British MP: Turkish government must seek reunification of Cyprus

It is important that the Government in Ankara understands that, whatever the internal problems of the governing party and the military, they have a huge obligation to seek with their neighbours and on behalf of the whole of Europe to bring Cyprus back to being one nation, with all its communities living together in peace, British Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes has said.

Speaking before the House of Commons, Hughes also urged Foreign Office Ministers to be proactive with a greater intensity than ever before in efforts to solve the Cyprus question.

He noted that “many people have seen false dawns in trying to find a resolution, but the election of the new President of Cyprus in February has raised a welcome possibility of new talks and proposals for peace. There are lots of difficult problems, including land, housing, property, disappeared people and so on, but on behalf of the whole House, I wish those initiatives well,” he added.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat meet Friday in Nicosia, Cyprus, with a view to undertake the final review of discussions at bicommunal teams of experts and decide whether they will proceed with direct fully-fledged negotiations aiming to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question.

This is the fourth meeting between the two leaders following the resumption of discussions with a view to reach a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.

Since Christofias and Talat reached an agreement in March this year, seven technical committees and six working groups, comprising experts from both communities, have been meeting to discuss various aspects of the Cyprus question, including governance, security, economy, health and EU matters, property and territory. Their goal is to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.