Starmer in Nicosia on 10 December to discuss Cyprus issue, bilateral ties, regional situation

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting Nicosia on 10 December, in the framework of a visit in the region.

He will have a tete-a-tete meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides to be followed by consultations between delegations of the two sides. The Cyprus issue, bilateral relations and developments in the region are on the agenda.

A press release by the Presidency says that in less than two months following their meeting in London, the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will meet next Tuesday, 10 December, at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia.  

The one-day working visit by the UK Prime Minister, which is in the framework of his tour of the region, "is a landmark in the close bilateral relations between the two countries given that this will be the first visit by a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in Cyprus on a bilateral level following the visit by then Prime Minister Edward Heath in 1971, while Prime Minister John Major’s visit in 1993 took place within the framework of the Commonwealth Summit."

"The meeting between President Christodoulides and Prime Minister Starmer is also an important development in the excellent relations between Cyprus and the United Kingdom that have been strengthened further and have entered a new constructive era in the context of their Strategic Cooperation", the presidency announced.

According to the PM's schedule, in the morning of 10 December the two leaders will hold a private meeting followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries.

Among the issues to be discussed are the bilateral relations with emphasis on matters pertaining to the Strategic Dialogue between Cyprus and the UK, including issues relating to defence and security, education, culture, economy, commerce, investments and energy.

During their meeting, the Cyprus problem and the efforts to resume the negotiations are also expected to be discussed, while, among other issues to be discussed will be matters relating to Migration, the situation in the Ukraine and EU-UK relations.

Emphasis is expected to be placed on regional developments and the role that the Republic of Cyprus plays over time with regard to the provision of humanitarian aid, as well as recently through its «Amalthea» maritime corridor initiative, and issues concerning the evacuation of civilians from war zones. 

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous UN-backed talks to reunite the island under a federal rood, failed to yield results.

The last round of negotiations took place in 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.

Last October the President had a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York. They decided that a five-part meeting will take place soon, but no date has so far been confirmed. They also discussed the opening of more crossing points.

(Source: CNA)