§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had and with whom on the present talks taking place on the confidence-building negotiations on Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmorySince the start of this year, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed the United Nations Secretary-General's package of confidence-building measures for Cyprus with the Turkish Prime Minister, the Turkish, Greek and Cypriot Foreign Ministers, the United Nations Secretary-General and his Special Representative on Cyprus, the United States Secretary of State and with his European colleagues. Most recently I discussed Cyprus with the Cypriot Foreign Minister at the EC/Cyprus Association Council held in Luxembourg on 18 April.
We believe that the package offers substantial benefits to both communities. We welcome President Clerides' acceptance of the United Nations plan for its implementation and note that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, continues to have objections. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote to the Turkish Prime Minister on 6 April urging her to encourage Mr. Denktash to adopt a more constructive approach to the negotiations.