LONDON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday efforts to resolve the 40-year-long split of Cyprus was a win for Cypriots and the whole of Europe.
"The United Kingdom fully supports the Cypriots as they work for a solution to the division which has affected their island for too long," he said in a statement. "A settlement will pay dividends for them, for the region and for Europe."
Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and his Turkish counterpart Dervis Eroglu signed agreements Tuesday that Hague said "makes clear" both sides are committed to resolving their long-standing disputes.
Cyprus has been divided into a Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-occupied north since 1974. Turkey doesn't recognize the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Tuesday he was "personally" committed to helping both sides "reunify the island and move on from decades of separation."
Hague said his country was an active participant in ongoing effort to resolve the dispute.
"Our diplomatic network has of course been actively engaged in support of a settlement," he said.
