in-cyprus 9 March 2020 -Edited by Bouli Hadjioannou
A group of UK Cypriots have been reassured by the Foreign Office that the UK has been following developments in the Eastern Mediterranean “with concern”.
The letter, by officials at the department dealing with Cyprus, was a response to a previous letter by 15 members of the Greek Cypriot community in the UK asking Foreign Secretary Raab for London’s support against the illegal Turkish occupation and invasion of the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone.
“The UK has been clear from the start, both in public and in private, that we deplore Turkish drilling in the waters around Cyprus. We will continue to call for de-escalation,” the letter reads.
It also makes clear that the UK Government continues to recognise the Republic of Cyprus’s sovereign right to exploit the resources in its internationally agreed EEZ.
The Foreign Office letter notes that ultimately, the most enduring way of resolving difficult issues such as this, is a Cyprus issue settlement.
The official reassures the Greek Cypriots that the UK remains a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, based on the internationally accepted model of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, and that it encourages all parties to redouble their efforts towards this goal.
On Security and Guarantees, the Foreign Office letter repeats the UK position that London is open to whatever arrangements the two sides and the other Guarantor Powers can agree to meet the security needs of the two Cypriot communities.
(Cyprus News Agency)
