The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK has welcomed, in a written statement, the recommencement of negotiations aiming at a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

Peter Droussiotis, President of the Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom, said “The Federation applauds the recommencement of negotiations recently announced by President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglou and offers its best wishes for a successful outcome.”

“We have no doubt that President Anastasiades and his negotiating team will approach the talks with good will and a clear determination to reach a just and lasting settlement based on the UN Charter, UN resolutions and the principles of international and European Union law. We hope that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglou and the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team will be able to reciprocate and that Turkey will not be an obstacle to this crucial effort which is aimed at ending the Turkish military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus and reuniting the country in the interest of all Cypriots,” he adds.

There have been many false dawns in the past four decades, he noted, expressing earnest hope that “despite past barriers to progress, we will soon witness the beginning of the end of the division of Cyprus.”

“At this critical time we stand fully behind the democratically elected President of the Republic of Cyprus and offer our support to him”, Droussiotis concludes.

The Federation also endorsed the UK Government’s statements on Cyprus, following the joint communique agreed between Anastasiades and Eroglu, made by Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Repeated UN-led round of talks have so far failed to reunite the country.