President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday met the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the latter’s official residence at London’s 10 Downing Street.

According to the presidential office, the pair discussed “issues related to relations between Cyprus and the UK” as well as “current regional and international developments”.

The pair also discussed relations between the UK and the European Union in light of the “historic summit” which took place on Monday, and in view of Cyprus’ undertaking of the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency in the first half of next year.

Monday’s summit had seen the UK take its first steps back towards the EU’s orbit, having left the bloc in 2020, with agreements signed on the matters of defence and trade.

Christodoulides also informed Starmer about the EU’s appointment of Austrian diplomat Johannes Hahn as its special envoy for the Cyprus problem, as well as his forthcoming meeting with UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin.

Wednesday’s meeting was the third between Christodoulides and Starmer in the space of nine months, with Christodoulides having visited Starmer in London in October, and Starmer having become the first British prime minister since Ted Heath in 1971 to visit the Republic while in office to meet the president in December.

Christodoulides described that visit as “historic”, and said it was “clear proof of our strong will to work together, to enhance our bilateral relationship in defence, security, investments, trade, education, technology and on all levels”.

Hahn’s appointment in Cyprus was announced last week, with the European Commission explaining that he will “report to President [Ursula] von der Leyen and contribute to the settlement process within the UN framework in close cooperation with the UN secretary-general [Antonio Guterres’] personal envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin”.

“This designation underlines the commission’s commitment to the reunification of Cyprus, with the aim of ensuring a functional and viable comprehensive settlement in accordance with the relevant UN security council resolutions and in line with the principles, values, and legislation of the EU,” it added.