The UK Government has clarified its position on the Cyprus settlement process, confirming that its support for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation has not changed.
In a statement to the National Federation of Cypriots in UK, the British government notes that its policy “remains unchanged: We continue to support a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as set out in relevant Security Council Resolutions.”
The statement adds that “UK continues to urge the parties to approach informal talks in the spirit of flexibility and compromise.”
The Federation had sought clarification following the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s comment in the Commons earlier on Tuesday that the model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federations is “a starting point”.
The UN announced on February 24, that an informal five-plus-one meeting on the Cyprus issue will take place 27-29 April, to determine whether common ground exists for the parties to negotiate a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, within a foreseeable horizon.
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.
