§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on loss and damage caused to British-owned property in Cyprus during the recent fighting.
§ Mr. HattersleyAt my request a senior official of the FCO has recently toured the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus to investigate problems affecting British property owners. With the co-operation of the Turkish authorities the official concerned was able to visit the districts of Kyrenia and Famagusta where the majority of British-owned properties are576W situated. He was also able to have useful consultations with remaining United Kingdom citizens including members of their association. He reports that there was some structural damage caused to British property during the fighting in northern Cyprus. Additionally, there has been widespread looting of British property in these areas both in the immediate aftermath of the fighting as well as almost continuously since the cease-fire. The failure to check this looting demonstrates deficiencies in the administration, civil and military, of the Turkish-occupied areas. It has also been found that British commercial cargoes and other properties in Famagusta Port have suffered considerable loss and damage. This is attributed mainly to fighting between the two Cypriot communities in the area.
My right hon. Friend informed the House on 3rd December that Her Majesty's Government had reserved the right of British subjects to claim compensation from the appropriate authority, and in the light of the report on this visit I am considering an early approach to the Governments of Turkey and Cyprus, as appropriate, concerning compensation for the loss, damage and personal injuries suffered by British subjects.