HC Deb 11 July 1989 vol 156 c452W
Mr. Corbett

To ask the Prime Minister (1) in which ways the United Kingdom now proposes to help to progress the United Nations sponsored talks between the two Cypriot communities following her most recent meeting with President Vassiliou; and whether she will make a statement.

(2) what further steps she plans to take over the next three months to encourage Turkey, Greece, the United States of America and the European Community to promote a successful outcome of the talks between the two Cypriot communities being held under United Nations sponsorship;

(3) what recent contacts she has had with President Bush on ways of assisting a successful outcome of the United Nations-sponsored talks between the two Cypriot communities;

(4) whether she will convene a meeting of the Turkish and Greek Prime Ministers to assist the United Nations-sponsored inter-communal talks between the two Cypriot communities before their leaders meet again in New York in September.

The Prime Minister

By continuous diplomatic contacts with all the parties concerned, including our fellow guarantor powers, Turkey and Greece, our other EC partners, the United States of America and other allies, the United Kingdom is working to promote agreement on a draft outline settlement of the Cyprus problem before the next meeting in September between the United Nations Secretary General and the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus. I had a further discussion on progress towards this goal with President Vassiliou of Cyprus on 10 July. I have not discussed Cyprus with President Bush for some time, but my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Baker, agreed on the need for our two Governments to follow developments closely when they met in Washington on 17 April. Meanwhile I do not believe that a meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey would serve any useful purpose at this stage.

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