§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will support the internationalisation of the issue of working for a settlement on Cyprus. [22797]
§ Mr. David DavisThe United Nations Secretary-General's mission of good offices already offers an international framework through which to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem. It has our full and active support.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he(a) has had and (b) plans with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the present position of the Greek Cypriots now living in the Karpas area of northern Cyprus. [22803]
§ Mr. DavisThe high commission in Nicosia maintains close contact with the United Nations force in Cyprus humanitarian branch which is responsible for overseeing the welfare of Greek Cypriots living in the Karpas. We support the United Nations force in Cyprus's— UNFICYP—efforts in this field.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Mr. Rauf Denktash and the Turkish Government on the future of the town of Famagusta in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [22799]
§ Mr. DavisWe have had no recent discussions on this point. We believe, however, that the UN Secretary-General's proposed confidence-building measures for the resettlement of the closed area of Famagusta and the reopening of Nicosia international airport could make a positive contribution towards an eventual solution.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and480W Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Cyprus with President Clinton; what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [22822]
§ Mr. DavisMy right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Cyprus with the then Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Holbrooke, on 14 February. We remain in close touch with the US. We are committed to finding a settlement in Cyprus within the framework of the UN process, in consultation with the US, the EU and other partners.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had or plans with the Turkish Government on the recent statement of Mr. Rauf Denktash regarding missing persons in Cyprus. [22801]
§ Mr. DavisNone. The UN committee on missing persons is best placed to investigate the fate of those missing. We have noted Mr. Denktash's recent statement on this subject and deplore the atrocities that have been committed in Cyprus. We would expect Mr. Denktash to pass on any relevant information to the UN committee.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Cyprus Government as to Cyprus's membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [22820]
§ Mr. DavisCyprus's accession to the European Union is discussed regularly in our contacts with both communities in Cyprus. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke about it with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr. Michaelides, when he was in London on 1 November.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with the President of Cyprus his views on the demilitarisation of the island of Cyprus; and what is the policy of the British Government on this proposal. [22796]
§ Mr. DavisDemilitarisation arises regularly in our discussions with both communities in Cyprus. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed it with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr. Michaelides, in London on 1 November. Moves to reduce deployment of troops and levels of military equipment on the island can only help to improve the climate for a settlement.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has(a) held and (b) plans to hold with the Italian presidency of the European Union regarding Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [22800]
§ Mr. DavisWe discuss Cyprus's accession to the European Union regularly with the Italian presidency and other EU partners. Cyprus has frequently been on the agenda of Foreign Affairs Councils, most recently on 25 and 26 March. The prospect of Cypriot accession to the EU should act as a stimulus to all parties to redouble their efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government will support an official inquiry into the alleged killing of 481W Greek Cypriots by Turkish Cypriot troops during the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974; and if he will make a statement. [22802]
§ Mr. DavisThe UN committee on missing persons has long been charged with investigating the fate of those Cypriots who remain unaccounted for following the tragic events of 1974. We support the work of the committee and expect both communities to co-operate fully with it.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Mr. Rauf Denktash and the Turkish Government as to the number of Turkish settlers now living in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [22798]
§ Mr. DavisThere are no reliable figures for the number of Turkish settlers now living in the northern part of Cyprus. We support the call in United Nations Security Council resolution No. 789 for a Cyprus-wide census under the auspices of the United Nations.