§ 18. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in reaching a settlement in Cyprus. [69439]
§ Ms QuinI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) and the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson),Official Report, column 723.
§ 25. Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the Cypriot application for membership of the European Union. [69446]
§ Ms QuinThe enlargement process is on track. For Cyprus (and the five Central European states considered ready) substantive negotiations on the first seven chapters of the Union acquis began on 10 November. We support736W the German Presidency's aim of opening negotiations on half of the 31 chapters with these countries by the Cologne Council in June.