Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UK is ready to attend the multiple party Cyprus talks in Geneva next month, if its presence there benefits the settlement efforts.
Briefing the told the House of Commons, May was asked by North London Conservative MP David Burrowes if she could confirm “whether the EU will be present at the multiple party talks on 12th January and whether the PM and indeed the Foreign Secretary attend the 12th January.”
A long-standing friend of Cyprus, Burrowes also called upon the Prime Minister to “ensure the UK finally fulfils its historic legal duty to guarantee the independence of Cyprus.”
Theresa May said that her government recognises the importance of the ongoing talks.
“The UK’s position is very simple: as a guarantor we stand ready to do what is necessary to play our part. But it is important that that is primarily led by the two leaders who have pushed these discussions in Cyprus, obviously under the auspices of the UN. So we do stand ready to attend the talks on the 12th January,” the PM confirmed.
On the EU part of the question she replied: “The EU, who has currently had an observer status in these matters, have also indicated their readiness to be present.”
And on that point she noted: “But what we’re all saying is we will be present if that is going to aid coming to a settlement. We must focus not on whether or not we want to be there but actually on the result that we are going to get and it must be in the aim of seeing a settlement and reunification.”
Last week a spokeswoman at No10 told the Cyprus News Agency that no decision had yet been made on the Geneva talks attendance.
Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will hold a new meeting on Thursday morning.
Their two negotiators, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami had a new meeting on Monday and discussed the state structures and authorities, as well as issues concerning the implementation of a settlement. Their next meeting will take place on Wednesday.
Anastasiades and Akinci decided on December 1 to meet in Geneva on January 9. On January 11 they will present their respective maps on the territorial chapter of the negotiations and on January 12 a conference on Cyprus will be convened with the additional participation of the guarantor powers of Greece, Turkey and the UK, while other relevant parties shall be invited as needed.
