“We only recognise one Cypriot state”, Foreign Office says

08:24 - 08 March 2023

Current Affairs

The Foreign Office (FCDO) has reassured the UK’s Cypriot community that the British Government has had “no contact” with a small group of UK parliamentarians that paid a visit to the occupied part of Cyprus a few weeks ago, stressing that "the UK recognises only one Cypriot state".

In response to a letter by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, highlighting the controversial visit, an official from the FCDO’s relevant department added that the group had not asked for official guidance or advice prior to their “private, unofficial visit”.

The response letter also referenced the official FCDO travel advice for British nationals which states that no full consular support could be provided to those visiting the areas in the north of the island which are not under the effective control of the Cypriot government.

“I would like to reiterate that the UK recognises only one Cypriot state - the Republic of Cyprus - and only one government as the sole legitimate government,” added the FCDO official.

They also noted that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote to President Nikos Christodoulides to congratulate him on his election and to reaffirm the UK’s support for the UN-led process towards “a comprehensive, just and lasting Cyprus Settlement - on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality.”

(Source: CNA)

“We only recognise one Cypriot state”, Foreign Office says

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