§ 33. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government concerning the implementation of United Nations resolutions on Cyprus; and what his policy will be when the matter is raised in March at the Security Council.
§ Mr. HurdThe last United Nations General Assembly resolution on Cyprus was in 1979. The United Kingdom 387W abstained, because we did not believe that the resolution would help the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem. We think that the best hope for a solution lies with the intercommunal talks being held in Nicosia under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General. We have given full support to the Secretary General's efforts. We shall follow this line if Cyprus is debated at the United Nations this spring.
§ 61. Mr. James Lamondasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Cyprus.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects have claims for compensation for losses arising from the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus; what is the sum for the total claim of all British subjects; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that these claims are processed as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. RifkindSome 1,000 United Kingdom citizens submitted personal claims to the Turkish Cypriot Claims Commission, which was established in 1978 to consider claims arising from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. It is not possible to give the exact number of claims or the total sum involved as some British nationals have been pursuing their claims directly with the Turkish Cypriot Claims Commission without notifying our high commission in Nicosia. To date, of some 335 ex gratia awards approved, 152 totalling about £472,000 have been paid and a further eight totalling £44,500 will be paid very shortly.
Our high commissioner continues to press the Turkish Cypriot authorities for the remaining claims to be settled as quickly as possible. The latter have recently declared their intention to make regular monthly block payments from now onwards until all approved claims have been cleared.