UK calls for ‘openness,’ ‘flexibility’ in Cyprus talks
Minister of State for Europe Stephen Doughty outlines the new government’s aims and positions vis-a-vis Greece and the EU
The UK remains committed to a Cyprus peace deal “under UN parameters,” but “ultimately, it is for the key parties to decide on the details of a settlement,” Stephen Doughty, the newly appointed minister of state in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, told Kathimerini on the sidelines of his visit to Athens this week.
Regarding the dispute between Greece and the UK over the Parthenon Sculptures, Doughty highlighted the discussions between British Museum Chairman George Osborne and representatives of the Greek government, emphasizing their efforts to establish “a constructive partnership within the existing framework.”
In that context, he also noted the recent collaboration between the British Museum, the V&A, and the Manhyia Palace Museum in Ghana.
Just a few days ago, newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that it was time to reset British relations with Europe. Is your visit in Athens a step in that direction?
We want to reset the UK’s relationship with Europe: we want to be a reliable partner, a dependable ally and a good neighbor. Last week’s European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace, which over 45 European leaders took part in, was the first step towards that ambition.
Together we strengthened our shared commitment to support Ukraine, including through a new call to action to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet of maritime vessels which seeks to evade sanctions, and discussed how we will tackle shared challenges, including irregular migration and energy security – which are of course critical issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.
So I’m delighted to be here in Athens on my first overseas visit as minister of state for Europe, building on the momentum of last week’s summit, and get to work on strengthening relations with our European friends.
What does the UK expect from closer cooperation with Greece? The relations between the two countries have been historically close, even though there has been a slowdown after Brexit.
‘This year marks 50 years since the tragic events of 1974 and serves as a reminder that we must redouble our efforts towards a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement’
Greece is, of course, a key European partner for the UK and an essential NATO ally with an important role in regional and global security. This is built on centuries of shared history between our peoples. Our ambition is to deepen UK-Greece cooperation and work ever closer to overcome shared regional and international challenges.
That begins with building on the work we kickstarted at last week’s European Political Community summit. We demonstrated our shared commitment to the rule of law, by both of countries endorsing the call to action to tackle Russia’s shadow fleet. Irregular migration has long been a shared challenge for Greece and the UK, and one that cannot be tackled alone. Closer cooperation means sharing, learning and tackling these shared security challenges together.
Climate is another area where we are deepening cooperation and sharing expertise, with a particular focus on the renewables and clean energy sector, green shipping and green finance. The tragic wildfires that we have seen increasingly across the Mediterranean every summer are a stark reminder of why we must work together to address the climate crisis. And I would like to thank the Greek government and the Greek people for keeping British nationals safe during the recent wildfires in Kos and the wildfires in Rhodes last summer – making sure we can react quickly and decisively in emergency situations is vital for me.
And it goes without saying that our people-to-people links are what makes our two countries so deeply connected. Over 200 years of cultural exchange, trading and tourism have unified our communities. This is apparent in my own community in Cardiff which has long historical maritime and trading connections to both Greece and Cyprus, with the Greek Orthodox Church and community center being located in the heart of my Butetown community, nestled in alongside mosques and other churches – reflecting the diverse heritage of my local people. Our governments’ closer cooperation will only reinforce these ties.
There has been a lot of discussion in the last few weeks about a possible restart of the Cyprus talks. Are you optimistic? There is pressure from the Turkish side for a different format for this discussion, which is based, as they say, to “realities” on the island. Could some form of two-state solution be discussed?
For too long the people of Cyprus have been divided. This year marks 50 years since the tragic events of 1974 and serves as a reminder that we must redouble our efforts towards a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement, under UN parameters, which benefits all Cypriots. I have visited Cyprus twice in the last few years, and seen the reality for people on the ground, and have engaged extensively with Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities here in the UK. As a guarantor power, and friend to all parties, the UK remains committed to this end. We are urging all sides to show openness, flexibility and compromise, and to engage constructively with the UN towards a return to talks. We look forward to hearing the UN secretary-general’s reflections on the UN envoy’s report and how he intends to move forward. We continue to believe that the existing UN parameters, including the concept of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with political equality, offer a sufficient range of flexibility to reach an agreement which addresses the priorities of both sides. Ultimately, it is for the key parties to decide on the details of a settlement, but we will continue to act as a trusted partner, and in line with our international obligations.
The war in Ukraine highlighted the need of Europe to enhance its defense capabilities. Is the UK ready to work more closely with the EU to that end and in what specific area? Could defense cooperation be a first step towards a better understanding with Europe?
We live in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable world. Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine has shown us that we must not take our peace and security for granted. Putin has sought to divide Europe, but our collective response has been one of strength, resilience and unity. And we want that to be even stronger. The UK government’s proposal for an ambitious and broad-ranging UK-EU Security Pact would underpin closer cooperation between us, enshrining a new geopolitical partnership. This pact would be designed to complement our NATO arrangements and reinforce Europe’s position against malign actors like Russia. Only through cooperation and a Europe-wide response to the horrific events in Ukraine will we be able to bring an end to the war and prevent further damage to communities who have already lost so much. We must also cooperate in other areas of potential instability, whether that is the Western Balkans, Moldova, the Caucasus or the Black Sea. Cooperation between the UK and Greece, and the UK and the EU will be crucial to this work.
The return of the Parthenon Sculptures is a constant for every Greek government. There have been exchanges recently between several actors in Athens and London. Do you see this issue in a different light than previous UK governments?
Decisions relating to the care and management of the museum’s collections, including loaning objects from their collection, are a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, not the UK government.
I am aware that the chair of the trustees, George Osborne, has had talks with Greek ministers on the issue, seeking a constructive partnership within the existing framework.
I value the work that the British Museum does on an international scale and welcome the success of international partnerships such as the recent collaboration between the British Museum, the V&A, and the Manhyia Palace Museum in Ghana.
