§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked the Lord Privy Seal what practical steps the Government propose to take, as a guarantor of the Cyprus constitution, to assist the United Nations Secretary-General in ensuring that progress is made in the intercommunal talks when the talks resume early in 1980.
§ Sir Ian GilmourIt has been made clear to the United Nations Secretary-General, as well as to the parties to the dispute themselves, that the British Government are ready to assist the efforts to reconvene the intercommunal talks in any way which they would find useful.
§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked the Lord Privy Seal if the Government have started consulting with the other two guarantor powers of the Cyprus constitution, with a view to ensuring that the forthcoming intercommunal talks make substantial progress.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe Government maintain close and regular contact over the Cyprus problem with the Governments of Greece and Turkey, as well as with the parties themselves. We have made 625W it clear that we look to the two Governments to use their influence to help to promote a constructive approach to the intercommunal talks.
§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will seek to hold discussions with the Turkish Government in the light of the statement by the Prime Minister of Turkey indicating that his Government intend to relegate the Cyprus question to second place in their considerations.
§ Sir Ian GilmourI am not aware of any statement by the Prime Minister of Turkey containing the implication to which my hon. Friend refers. The Turkish Government have indicated in recent official discussions that their policy on Cyprus remains unchanged.