The UK Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan says he was “impressed” by the Cypriot leaders’ “courage and commitment” during his recent visit to the island.
 
“Their leadership has enabled significant progress to be made and there is now a historic opportunity to reunite Cyprus through a just and lasting settlement. It is therefore important that they receive the support that they deserve for those efforts,” Sir Alan says in a letter to Conservative MP Theresa Villiers, referring to Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
 
The British minister adds that during his visit to the island on 6-8 September he underlined that the UK would continue to do whatever they can to help the two communities secure a settlement.
 
“I can assure you, and your constituents, that we will continue to engage closely with the sides, including both Leaders, with other Guarantor Powers, and with key partners in the international community in support of a settlement,” the letter concludes in a reference to a previous letter by Theresa Villiers.
 
Ms Villiers had sent a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May and to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urging them to support the efforts toward the reunification of Cyprus. She had also enclosed a letter by UK Cypriot refugees who are now her constituents in north London and other members of the UK Cypriot community, a letter acknowledged by Sir Alan. The letter was written by Messrs Andreas Tambourides, Antonis Savvides, Doros Partasides, Barry Evangeli and Tasos Poyiatzis.

President Anastasiades and Akinci are engaged in UN-led peace talks to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion