Nicosia and London would forge deeper ties regardless of Brexit, President Nicos Anastasiades said after meeting UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
Their one hour-long meeting centred around the progress of the Cyprus negotiations.
South Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides told reporters: “I must say that she is very well informed about the developments on the Cyprus problem and generally on the state of affairs at the negotiating table. She has discussed the Cyprus problem also during her recent meeting with the Turkish President.”
He noted that: “She has expressed Britain’s readiness to assist either within the framework of the Security Council, or otherwise, bearing in mind the role that (Britain) plays in the Cyprus problem. It is (also) important that she reiterated the well-known position of Britain in relation to the Guarantees, in that they do not claim any guarantor role, but they are ready to play any role they might be asked to play if agreed by both communities.”
President Anastasiades also briefed May on the trilateral meeting between himself, President Mustafa Akinci and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held on the side-lines of the UN General Meeting in New York.
Although no timetable was imposed for the negotiations, both leaders have expressed their commitment in finding a comprehensive solution by the end of 2016.
Theresa May offered Britain’s help regarding a Cyprus settlement and said the UK is not actively trying to keep its guarantor power status over Cyprus.
Britain, like Greece and Turkey, is a guarantor power and has a particular interest in Cyprus as it has two Sovereign Bases on the island.
The Greek Cypriot government feels that guarantees would be obsolete in a re-united Cyprus. However, the Turkish Cypriot side is adamant about keeping Turkey as guarantor, as an essential for their safety and security.
Cyprus Weekly