Cyprus

HC Deb 01 July 1992 vol 210 cc842-3

11. Dr. Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the continued occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkish troops; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones

My right hon. Friend recently met a delegation from the friends of Cyprus parliamentary group. He has received 10 letters on this subject this year. The problem of foreign troops in Cyprus is likely to be resolved only within an overall settlement of the Cyprus dispute. Recent proximity talks in New York chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General went well and will resume on 15 July. Dr. Boutros Ghali has expressed confidence of success, given the necessary political will from all parties. We continue to be active, both bilaterally and through the Security Council, in working to encourage progress.

Dr. Spink

What help has Britain given to the United Nations to try to broker a settlement to the illegal occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkish troops?

Mr. Garel-Jones

My hon. Friend is right that the United Nations offers the best hope of progress. It provides the necessary authority and impartiality to encourage the two communities to reach a mutually acceptable and lasting solution. The United Kingdom attended the talks at senior official level at the express invitation of the secretary-general. We have continual contact with all parties while trying to assist them in reaching an equitable settlement. We aim to remain particularly involved because of our status as a guarantor power.

Mr. John D. Taylor

As Greece, like Turkey, also has troops in Cyprus in excess of the number allowed by the treaty of guarantee, what representations has the Minister made to Greece about its occupation troops in southern Cyprus?

Mr. Garel-Jones

I believe that a resolution of troop numbers and all the issues that are so difficult in Cyprus will take place only in the context of an overall solution. We are working with the United Nations Secretary-General to achieve such a solution. The difficulty to which the right hon. Gentleman has drawn our attention is one of many that we would seek to resolve within that overall solution.

Mr. Stephen

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus is necessary for the protection of the Turkish Cypriots since international guarantees failed to protect them from massacre by Greek Cypriots in 1963, 1967 and again in 1974?

Mr. Garel-Jones

There is no doubt that a significant reduction in Turkish troops in northern Cyprus would improve the climate for a negotiated settlement. However, as I said to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor), that is unlikely to take place other than in the context of a wider solution.

Mrs. Roche

Given the continuing occupation by Turkish troops, what representations has the Minister made to the Turkish Government about the fate of the missing people, some of whom have families living in my constituency?

Mr. Garel-Jones

A few days ago, accompanied by one of the hon. Lady's hon. Friends, I received in the Foreign Office a group of Cypriots acting on behalf of the missing people. The hon. Lady is absolutely right: this is one of the most tragic aspects of the whole Cyprus dispute. What we can do is to continue to work as closely as possible with the United Nations to bring about the overall settlement within which I think that this problem would be resolved.

Lady Olga Maitland

Does my right hon. Friend accept that most of those missing persons were killed by the Greek Cypriots?

Mr. Garel-Jones

The United Nations committee for missing persons has found it extremely difficult to obtain proper evidence from either side of the argument. I revert to the answer that I have given to other hon. and right hon. Members—this is one of the many tragic problems which will be resolved only in the context of an overall solution.

Mr. Kaufman

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in the most specific terms, allay the fears that have been expressed to me from authoritative quarters in Cyprus that in the current talks pressure is being put on the legitimate Government of Cyprus to make concessions that would water down the sovereignty of that official Government? Will the Minister state very specifically indeed that the British Government will not be a party to any settlement of the Cyprus problem unless that settlement is absolutely acceptable to the present legitimate Government of that country?

Mr. Garel-Jones

I repeat that our view of the way forward rests firmly on the concept of one country, two communities.