HL Deb 14 May 1982 vol 430 cc421-2

11.31 a.m.

Baroness Jeger

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the outcome of the recent London talks on Cyprus with the Foreign Minister of Cyprus; and what agreement has been reached on payment for the sovereign bases.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, the talks were warm and friendly and covered a wide range of subjects. There was detailed discussion of the Cyrpus Government's claim for aid and a number of ideas were discussed. There is no question of payment for the sovereign base areas, which are sovereign British territory.

Baroness Jeger

My Lords, in view of the urgent necessity for the authority of the United Nations to be upheld at the present time, are the Government aware that there is growing disillusionment and cynicism in Cyprus, having regard to the fact that these talks have been dragging on since 1974 and that resolutions passed by the United Nations since 1974 requesting the withdrawal of foreign troops from the island have been ignored? Will the Government not take an opportunity at the next meeting of the General Assembly to try to get some movement into this very sad, complicated and difficult matter?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I am aware that the noble Baroness, Lady Jeger, has held this view for some considerable time. I seem to recall that when she and I last discussed this particular subject she asked me whether I was aware that there was never an appropriate moment for the final solution of this problem—so I know exactly her background thinking. However, the problems are very real and we still stick by the facts we have made plain: that when we have a United Nations seeking, with the full authority of all the countries belonging to the United Nations, to do the right thing, it would be counter-productive to take unilateral action cutting across what the United Nations seeks to do.

Lord Monson

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that the British sovereign bases are of considerable value to the economy of Cyprus? Would he further agree that the sovereign base of Dikhelia is the one part of Cyprus where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can meet on a day-to-day basis and that this must be of great benefit to both communities in the longer term?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, when talking about this particular problem, I must say that I find the subject of sovereign base areas something of a red herring. Sovereign base areas are sovereign British territory, as I said in my original Answer. We have no intention of giving them up. Nor have the Cyprus Government ever suggested that they wish us to do so. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Monson, over the cultural value of the sovereign base areas.

Lord Caradon

My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that although talks have been continuing for years, it is true, there is a special obligation on Her Majesty's Government over this matter of Cyprus? I myself had the opportunity of signing the treaty in which we undertook to preserve the previous constitution of Cyprus, and is it not entirely unsatisfactory that our Government should remain inactive, exercising no influence and taking no initiative in a matter in which we have a primary responsibility?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I would agree with the noble Lord on the first part of his question, because we are, of course, one of the guarantor powers for Cyprus under the Cyprus Agreement. But I cannot agree that we are taking no action in this matter. Britain has met all the obligations placed upon her and we are—as the noble Lord, with his great experience of the subject, will know—the largest contributors of both men and money to the United Nations' peacekeeping force in Cyprus, at a cost of some £20 million a year.