E.E.C. AND CYPRUS: TURKISH MINORITY

HL Deb 27 March 1973 vol 340 cc1041-2WA

LORD O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government whether the constitutional protections for the Turkish minority in Cyprus were observed during the negotiations leading to Cyprus' associate membership of the E.E.C.

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

Article 5 of the Association Agreement statesThe rules governing trade between the Contracting Parties may not give rise to any discrimination between the Member States, or between nationals or companies of these States, nor nationals or companies of Cyprus. Although the negotiations leading to the Association Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cyprus, signed in Brussels on December 19, 1972, took place before the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities, we have since been assured by the Commission that these negotiations were conducted in full recognition of the interests of the Turkish Cypriot minority in Cyprus.