A joint delegation of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot diaspora organisations in the UK has held a meeting at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with officials from the desk in charge of Cyprus.

The delegation from the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy and CTP UK had the opportunity to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus issue following the recent contacts of the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar.

During the meeting the delegation reinforced the importance of talks resuming as soon as possible and that the only acceptable solution is one that is based on the agreed UN framework and in line with international law and EU acquis. 

They also discussed the latest developments on the island and the critical role that the UK can play in supporting the resumption of talks, by ensuring that Turkey returns to the negotiating table within the agreed UN framework, of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality as defined in UN Security Council Resolutions.

The delegation consisted of Christos Karaolis and Bambos Charalambous from the National Federation of Cypriots, Derman Sarachoglou & Ferdi Suleyman from the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy and Direnç Özbarış from CTP UK. 

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Columbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.