HC Deb 25 October 1989 vol 158 cc827-9
1. Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position on the United Nations-sponsored intercommunal talks on Cyprus.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Francis Maude)

The intercommunal talks are stalled at the moment. The United Nations Secretary-General recently met the leaders of the two communities and will shortly present to them his views on how the talks can resume. We hope that this happens soon. We shall continue to give Mr. Perez de Cuellar our full support.

Mr. Cox

While I note that reply, is the Minister aware that President Vassiliou's efforts in seeking to unite the island of Cyprus have sadly come to nothing? As this country is one of the guarantor powers, does the Minister consider that the Government should now start to take a far more involved role and seek to bring together the Governments of Greece and Turkey to work out a settlement that will unite the island of Cyprus once again? How long does he really believe that the United Nations can be expected to carry on alone in this crucial issue?

Mr. Maude

We take our responsibilities in respect of Cyprus extremely seriously, as the hon. Gentleman suggests that we should and as our contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping force indicates. As the hon. Gentleman will recognise, there can be no solution unless the leaders of the two communities reach agreement with each other. To do that, there must be talks. As I have said, we must give full support to the United Nations Secretary-General in his good offices mission to enable that to happen. We very much hope that it will be successful

Mr. Michael Marshall

My hon. Friend will be aware that the next Inter-Parliamentary Union conference is to take place in Cyprus. Will he take this opportunity to assure the House that he will encourage our diplomatic representatives to facilitate the process of dialogue with all communities in Cyprus, including the freedom of movement which will be necessary in that process?

Mr. Maude

I say again that we shall do all that we sensibly can to encourage the process of dialogue to renew and to encourage the leaders of both communities to come to those talks in a spirit of good will, determined to reach an agreed settlement.

Mr. John D. Taylor

As Turkish Cypriots fully support the United Nations objective of a bizonal independent arid sovereign Cyprus, will the Government confirm that they will act even-handedly to both the Turkish Cypriots arid the Greek Cypriots? Does the Minister agree that intercommunal talks would be better facilitated if there were less provocation by the Greek Cypriots? For example, I refer to the pending visit to Bulgaria by the President of Greek Cyprus—a most tactless move—and the recent display of armaments on 1 October, including missiles and armed helicopters in southern Cyprus.

Mr. Maude

It is no secret that we think that it would be better if the President of Cyprus did not visit Bulgaria. It is important that the talks are renewed and that both sides go to them with good will, determined that the talks succeed. Our approach has been scrupulously evenhanded and will continue to be so.

Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

Should not the Commonwealth be very strongly congratulated on its always outstanding statements on Cyprus? Will my hon. Friend continue to set his face like flint, as did his predecessors, against any form of recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence in the north of Cyprus?

Mr. Maude

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his compliments, which I accept on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary who conducted the negotiations at the Heads of Government meeting. On recognition of the north of Cyprus, it remains our view that the declaration of independence was an illegal act.

Mr. Anderson

Does the Minister recall the passage in the Commonwealth communiqué which says that dialogue in the UN-sponsored talks—the intercommunal talks—is the only means by which progress can be made to a peaceful solution? Will he confirm that that at least was one area about which the Prime Minister did not dissent or write a separate document? Will he urge the Turks to use whatever leverage they have with the Turkish Cypriots to end any stalemate, urge them to come to the table on the basis of the United Nations talks and impose no preconditions?

Mr. Maude

The hon. Gentleman's first point is so silly that it does not merit a reply. With regard to his second point, I repeat that we will do what we can to encourage the leaders of both communities to come to the talks in a spirit of good will.

Mr. Gale

Can my hon. Friend confirm that the Government are still totally opposed to the presence of the Turkish army of occupation in northern Cyprus? Will he further confirm that there is no question of Turkey joining the European Community while that army is there?

Mr. Maude

Certainly those are matters which will have to be discussed. It is essential that the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots have confidence in any settlement that is eventually agreed. That is a precondition for any settlement and the matters to which my hon. Friend has referred will have to be discussed and decided upon.