British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that Britain is ready to maintain and deepen its active involvement in the process aiming for a settlement to the problem of Cyprus.

 Hague, who was received this morning here by President Demetris Christofias, expressed hope that faster progress will be made in the future as regards the peace process for Cyprus, assuring that “we will help in any way we can with that, but we have to respect the fact that it is for Cypriots to decide.”

The British Foreign Secretary, who is here to participate in the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, also said that the discovery of hydrocarbons in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone should be something that will help reach a Cyprus settlement, adding that “it should be regarded in that way by all involved”.

Hague said he was very pleased to be in Cyprus, noting this is the first time that he visits Cyprus as a Foreign Secretary.

He noted that the UK has a very close and important relationship with Cyprus, noting that so many of UK citizens are holidaying and working here.

“We will continue I hope to develop the strong personal connections, and deepen those strong connections between the people of the UK and the people of Cyprus,” he added.

He said that he had a very valuable discussion with President Christofias “both on the excellent work his officials are doing on the EU Presidency, which I think is being handled well and which we are doing our best to help with, and of course as always on the shared vision of the benefits for all Cypriots that flow from a resolution to the Cyprus problem, something that we always have in our minds.”

Hague said he looks forward to developing his contacts with all of those who can help make that vision a reality. “I know that much is always expected of Britain here, quite rightly, and we are ready to maintain and deepen our active involvement in the future,” he noted.

He said he was looking forward to attending the meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers later today. “That is what I`ve come to do but it`s been a pleasure to call on the President on the way to that meeting.”

Asked how concerned Britain is at the lack of progress in the peace talks, he noted that “across the world and certainly across the whole of Europe people are always concerned. This is something that the world wants to see resolved.”

“Of course it has to be a resolution, a settlement by Cypriots for Cypriots and we must always respect that and understand that. So we hope of course that faster progress will be made in the future and we will help in any way we can with that, but we have to respect the fact that it is for Cypriots to decide,” he pointed out.

Asked if the recent discovery of hydrocarbons, off Cyprus’ coast, will contribute to the settlement of the problem or hinder the peace process, Hague replied: “I think that`s a very important question and as your question suggests it should be something that helps for the settlement. It should be. It should be regarded in that way by all involved and we have supported the rights of Cyprus to develop resources, but I hope that doing so can somehow be an incentive for a settlement to the problem rather than a disincentive.”