The government has protested Britain’s stance during consultations at the UN Security Council on a draft resolution for the renewal of the mandate of the UN peace keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). “The President (Demetris Christofias) has made representations to British Prime Minister David Cameron with regard to his government’s position during the consultations on UNFICYP, at the Security Council,” Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said here today, noting that the demarches were made in Brussels on the sidelines of the European Council.

The Spokesman recalled that Nicosia and London have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which provides for dialogue and consultation on issues of mutual interest. “Britain cannot promote a position that is contrary to the view of the UN SG. London maintains that an international conference on Cyprus can take place even before there is agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem,” he added.

During Friday’s consultations in New York Britain insisted that a reference to an international conference on the Cyprus problem be included in the draft resolution, even if the internal aspects of the problem are not resolved. London also argued that such a conference should convene shortly after a scheduled meeting between President Christofias, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and UN Secretary in late January.

The government of Cyprus has said that it would consent to an international conference on the question of Cyprus provided the two communities are within reach of an agreement and the internal aspects of the problem have been resolved.