Panicos Tsiakourmas (Hansard, 11 January 2001)

§ Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the abduction of Mr. Panicos Tsiakourmas, a Greek Cypriot, by Turkish forces from the British Sovereign Base area in Cyprus on 12 December 2000. [144897]

§ Mr. Vaz
The UK Government regard the detention of Panicos Tsiakourmas as a very serious matter. Our High Commissioner has made repeated strong protests about the circumstances of Mr. Tsiakourmas's arrest to Mr. Denktash and we have raised our concerns with the Turks in Nicosia, Ankara and London. On 9 January, I met Mrs. Tsiakourmas and my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love). We will continue to raise this issue until the situation is satisfactorily resolved.

§ Dr. Vis
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the arrest and imprisonment of Mr. Panicos Tsiakourmas, 601W on 12 December 2000, by forces of the Turkish administration from Pergamos, and his health; and what representations he has made to (a) the authorities in northern Cyprus and (b) the Turkish Government about this matter. [144721]

§ Mr. Vaz
The Government regard the detention of Panicos Tsiakourmas as a very serious matter. Our High Commissioner is in close contact with his family and the UN concerning his health and welfare. Our High Commissioner has made strong representations to Mr. Denktash about the circumstances of Mr. Tsiakourmas' arrest. We have also raised our concerns with the Turkish authorities in Nicosia, Ankara and London. We will continue to raise this issue until the matter is satisfactorily resolved.

§ Mr. Cox
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the situation of Mr. Panicos Tsiakourmas, who was arrested by Turkish military forces in Cyprus; and what representations the British High Commissioner has made to the Turkish authorities in relation to the welfare and whereabouts of Mr. Tsiakourmas. [144625]

§ Mr. Vaz
The Secretary of State and I have received regular reports on Mr. Tsiakourmas since his arrest. Our High Commissioner in Nicosia is in close contact with the Tsiakourmas family and the UN concerning Mr. Tsiakourmas's welfare. Our High Commissioner has made strong protests about the circumstances of Mr. Tsiakourmas's arrest to Mr. Denktash and has also discussed the case with the Turkish Ambassador in Nicosia. Our Ambassador in Ankara has raised the case with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we have done likewise with the Turkish Embassy in London.