London, Thanasis Gavos

Cyprus and the United Kingdom are “on the same page” in terms of the form of solution of the Cypriot issue, said Mr President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis coming out of it meeting lasting approximately 40 minutes with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street.

As he stated, the meeting took place at a special juncture, on the eve of the dinner in New York, with the UK’s role to be “crucial”.

He said he wanted to pass some messages and work together. “I am glad to hear that there can be no solution of the Cyprus problem outside the framework defined by the resolutions of the UN Security Council“, said President Christodoulidis,

To a question about whether he found British readiness for active support at a later stage of the process, he replied that he sees from the new British government a desire to strengthen the relationship and cooperation and that this also applies in relation to the prospect of resuming talks and resolving the Cyprus issue, taking into account Britain’s role as a guarantor power, a permanent member of the SA and a drafter of SA resolutions.

When asked about his expectation just before getting on the plane to New York answered:

“I can tell you with certainty that I am going to do everything possible to have a positive outcome. For us, a positive result can be nothing other than the resumption of meaningful talks to resolve the Cyprus issue. We know very well where we want to go, our goals and we are ready to resume talks. Only if we sit down at the negotiating table will we be able to see with more certainty the prospects for a solution. For us, the current state of affairs cannot be the solution».

He also emphasized that the initiative of the Secretary-General is taken in the midst of two wars, as an indication of his strong will and commitment to progress.

As far as they are concerned international relationsthe PtD said it is at a very good level, such as in the security sector and that it was agreed to expand, but also that the prospect of spreading to other sectors was also discussed.

For the developments in the Middle Eastnoted that he received Sir Kiir’s thanks for the sea corridor initiative to Gaza and that he thanked Britain for being the first country to believe in this initiative.
Concern was expressed about the situation and it was noted that there should be an international initiative for a ceasefire in the first phase.

He sent an invitation to Keir Starmer to visit Cyprus. A British leader has not visited her Cyprus since 1993.