British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has reiterated the UK’s commitment to Cyprus, saying that it remains rock solid.

“Our commitment to Cyprus remains absolutely rock solid, come hell or high water we are there for Cyprus now and in the future”, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said, speaking to the press following a meeting here today with the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades.

Johnson said that he had a very good meeting and a very good conversation with President Anastasiades.

“Really what I said was, on behalf of our government in Britain, how much we congratulate him and his leadership in this question, and really to say that this is a matter we think very much for the people of Cyprus”, he said.

Johnson also said that his government is very impressed by the progress that has been made, adding that “obviously we are here to support, the UK is here to support and to be useful if we can”.

“But what I would also stress is of course that we may be leaving the treaties of the EU but we are in no sense leaving Europe. And our commitment to Cyprus remains absolutely rock solid, come hell or high water, we are there for Cyprus now and in the future.”, he concluded.

Johnson is on the island on a two-day visit. Later on he will meet with the FM Ioannis Kasoulides. He will also have a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

Johnson’s visit comes at a time of intense diplomatic activity to help resume the UN-led peace talks between Anastasiades and Akinci. Their last meetings, on territory, ended inconclusively as there was no agreement on the criteria of territorial adjustments to help the process move forward.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-backed talks resumed in May 2015, with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof.