Cyprus and UK to launch strategic dialogue late this year

Cyprus and the United Kingdom have agreed to finalize a strategic dialogue scheduled to take place toward the end of this year. Cypriot Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos announced the decision following a meeting at the British Foreign Office with Lord Coutts, the UK Minister of State for Europe.

A primary focus of the discussions was the establishment of a ‘institutionalized, structured dialogue’ aimed at resolving issues related to the British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. Both parties expressed a commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and addressing new parameters regarding these bases.

The meeting also covered recent developments in the Cyprus dispute. Minister Kombos briefed Lord Coutts on Nicosia’s approach following the UN Secretary-General’s recent visit and emphasized Cyprus’s desire to resume substantive negotiations as soon as possible. The Cypriot side requested the active and steady support of the United Kingdom, noting its role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.