The UK is ready to attend the multiple party talks in Geneva over the Cyprus issue if its presence there benefits the settlement efforts, Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons on Monday
During a late Monday afternoon session at the Commons May was asked by North London Conservative MP David Burrowes if she could confirm “whether the EU will be present at the multiple party talks on 12th January and whether the PM and indeed the foreign secretary attend the 12th January.”
Theresa May said that her government recognise the importance of the ongoing talks. “The UK’s position is very simple: as a guarantor we stand ready to do what is necessary to play our part. But it is important that that is primarily led by the two leaders who have pushed these discussions in Cyprus, obviously under the auspices of the UN. So we do stand ready to attend the talks on the 12th January,” the prime minister confirmed.
On the European Union part of the question she replied: “The EU, who has currently had an observer status in these matters, have also indicated their readiness to be present.
“But what we ‘re all saying is we will be present if that is going to aid coming to a settlement. We must focus not on whether or not we want to be there but actually on the result that we are going to get and it must be in the aim of seeing a settlement and reunification.”