The contribution of Britain to the efforts to
resolve the Cyprus problem is the discreet stance it has adopted through which it
allows the freedom of movement to the parties, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, said today.
In his remarks to the press, on the sidelines of
the visit in London by President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, the
Minister said: “Yesterday I met with the Minister for Commonwealth and Asian
Affairs and discussed at length issues concerning the Commonwealth, following
the decision to include me as a member of the Commonwealth Action Group with
regard to the obligation of the member states to follow the Harare Declaration,
which concerns governments in countries where legality, democracy and human
rights prevail.
The main item of our meeting was my observation
during the last Commonwealth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, about an increased tendency
to separate member states into those coming from developed countries and those
coming from countries that are on the way to development. A way must be found
to bridge that.”
Asked about the support of Britain in the
efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, and in particular with regard to the
reference in the joint communiqué to a single sovereignty, Mr Kasoulides said:
“Britain is the initial drafter of the UN resolutions and always supports the
resolutions. It would be strange in this case for Britain not to support the
content of Resolution 1251.
The contribution of Britain, I would say, in
these efforts is the discreet stance it has adopted and through which it allows
the freedom of movement to the parties and does not make them feel that they
are under the pressure of third parties.”
Asked about the UN Security Council’s Report on
Cyprus, the Minister said that he thinks there will be an oral Report by Mr
Downer to the Security Council and then the first draft of the Resolution will
be prepared and submitted to a vote around the end of the month.
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