Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Monday that a Labour Government would be happy to negotiate with Stavros Malas if he is elected president of the Republic of Cyprus.

The two met in Parliament where the AKEL-backed independent candidate was introduced to the leader of the opposition.

Corbyn expressed the hope that Cyprus will be reunited, as “the island is too small to be divided.”

“Cyprus has to be reunited and that means getting the talks going again. We will be rather good in doing that with a Labour government here in Britain and a president in Cyprus that I’d be happy to negotiate it with.”

He added that it has been his pleasure over many years to work with Cypriots in North London, first as a councillor, then later as an MP, and now as leader of the party. He added that he wants the Cypriot people in Britain to have their voice fully heard in his party.

“We have a wonderful MP in Southgate who is playing a huge role in Parliament in raising the Cypriot issue,” said Corbyn, referring to Bambos Charalambous MP.

 

Bambos Charalambous MP, Jeremy Corbyn, Stavros Malas, Irene Charalambidou and Bambos Charalambous, District Secretary of AKEL in Britain

On his behalf, Stavros Malas reaffirmed his position that he is the only candidate who is working hard towards the reunification of the island.

“I think we should kick-start the process soon after the election, because as you said, Cyprus is too small to be divided. We are running out of time and we are creating a situation which may be irreversible, creating a difficult scenario for any future talks. I am very determined to work extremely hard, based on the UN resolutions and the framework program that Mr Guterres has laid out,” he said.

Malas appeared certain that Britain will play its role as a guarantor power and put pressure on Turkey to yield on that.

“We do not need any more guarantees. We need a state within the EU, without the right of interference from everybody,” he added. The presidential candidate further stressed that the people of Cyprus, from both communities, are ready to work together to reunite the country and the society. He also said that the expats in Britain have already been playing this role in actually creating “a fermentation of the two communities” to come close.

He finally thanked Jeremy Corbyn for his efforts, but also for the role the Labour party played under Robin Cook during the accession period of Cyprus to the European Union. Malas noted that without Britain’s strong support, Cyprus would not have entered the EU without first reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Both Corbyn and Malas expressed the hope and willingness to work together to create the vision for a solution.

Earlier on Monday, Malas attended a working lunch with Labour party MPs Bambos Charalambous, Joan Ryan and Mike Hill. He was later received by Amy Clemitshaw, Head of the Eastern Mediterranean Department at the Foreign Office. The presidential candidate reiterated his positions on the Cyprus problem and the steps that should be taken in order to resume the dialogues.

He also stressed the need for Britain’s contribution for a viable solution, without guarantees and invasive rights as well as the importance of Britain’s clear position on the issue of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in its exclusive economic zone.

 

Independent presidential candidate Stavros Malas and his press officer and MP for AKEL Irene Charalambidou, after being received at the Foreign Office

During his visit to London, Malas also held a meeting with members of the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy, where he heard their views on the problems the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus is facing. As they said, many Turkish Cypriots leave the island and this makes the situation even more difficult. Malas acknowledged this problem and added that in order to avoid partition; we need to find a solution as soon as possible.

During the meeting with the members of the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy

On Monday evening, he spoke to the community at the Cypriot Community Centre, where he developed his positions and views on the economy and the Cyprus problem.

The events in Birmingham and Manchester, which were to take place on Sunday, were cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions.

 

 

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