The importance of full access of the Missing Persons' Committee (MMP) to all sites of interest is stressed, inter alia, in a letter to the UK National Cyprus Federation by British Minister for Europe Leo Doherty.
The British official also reaffirms London's support for a solution to the Cyprus problem within United Nations parameters.
Mr Doherty's letter, addressed to Federation President Christos Caraoli, comes in response to previous communications between the community organisation and former Prime Minister Liz Truss and her successor Rissy Sunak.
In the letter to Ms Truss regarding the ICRC, Mr Karaolis wrote that the UK can play a central role in securing a conclusion to this ongoing humanitarian drama for the families of the missing.
He called on the UK government to call unequivocally on Turkey to guarantee unhindered access to military sites in the occupied territories for the exhumation of bodies, information on burial sites and military records.
The Europe Minister said in his response that the UK maintains close contact with the ICRC. It adds that London has ensured that the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate includes a call for all parties "to strengthen their cooperation with the ICRC, explicitly by providing full access, without delay, to all sites and responding in a timely manner to requests for archival information on possible burial sites".
Touching also on the content of the Federation's letter to Prime Minister Sunak on the occasion of the recent black anniversary of the illegal unilateral declaration of the pseudo-state, Mr Doherty adds: "We believe that the best way to address the situation remains through a just and lasting solution on the island, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The UK remains committed to supporting UN efforts to reach a solution in Cyprus and is actively engaging with all parties on this."
Mr. Doherty also refers to the meetings Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides had on 15 November in London with his counterpart James Cleverley and with the Under Secretary of State for the United Nations, Lord Ahmad, with whom he reaffirmed his willingness to work closely for a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem "within the parameters of the United Nations".
The British Minister for Europe added that the UK consistently calls on all sides to avoid actions or statements that could damage the prospects for a solution.
While, he continues, it is up to the leaders of the two communities to determine the details of a solution, the UK will continue to contribute towards a solution, including by supporting a solution "within the parameters of the United Nations, based on the model of a bizonal, bicommunal federation", an internationally accepted model which the UK believes is broad enough to address the concerns of both sides.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
