Wendy Morton, the British Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas, will be in Cyprus this week for two days of meetings with the presidents of North and South Cyprus, and Greek and Turkish Cypriot political leaders.

Morton’s visit, which starts on Wednesday, 7 April, comes ahead of the UN Cyprus Summit in Geneva at the end of this month.

The minister will be meeting with Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), at the TRNC White House at midday on Thursday.

She will also have a dinner with Turkish Cypriot political leaders on Thursday evening, according to the Cyprus News Agency. There has been no announcement on which leaders have been invited.

On Wednesday, Minister Morton will meet with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and his Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides.

She will have lunch with Averof Neofytou, leader of the ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party. In the evening the British minister will attend a dinner with Greek Cypriot women who have served as senior officials in the Republic of Cyprus  to discuss the representation of women in politics and decision-making processes.

On Wednesday, Minister Morton will also meet with Elizabeth Spehar, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus.

Thursday’s programme includes a meeting with a delegation from SPAVO – the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family, which builds on the support the UK has offered for a shelter for women in Cyprus. Morton will also meet with the Greek Cypriot Minister of the Interior, Nicos Nouris before she crosses to North Cyprus.

Minister Morton will also visit the Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia, near Beyarmudu and Pile, in the east of Cyprus, on Thursday afternoon before her dinner with Turkish Cypriot politicians.

The minister will leave for Britain on Friday morning.

 

Main image, top, of Wendy Morton, official portrait photo © Richard Townshend, CC By 3-0