§ 4. Mr. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will seek to arrange for the first permanent United Nations base to be located at the British sovereign base at Dhekelia, in Cyprus.
§ Mr. George ThomsonHer Majesty's Government are always ready to consider what assistance they can give with United Nations peacekeeping, including help made available from our overseas bases. A permanent United Nations base would, however, only be relevant in terms of a permanent United Nations force. This is not practicable at present. The most effective way of making progress is by earmarking national contingents and Her Majesty's Government have, as the House knows, offered substantial logistic support for this. In these circumstances, the need for a permanent United Nations base as such does not arise.
§ Mr. JacksonWhile thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask him to bear in mind the very acute crisis existing at the moment with regard to the Jordan Waters? Is he aware that only this weekend the Jordan Prime Minister announced his intention to begin diversion of those waters? We would seem to need a permanent U.N. force in that area and that is why I am asking for a permanent U.N. base.
§ Mr. ThomsonI sympathise with the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, but our view in connection with the dangers in the Middle East is that action through the United Nations offers the best prospects of maintaining peace in that area. The facilities of the sovereign base at Dhekelia were made available with the establishment of the United Nations force in Cyprus. We should be ready to make similar facilities available if a United Nations force were to be set 895 up to deal with any threat to peace in the Middle East.
§ Lady TweedsmuirWould the hon. Gentleman comment on the report of the United Nations Mediator?
§ Mr. ThomsonThe British bases to which my hon. Friend refers in his Question are not part of the Republic of Cyprus and are, therefore, not involved in any way in the Cyprus dispute.