The Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the United Kingdom holds an important position as a guarantor country for Cyprus.

Fidan’s words came during a joint press conference with his British counterpart James Cleverly in Ankara on Wednesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting in the Turkish capital, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed that they discussed regional and international issues, including the Cyprus issue, the conflict in Ukraine, and Syria, and made the following statements:

“The United Kingdom holds an important position as a guarantor country for Cyprus. We had the opportunity to make comprehensive assessments regarding related issues and recent developments on the island. Our efforts to revive the Black Sea Initiative in the context of the conflict in Ukraine were also on our agenda. We are in agreement that, with a sense of global responsibility, we need to revive this initiative.”

Fidan emphasized that they will continue their consultations with UK authorities at the highest level in the future, highlighting the importance of both countries continuing their close cooperation in the face of regional and global challenges.

For his part the British foreign secretary praised close relations with Türkiye, saying that the two countries’ ties are “stronger than ever.”

Calling Türkiye an indispensable partner, James Cleverly said ties with Ankara are crucial for the collective security and well-being of the United Kingdom.

He added that U.K.-Türkiye relations are important for Europe and the region, and are extremely important for the world as a whole.