Cyprus (Hansard, 11 May 2004)

§ 8. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con)
If he will make a statement on the prospects for the reunification of Cyprus. [171836]

§ The Minister for Europe (Mr. Denis MacShane)
I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the Foreign Secretary's written statement to the House on 28 April.
The reunification of Cyprus remains the Government's objective, but there is no immediate prospect of a resumption of talks. We await the UN Secretary-General's report on his good offices mission to Cyprus, which we expect later this month.

§ Bob Spink
Can the Minister confirm that the Government respect the overwhelming democratic decision of the Greek Cypriots on the Annan plan? Will he confirm that this was a clear and unequivocal rejection of a bad plan, and will he commit this Government to working towards a new plan which, unlike the old one, will respect the existing UN resolutions and international law, and be for the benefit and justice of both communities in Cyprus?

§ Mr. MacShane
Of course we respect the decision of the Cypriot people. Members of the House and different Governments have dealt with this problem over a number of years. Everyone of good will concluded that the Annan plan, which had the overwhelming backing of all European and other member states of the international democratic community, was the best way forward. There is no other possible basis for a settlement. If we want a reunited Cyprus, we will have to come back to the Annan plan or something very close to it.

§ Mr. Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op)
I welcome the Minister's statement and his acceptance of the democratic decision of the Cypriot people. Will he also accept that the international community did not fully understand the Cypriot community's fears and concerns in respect of the decisions put to them? Notwithstanding his comments today, will he redouble his efforts with the UN, and with the EU in particular, to ensure that this process is begun at the earliest opportunity?

§ Mr. MacShane
My hon. Friend is right. I understand the difficulties associated with the way in which people voted in that referendum, but as I said, we have looked at the plan in some detail and it is very difficult to find an alternative, because we have to get support from all those involved. Leadership was there in Cyprus, but perhaps it was not expressed in the referendum, given that people have to take political positions. A lot of rethinking is taking place on the island.
153 The position of northern Cyprus is now going to be very different and I would urge all hon. Members who have a deep care for the future of the island to work constructively and positively towards what will have to be a compromise. That will require leadership to bring people to support it. A divided Cyprus is no help to the people of that beautiful and wonderful island and no help to all who want to see its future settled before too long.

§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath) (Con)
Does the Minister recognise that a plan that was perceived by the Greek Cypriot communities as being far too heavily stacked in favour of the interests of Turkey and the illegally occupied area of northern Cyprus was never likely to command support? Hon. Members on both sides of the House who have worked with the people of Cyprus over many years recognise that we have to start looking again, as my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) rightly said, at the resolutions that have been made over a longer period. Far too many of them were ignored in the Annan plan. Does the Minister accept that the Government have a responsibility to work with President Papadopulos to produce a new plan that will fairly balance the interests of both communities? The current plan was far too stacked in one direction ever to have a hope of commanding the support of the Greek Cypriot community.

§ Mr. MacShane
I have been listening to Cyprus debates and questions during my l0 years in the House, and believe that this plan offered more than any previous one. Any plan has to be acceptable to both sides. Large sections of the Cypriot political community were in favour of the plan to begin with, until the politics changed dramatically with a rejectionist front growing ever wider. I like to imagine that a better set of solutions could be rustled up to solve the problem, but the hon. Gentleman, while he is still a Member of the House, will have to tell his friends in Cyprus that the way to win people's support is to be there, leading them. Such leadership was not much in evidence towards the end of the process. Britain cannot provide a solution. We need a UN solution, an international solution or a European solution. Some people in Cyprus said yes; alas, others did not.

§ Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)
Later this year, the European Union will have to decide whether to allow Turkey to enter the formal process of becoming a full candidate for EU membership. Can that happen without the reunification of Cyprus;?

§ Mr. MacShane
Of course. We said clearly that Cyprus could enter the EU, uniquely among all member states, without having first resolved its own internal divisions. If we have behaved honourably towards our friends in the Government of Cyprus, we also have to behave honourably towards the Government of Turkey, who have made immense strides on the Cypriot question, making concessions that were literally unthinkable only 12 months ago, let alone 18 months or five years ago. Turkey has to meet the Copenhagen criteria and all the other norms required of her to start EU accession talks. On Cyprus, I believe that the 154 Turkish Government cannot be faulted. Recent meetings in Greece between Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Karamanlis very much emphasise that point.

§ Mr. Richard Spring (West Suffolk) (Con)
I agree with the Minister that the Turkish Government played a most constructive role in the lead-up to the referendum, further enhancing their credibility on the path to EU accession. Equally, however, does he agree that, in the light of past tragic memories, the stationing of Turkish troops in Cyprus post settlement presents a particular problem that must be addressed if fresh progress is to be made?

§ Mr. MacShane
I cannot object to any proposal that the Turkish or any other Government might make in respect of troop numbers on the island. They were to come down dramatically over time. Turkey, along with Greece and the United Kingdom, is a guarantor power, but it was not on that issue alone that the Greek Cypriots voted no. We have to look forward to a more positive approach in Cyprus. I think that the time may come sooner than we expect when moves are made towards that double yes. I hope that it comes as soon as possible. I urge all hon. Members—and I know how passionately they are involved in Cypriot matters in their constituencies—to find a language that allows a way forward for Cyprus, rather than digging deeper into the trenches.