytou, Louis Loizou, Dr Serafim Kyriakides, Elisa Ellinas, Antonis Demetriou, Stella Protopapa, John Stergidis, Pantelis Demosthenous, Spyros Papacharalambous, Nikos Savvides, Elias Dinenis, Giorgos Chatzipavlis, Andreas Tambouridis.