The United Kingdom ''welcomes the intensification of negotiations in search of an agreed settlement for the benefit of all Cypriots'' and ''urges all parties to approach the negotiations in a spirit of compromise,'' British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Chris Bryant has said.
Replying to a question by British MP Andrew Dismore regarding the talks between President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for a Cyprus settlement, Bryant said ''discussions so far have taken place in a positive and constructive atmosphere, with the aim of seeking greater convergence in the governance and power sharing chapter.''
''The leaders have the support of the international community. We hope they will capitalise on this unique opportunity to find a solution,'' he added.
Dismore also asked about Bryant's discussions with his Turkish counterpart on January 12 January and the Minister of Europe's recent visit to Turkey in relation to Cyprus and Turkey's EU accession process, to which Bryant said ''the Secretary of State and the Turkish Foreign Minister welcomed the intensified settlement talks in Cyprus.''
He added that ''the Secretary of State also reiterated the UK's support for Turkey's EU membership and encouraged Turkey to continue making the necessary reforms.''
''I discussed both issues in my meeting with the Turkish EU Chief Negotiator, and noted that a settlement in Cyprus was a key objective for Turkey. I made clear the UK's support for Turkey's EU membership and announced jointly with the EU Chief Negotiator the establishment of a UK-Turkey joint Environmental Task Force to help Turkey meet European standards in environmental issues and climate change. I underlined the importance of Turkey's compliance with the Ankara Protocol,'' Bryant pointed out.
To a question by Dismore what progress has been made with the distribution of the 259 million euros allocated by the EU to northern Cyprus, Bryant said ''over 99 per cent of the EU aid package was allocated to individual projects by the European Commission before the deadline of 18 December 2009'' and that ''a total of 880 contracts, most of them grants, have been signed.''
Asked by Dismore what recent assessment Bryant has made of progress in the development of bicommunal civil society links in Cyprus, the British official said ''the Government have not made such an assessment.''
''However, we continue to support events, activities and groups aimed at bringing Greek and Turkish Cypriots together and building inter-communal trust,'' he added.
To a question by British MP David Burrowes if Bryant will revise his Department's guidance in relation to property development in the north of Cyprus in light of the Court of Appeal judgment of 19 January 2010 in the case of Apostolides v. Orams, Bryant replied ''yes.''
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunify the island. A first round of three-day intensive negotiations was held in early January and the second three-day round began on Monday.
