The UK has urged parties involved in the Cyprus issue talks to act with a “sense of urgency” in progressing towards a settlement.
Responding on behalf of the UK Government to a question on the assessment of the report of the UN Secretary-General on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, Foreign Minister Lord Ahmad said: “The UK is grateful for the ongoing work of the Secretary-General and his good offices on the island, as we are to Ms Jane Holl Lute for her ongoing consultations with the parties.
“We endorse the Secretary-General`s view that prospects for a settlement remain alive as reaffirmed in his April report. We welcome his continued willingness to work with the parties to conduct further consultations on a way forward and hope that they will lead to a return to negotiations. We echo the UN`s view that the status quo is not sustainable and, like the Secretary-General, we encourage all sides to engage constructively, creatively and with the necessary sense of urgency, demonstrating they are committed to making progress towards a settlement.”
Addressing a specific part of the question posed by Lord Maginnis, known for his pro-Turkish position, Lord Ahmad concluded by saying that “a settlement continues to represent the most sustainable means of addressing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community on the island.”
(Cyprus News Agency)
