§ 2. Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government to obtain compensation for British citizens who suffered damage and loss to their properties through the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
§ 17. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the result of the discussions between the Consul at Nicosia and the District Officer in Kyrenia about the safety of British property in Kyrenia.
§ 20. Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure restitution of property and compensation for damage suffered by British residents living in that part of Cyprus now under Turkish occupation.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Roy Hattersley)We have made repeated representations to the Turkish authorities about the protection of British-owned property in Cyprus and have reserved the rights of United Kingdom citizens to claim compensation. Following my right hon. Friend's talks with Mr. Denktash, the Cypriot Vice-President, we hope that the situation will improve.
§ Mr. MarshallI thank the Minister of State for that answer and, indeed, for the written information that he sent to me prior to tabling this Question. Is he aware of the size of the problem? It seems as though thousands of British residents, many of them retired, are facing actual or potential loss in Cyprus. Does he agree that the Turkish Government bear a special responsibility in this matter? Finally, will he seek to amend the Treaty of Guarantee so that the protection presently afforded to officially-owned British property is extended to privately-owned British property?
§ Mr. HattersleyI accept that this is a problem of substantial proportions. Both 1046 the Foreign Secretary and I insist that the Turkish authorities in Cyprus have a substantial obligation to protect these properties and we have been reminding them of that obligation for a very long time.
The future of the Treaty of Guarantee and of the island must await the general political outcome of the unhappy events there. It is not possible to stipulate any details of the new agreement until we have made a good deal more progress.
§ Mr. IrvineAs the Treaty of Guarantee deals with security, will the Minister of State tell the owners of property in Cyprus what he feels the treaty and the Government are ensuring?
§ Mr. HattersleyI am anxious not to make any claims in this House, or publicly, that the Government cannot fulfil. As the hon. Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall) rightly pointed out, this is a problem of substantial proportions. It is so great in numbers that it is not possible to obtain consular access or protection for every British property on the island. Much as we regret that state of affairs, that is the fact. We are determined to exercise what control and protection is possible, but I believe that it would be wrong of me to make claims which were not realisable.
§ Mr. HurdDoes the hon. Gentleman accept that it is an urgent problem inasmuch as quite a large number of elderly people are living in distress and sometimes fear? Will he get from the Turkish authorities at least an undertaking that looting and trespass by their troops will be punished, that compensation will be paid for damage for which they are responsible, and that it is their general aim in the part of the island that they occupy to make a return to normal life as soon as possible?
§ Mr. HattersleyWe have urged all these propositions on the Turkish Government and on the leader of the Turkish community in Cyprus. I regret that the looting to which the hon. Gentleman referred is still taking place in the Kyrenia area. It would be wrong to pretend that that was no longer the case. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Foreign Secretary and our many representatives abroad are doing their best to urge upon the Turkish Government the obligations that they ought to fulfil. I promise that we will continue to do so.