HC Deb 30 October 1996 vol 284 cc632-3
2. Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's initiatives in respect of ending the partition of Cyprus. [684]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. David Davis)

We are working closely with the United States, our European Union partners and others in support of the United Nations-led effort to achieve a political settlement. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has appointed Sir David Hannay as the British Government's special representative for Cyprus. My right hon. and learned Friend plans to visit Cyprus before Christmas for talks with both leaders.

Sir Sydney Chapman

I welcome what my hon. Friend has said. It is clear in retrospect that the partition of Cyprus after the invasion by Turkey 22 years ago should not have been tolerated. Will the Minister give an assurance that the United Kingdom Government, as a co-guarantor, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States will make the reunification of Cyprus the top international political priority in the coming 12 months?

Mr. Davis

We take our duties as a co-guarantor seriously. Our appointment of Sir David Hannay and the visit of my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary—the first bilateral visit of a Minister to Cyprus for decades—show how seriously we take the issue. Although the task will be incredibly difficult, there may be an opportunity in the coming year.

Mr. Cox

The House will welcome the forthcoming visit to Cyprus of the Foreign Secretary. Will his discussions with Mr. Denktas centre on the return of Famagusta-something that, as the Minister knows, has long been promised but has sadly never happened?

Mr. Davis

I am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend will focus on every issue relating to making Cyprus a single country again, guided by the ideas of the United Nations Secretary-General. I am sure that all those matters will be in front of him when he sees Mr. Denktas and Mr. Klerides.

Mr. Waterson

Does my hon. Friend agree that, when Cyprus accedes to membership of the European Union, it would be preferable if it did so as a whole island which was no longer partitioned? Will he also confirm that no party has a right of veto over the accession negotiations moving forward?

Mr. Davis

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary said last week that it would be much more difficult to arrange entry to the European Union for a divided Cyprus. Reunification is therefore clearly desirable for that reason, but it is also desirable for its own sake to return Cyprus to what the United Nations Secretary-General has described as a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Every effort will go into that. My hon. Friend is right that, in maintaining that policy, we must ensure that no party has a veto

Mr. Trimble

I welcome the fact that the Foreign Secretary, on his visit to Cyprus, is for the first time to meet the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. It is right that the two communities in Cyprus should be treated equally. I urge the Minister to persuade our colleagues in the European Community to afford them similar status and to ensure that the European Community is not used by the Greek Cypriot community in Cyprus as a tool with which to beat the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr. Davis

We have always made balanced contacts with both communities without, of course, recognising the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; we recognise the proper Government of Cyprus and will continue to do so. We shall do everything possible to ensure that the European Union does everything in its power to bring that divided country together again.