Friends of Cyprus was founded in London in 1974. Our first Chair was Lord Caradon, Hugh Foot, the last British Governor of Cyprus. He went on to become our first President.  Our most recent President was the late Nicholas Bethell, former Conservative MEP and member of the House of Lords, who served on the Friends of Cyprus from its inception in 1974 continuosly until he died aged 69 on 8th September 2007. Lord Corbett of Castlevale (former Labour MP Robin Corbett) is our current Chair, with Vice Chairs Andrew Dismore (Labour) Roger Gale (Conservative) and Simon Hughes (Liberal  Democrat). The members of the Committee are mostly British parliamentarians in the Houses of Parliament and the European Parliament with some academics and journalists who have specialist knowledge of Cyprus.

Since the late 1970s, Friends of Cyprus has brought together Greek and Turkish Cypriots, first in London and then in Cyprus. It has worked consistently for a just solution to the intercommunal aspects of the Cyprus problem, while supporting the withdrawal of all external forces from the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, except for an international force authorised by the United Nations as part of a federal, bicommunal and bizonal settlement. Specifically on the constitution, Friends of Cyprus has supported cross-voting as an essential element of a Cyprus settlement so that politicians need to cultivate support in both communities.

Friends of Cyprus has produced a newsletter since its foundation. Our website instituted in September 2000 contains material from these Reports, and will be updated as new issues appear.

LATEST Please click here for the latest report : Friends of Cyprus Report Issue 49 (PDF) LATEST

Please click here for the Cyprus Debate in Westminister: Cyprus Westminister Debate Jan 2007 (DOC)

NEW Please click here to view the Friends of Cyprus Committee: Friends of Cyprus Committee Sep 2007(DOC) NEW