§ 13. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, by order of priority, the initiatives he intends now to take in order to bring about the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus.
§ Dr. OwenThe conditions in which withdrawal of Turkish troops may be possible are most likely to be established within the context of a negotiated settlement in Cyprus. The Government continue to do everything they can to promote the resumption of negotiations towards this end.
§ Mr. AtkinsonDoes my right hon. Friend agree that if a negotiated settlement depends on the inter-communal talks, any progress in that direction cannot be possible as long as there is an absence of free movement on the island and as long as the Turkish troops remain in occupation?
Is it not apparent that the decision to withdraw troops now lies with Washington, Bonn and London? Will he therefore condemn his counterparts in those capital cities and see what initiatives can be taken to bring about the withdrawal of troops and so achieve an inter-communal settlement?
§ Dr. OwenWe have discussed this issue in the European Community, and I have always hoped that the European Community could have an initiative on this. At the moment we are working very closely with the United States and Canadian Governments who have a major interest because they contribute to United Nations peacekeeping. Dr. Waldheim has been trying to establish inter-communal talks. He will be in this country on Monday and I shall have further discussions with him, during which we shall discuss the situation in Cyprus.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonHas not the consolidation of NATO in the Eastern Mediterranean become urgent since the revolution in Iran and the collapse of CENTO, to which the right hon. Gentleman attached great importance? Can he, therefore, envisage progress at an early date in the diplomacy of reconciliation over Cyprus between Greece and Turkey, to which he has referred?
§ Dr. OwenThe fact that that issue has not been resolved is a constant problem—one could say a sore—within NATO. The present uncertainties in the region are an even greater impetus to the negotiations being completed. Perhaps the major drive comes from the sheer inhumanity of separating families and the social problems that exist.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I propose to call one more hon. Member from either side, and I shall allow an extra minute at the end of Question Time.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceWhat is the estimated cost to Turkey of keeping these 1486 troops in Cyprus? Should not that be weighed in the balance when the West decides the amount of help that it will give to Turkey and the International Monetary Fund decides the conditions under which that aid should be granted?
§ Dr. OwenThere have been some reductions in the number of Turkish troops in Cyprus. There is not likely to be a major withdrawal of the 25,000 or 30,000 troops outside the context of a negotiated settlement. That is why we are doing all that we can to achieve such a settlement.
§ Mr. HurdWill Western economic help reach Turkey before that democracy cracks under the present desperate strains? Are we waiting for the Turks to reach agreement with the IMF, and how long is it anticipated that that will take?
§ Dr. OwenIt is extremely difficult to give further aid to Turkey, and quite substantial aid has been given. For instance we gave about £60 million in debt rescheduling fairly recently in the absence of agreement with the IMF. It is not always vital to wait for the IMF. In the negotiations that have been going on, the IMF has shown some flexibility. It is thus difficult to see money being made available without IMF agreement. I am not excluding that, and it has been discussed with the Secretary General of the OECD and a number of countries. The Federal Republic of Germany has been taking the initiative.