Mr Anastasiades invited Ms Villiers to a breakfast briefing on Cyprus, along with Conservative MPs, Matthew Offord, Mike Freer, David Burrowes and Nick de Bois. Marina Yannakoudakis MEP and leading members of the Cypriot community also attended. Representatives from the Cyprus Government delegation included the High Commissioner for Cyprus, Euripides Evriviades, and government spokesman, Christos Stylianides.
The meeting followed the successful discussions that Mr Anastasiades had yesterday with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and Foreign Secretary, William Hague, which saw an agreement signed at Carlton House to lift the restrictions of the development of properties with the British sovereign bases.
Theresa was able to raise the concerns of her British Cypriot constituents over the economic situation in Cyprus and to take part in a discussion on work to bring about a balanced and lasting solution to re-unite Cyprus.
Speaking after the meeting, she said: “I am grateful to President Anastasiades for inviting me to this very positive meeting today. The agreement yesterday to lift the development restrictions of properties in the British sovereign base areas demonstrates the UK Government’s willingness to work constructively with the Cyprus Government and help them address their economic difficulties. We want to stand by Cyprus at its time of trouble and that includes giving extensive technical advice and assistance to the Cyprus Government as they seek to reform their banking system.”
“It was great to see so many friends from the Cypriot community this morning and to hear the President’s views on a range of issues including exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in the Mediterranean. We also heard the latest news on the President’s proposals for confidence building measures to push forward with finding a settlement in Cyprus.”
“I am sure I can speak for all the friends of Cyprus in the House of Commons when I say that we will continue to support Cypriots in their efforts to find a just, lasting and balanced solution in Cyprus which sees the island reunited once again. It was an honour to be able to hear directly from the President of the Republic of Cyprus of his continuing efforts to bring that about.”
Members of the Cypriots community who attended the meeting included Andreas Papaevripides, President of World Federation of Cypriots, Peter Droussiotis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots (NFC), Bambos Charalambous, Vice Chair NFC, Ninos Koumettou, Vice Chair NFC, and Michael Ellinas, Vice Chair NFC. The Cypriot Government delegation included the director of the Diplomatic Office, Nicos Christodoulides and Consul General, George Georgiou.