As US Vice President Joe Biden arrives for historic visit this week, Turkish and Greek Cypriots have perhaps never been closer to a deal
US Vice President Joe Biden and his wife
Britain’s Foreign Office (FCO) has issued an unprecedented invitation to Turkish Cypriot president Derviş Eroğlu to meet a government minister next month.
If accepted by Mr Eroğlu, the meeting would mark the first direct contact between UK and Turkish Cypriot government leaders since the island was divided by war in 1974.
The invitation comes at a time of accelerated peace talks, with Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators reportedly making rapid progress towards a comprehensive settlement to reunite the island.
In another sign of increased contact between Turkish Cypriots and the western world, US Vice President Joe Biden was scheduled to hold a meeting with Mr Eroğlu on Thursday afternoon.
In a statement to Londra Gazete on Wednesday evening, an FCO spokesperson said: “Ministers are keen to engage with leading members of both communities, demonstrating the UK’s strong interest in the reunification of Cyprus.
“It is important that the UK, as a friend of Cyprus and a strong supporter of the current negotiations, maintains high-level contacts with a range of Cypriots.
“This will allow us to encourage the two parties to intensify their efforts for a comprehensive settlement.”
The FCO said it did not disclose the identities of individuals it invited for talks, but sources confirmed to Londra Gazete that the invitation was also issued to Kudret Özersay, the lead Turkish Cypriot negotiator, and his Greek Cypriot opposite number Andreas Mavroyannis.
BIDEN: ONE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT
Mr Biden arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday night, becoming the most senior US politician to visit the island in half a century.
Speaking on the tarmac of Larnaca Airport, Mr Biden said: “The United States, and I want to be clear on this, recognises only one legitimate and legal government of Cyprus.”
“This is the position of the entire world,” said Biden, adding that his visit would not change this position.
Mr Biden’s planned meeting with Mr Eroğlu has been controversial among some Greek Cypriots, who believe it would legitimise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and “upgrade” it from its status as an internationally unrecognised state.
Officials said the Biden- Eroğlu meeting would be followed by a meal between the two leaders and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anatasiades, president of the Republic of Cyprus.
