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Roundup: British Foreign Secretary optimistic about solution to Cyprus issue

Xinhua, November 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond expressed optimism over the prospects of a Cyprus solution in the ongoing negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

"We are working in every way we can to support the two communities in trying to find a resolution to this long-running problem. I am optimistic," said Hammond after talks in Nicosia during a one-day working visit.

He had talks with all the main players in the Cyprus negotiations - Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and United Nations emissary Espan Barth Eide, a former Norwegian foreign minister, who acts as a broker between the two sides.

Hammond's talks included bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, including the future of over 100 migrants who arrived recently at a British base in Cyprus.

As former colonial power, Britain has close relations with Cyprus and a long- time involvement in efforts to reach a solution ending the four-decade long division of the eastern Mediterranean island.

Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said that Hammond and Anastasiades talked about EU-relations in associations with Britain's efforts for EU reforms.

It is understood that Hammond tried to enlist President Anastasiade's support for British proposals on EU reforms and the Cypriot President sought to secure Britain's support in his drive to abrogate the guarantees system, under which Britain, Greece and Turkey were granted the status of guarantor powers of Cyprus's independence.

Greek Cypriots accuse Turkey that it misused its guarantor rights to divide the island since 1974.

When asked about Britain's guarantor status, Hammond implied that it would not object to the abrogation of the system.

"If the two communities agree, then London would be willing to look into any proposal. We have no precondition on the issue," said Hammond.

The Cyprus problem has been holding up Turkey's negotiations for accession to the European Union, with several negotiation chapters having been blocked because of Ankara's refusal to extend recognition to Cyprus.

The European Commission has given notice that it will propose the opening of some of the chapters early next year, in exchange for Turkey's cooperation in dealing with the migrants crisis.

Cyprus has said it will oppose such a decision at the European Council, unless Turkey fulfills its commitments under an agreement is signed with the European Union.

Britain has repeatedly said that Turkey's accession to the European Union depends on the fulfillment of all its commitments regarding Cyprus. Endit