President of the House of Representatives Demetris Syllouris, on the second day of his working visit to the UK, held a meeting at the Foreign Office with UK Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan.

Syllouris said after the meeting that the agenda focused on three issues: the Cyprus issue, Brexit and the situation in the Middle East.

“On the Cyprus issue we all hope for the settlement talks to resume as soon as possible. On Brexit the Minister believes that the negotiations will reach a positive conclusion in the next few weeks, and then the Cypriot parliament will be called to vote on the deal. As far as Middle East is concerned, we explained the difficulties we face as Cyprus, not just due to the invasion and occupation, but also because of Turkey’s behaviour with regard to the Cypriot EEZ and that we live in a dangerous region where we try to go forward with our policies”, Syllouris said.

The day started at the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, where the House President paid a visit to Archbishop Gregorios, due to celebrate his 90th birthday this Sunday.

Then at the Houses of Parliament he held meetings with the Liberal Democrats’ Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine; the Chairman of the Brexit Commons Committee Hilary Benn; the head of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council Lord Marland; and the Conservative MP Bill Cash.

Asked about these meetings, Syllouris said they focused both on the Cyprus issue and Brexit, but also on the enhancement of bilataral relations.

Later in the evening Syllouris visited Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, who is recovering in London  following an operation he had in a clinic in the British capital.

He will also attend a  working dinner with the Executive Secretariat of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK.

On Friday morning Syllouris will visit Cambridge and later in the day he will travel to Bristol.