The unity of Cyprus is above party divides in the UK said both ruling party Conservative and Labour MPs in London on Wednesday during meetings they had with AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou.

Kyprianou, who is currently visiting the UK, met with Conservative MPs David Barrowes and Michael Freer, former Minister for Europe and Labour MP Chris Bryant and General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress Brendan Barber.

“The support for the unity of Cyprus is above party divides and this country must act according to its historical responsibilities”, said Barrowes during the meeting.

During his meeting with Kyprianou former Minister for Europe and Labour MP Chris Bryant said that “we want Turkey to go by its commitments which it made openly in the past in the Ankara Protocol”.

“It is a disgrace for Europe to have a capital city divided “, Bryant said, adding that “Britain, whether is conservative or labour government, must play its role so that people in Cyprus will have peace and security”.

On his part Brendan Barber noted that “we watch with interest the approach to try and resolve the Cyprus problem”, adding that “Trade Unionists always have a strong interest in trying to find peaceful ways forward “.

Certainly, he said, “if progress could be made to resolve the Cyprus problem that would have a beneficial effect on the economy too”, noting that “we watch with great interest the effort that colleagues are making to resolve that issue”.

Cyprus was divided when Turkey invaded the island in 1974. UN led negotiations are underway between President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.