Cyprus (Hansard, 10 July 1996)

§ 12. Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had relating to (a) Cyprus's entry into the European Union and (b) the occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkish troops. [35172]

§ Mr. Rifkind
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I had talks with President Clerides of Cyprus on 19 June. These and other subjects concerning Cyprus were discussed then.

§ Dr. Spink
I pay tribute to aspects of Britain's role in Cyprus over the past 30 years, but will my right hon. and learned Friend comment on the Security Council resolution of 29 June, which rejected the status quo? Does he not believe that we should make more positive moves towards the total demilitarisation of Cyprus?

§ Mr. Rifkind
We fully support the call of the United Nations Secretary-General for both communities to work towards making political progress. As I am sure my hon. Friend will have noted, we recently appointed Sir David Hannay as the United Kingdom's special representative on Cyprus, to work with all those who are seeking to resume a dialogue in Cyprus and work towards political progress in an area that has seen markedly little progress over the past quarter of a century. It is a matter of great concern that Cyprus has failed entirely to make any progress in resolving its political difficulties. We believe that major new efforts are needed.

§ Mr. Faulds
Would it not be advisable if the majority of Members of the House of Commons made some effort to prove themselves somewhat less ignorant about the history of Cyprus over the past 50 years? Is it not the case—[Interruption.]—if I could have the Secretary of State's attention—that it was Archbishop Makarios who, in 1963, aborted the constitutional arrangements of 1960, which had given the Turkish Cypriots certain rights? Is it not also the case that it was 11 years later, in 1974, that the Turkish army intervened, as it was entitled to do under the treaty of guarantee of 1960, and that it is time we became a little more acquainted with the history of Cyprus and tried to bring about a more fair and justified resolution?

§ Mr. Rifkind
The House, as usual, benefits from the hon. Gentleman's historical knowledge.

§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
I warmly welcome the appointment of Sir David Hannay to carry out that crucial task. Will my right hon. and learned Friend take this opportunity to condemn the rearmament that has gone on on both sides of Cyprus? He will well know that I deplore the Turkish occupation of the north and the equipment of the army in the north. Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that it is dangerous on such a small island to have such massive rearmament continuing?

§ Mr. Rifkind
I very much agree with my hon. Friend. There are more than 30,000 Turkish troops on the island. There is also evidence of growing militarisation elsewhere in Cyprus with the growing use of heavy weaponry. Given the smallness of the island and of the population, there can be no conceivable military need for this form of military presence. It is another aspect of the failure of both communities to take the political initiative and to seek to reconcile their differences. There is no fundamental difference between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the need for them to live and work together on the island in a bizonal, bicommunal, federal republic. Given that agreement on ultimate objectives, it should not be as difficult as it has been to make progress on the important building blocks to achieve such a result.