With the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding, Cyprus and the United Kingdom created new preconditions
in their bilateral relations. In particular, the Memorandum directly
and clearly defines the basic parameters concerning the basis of the
solution of the Cyprus problem. The signing of the Memorandum is
considered the capping stone of the two day visit of the President of
the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias to the British capital, and the
comprehensive talks he had with the country's Prime Minister Mr Gordon
Brown signal further developments concerning the Cyprus problem as well
as other side issues, such as the series of measures for the
strengthening of the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkey's European
course. After his arrival in Cyprus on Friday, President Christofias,
clearly satisfied with his visit, stated the following to the press: "I
return from London, satisfied with both the climate that has prevailed
during my various meetings, as well with their results. My meeting with
the British Prime Minister was conducted in a friendly climate, in a
climate indeed of common understanding and this was also expressed in
the document we have signed, namely in the Memorandum of Understanding.
In this document, there is a comprehensive position of the policy both
of Britain and of Cyprus on the Cyprus problem, on issues that concern
our joint action in the EU, as well as on issues that are related with
our bilateral relations. What I have said yesterday, I will repeat
again today: the signing of this Memorandum creates new preconditions
to turn the page and to become a turning point for the further
development of relations between the United Kingdom and the Republic of
Cyprus."
