HC Deb 27 November 1974 vol 882 cc411-2
1. Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest situation in Cyprus.

15. Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the progress of negotiations relating to settlement of the future of Cyprus.

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Roy Hattersley)

We are continuing to keep in touch with the parties involved and my right hon. Friend had talks with Archbishop Makarios and Mr. Clerides last week. Her Majesty's Government support the talks between Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash and stand ready to assist in any way possible to achieve a satisfactory and lasting settlement in Cyprus.

Mr. Lane

Is it not the case that the mass of the people in both communities in Cyprus want peaceful coexistence and believe that they can make a success of it in the absence of outside interference? In view of our special and impartial relationship with Cyprus, will the Government not merely be ready to help but to look for any occasion when a new British initiative may help towards a workable constitutional settlement?

Mr. Hattersley

Certainly the people of Cyprus want a peaceful settlement in terms that are honourable and permanent, and certainly the British Government are available to help in whatever way is possible. What I think would not help is for the British Government to press for new negotiations of the sort that took place in Geneva during the summer. The British Government are certainly available to assist in the process, but for the process to succeed the other parties to the talks must come together freely and voluntarily.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

In addition to the responsibility that Her Majesty's Government have as one of the treaty Powers, do they not have a direct responsibility in regard to the well-being of British residents in Kyrenia? Is the hon. Gentleman able to say anything further about that? What is the position with regard to the protection of property and possible claims for compensation?

Mr. Hattersley

I understand very well the anxiety that is implied in the right hon. and learned Gentleman's question. I hope that he will accept my renewed assurance that we are doing all we can to safeguard the lives and health of British residents, and their property. A senior Foreign Office official is on the island at this moment investigating what additional steps we can take. The High Commissioner and his staff are also working long and hard properly to represent and preserve British interests. The right hon. and learned Gentleman will understand, however, that in the situation as it exists in Cyprus this is a very difficult task.

Mr. Amery

The hon. Gentleman may have seen Press reports this morning that the Soviet Union has asked for a base at Larnica. Has he any information about that?

Mr. Hattersley

The suggestions that the Soviet Union has asked for a base are completely unfounded. As I understand it, the Government of Cyprus are considering a number of alternative ways of running an air service out of the island. There is some possibility of Soviet help in that regard, but that is not the only possibility and it certainly does not involve a base, as the right hon. Gentleman and I understand that term.