The UK Foreign Office has expressed anew the British government’s support for a bizonal bicommunal federation settlement in Cyprus, in a response letter to 25 members of the UK Cypriot community.
The 25 had asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to send a strong message against Turkey’s provocations, following the illegal opening of Varosha’s beachfront.
In the letter dated 18 November, the relevant Foreign Office department states that “the UK continues to be concerned” by the situation in Varosha, including the opening of the beach within the fenced-off area of Varosha on 8 October.
“We have made representations to Turkey through our Embassy in Ankara both prior to and following the announcement. These have been reinforced by conversations held with the Turkish Representative at the United Nations in New York and with the Turkish Ambassador in London,” the letter notes.
It adds that in response to the announcement, the UK called for the UN Security Council to hold closed consultations on the matter on 9 October.
“The UK continues to support the numerous Security Council Resolutions covering the issue of Varosha, notably 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). In this regard, we support the UN Presidential Statement reaffirming its support for the relevant Security Council Resolutions and expressing deep concern regarding the announcement,” reiterates the Foreign Office.
It is also stressed that the British Government “continues to be a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bizonal, bicommunal federation”, that it welcomes the “stated readiness” of the sides to resume settlement talks and that it looks forward to the resumption of dialogue.
“The issue of Varosha underlines the importance of reaching a comprehensive Cyprus Settlement as a matter of urgency, and as such we continue to encourage the partie to engage constructively and demonstrate their commitment,” concludes the Foreign Office letter.
The letter is addressed to Mr Doros Partasides on behalf of following group of UK Cypriots: Antonis Savvides, Andreas Tambourides, Leonidas Leonidou, Spyros Papacharalambous, Tasos Poyatzis, Stella Protopapa-Dinenis, Nikos Savvides, Marie Nicholsby, Seraphim Diakou, Yiannis Kouvaros, George Pippas, Spyros Neophytou, Nicholas Galazis, Pantelis Demosthenous, Elissa Xenophontos, George Georgiou, Kikis Christofidis, Elias Dinenis, Denis Zenon, Clarissa Germanos, Glaukos Vassiliou, Orestes Rossides, John Stergides and George Hadjipaulis.
