§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the United Nations-sponsored Cyprus peace talks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe set of ideas produced by the United Nations Secretary-General, and endorsed by the Security Council as the basis for a settlement, was worked through in full in direct talks from 28 October to 11 November. There are significant areas of common ground. Important differences remain, with some Turkish Cypriot positions incompatible with the ideas. We welcome the agreement to resume talks in early March and will continue to play a full part in encouraging progress.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet President Vassiliou of Cyprus to discuss the British Government's response to the collapse of United Nations-sponsored Cyprus peace talks in New York; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no current plans to meet President Vassiliou, but we remain in regular contact with him and all parties to the dispute. The Cyprus talks, chaired by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, have not collapsed: the parties have agreed to resume the talks in March next year.