Cyprus

HC Deb 20 October 1976 vol 917 cc1419-23

4. Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish the Government's comments on the report of the Select Committee on Cyprus.

Dr. Owen

Her Majesty's Government's observations on the report of the Select Committee on Cyprus were laid before Parliament on 3rd August 1976 and published the following day.

Mr. Price

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Although those comments on the report were little more than helpful in terms of the Government's initial reaction, does he not now agree that it is important to talk about new initiatives for the future mounted by the British Government to solve the problem, since it is making relations within both the Community and Europe as a whole more difficult? Will he say what initiative Her Majesty's Government now propose to take?

Dr. Owen

I agree that we need a constructive contribution in finding a political solution. We remain ready to undertake any reasonable practical initiative. We fully support the initiative outlined in Dr. Kissinger's recent speech at the General Assembly, and on the basis of such concepts we are willing to act in concert with the United States Government and our European partners.

Mr. Townsend

Now that the elections in Cyprus are out of the way, will the Minister bear in mind that a British Minister has not visited the island for a considerable time? Therefore, why does not the right hon. Gentleman go to Cyprus and conduct talks with the Government and President of that country? Could he not also take that opportunity to meet United Kingdom residents there and try to recover some of Britain's prestige?

Dr. Owen

I should be ready to consider a visit if it was thought to be helpful at a particular time. I was intending to visit Turkey recently, but that visit had to be cancelled. I agree that there are occasions when visits on the ground are helpful. The matter needs careful judgment as to the right moment to make such a visit.

Mr. Brittan

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that in answering the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) he indicated that the Government would be prepared to do this, that or the other but not that they would do anything specific? Are the Government going to do anything—and, if so, what—to deal with the Cyprus problem?

Dr. Owen

We shall continue to be engaged in strenuous diplomatic activity over the Cyprus problem. I have given considerable attention to the area in the short time that I have been holding my present office. I share the hon. Gentleman's wish to do everything that is possible, but it is not always dramatic initiatives that are the way to achieve success. There is an area of quiet diplomacy that also needs to be undertaken.

Sir John Rodgers

If the right hon. Gentleman visits Cyprus—and I hope he will—will he ensure that, in addition to having talks with Archbishop Makarios and his colleagues, he will have talks with the Turkish representatives?

Dr. Owen

If I were to go, I should certainly wish to hear all shades of opinion and all people with interesting views on the matter.

Miss Richardson

Has the Turkish occupation by force of a part of Cyprus been discussed by CENTO? If so, what view did the British Government put forward in those discussions?

Dr. Owen

To the best of my knowledge, it has not been discussed by CENTO.

9. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made during the course of the past three months towards a solution of the major problems which arose in Cyprus, following the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.

Dr. Owen

The Secretary-General of the United Nations held consultations between 16th and 21st September 1976 with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators in an attempt to restart the intercommunal talks. Consultations are continuing in Nicosia with the Secretary-General's special representative in Cyprus.

Mr. Newens

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear to the House that in the forthcoming debate at the United Nations General Assembly the British representative will take a much more forthright position on this issue than has been taken in the past, and that he will deplore the continued expulsion of Greek Cypriots from the northern part of the island and the harassment of those who remain? Will he make it clear that no solution can possibly be found which in any way accepts the partition of the island?

Dr. Owen

I am naturally concerned, and so are the Government, about reports that the Greek Cypriots in the north of Cyprus have been forced against their wishes to leave their homes. If we are to make a success of the intercommunal talks, I must stress that it would not help in establishing a better atmosphere if at this stage I were to try to ascribe blame to either side.

Mr. Jim Spicer

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that, given the background against which the Turkish Cypriot community held its elections in June, followed by the Greek Cypriot community elections in September, we have separate States established on the island? Is it not appropriate to move towards a federal solution to the problem?

Dr. Owen

That is one of the options that has been discussed over a period. I think that most people who have studied the Cyprus problem feel that it is possible to reach a solution. The trouble is that we have to reach agreement on a possible solution. It is no use merely having pacer plans. We have to bring the two sides to accept a solution.

18. Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the progress made to date in securing compensation for damage to British property in Cyprus.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Evan Luard)

Following my reply to a similar Question by the hon. Gentleman on 7th July, I asked the Turkish Ambassador to call on me. I told him of the intense public concern on this matter and urged him to press his Government to expedite the establishment of compensation procedures.

As there has been little progress since that time, a senior official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is, at my request, at present visiting Nicosia and Ankara to pursue the question. I await his report.

Mr. Brittan

I welcome the fact that the Government are taking that action. Will the Government bear in mind that urgency really is needed, as so many of the victims are elderly, and that if they are to get the benefit of any compensation they must get it quickly?

Mr. Luard

I am very well aware of the need for urgency. That is one of the reasons for the two actions that I have taken. In addition, our High Commissioner in Nicosia has been pursuing this matter continually with the authorities there, including the Turkish authorities.

We have heard from Mr. Denktash that he has undertaken that he will consider particularly urgent cases, and perhaps agree to settle these in advance of the establishment of a formal claims commission.

Mr. Jim Spicer

Will the Minister elaborate on his last statement? Is it not true that a representative of the Turkish Cypriot community visited London 10 days ago and stated that the Turkish Cypriot community and their new federal form of Government accepted full responsibility for all damage after the ceasefire was agreed in Cyprus? If that is the case, will the Minister tell the House whether a central register is in existence in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to which he can refer in drawing up a claim on behalf of British residents in Cyprus?

Mr. Luard

Yes, I can confirm that. The position in general is that the Turkish Government have accepted responsibility for immediate claims as a result of hostilities, and the Denktash Administration have indicated that they will secure the protection of British property and undertake compensation for the remaining claims.

I have asked for a register to be established of all claims by British citizens in Cyprus, whether they relate to the period of hostilities or the post-hostilities period.

Mr. Woodall

Will my hon. Friend ask his right hon. Friend to bring pressure upon his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence with regard to the claim for compensation for the loss of personal belongings by Miss Olive Whitney, OBE, of the YMCA, who lost her personal belongings in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion while looking after the welfare of British Service men?

Mr. Luard

I should require notice of an individual claim. If my hon. Friend will write to me I will take it up in the appropriate quarters.