Fotis Fotiou concludes UK visit, meets with Minister Wendy Morton

Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots Fotis Fotiou concluded a five-day working visit to London on Wednesday with a meeting with UK Under-Secretary of State for European Neighborhood Policy Wendy Morton.

Mr. Fotiou informed Ms. Morton on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue, making special reference to the forthcoming tripartite meeting, on Monday, of the President of the Republic of Cyprus with the UN Secretary General and the Turkish Cypriot leader.

The Commissioner expressed the hope that the unacceptable demands of Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot leader "for a two-state solution" and "sovereign equality" would not be repeated.

During the meeting, Mr. Fotiou thanked the Undersecretary for United Kingdom’s stance regarding the agreed solution framework, based on a Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation.

Moreover, he informed her about the tragic issue of the missing and called it a humanitarian issue. He asked for the assistance of the United Kingdom in pressing the Turkish side to provide the required information on the missing and the return of bones.

Mr. Fotiou pointed out to Ms. Morton that the pain of the Greek Cypriot mother is the same as the pain of the Turkish Cypriot mother and that the fate of the majority of the Turkish Cypriot missing persons had already been resolved.

Ms Morton said the issue of missing persons was indeed an important humanitarian issue and that she shared the concerns of the two communities. In addition, the Minister noted that the United Kingdom actively supports the work of the Commission of Inquiry into Missing Persons.

Mr. Fotiou also briefed the Minister on his meetings in London with Cypriots in the diaspora and their organizations, stressing the importance of the Greek community.

Later, via Twitter, Ms. Morton expressed her gratitude for the meeting. "It is a great opportunity to reflect on how the inseparable link between the UK and Cyprus is enriched by the Cypriot diaspora in the UK," the European Minister commented.

After the meeting with Ms. Morton, the Presidential Commissioner had a meeting with the Director of Europe at the Foreign Office Mr. Giles Portman. Mr. Fotiou briefed him on FCDO issues and his responsibilities with special reference to the Cyprus issue, missing persons, and the destruction of cultural and religious heritage in the occupied territories.

Present at the meetings were the High Commissioner in London, Andreas Kakouris and the Deputy High Commissioner, Nikolas Manolis.