UK Shadow Minister sees possibility of a Cyprus agreement

British Conservative Party's Shadow Minister for Europe, Mark Francois MP, has expressed the view that there is a possibility of an agreement on the Cyprus issue.

Francois, who paid recently a three-day working visit to Cyprus, issued a press release in which he states that the Cyprus issue “is clearly a complex issue – if it were not it would have been solved long ago”.

The British Shadow Minister refers to the possibility of an agreement in Cyprus, noting at the same time Turkey’s responsibility in this respect.

“But during my trip I sensed the possibility of an agreement and I hope that given a positive attitude on both sides, including I hope in Ankara as well, this process might yet come to a successful conclusion. On behalf of the Conservative Party I will continue to follow this process with interest'', Francois states.

In his press release, the British MP says that the Conservative Party “would like to see a settlement of the Cyprus question if possible and so I was pleased to have an opportunity to visit the island and to be briefed in detail on the progress of the talks”.

During his visit on the island, he was received by Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, and held a meeting with other leading Cypriot politicians and representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community.

He also refers to his meeting with President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias.

“I expressed my hope that both he and Mr Talat could make further progress in the talks”, the British MP concludes.

President Christofias has been engaged in talks since last September with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat to find a mutually agreed solution to reunite the country, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.