Cyprus

HC Deb 25 January 1977 vol 924 cc1156-7

7. Mr. Townsend

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus.

Mr. Mulley

There are no plans to alter the current level of British Forces in the sovereign base areas in Cyprus.

Mr. Townsend

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that Britain's presence in Cyprus is welcomed by both the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot community and is invaluable to the United Nations peacekeeping force on the island? Does he further appreciate that our NATO Allies are greatly concerned that Britain may he contemplating reducing its role in this exposed southern flank?

Mr. Mulley

I have told the hon. Gentleman that we have no plans for altering the current level of our forces stationed in Cyprus. I went there for a few days early in January and visited all the units. As the hon. Gentleman says, I sensed that our presence was welcomed by both communities in Cyprus.

Mr. Christopher Price

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that there is an important link between the fact that we have forces stationed in Cyprus and our status as a guarantor power of the Geneva Agreement? Will he assure the House that in moving towards some sort of agreement on Cyprus our forces and our presence on the island can play a part in reassuring both sides?

Mr. Mulley

My hon. Friend tempts me to go into the realm of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. I am sure that all parts of the House would like to see a settlement of the Cyprus problem, but the responsibility for that lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and questions on policy should be addressed to him.

Mr. Churchill

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that he recognises that nothing would do greater political damage to the unity of NATO than for Britain to leave the sovereign base areas, with all the consequential grounds for potential disagreement between the Greeks and Turks as to who should take over those areas?

Mr. Mulley

It is a very strong statement to say that nothing could do more damage than a particular course of action. However, as I have already made clear, I attach importance to our presence in Cyprus in present circumstances.