§ 18. Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the response of (a) the Turkish community in Cyprus and the Turkish Government and (b) the Greek community in Cyprus and the Greek Government to the Secretary General's draft settlement proposals for Cyprus; and what is his assessment of the future prospects for the Secretary General's initiative in the light of those responses.
§ Mr. EggarThe United Nations Secretary General, with whom my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend discussed Cyprus on 14 May, is actively pursuing his initiative. We still consider it to offer the best prospect of a peaceful, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. We would not judge it as appropriate or helpful to comment on his progress in the negotiations at this stage.
§ 75. Mr. Portilloasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards United Nations efforts to achieve a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem.
§ Mr. EggarI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16 May.
§ Mr. Hanleyasked the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations for a peaceful settlement in Cyprus, in the light of the recent visit of Mr. Perez de Cuellar.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe UN Secretary General, with whom I and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Cyprus on 14 May, is actively pursuing his initiative. We continue strongly to support it. I do not believe it would be helpful to comment at this stage on the negotiations. They need to be kept confidential if we are to maximise the chances of achieving progress.