HC Deb 06 November 1974 vol 880 cc1054-5
11. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet President Clerides of Cyprus.

Mr. Hattersley

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so, although he remains in touch with Mr. Clerides and is ready, at all times, to meet him.

Mr. Rifkind

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the continued occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkish occupation forces is looking increasingly permanent? Is he aware of the recent announcement made by Turkish authorities that they will refuse to allow Greek refugees to return to their homes in the northern part of the island? Will he make the strongest possible representations to the Turkish Government, pointing out that Britain has no intention of forgetting her responsibility as guarantor of the integrity of Cyprus as a sovereign independent State?

Mr. Hattersley

We have said time and again, and I am happy to repeat, that we believe that the territorial integrity and peaceful existence of Cyprus must be preserved and reconstituted. It would not help towards that end if I were to comment or make a judgment on the likelihood of a permanent Turkish occupation. But it is equally certain that progress towards the end which the hon. Gentleman and I seek is most likely to come about in the short term if the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus continue their discussions and, when the time seems ripe, a Geneva-like conference is again convened. Regrettably, that time has not yet arrived, but my right hon. Friend will be available to take part and play a major rôle in those discussions when the time seems appropriate.

Mr. Faulds

Does my hon. Friend not accept that many of us on the Government benches would not be very happy if part of the settlement of the Cyprus situation or part of the defence review were to include the abandonment of our base facilities simply for them to be taken over by the United States of America?

Mr. Hattersley

I certainly accept that, because my hon. Friend tells me that it is so. As for the details of the defence review, he must await the announcement by my right hon. Friend.