Nov222023

The Federation and Cyprus APPG hosted a Cyprus Information Day in the Houses of Parliament
on the dark anniversary of the illegal ‘UDI’. 21 MPs, Peers, and Researchers joined the Federation
President and representatives to renew their pledge and support for Cyprus’ reunification. In the
private discussions with Parliamentarians, Federation representatives reminded them that the
illegal UDI was condemned in 1983 by the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher who described
it as “deplorable”, the United Nations through resolutions 541 and 550, and that the regime
remains recognized by any country except for Turkey. They also discussed the latest developments
on the Cyprus issue including Turkey’s partition policy, as well as the attempts to open the enclosed
area of Varosha and the recent illegal actions in Pyla.
H.E. the High Commissioner of Cyprus in the UK, Mr. Andreas Kakouris, also attended to brief
parliamentarians on recent developments regarding efforts to restart negotiations, as well as the
strategic defence, security, and humanitarian role played by Cyprus in recent crises in the region,
including the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Parliamentarians who attended included Sir Roger Gale MP (outgoing Chair of Cyprus APPG),
Caroline Nokes MP (newly elected Chair of Cyprus APPG), Theresa Villiers MP (Vice-Chair of
Cyprus APPG), Fabian Hamilton MP (Honorary Secretary of Cyprus APPG), Chris Clarkson MP,
Mike Freer MP, Peter Grant MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Steve McCabe MP, Catherine West MP,
Alex Sobel MP, Lord Truscott, Martin Vickers MP, Heather Wheeler MP, Dame Rosie Winterton
MP, Mike Wood MP and the Parliamentary Researchers for Mark Jenkinson MP (Assistant
Government Whip) and Mark Menzies MP. Federation representatives also met separately with
Stephen Doughty (Shadow Minister for Europe), Bambos Charalambous MP (Vice-Chair of
Cyprus APPG), and Feryal Clark MP outside Parliament.

                                   

The President of the Federation, Christos Karaolis, urged Parliamentarians to ensure that the
British government exerts pressure on Turkey to: demonstrate a tangible willingness to solve the
Cyprus issue; return to the negotiating table within the agreed UN framework; end the Turkish
occupation and abandon the anachronistic system of guarantees. He emphasized that all Cypriots
can live together peacefully in a free and reunited Cyprus. Speaking after the event he said that the
event “was a great opportunity to engage with parliamentarians on the current situation in Cyprus,
the prospects for resuming the negotiations, and the role of the UK and the international
community in facilitating reunification”.